November/Thanksgiving

So long November, I so enjoyed you this year!

After nearly a full month of counting my blessings, we enjoyed a wonderful thanksgiving meal with family and friends. Even though I stayed up late the night before to iron tablecloths... and got up early to mop the whole downstairs before any children woke up... and "facilitated" Ashley and Emily in the kitchen cooking up a sweet potato casserole and a corn casserole... I really enjoyed it. Really and truly. And in spite of 9 adults and my 6 kids running around after dinner... and the countless spills, tiny scoops out of the tops of pies by little fingers... trying to entertain and have grown up conversation while still keeping up with diaper changes and sippy cups... I really. Enjoyed it. It seems counting your blessings doesn't make life easier, but it sure makes it more enjoyable. :) What a blessed Thanksgiving we had this year!

We topped off the thanksgiving festivities with our church small group. We had a crab boil feast. On the back deck, Jake fills a hug pot (the same one we use to fry a turkey) with corn on the cob, small red and gold potatoes, artichokes, seasonings, and lots and lots of crab legs. Then we cover the kitchen table with newspaper, dump out the pot on the table, and enjoy! We may or may not have gone through five sticks of butter for dipping. ;)

And afterwards, we played "mafia" and "trim the war sheep" and laughed and laughed and laughed until I'd cried most of my makeup off and my abs hurt.

So I'll say again, because its worth repeating: Counting your blessings doesn't make life easier, but it sure makes it more enjoyable. I'm so thankful for my family and my friends. I'm thankful for those I do life with. I'm thankful for every one of those little arrows in my full quiver. And I'm thankful for my better half who makes everything.... so much better. And I'm thankful that my heart is in the hands of Jesus who gives me life, and gives it more abundantly.

So with a heart FULL of thanks... so long November, hello Christmas season.