Month of Thankfulness - Day 30

I am thankful for...
...a weekend with my hubby
...that my best friend is my hubby
...heated seats in the car
...new Christmas decorations
...music (I may have mentioned that once or twice this month)
...my sewing machine (I'm working on a couple of projects and I just love that my machine doesn't cause me any problems)
...BBQ for supper
...a whole room to do my sewing in
...the month ahead to think about Jesus coming to earth
...that Jesus would have come just for me

Month of Thankfulness - Day 29

Today has been a day to be thankful for technology. My niece, who lives in North Carolina, gave birth to twin girls today and my phone has been exploding with text messages and pictures. So fun to be able to see them and my niece right away!

My niece may not like that I posted this picture, but I think she looks fantastic! Last I heard everyone is doing fine. The babies were born at 36 weeks and don't need to be on oxygen and are in the regular nursery. Those tiny girls have two big sisters who were excited to meet them today.

I am thankful for...
...the ability for pictures to be sent instantaneously
...two healthy grand-nieces (or is it great-nieces?)
...a happy mama

Month of Thankfulness - Day 28

A couple of other things about our Thanksgiving week away. (Just for my own memory.)

Our Friday night meal at the family reunion was pizza. This is a tradition in the family. Hubby's aunt (the one in the adorable vest and boots) always made homemade pizza on Saturday nights. She makes THE best homemade pizza. I've watched her make it, but it seems to be one of those secret things that can't be passed on.

There were fifteen pizzas like these in the photo. A bunch of us moms helped with putting the toppings on.

It was delicious.

We talked that night about a cousin of Hubby's who has passed away and how he just loved that pizza. He could eat a whole one all by himself. Good memories.

Saturday we drove to Columbia, Missouri to spend a day shopping in a town with real stores and to eat pizza (yes, again) at one of our favorite pizza places. We lived in Columbia for a number of years and I always enjoy going there and remembering when the kids were little-bitty.

Sunday we drove back home and five minutes after we arrived our son and daughter-in-law pulled in the driveway! Yes, we knew they were coming. They were on their way to the Twin Cities and stopped for a night along the way. Sooooo fun to have them here for a bit. We shared stories about our Thanksgivings and just had a lot of fun together.


I spent today still catching up on laundry. Being gone from home for ten days sure does create a ton of laundry! After I put this last load in the dryer, I'll be done! Well, except for the fact that we keep taking showers here and we keep getting clothes dirty.  

SIGH.

It's never really done, is it?

I've also been working on catching up on sleep. Last night I slept for ten and a half hours! It felt so good! I know the "experts" say you can't really catch up on sleep, but then why do I feel so much more rested today after that looong night's sleep?

I am thankful for...
...good memories from the family reunion
...a whole ten days spent with my hubby (the withdrawal is never easy)
...laundry that is all washed and dried and all put away
...homemade spaghetti sauce in the freezer that makes a yummy quick meal
..sleep

Month of Thankfulness - Day 26

I know, I know.....

 I should really call this "Month of Thankfulness Minus One Week."

When I set out at the beginning of the month to write daily about things that I am thankful for I didn't think through that we would be gone for a good part of a week. And that we would be without any phone service or internet.

Thus my silence for the last week.

As I wrote about before my week off, we had a marvelous long weekend hanging out with our kids the weekend before Thanksgiving. As we were driving out of their town, I told hubby that I was so excited that the fun wasn't over. Where were we going? To a family reunion! This was a reunion of my father-in-law's family. There were a total of 59 family members and some extras. It was a wonderful time. My father-in-law has five siblings. They were all there, but sadly my father and mother-in-law were not able to make it. They are struggling with some health issues. (Father-in-law had surgery today to remove a superficial cancerous tumor from his bladder.) So Hubby and I represented that part of the family.

Here is a photo of the five siblings (ages ranging from 68-84). One sister is reading from their mother's journal. They sat here for quite a while reading the journal and laughing and telling childhood stories on each other. Such a treasure. The brother second from the left lives in Argentina. I haven't seen him since 1994. I so enjoyed listening to them and taking photos.

We gathered at a church camp that a cousin is the director for. Perfect location for a huge gang. Lots of housing, big dining hall, a kitchen to fix oodles of food in and several people who love to cook for crowds.

Thanksgiving Dinner consisted of something like three roasted turkeys, two smoked turkeys, some deep fat fried turkey nuggets, six turkey breasts, and a ham. Oh and a little tofu turkey. All that and sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, corn, 40 or so pies and rolls.

The Post Thanksgiving Dinner Coma:

It was such a good time with family we don't see often. People were there from three countries, and nine different states. The ages ranged from 4 1/2 months to 91 years. So awesome to have everyone together.

