Oh, to give THANKS! :O)

You know, I started feeling really bad just after Thanksgiving festivities, and it wasn't the aftermath of the feast that had me feeling gross. It was that I get so stressed in trying to decide what we're going to do, who we're going to see, and that instead of looking forward to holidays with HUGE excitement I feel bad that I can't do more and be more. I get lost in feelings of false guilt. It's been that way ever since my parents divorced and we had to start choosing who to see on what holiday and for how long. Gross.

SO, this year in our Father's sweetness He showed me and is encouraging me to anticipate and be excited about the holidays because Thanksgiving was and always is wonderful. Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord for the great sweetness that 'is' my family :O)
I am soooooo blessed to have family to choose from and coordinate with. It is glorious and I am so thankful! Gosh, what about being with people who make your heart warm isn't something to look forward to? To realize, with most of these loved ones, I only get to see them twice a year.

What a GIFT Thanksgiving is!

We spent Thanksgiving with the "Johnsons" and I am still getting to meet some of the relatives on the Johnson Family side, definitely still getting to know everyone and they're getting to know me.

Then, we went to Dallas and stayed with Ryan's brother, sister in law and niece. SUCH a good time!

On Saturday we spent time with the "Mattern" (my maiden name) side of the family and I got to see my dad, grandparents, aunt, uncle, sister, brother in law and SWEET NEPHEWS!!! ... I realized with a SHOCK and a START that it had been 6 months since I've seen them! That is entirely too long as evidenced by Solomon SHRIEKING when I walked into the door... running to me at a FULL sprint ... I swept him up into my arms and he held on as tight as he could, relaxed a little and sighed, "Oh Goob." Oh gosh, I cried it was SOOO sweet! They call me, "Gooby" and in his little heart sigh all he could breathe was, "Oh Goob" and just rest in my arms. Too much, I tell ya! Here are their precious faces, my Noah and Solomon :O) Thank you, thank you Lord for these sweet times. I cherish them.

OH! though I didn't get a picture of this, a memory I want to write here so I don't forget: Noah and I laying on the carpet in the guest bedroom, me pretend sleeping, and Noah whispering singing to me every word of Twinkle Twinkle Little Start in his little boy voice. I WISH I knew some great quote about children being little pieces of heaven, or making the earth stand still, or purity and innocence being painful in their goodness... they would all apply to this moment.



SOOOOO, fun on the living room floor... Noah literally pinning me (and laughing and being SO proud! HI-LARIOUS!)

A sweet Solomon face :O) This kid laughs and smiles ALL of the time, but a photogenic kiddo he is not. I have YET to get him to smile for a camera...

Noah likes to smile for the ol' cam, but doesn't like the flash :O)

My little model :O)

Here is Solomon smiling (because he DOESN'T know I have the camera... literally hiding behind a recliner here!)

Heading into Christmas I REFUSE to live under any false guilt, and will instead GREATLY anticipate getting to be with people I treasure. YAY!!! Time with people I love and so soon!!!

Thank you, Jesus, for another sweet, sweet, sweet Thanksgiving.