Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm sitting here on the couch, in my jammies, with a cup of chai, Lucy next to me watching Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. This is what it's all about right? Henry is asleep (for the moment...he seems to have a cold, which at least for last night was probably the reason he wouldn't sleep), and Tim is doing his own thing. Soon my folks will be here to share the day with us for the first time in many years. It's a time to contemplate. We've been focusing on Thankfulness all month, by adding to our "Thankful tree" taped to our family room wall. Each of us say what we're thankful for, including Henry, (Lucy usually translates for him!) and add our handprint/leaf to the tree. It's getting bigger! We'll continue thru November, not ending today. Then we can start some kind of advent countdown on December 1st. Here's our tree as of this morning.

Lucy likes taping to them to the wall, but sometimes the thankful heart is just not there. A couple of times when I've asked her what she's thankful for, the grumpy girl reveals her heart in the moment: "I'm not thankful for anything!". Isn't that how we are? Even in the midst of abundance, we have moments when we can't see the big picture; when we don't even want to look for goodness in our lives. I can relate. But it's my job to model and guide my kids (and myself, and even my husband a little) to a place of seeking thankful hearts...looking for the silver lining....and even when nothing comes to mind to thank God for the bad times...if for no other reason then to appreciate even more the good days. It's been a good project to reveal some weaknesses and strengths in our family.

Much of our grown up thankfuls have been around the adventures we've had this fall in buying a house, selling our old house (still pending, but looking good!), buying a new car, trading in the "old" car, and finding deals to fill our house with furniture and design eager to create a hospitable and cozy environment. We've had our first party, dinner guests, weekend/overnight guests, play dates, and even our first storm that knocked over a HUGE tree branch (more like a whole tree)that flew at our window but fell to the ground before causing any damage. Lots of opportunity for thanks.

And of course, growth and milestones are always opportunities to stop and see where we've been.

Henry's 6 month photo shoot....the least blurry pic since he's so roly-poly these days. He can sit on his own for a few seconds. He can roll over both ways but usually chooses to yell on his tummy instead of rolling over.

And Henry's laughter and kisses fill my thankful heart much of the time!

Lucy had fun this fall: Pumpkins and Halloween filled her chatter. She had 3 costumes (borrowed, new and last year's) that she enjoyed playing dress up at home all month. That's not even mentioning the matching jammy game!

I end this post with Lucy raking the leaves at our new house, and a bed of leaves at the local park. Also, one of Lucy's Bible verses. We've started an A-Z letter focus each week, including some coloring, themes, library books with that letter, even some baking. I'm impressed with Lucy's ability to memorize and her enthusiasm for Bible verses. We've had one for A, B and C so far. Her favorite, and the shortest, is applicable as my benediction: "Be kind to one another"!!!