My Heart's Desire: December 2009

The Elf on the Shelf

Who can resist this little guy? The Elf on the Shelf has become one of our most favorite Christmas traditions...our Elf, "Elfie," (original, I know) arrives the day after Thanksgiving straight from the North Pole. Each night, he flies BACK to the North Pole to report to Santa on the kids. The next morning, he has landed in a new spot, only to be searched for and found by the kids! He has wound up in some priiii...ty funny places, I tell ya! Oh, and no touching Elfie, else he will lose his magic!!

Okay, look where this crazy little guy landed on morning! Right smack dab in the middle of a glass full of beads upside down! They stick to ya, so check him out the NEXT day!

Here he is the day after the bead incident...in the fridge! We think he must have been a little homesick for the North Pole, poor guy! Maddie reminded me that I could NOT touch him, so no turkey sandwich for mommy that day! It took days for the beads to fall off his clothes...he left a little trail the next couple of days!

Thanksgiving Parties

A few shots of the big kids' Thanksgiving celebrations from school. They have their celebrations off-campus so it's a fun day out for them!

Friends

I love this picture of John David's class sitting on the fallen tree!

Is this front yard not every kid's dream yard? Or maybe it's mama's dream yard:)

I had to snap this shot of these sweet babies about to bless their food

Now THIS turkey wins the award! Made out of rice krispie treats and fruit-rollups! She even has painted toenails!!

Maddie and one of her best buds Caroline

This cool swing is tire-parts fashioned into a "horsey"...maybe I can transplant an amazing oak tree into my backyard for one of these? So adorable and fun

Thanksgiving

Where has the last month gone?!! Dutch woke me at 5:22 am today and no chance of me getting back to sleep...David was already up, too, so why not?! It is a guarantee I will feel like Santa's sleigh has hit me head-on later...but I'll enjoy the quiet while it lasts! My poor little blog needs some TLC since I haven't darkened its door in a month...

Thanksgiving...wasn't that just last week? David and I hosted my family this year and we had a house FULL! My mom and Dad, Katie and Brad and Braden!! Braden is Katie's new little guy and was only 8 months when he was here...and that little turkey took his first steps in my house over the holiday! Don't think I've ever seen it or heard of it...8 months and walking? Gates and plug covers are in order overnight:)

Thanksgiving was especially poignant this year for our family, as we had so many things to be thankful for...always we do...but you know, there are some years the blessings and heartaches affect your families in more pronounced ways. First, we welcomed Katie's little boy Braden into our lives in March! You will see him below and he is a keeper:) Then Katie's husband, Brad, was diagnosed with kidney cancer and endured many weeks of surgery, procedures, and in and out hospital stays...yet God has answered a resounding YES to health and life!! Shortly after, David lost his job of nearly 11 years at Abbott, and after 4 months, He provided a job for us at Sprint doing nearly the same work with little travel and an office up the street. We are thankful not only for job provision, but for the heartache and pain...for it was a rich time for our family, we got LOTS of time with David, and we experienced peace and the true meaning of faith despite the fear and sadness, like never before! More things to be thankful for...Maddie has been blessed with a terrific teacher who has brought out Maddie's gifts, encouraged her, and helped us discover exactly how God created her...to watch her blossom as a student and a young lady has been a great joy and many prayers answered! Our list, as well as yours, could go on and on, and these are a few of our highlights of thanksgiving!

Mimi and Bo with the kiddos