I must end this with a picture of Hubby's 81 year old aunt. She is so styling. She knit that long vest herself. In fact she made up the pattern herself!

I can't decide what I like the best, the vest, the necklace or the jeans tucked into the boots.

I am thankful for...
...family (even the one I married into)
...good cooks
...yummy food
...a wonderful weekend of fellowship

Month of Thankfulness - Day 20

Hubby and I spent a good part of today sitting at stoplights. We were shopping around Kansas City. And that means we were driving a lot around Kansas City. We enjoy shopping together and it was good to knock some items off our list.

The kids were all busy with their jobs and school during the day, so we entertained ourselves well  by using GPS and finding the places we needed and a little lunch at Chick-fil-A. Yum.

At the end of the day we met our daughter and son-in-law at an Asian market. I think I mentioned in my post about our visit to St. Louis that we enjoy wandering around different ethnic grocery stores. Asian ones are particularly fun because of having lived in Singapore for three years. Son-in-law spent quite a bit of time in Thailand when he was a college student. He's a terrific cook and likes to fix Thai food and other Asian yummies. He knew of the Asian market, so the four of us met there and spent about an hour wandering around. I had no intentions of buying anything, but Hubby found lots of items that were too good to pass up. The prices there were quite low, so that helped.

I'll treat you with a few photos from the market. You're welcome.

Every shelf in this aisle is full of different kinds of soy sauce. I remember it being like this when we lived in Singapore. I had no idea what to buy. So I bought Kikkoman. Sad, I know. Hubby picked out some robust flavored stuff today. I'll be anxious to try it.

Anyone know what Durian is? In Southeast Asia they call it the King of Fruits. Those weapon looking things are a bit smaller than a volley ball. And. Oh. The. Smell. Hubby's boss always said it was something along the lines of dirty sweat socks that had been left in a gym bag too long. And let me tell you that smell is STRONG.  I never tried it when we lived in Southest Asia. Never could bring myself to do it because of the smell. But there are people who love it.

 The labels on these little bottles say "Green Green." No idea. They were near a bunch of Lucky Bamboo plants, so maybe a kind of plant food?

The day ended with the six of us going out for dinner at one of Caleb and Amanda's favorite restaurants. So fun to all be together.

I am thankful for...
...a day in a big city with my sweet hubby
...my son helping me with my new cell phone
...fun experiences with the gang
...interesting new foods to try
...being with my kids


P.S. Hubby and I are headed to a family reunion over the Thanksgiving holiday. I don't think I will have internet access, so even though I intended for this to be a whole month's worth of daily thanksgiving posts, it probably won't be. I will definitely post about all the Thanksgiving Family Reunion Fun when I get back to internet connection.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Month of Thankfulness - Day 19

^{Romans 8:35, 36-39}

 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

I am thankful for...

...the love of Christ 

...the fact that nothing can separate me from that love.

Month of Thankfulness - Day 18

Sunday: A Blessed Day

Hubby and I joined our son and daughter-in-law at their church this morning for worship. I love their church. The music is always fantastic. Today's instruments were a piano and a cello. (The sound of a cello just gives me the chills.) I am so thankful that they are able to worship at a church that truly preaches the gospel. I always get so much practical stuff from the sermons. Every sermon wraps up with the gospel message. The service usually ends with me in tears, I am so moved. What really got me today was being served communion by my son and daughter-in-law. Words cannot describe the emotions. What kind of a loving God do we have that would allow me (& hubby) to experience that moment?

After that simply marvelous morning we enjoyed a yummy BBQ lunch and some fun shopping with the son and daughter-in-law.

Then I spent three and a half hours at Panera (which in and of itself would be great) with an old friend. We first met in choir when Hubby and I were first married and lived in Wichita, Kansas. My friend and I have moved around a lot over the years and even lost touch for several years. We got back in touch and text each other often, but don't often get the opportunity to actually see each other. This trip it happened to work out that we were both able to spend some time together. SO MUCH FUN! I don't think we really spent three and a half hours just sitting there talking, but that is what the clock indicated, so I guess I have to believe it.

This evening we enjoyed a late supper with our daughter and son-in-law. They encouraged us to try something brand new to Hubby and I.

Sushi! At one point in my life I thought I would never want to eat sushi. Megan and Zach have told us about this place and we said we'd like to go with them sometime if they would order for us. And can I say? We really did like it! I'd go again (with someone who knew what they were ordering).

I am thankful for...
...God's truth being preached
...singing with the body of Christ
...partaking in communion
...an afternoon spent with a friend I first met 28 years ago
...that friendship
...my daughter
...the enjoyment of food