Giving Thanks

Only a tad bit late on this post. I had plans to take pictures of my
guests on Thanksgiving day and have this neat post highlighting each
person. Well I was too busy enjoying the fellowship that I almost forgot
the camera. We invited Son#1 and his wife. My parents. And then some
inmates of the Ronald M*Donald House.
Really we felt very privileged to spend our Thanksgiving with such
special people. The kids had a blast. They barely pulled out any
toys...mostly played with a tablet of paper, folded into paper
airplanes. The big boys played Chi*ese chess. We got to see an amazing
bundle of pins and hardware that were part of FX's external fixator.
Made Joseph's face turn slightly pale....his fixator was nothing
compared to that thing!
As to Thankfulness!
Thankful that there was only a "little" water in the basement on Wed.
morning and most of it was dry by Thurs evening.
Thankful for a house roof that even after 25 years...does not leak !
Thankful for the one year anniversary of Joseph's adoption.
Thankful that there are NO surgeries on the schedule...just therapy.
Thankful for a new daughter-in-law....so far the MIL role is a cinch!
Thankful for Hope who is blossoming into a young woman (moods and all)
but also the positive side...willing and able to help in the kitchen.
Thankful for oldest son who is taking on his role of husband quite well...
Thankful for Faith that livewire that gives out hugs and little notes
that say "I love you, mom and dad" She knows how to read....and
read....and read!
Thankful for Ben...who can step in and help distract or encourage a
certain younger brother when he needs it. And who is just becoming a
nice young man.
Thankful for Ezekiel...Growing up way too fast, suddenly taller than I.
Oh and that quirky sense of humor. Me: "Relax Joseph, you're too
tense"...Zeke: "more like "two tents and a sleeping bag."
And of course the patriarch of this family, what would I do without the
stabilizing influence? His common sense and trust in God, keep this
family on it's course.
...then there are
flannel sheets
Kitchen Aid mixers
sewing machines
mystery novels
chocolate brownies
toast and peanut butter
clean floors
blue skies
mail in the mailbox
e-mail from friends
comments on the blog
dreams that are not true
dreams that do come true
There is more, but my brain needs a bed. Hope you had a wonderful
Thanksgiving!

Our Sabbath

Yesterday morning when Big brother #2 was getting dressed for church

he said "Hey mom, look at this."

He showed me his leg....

Yep the target rash that you hear about with Lyme's Disease. We e-mailed
a picture to the doctor on call and she called in a script to Wa*mart.
Assured us that the rash is a very early sign and antibiotics should
take care of it.... I pray she is right

We had a wonderful sermon on "Believing God's Truths" about really
honestly believing what God says is true even when "circumstances and
feelings" make us look around at the "waves" and we want to ask "Master
do you care that we perish?" Mark 4 was the scripture that the
minister used for an illustration.
I have this feeling we will need to keep being reminded of this in the
coming weeks and months...

Then as I was making lunch....we had fireworks....suddenly a loud
electrical buzzing and fire shot out from under my kettle...my cooking
is not that bad! We turned off the burner and the burner indicator
light stayed on. We looked at the underside of the burner after it
cooled....this is what we saw. The burner blew a hole...Rats! I was
hoping this stove would go on another 24 years. Replacing a burner and
the switch would probably cost 1/4 the price of a new stove....for now I
will work on 3 burners.

 

After lunch we drove to Philly to meet some special friends. We were
paper pregnant together and became parents together in a room in
Yang*hun, C*ina. It is so neat to get the girls together and watch them
grow. One of the four families has moved so we don't get to see them
very often, but the bond between us is special. Then one of the mom's
came carrying a big blue bag....full of boy stuff!! They had a shower
for us (sniff) thanks guys....older adoptions don't quite get the same
notice as baby additions.

 

What an up and down day! Oh yeah, remember the sermon..."feelings do not equate facts"

So I will remember the good stuff and be thankful...we saw the rash (they fade quickly)...and there are 3 working burners on the stove. And of course, good friends.

As I'm typing this the dog got sprayed by a skunk....do I need to use
all my tomato juice for a doggy bath tonite??!! I think she will sleep
on the porch for now...this lady needs her bed.