Way cool stuff...to me anyhow

So we went home for Thanksgiving...it was good and different...when we were at the Dilbone Thanksgiving, neither of Chris's siblings were there...I missed them so much, I feel like an outsider sometimes when the rest of the crew is there, but usually Tina can somehow make it "feel" better...but she and Dan had to stay home...Tina is about to bust out the ity bity Broaddrick baby...anyhow, we missed you all, Chad and Bec too....Mom and Dad Dilbone are having a hard time, they had to put their 3 year old puppy to sleep...it was like one of their kids...it was sad to see them missing her so much...Pray for them...even if it is just a dog...it still hurts...Had fun laughing at Chris's cousin Tim...you had to be there but it was the best part about Thanksgiving there...

Then went to my grandparents...was good to see the fam there. My aunt who has multiply Myloma was there and was looking good. She has had 3 rounds of Chemo and then will have a stem cell transplant (from her sisters) in Jan. but will have to spend like a month in the hospital...that sucks....pray for her, her name is Amy.

The rest of the crew were doing well. Macee and Isaiah had a blast playing together...they are inseparable...

The coolest thing though was that when I was done eating with all my cousins, I went in to the "adult table" and sat and talked with my grandparents and my dad and step mom....going to my grandparents is like going home for me..they are the one thing from my life that has stayed "normal"...being there brings tears every time I am home...so this time was not any different...as I sat there holding my pappy' s hand, he said that he had something to share with me...he brought out an envelope and handed it to me...it was dated 1962...it was a love letter that my maw had written to him while he was at Kent State, they had been married for 6 or so years at that point...but anyhow, as I read this letter, tears began to fill my eyes...it was so amazing..I saw the richness in their relationship and was so blessed to see the amount of scripture that my grandmother had used throughout the letter to encourage my pap while they were apart....I felt like the richest girl in the world...the love of Christ poured out through my grandparents, the heritage that I have...wow...seems so undeserved...if only I can pass that along someday...wow...my heart was so blessed to be part of such a simple act...teaching me that no matter what, when we have Christ in our lives that we as couples can get through so much. It reminded me of a picture that all of us (grandparents, parents, and aunts), have hanging in our houses....when my mom died, my dad gave my sister and I each one that were our moms...simply put..."As for me and my house we will serve the Lord"...may this be the cry of my heart. I pray Chris and I will pass this rich heritage down to our Macee...wow what reasons to be thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so thankful for so many things, I feel so blessed....here is my list of things to be thankful for...

*My friend Jesus

*Chris and Macee
*Chris and Macee being healthy

*My very awesome family....I love the whole crew!

*My friends...that are my family too.

*My awesome neighbors who are now family too...you eat supper here, you become family....your stuck now...besides Amy is a really good cook....I'll be your tester anytime:)

*Chris's music

*Macee's smile, music, her version of a story...

*laughing....

*a great job and wonderful classroom aides in my classroom.

*a new journey for our lives...

Wow I could go on and on and on and on....we are so blessed and so rich, these are just a few that were on the top of the list....

So many things that we take for granted each day, so many things in our lives that remind us just how precious life is. I am looking forward to this new look our life is taking, I miss the Naz and the folks there....kinda sad hearing some of the stuff people have chosen to say about us...that part of it is not always easy to take. Miss the fellowship....but loving some of the new stuff and looking forward to getting the ball rolling.

Anyhow, Happy Thanksgiving...

Adios

Home...

Went home today...my parents live in a little town here in Ohio called St. Paris...it was a beautiful drive, the leaves are just a beautiful thing, I actually enjoyed a 2 hour drive, I was marveling at his glorious wonders....

My sister and her crew where also heading to my dads...I could hardly wait to see everyone..I miss them like crazy...When I got there, being my shy ole' self, I pull into the drive way blaring my horn, making sure everyone knows that the baby of the family has just pulled in...:), Dad had raked a major pile of leaves and then had the trampoline beside them and the kids, (that includes my brother in law, my 15 year old nephew and my dad), were jumping from the trampoline to the pile of leaves...Macee was so excited...this was her first leaf expedition...her and Zay had a great time jumping into the leaves. It was almost making me teary eyed watching them enjoy themselves so much...part of me wondered if it was at all possible that my mom could see any of it...I told the Lord if there were any chance he could just part the clouds and show her that would be great...shortly after that the sun came out...hmmmm.

I had a totally blessed day...got to do some of my very most favorite things...sat around a fire with my dad and sister, talking about life...watched the kids laugh....went shopping at a place called "The Barn"...which is my all time favorite place...it was their Christmas open house...my mom used to take me there...we would spend big bucks every year....it is just such a cool place...Got to see my grandparents, I love them so, and feel so blessed to spend time with them...Before we went shopping we went out to the woods, (my parents house is in the middle of a woods...Zay says "Pappaw lives in the forest not the woods"...)anyhow...it has been a tradition in our family to make grapevine wreaths, today was such a beautiful day, we went out to the woods and started making wreaths. We had not done that since my mom had died. It was my dad, my sister and I, we were enjoying our time together...we laughed...I realized we were all laughing...I cried...bittersweet tears...

Some very simple times together today, much needed for me...

not anything exciting for an outsider looking in...

but well for me...priceless.

Good night.