Week 47

Monday, Nov. 14th

I have no idea why I don't have a picture, but here are two I stole; the two best ones I saw of the Super Moon.

Tuesday, Nov. 15th

 I started Thanksgiving prep by crafting the kids' place cards.

Wednesday, Nov. 16th

Photo shoot fun at Wickham.  See my previous post for all the pictures.

Renna left this and a 4 minute video for me.

Thursday, Nov. 17th

Dawn O. sent me these oldies from 2007.

I went to the hospital to visit this brave dude.  So thankful for God's hand on him!  He suffered a febrile seizure brought on by a high fever.  Scary stuff for everyone, but he was in the best of care and has incredibly attentive and brave parents.  So thankful that he has rebounded and back to his cute self!

The boys had the opportunity to serve in the way of stacking wood for someone.  They went with good attitudes, worked hard, and got the job done.

Most days...

Friday, Nov. 18th

My 40th.  I'm just grateful to be here.  I have my health, my family, my Jesus, my friends.  It's simply overwhelming.  Truly.  I try to not take if for granted and feel a responsibility to not waste it.

This is an excerpt from the thank you letter I wrote after my party:

I’m just grateful.  Grateful for a Godly upbringing, for loving parents, fun siblings, adventures, enriching friendships, experiences, travel memories, my health, a faithful husband, healthy children, opportunities, extended family connections, my church, and so very many things I just don’t deserve.  When I look in the rearview mirror of my life so far, I see so many bridges that God has held as I’ve gone over them.  Some I saw up ahead.  Some were even big and intimidating.  Some I went over and didn’t even realize until looking back.  But all of them held.  I’m thankful for The One who has never left me, never forsaken me, and continually proves His love and faithfulness over and over again to me.  I’ve been blessed!

“Never regret getting older; it is a privilege denied to many.”

My day was pretty regular and busy.  I went to the gym, did school, and continued to clean and prepare for our family's Thanksgiving the next day.  The two highlights were lunch with C4 and Maddy on the way to their appointments and dinner and a show with Lisa!

I was sneaking a picture of C4's feet dangling at the his pediatrician well visit because he's too cool for pictures, but then he asked to pose for one.  So thankful for healthy kids with paper-thin charts.

Gotta brag when I can 'cuz it is NOT often that I'm at the top of the leader board for the day!  And it was even sweeter on my 40th birthday!!!

And look who was in 1st place for the guys the same day!

So thankful for this girl here.  There really aren't words to explain the gift she is.  We ate dinner at Hot Tomato and saw "An American in Paris" at the Bushnell.  The sets and the dancing were the highlights of the show.

Throughout the day I received countless phone calls, videos, texts, Facebook messages, cards.  My heart was bursting!  Bethany attached this gem to her text.

Saturday, Nov. 19th

After the traditional Saturday-Before-Thanksgiving-Bourquin-Thanksgiving, after everything had been cleared, these beauties remained.  I'll have to post that special day separately.

Sunday, Nov. 20th

Rehersals are coming along.

C4's game.

The fam took me out for my birthday.  We had a lovely evening.  Colombo made me a birthday book!!!!!  All 40 years in one place.  I bawled!  It was so touching and I'm beyond thrilled to have my life condensed in one tidy place.  I make six books a year, so I know exactly what it took and the hours and love that went into it.  It even included pictures from my party just one week earlier.  I love, love, love it.  I am blessed beyond words.

Just A Little Shoot

11.16.16

I didn't want to bug Lisa *again* for Christmas card pictures and I was feeling unusually not picky (I'm a horrible client!) about the look I was going for.  In fact, because I didn't have anything in particular in mind,  I grabbed my camera and the kids and headed for Wickham.  Oh, Wickham, you never disappoint, even though I waited until the middle of November!  I did my best to not go all psycho on the kids and they did a good job cooperating.  Thirty minutes later, I had 293 pictures, 6 laughing kids, a few Christmas card possibilities, and a treasure trove of 'this-moment-in-time' captures.  Forty-nine cent McD cones for all!!  Of course Lisa's work would have been outstanding, but I'm pretty happy with my take-away.  Not sure which one I'll choose for our card- maybe you can cast your vote. (I have my favorite 2 or 3 picked out.)

No cropping or editing...just our little shoot.  It's clear what worked and what did not!  A couple sweet winners, for sure!

Renna was in charge of counting to three.

That's a wrap!