Thankful Thursday ~Happy Thanksgiving~

I know this is a couple days early but we are traveling for Thanksgiving so I need to post this now.

As I leave you with the last Thankful Thursday I wish you all a blessed Turkey day.  I can't even begin to list all the things I am truly thankful for but as A and I sat in service Sunday morning I was able to thank God for all that he has given me.  It was beautiful to see the many tears and stories that people were able to share about their own life and how much God has given.  So as I sat there one thing came to my mind the most its one I think about daily.  I have been blessed to have been home for almost 9 years with two amazing kids.  He has provided a husband who works extremely hard and who shares my values as a parent.  I have loved every moment of each of their lives and the gifts they have given me through out the years.  So this year I will hold my children just a little bit tighter and cherish each minute just that much more.  May God continue to bless all of you and may you hold those dear to you just a little closer as well.

Looking at this photograph K is becoming more and more my little mini blonde version!  D well what can I say he's Justin all over again...!  I just love these two they make my days and nights all worth it!  Of course Dad gets a lot of credit in it all too!  He's the funny glue that holds us all together...thanks dad for taking this photo for us!

The Decorating Has Begun

Well it's begun... we have the main tree pretty much finished... and the kids had a lot of fun... we have plenty of ornaments on our lower levels... don't you just love seeing how tall your kids can reach... so dad and grandpa Shell helped the kids reach the upper parts... It was nice of my parents to drop in after there time here shopping and giving the kids and extra hand while I got the ornaments ready. We still have tons of tubs in the house of stuff to put out but it's nice getting started. We will be trying another tree in the house since I think D's train and a real tree may not work as well... So tomorrow the kids and I after school will be putting one of our small trees in the kids play run...can't have a Christmas train and no tree!

The Cutting Of The Tree

Well it's official this small family made a last minute decision to cut our very first tree! Our neighnors and very good friends the Kelsey Family were so kind to take us along with them. We had an amazing day full of all kinds of fun and lots of snow.

Our beautiful Girl K with Jersey Girl.. we took Sippy Also and they both had so much fun!

Isn't he such a doll face! We love our little D!

Lil Miss Alivia she is such a joy!

Sir Caleb what a sweet guy he is!

Mr. James what a absolute smilie pie!

The guys getting lil James all ready to go.

I don't think we made any snow angels do you!

On The Hunt

My Two cute kiddos lovin there day out with friends....

Dad found the tree now it's time to get ready to cut.

This was the goofy face he gave me.... I think its I conquered and won...made us laugh none the less.

Playing away while the dad's took care of the trees.

Getting the Kelsey's Tree

Waiting for the dad's to start dragging the tree's....ya no snow angels all day here!

Dad with Caleb's help

Jill helping the end of our group out....

It was a wonderful day and to top it off our lovely neigbors took us out to Papa Kelsey's for dinner. Zek's family owns it and how fun he got in the kitchen and cooked for us. Yum! We feel so blessed to have such amazing friends and neighbors. May God always bless them for they have given such blessing to others.

Thankful Thursday

I was really Thankful this week on Monday night of the kids in our group as we went to Hop To It.
There came a point were three of our small boys including my own got involved with another small tot who to put it nicely was busy hitting, kicking, and trying to drag kids around by their shirt collars... did the right thing. All three boys had to defend themselves and stood up for each other. They also tried to explain to the boy that we all must play nice and take turns. It ended up being that I had to get after the kid and even then he didn't want to stop... so I wasn't able see a single parent to this kid (and I just knew someone was going to get really hurt )so I called over a staff member to fix the issue. They pulled him out becuase he was hurting everyone in the bouce house and not allowing any kids to go down the slide area. Even later on the same kid didn't want to wait in line during the batting cage and tried to keep the bat and take it away from other kids and our boys still kept playing nicely and stepped out of the kids way. It was finally resolved when the group he was with finally decided they had better do something since everyone else was playing nicely. Even during all the fuss all the kids even the girls played so well with everyone... taking turns... treating others with respect.. and having too much fun. I was even Thankful for the parents in our group...they are so much fun... hands on parents that are not only like A and I who are in there playing with the kids but right on the side lines watching and cheering the kids on. What a support group I tell you! I am grateful that we had a fantastic evening spent with good people having some good old fun. Monday night reminded me of the verse John 15:6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. I find this verse fitting as a parent. If we do not tend to even our children and help them and guide them they do not learn right from wrong and their ways wither. How can we give spiritual growth even to our children if we do not teach and lead by example. Parenting isn't a job that was meant to be observed it was meant to be a side by side messy, fun , exciting adventure. The man who does not work in his fields will never see a harvest. This week I am grateful to see the Harvest in children and may they prosper to be great examples in Christ.

Youth Night

I have been meaning for so long to get in and take a couple photo's of WAC (What About Christ aka Youth Groupfor middle school kids). We also have two other youh groups our Junior Group as well as our Senior Group. The lady nearest me in brown is our Children Ministry and Youth Leader Sabrina....! We adore her so much and she is such a blessing to have...as well as a ton of fun! Last night was a smaller group we usually have between 20-60 kids and we were right at 20! A far amount of the kids that didn't make it were at hop to it and I am sure are still tired! (Which is a good thing)

Dylon, MaKala, and Kennedy talking and visiting away.

Dylon playing ring around the rosey while jamming out to our wonderful group of musicians(A few members from our Praise Team) in the back.

I caught K and Kennedy having fun making up signs in the air to one of the songs.

Notice some of those boxes in the background well most of those have left our church and we are still sending the rest out as we speak....As for what's in them stay tuned the kids have a special presentation site linked to our family Christmas Newsletter. They would love for you to make sure and visit the link and find out just how important those boxes are.

I Know It's Early

Yes Early and no photo to go with the post...sorry about this! I know it's early for a Christmas theme blog but I just finished up the family Newsletter that has taken me since this summer to slowly create. Also you know how the holidays go there isn't much time and I would rather be posting than having to create my blog design....as well as decorating the house with the kids. So if you can forgive the fact that for the most part I am a week and a half early that would be swell! Quick update Mom Walker tomorrow or Thursday I will be running through all Halloween photos for you to find a few to send... Our trip with church to Hop To It was great..sad part I forgot the camera CF card...yep but it didn't matter much I was so busy playing with all the kids and taking A on in the boxing ring...! Yes I knocked that big boy down once...ya go me! It was a total blast and I know we will go back and I swear next time I will make sure I have it. Oh! and Don't worry I will send out the News Letter some time the beginning of December I promise.