Happy Turkey Day! Tales From The Deer Camp...

Every other year I have Thanksgiving with hubby's family.

The smells are of burning leaves, musky deer hunters, pine trees and the aroma of some of the best cooking ever. In other words, Thanksgiving dinner is in the middle of the woods at the family deer camp. A little rustic, but as I look around and see the beauty in all that my Heavenly Father created, family included, it is a wonderful place to be.

Pictures were taken (you know I always have my camera!!!), stories were told, laughter filled the air, four wheelers were ridden, all as the campfire crackled. I've decided that my husband has a beautiful family and I am thankful for time spent with them.

Happy Turkey Day!

I would like to make a note that the winner of the Christmas Card showdown was #4. I have to really cherish the sibling hugs and smiles these days. However, Mom and Aunt Jo, I will make sure you get a copy of #1 just because...

Mom, Dad, Amb, Kirk, Keaton, Sawyer, Tate and the rest of my beautiful family, I love you all to pieces and thank God everyday for you. I'm sorry I missed out on Thanksgiving with you, but Mom, have the taters ready for I will be there Christmas!!!

In Search of the "Perfect" Christmas Card Picture...

While I was staying in the little cabin in the woods, going to the beautiful family wedding, (both of which I will post about next)I took a few pictures of my kids in hopes of taking "the special one" that will go on my Christmas cards this year. Always a hard choice... I have a favorite, but thought I would see what you guys think.

Photo #1 (above)

Photo #2 (above)

Photo #3 (above)

Photo #4 (above)

Let me know which picture you like the best.

Here are some of the other pictures taken...

Celebrating this week of Thanksgiving with a very thankful heart for the beautiful family the Lord has blessed me with.

Happy Thanksgiving week!

What A Weekend!!!

Thanks to all who lifted a prayer to the Lord Most High on behalf of my hubby's uncle. He is doing well. He had open heart surgery last Thursday and is recovering very nicely. There has even been talk of him going home next week. Doing a happy dance...

The wedding also went very well. I remember looking around and missing dear family members who were with Uncle Zeke at the hospital, but was so glad to be one of the ones there to represent the family. Right before the wedding started, my hubby called the hospital and then laid the cell phone on the podium. The family gathered in the hospital room all got to hear hubby's words and the vows spoken as the wedding went on. The bride was even going to stop by the hospital, on her way to her honeymoon, for a surprise visit with her grandpa. (Boy! I would have loved to be a fly on the wall, and saw his expression when she walked in his hospital room.) God is good...

As for right now, I am tired. Unfortunately I am one of the ones that has to work till Wednesday. So the bed is calling my name. I promise to post wedding pictures and trip pictures soon.

Thanks friends, for the prayers.

Prayers for Hubby's Family...

This weekend we are going to a wedding. (Maybe.) Kevin's cousin's daughter's wedding...does that make her his second cousin? I always get confused about the whole cousin thing.

Anyway, my hubby is suppose to perform the ceremony. It was going to be a fun get together of all his family...

Until Tuesday, the bride's grandpa, who is also Kevin's uncle, had a heart attack. They are going to do open heart surgery on him tomorrow. Please pray for this wonderful, Godly man. He is dearly loved by his family and his church. It is breaking his heart that he will not be able to attend the wedding of his only granddaughter.

As far as I know the wedding will go on. It is hard not to, when everything is reserved and paid for. (I will know for sure tonight.) However, there will be a little sadness on a day of celebration. For a very important man to the bride and the rest of the family will be missing from the wedding party.

Please pray for my hubby's dear family. It is the time of the year that we say our "thanks" for the special people in our lives, and Uncle Zeke is definitely one of those individuals.

Yes. It is Possible to be Sad and Extremely Happy at the same time.

Now that I have your attention...

No, I am not depressed...although I have a craving for a bag of chips right now. Willpower, Mich. Willpower.

No, nothing bad happened...although work was a bummer today. But then what is new, right? "This is the day the Lord hath made. I will be glad..." Trying hard.

No, I didn't miss out on anything...it was actually my scrapbook night. Had a fun girl's night out.

But wait, I lied.

I did miss out on something. But I feel kind of bad. You see, I have been complaining about this little sport called soccer. Last week I was out every night but Wednesday on the soccer field sidelines watching my babies play. Tonight the good 'ol Dad gives me a break, so I can hang with the girlfriends and do you know what I missed?!!!

I missed my son's team getting clobbered by the "blue" team. It is five to zero at the half. They put Jordan in as goalie (HE hates it, but he really is good at it.) In the whole second half he only let one ball slip by. He said he caught 5 balls in the goalie. Yep! That is my son. They didn't win, but they came back to score five to their six. Not a bad comeback. Maybe Jordan should have played goalie the whole game...

AND I MISSED IT!!!

And then my daughter's team was ahead by several points, so the coach moved the defenders to offence, which just happens to be all the girls. And would you believe that Kayla, my powerhouse kicker, strong defender, scored a goal? SHE SCORED A GOAL!!! Kevin said the excitement was crazy...

AND I MISSED IT!!!

But, I did have a good night scrapping with friends and I'm really happy for my kiddos.

So, YES! It is possible to be sad and extremely happy at the same time...

Of course there are no soccer pictures of the highlights of the evening, because Daddy was in charge and doesn't want to fool with my camera and of course I WAS NOT THERE...

OH WELL. More games on Thursday.

And They Said I Couldn't Do It...

I am on a diet.

I know, I know...wrong time of the year to be cutting back. But seriously, I refused to go up another jean size and I needed to be able to breathe. So I have took action. The hard way.

I cut the carbs out.

Believe me, for this bread lovein', pasta eatin', potato cravin', individual, it hasn't been easy. When I took my kids through the Wendy's drive thru yesterday, I thought I would die smelling the french fries. But did I eat even one little tinsy winsy bite? No. Because I am flat out determined...this time.

I have told myself I will treat and reward myself with the actual holiday meals, and at an occasional party I might nibble, but here on the home front I am taking it all very serious.

I think by even posting this, I have to keep it up, right?

Anyway, the good news is that in one week I have lost 7 pounds. Woo! Hoo! A pound a day! I am so excited...

However,

I need prayer.

for I really am craving that french fry.