The Day of Thanks (and a video for Aunt Stacy)

Once upon a time there was a family who gathered for a great Thanksgiving feast. The Dad carved the good looking turkey.......

and they set all the food on a table...

And they all sat together at a table lit by candle...

The Little Sister prepared the longed after lefse...



The princess played in her perfectly sized closet...




And then she invited in her Aunt Tami...





And they produced this Thanksgiving wish for Aunt Stacy who lives in a far away land...





The Mom and Dad posed for a cute Thanksgiving picture...



The Pricess had her picture taken a thousand times....

The Princess' chariot was even invited to celebrate Thanksgiving...

The men watched Football...

The LoveBirds cuddled on the couch...

The family participated in competition...

And after the tasty feast was over, the Dad and Aunt Tami's prince scoped out space for the Christmas tree....

And the most importantly, you should know, that this Family loves each other very much and is very thankful to have one another!

(P.S. Las Vegas post to come soon!)

Megan Madness

I got home from Vegas today just in time to see Megan and Kristie at home. I was trying to show my pictures from my camera to Kelly, but Megan wanted to be a little ham! She just walked right up to me and said "CHEESE!" and then "Please?" because she wanted to see herself. So here is more proof that I have the cutest, silliest niece ever.

And here you can relish in her sweetness and hear her precious little voice and her crazy, messy little girl hair.

Thankful Thoughts: part 4

Best Friends. I hope everyone has them. I have a few. Each one of them fulfills a different need in my life. I love all dearly and differently. Depending on what is going on in your day, you call a specific friend. Depending on where you're going or what you're shopping for, you go with a specific friend. They all have a special place in your life. A place reserved only for them. Best Friends are the people who have fought the hardest for your loyalty and they earned your trust. As I inventory my best friends, it makes me smile. They are all so different. All of their initial relationships with me vary, from friends since kindergarten, to sister, to youth pastor's wife, to friends from work, friends met through random circumstances in life, and the friends you meet later in life but are no less special than the ones you've known since kindergarten. There are also best friends that come in and out of your life. I have this one best friend, who I want forever. Or better stated, my heart wants forever. And he is amazing. Let me introduce you to him. He's awfully handsome, and has a smile that can cheer anyone up. He loves to whistle, because he has a happy heart, and I love to listen to his happy song. He cares for people so deeply, that it is contagious. He makes you want to be a better person. He is kind and gentle, soft-spoken and caring. He opens doors for me. He cooks for me when I am too tired. He hugs me for a long time when he knows I've had a hard day. He sits at Nordstrom with me while I try on shoes, and then carries my bag. He goes to the mall and tries on 100 pairs of pants so I know just what size to buy him for Christmas. He watches Jon & Kate plus 8 with me, and programs it into the TV as a "favorite." He DVRs my favorite shows for me when he knows I will miss them. He knows just when to say really sweet things to me after he hurt my feelings, and even when he hasn't. :)

He loves my family.
He loves his family.
He is the world's greatest uncle.
He is the most generous person I know.
He is forgiving.
He is hardworking.
He is trustworthy.
He is a man of integrity.
He is compassionate.
He is amazing.

He is loved by so many people, by all that know him. He is great at making friends and making people feel important. He is selfless. He is goofy and funny. He is athletic and outgoing. He is a good man. He loves the Lord. He reads the Bible to me. He prays with me and for me.

He is a servant leader.
He is patient and always open to listening.
He is a great friend.
He is loyal.
He is amazing.

He buys me lunch at panera and takes me on Sunday drives. He makes time to spend time with my family and go to family functions with me. He is so cute with my niece. He respects my dad, loves my mom and cherishes my sisters. He talks with me, plans with me and dreams with me. Everyday we grow closer together and challenge each other to grow in our faith. He holds my hand and gives me kisses on the cheek, he plays with my hair and rubs my neck when I ask. He encourages me and tells my why he appreciates me. He is everything I have ever wanted. We are blessed. And today and everyday I have so thankful that he is my VERY best friend, whom I love more everyday.



And he does make me laugh everyday!

Thankful Thoughts: part 3

Well, today is Veteran's Day. Which means, there is no school and my office is quiet for once. It means I have a day to catch up on my filing, correspondence and personnel files without interruption. But today means so much for than that. Today is a day to celebrate and give thanks to all those who have given selflessly to our country and to us. Today is a day to reflect on the blessings it is to be living in America, and the sacrifice it took so many people and families for us to count it a blessing. After reading my sister's touching and so very sweet post (which you can read by clicking here) I just wanted to say my own thank you's to all who have and all who are currently serving.
You're sacrifice does not go unnoticed. Thank you for making America the amazing place to live that it is. So as my 3rd thankful thought, I am not only thankful for America, but for the men and women that fight for it!

Bunch 'O Junk and Stuff

1. Finally, here is the video of Megan that I have been promising. She didn't quite get the V. Raptor noise down, she needs Aunt Kelly to come refresh her memory. However, the I Love Mimi part is priceless. So I was trying to teach Megan to say 'I love you.' Because that alone would have been cute enough, but this is what she came up with:

Aunt Mimi: Megan, can you say I?
Megan: I
Aunt Mimi: Love
Megan: MIMI!!!!!

And I promise, I did not teach her to say that. Ask Kelly she was there.



2. Someone I love is now in new TV heaven (please excuse the bad camera phone picture)...



3. This weekend I met a lot of family of that person I love. And to say the least, I was very nervous. But there was no need for that. It was great! I have never felt more welcomed and accepted. And as weird as it sounds since I just met them, they made me feel like they already loved me. I was so thankful to have been there to celebrate D's grandma's 80th birthday and meet his mom's side of the family. They were awesome! They are very friendly, kind people.

