giving thanks

Thanksgiving started with the usual traditions: Macy's parade on TV with special snacks including homemade cinnamon rolls, decorating the tables with what we found in the yard, baking the must-have squash rolls (this year it became Annah's special job to make the rolls and she baked secret messages inside: little slips of paper that everyone had written something they were thankful for), smoking TWO turkey's all day on Shane's new grill and of course eating a wonderful meal.

Unfortunately our newest family member (Ruby) didn't eat one single bite. She didn't even care for the yams with marshmallows!

We were blessed to have Dale with us for two nights and West especially loved wrestling with his Uncle Dale.

The following night we took advantage of free bowling at the bowling alley this month (with four cans of food for the Food Bank) and took the kids to the family friendly Cosmic Bowling. Mimi, Chip and Lissa joined us. West absolutely loved it and Annah couldn't get enough. Even Silas was grooving to the music.

We missed Leyah this year who is in Nantucket and of course Nick. Both Leyah and Nick were with us last year for Thanksgiving and we pulled out their special name place cards and put them on the table even though they weren't with us. Nick sadly passed away from his cancer in August. He spent the last 2 or 3 years worth of holidays with us so it was sad and strange.

This year I am so thankful not only for my health and my family's good health but for the work the Lord is doing in my heart and the hearts of my family.  We have been drawn closer to Him in so many ways this year and we've learned not only to depend on him for so many needs but our faith has grown tremendously as we've watched Him meet those needs one after one. We are also so thankful for our church where we have now been going for 6 months. After feeling unsettled for so long, having a church home again is such a blessing for all of us.