Joy-Making Days: November 2012

Monday, November 26, 2012

Thanksgiving Thanks

For the gift of Thanksgiving at Nana's house... always a joyous time with family.

For all the things that make the holiday special... like all Nana's "vintage" housewares!

For the turkey and the dressing and the piles of food and fellowship. For how the leftovers multiply as we need them and how there is always enough despite Nana's "worry" over it.

For her very FIRST Thanksgiving and the delight that she brings to all our lives.

For how he leans in and chatters with his Uncle Andy and the darling things he has to say and the joy he brings...oh the joy!

For our annual Black Friday adventure to the Bass Pro Shops with the whole clan!

For all the fun that it brings.... like Santa, and bows and arrows, and shotguns, and lions and tigers and bears...oh my.

For the sweet heart that God gave Rosie (literally). Can you spot it?

For how he squinted his eyes as he let his arrow go....melt my heart, that kid.

For all the fun that I had with my sweetheart. For how he enjoys life and verbally recognizes God's blessings.

For the unique way that God created Sawyer's brain to hold onto such detailed info and the joy of "talking history" with him.

For how my Caroline served, served, served all weekend and found great delight in it.

For my sweet sis Lydia...

at the parenting stage that is so constant and how she does it so well.

And for my sweet sis Laura... how she listens and loves so deeply.

For the joy of having Aunt Betsy with us for the holiday and talking of Uncle John...and all of us missing him.

For the richness of a family that knows Him.

For the oldest chicks...aren't they such cuties.

For a Thanksgiving weekend filled with unending fun.

Thank you, Nana, for "hosting" our memories.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

We took a trip to Atlanta on Friday to say goodbye to the man God chose for my father. It is a story I would like to tell...but I am not quite ready to tell it. One day I will be ready with the words. Today is not that day.

While we were there we took a little trip down memory lane and introduced the girls to the very spot their daddy asked me to marry him.

I'm so glad he did.

17 years of pure bliss....haha, well mostly!

As we were leaving I spotted this sign.

(Gotta love the big city.)

We camped out on my brother's dining room floor. His family just moved into a new house so this was our temporary guest suite.

(So thankful for a place to lay our heads.)

My sis-in-law makes everything homey and festive. She treated us to an evening of fancy cheeses, crackers, olives, and fig jam.... and a morning of gourmet coffee, blackberries, and cheesy grits. I am thankful for our friendship. It is sweet to my soul.

And my brother isn't so bad either.

These three are trouble when they get together.

Then it was off to shovel manure at my uncle and aunt's place in North Atlanta....

our annual pre-Thanksgiving adventure on the farm.

The kids get a mini-lesson from Aunt Marie.

Which includes riding and grooming and feeding the horses.

It is always a grand ol' time!

This is my momma's brother... my dearest and sweetest Uncle Stan.

He calls me his favorite niece. (I am his only niece.)

Thank you, Aunt Marie, for loving my girls and giving them such confidence on a horse. (It is something I have never known.)

We left their house and journeyed up the road to a little town I haven't been to since college years. We surprised the girls with a spontaneous family overnight in a hotel and a day of adventure and what I like to call "piddling". (So thankful my hubby knew it was a necessary "diversion from everyday life" for all of us.)