4. I'm so very excited for my trip to Vegas! Can't wait.

Fun....Here We Come!

+


+


2 REALLY GOOD FRIENDS




Are Going to......

ON....

And, no there will be no weddings.

Thankful Thoughts: part 2

Mom, High School was hard for me. I am not sure why, probably a mixture of things. Feeling like I went to a place everyday where no one really knew who I was inside, the most important part of me. Knowing that I had to work really hard to stay on top of school and that it didn't come so easily to me like it did others. Failing Algebra II, even though I worked so hard to understand. Feeling like basketball was the only thing I was ever good at, but yet I gave that up and with it, my identity. Having a desire for people to really know my heart, but being too scared to show them. Having good friends, but never really feeling like I fit in with them, I didn't really ever understand the thinking of teenage girls. And then there were some bad decisions I made, that disappointed you so much. BUT, you loved me through it all. One day from high school I called you, and I was sad. Honestly, I don't even remember why. But I DO REMEMBER that YOU CAME. You picked me up and took me to subway for lunch. Do you remember? I had a lot on my mind and we blew through my lunch time in what seemed like no-time-flat. But you didn't interrupt me to take me back to school. You just let me keep talking, and you listened, and then you gave me advice, we shared stories, and we laughed and we cried together at that table in subway. The workers may have thought we were crazy. But we didn't care. And then when you looked down at your watch, you said....'Wow, it's 2:00. guess I should call the school and tell them that I am just taking you home.' And we laughed some more. I will never forget that day mom, because it meant so much to me. It reminded me that no matter what goes on in the world and in my life, I will always have my family and my mom to count on and to love me. Thank you, mom, for that 3 hour lunch at subway 10 years ago. I love you.

Thankful Thoughts: part 1

Side Note: I have a ton to do at work, and there is probably no way that I will get it done in time....wait, I take that back. I always get it done on time. That being said, I am super stressed out and completely overwhelmed. So what do I do?.....Think about what I am going to make for dinner....salmon, salad, mashed potatoes and rice pilaf (check)......and then blog (check). The art of procrastination at it's finest. Okay now on to the real post......

November is the month of Thanks. So my goal is throughout the month to post things that I am thankful for. I haven't really decided the format of how I am going to do it, but I am sure I'll think of something.

"Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." -Psalm 106:1

Thankful thought of the day:

Dad, do you remember when I was younger and babysat like 24/7?
Remember how I was at either of our neighbor's houses like 5 days a week?
Remember how I would walk through the field to get to their houses?
Remember how you would mow me a path through the field so I would have somewhere to walk?
Remember how you would mow not just on our property but through their weeds too?
Remember how I never appreciated it when I was younger while you were actually doing it?
Remember how I never told you 'thank you' for that?
Well, THANK YOU! That memory just came to my mind last night and it made me cry. Thank you so much for mowing me my path! That was so thoughtful and caring of you. Sorry that I didn't see its value until I was 25.

Happy Thanksgiving Month!

Megan Moment

While I was watching Megan this weekend, I was looking something up on the internet for Kristie. Megan was sitting next to me playing with some wires (don't worry they were safe). Well she likes to plug things in, or make wires fit into holes. D's computer has an input for a headset and so she started messing with it (again....don't worry. She was safe).

She finally got it in there are she was so excited and started clapping for herself. So I thought I would act excited for her too. "Good job Megan, you're so smart." And I start clapping for her too and showed some excitement. Well, as soon as I did, she looked at me and stopped clapping and started shaking her head at me and said, "No! No! Mimi. No!" (keep in mind that 'no' sounds more like 'nah' and it was cute). Uh okay, I thought...I won't be excited for you. Then she turned around and started yelling, "D (her variation of D at least)....'mon! D."

When he came upstairs she showed him and started clapping again and she let HIM celebrate with her. But NOT aunt mimi. Whatever. I still love you Megan.

Note: This weekend my name turned from mami to mimi. Which I LOVE.

Oh, and I have a precious video of Megan telling me she loves me, so stay tuned for that!

My Thoughts on Election Day

1. I'm not one to really voice my political opinions. I know more about it than most people would realize I do. I have spent a lot of time reading, researching and praying. Just because I choose not to talk about it, does not mean I don't know what is going on.

2. I don't think that I will even bother to watch all the speculation....I'll just wait for the final outcome.

3. I HAVE to remember to buy a paper tomorrow to keep. No matter your opinion of the election, it is a historical election that is neat to be alive for. One day our kids and grandkids will be sitting in history class learning about this election. And I want to have the newspaper to show them and let them take to class! :)

4. I am frustrated with people who think I am ignorant for believing what I do and having the political views that I do. I have the right to my well-informed political convictions, as do you. You are ignorant to think anything different.

5. Voting. I hope you did it. I firmly believe that you have no right to complain about anything in America if you don't take the time and use our power to vote. Of course things happen that you will disagree with, but do as much as you can by having your voice heard.

6. I read a sign this last week that read, "value your vote. vote your values." I love it. That is what America is all about. Having a hand in what takes place and having the right to stand up for what you believe in.

7. Speaking of what you believe in....I have spent the last few weeks reading up from many different sources on all the ballot measures and candidates. I wanted to know what was going on and the impact they will have on our country, state, county and city. There were somethings I thought were important and others not so much. And not to down play the rest of the issues, but I may very well be a one-issue-voter. Personal conviction, but I have never and will never vote for a president that is not pro-life. Don't leave any hate messages on my blog. I will delete them. It's my blog and my spot to express my heart.

8. I don't LOVE either candidate. No hate for them either.

9. Uh, I think that's it.