count your blessings

Yes, I'm a bit late in posting about our Thanksgiving festivities, but still want to reflect a bit on this very special holiday...because we have so much to be thankful for this year and because Thanksgiving is so quickly forgotten. I love the focus the Thanksgiving holiday brings on gratefulness. "Do everything without complaining or arguing..." Philippians 2:14
Mom's centerpiece at the Thanksgiving table

Our pastor had a wonderful message on Thanksgiving weekend about grumbling. It was so good and I wanted to write down so much...with baby in my arms, it didn't happen. I kept nudging and whispering to Kevin "did you write that down?". :)

The Power of Disposition - Disposition (our mood) determines how much we grumble. Numbers 14 1-10 is the story of the Israelites travelling to the Promised Land. God had just blessed them by freeing them from slavery and they soon quickly forgot that and focused on their present...not so great...circumstances. It's sometimes hard to read that passage and not think "those ungrateful brats!" And then I think about how many times I do the same thing...grumble about my present circumstance...just after God has given and blessed me so much.

I'm Thankful for pumpkin pie and this little pumpkin pie. (Thanksgiving with Grandma S.)
I'm thankful for a wonderful family including a mom & dad that open their home frequently and bless us with their hospitality.
My nephew Jake is a pumpkin pie lover and don't forget the whipped cream!
I'm thankful for nieces & nephews and all the laughter and joy they bring to our family.

Grumblers deal with three types of dispositions:

1. Hyperbole - saying things that are a lot worse than they are.

2. Hollowness - they don't remember what God did for them in the past.

3. Hopelessness

"When you complain, you exhibit the fact that you don't have the knowledge of God within you."
Too much Thanksgiving turkey. :)

I'm thankful for a loving husband and father who participates in family times.

The consequences of grumbling-

What we lose when we complain is exhibited again by the Israelites in Numbers 14: 11-45

11 The LORD said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them? 12 I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they."

26 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: 27 "How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites.

And we all know how the story ends when they ultimately lose the blessing of living in the beautiful land the Lord had promised them.

Grumblers lose:

1.Opportunities God had planned to bless us with.

2.God's Presence which helps us discern wisely.

Basically there are two groups we can choose to be in...

1. Complainers - If you grumble you'll be humbled

2.En-couragers (putting courage into someone) - If you encourage you'll be exalted.

It was unseasonably warm this day as you can see.

I'm thankful for warm November days.
I'm thankful for relaxing Sunday afternoons.

Kindergarten Indian Lunch
I'm thankful for opportunities to watch my kindergartner in his classroom at school.
If only I could slow this special kindergarten year down that is already half over.
I loved attending Caedmon's special Indian lunch at school. I loved listening to the Thanksgiving songs he sang with his class. I loved listening to him recite Psalm 100 that he had been memorizing for the past month.
I loved how he wanted to sit by me and Luca to eat his lunch instead of his friends. :)
When I asked him who he wanted to take a picture with, he said Bryce. Here he is with Bryce and Simon...the two friends he talks about constantly at home.

Thanksgiving Morning


We actually didn't have any plans on Thanksgiving Day this year. My mom had to work and Kevin's parents were out of town. We stayed home the whole day and enjoyed it together with our little family making breakfast, playing games and watching movies.
Daddy's delicious pumpkin pancakes & sausage

Mommy and Luca Time

I'm thankful that God knows exactly what He is doing and I don't. It's amazing how much can change in one short year. I'm thankful for these sweet cheeks to kiss and smell.
We skipped out on the great shopping deals on black Friday and headed to the children's museum in Indy with the family.
Our little brother, Immanuel, came along too.

I love these stroller days when baby takes a nap so easily in there still.
We watched a play with a twist on the wizard of oz.A very fun day!

you belong

Three months old. I've only known you three short months, but it feels like you've been a part of me forever. A part of our family forever. You belong. I'm feeling like housework, laundry and being a mommy of three are all becoming more balanced.
You smile so easily and frequently now. Your smile is like a daily dose of therapy for me. All my cares and frustrations are forgotten when I see that smile of yours. We've also heard your first sweet giggle.You're still in size 0-3 month clothing and are wearing a few 3-6 month dresses. Just switched to size 2 diapers.You've found your hands and are quite entertained just staring at them. You're starting to grasp things.You sleep for 10 hours at night and have dropped the late night feeding. You eat every four hours now and take approximately four feedings of four and a half ounces a day. You still spit-up a lot it seems...as well as the projectile type occasionally.You love your baths and splash. You are trying to talk to us with cooing sounds.You had your first teenager babysitter. She was a very mature teenager. Mom still worried though. You did great!
You are such a happy baby. I love how you wake up happy in the morning and coo and talk until someone comes for you. I love you, sweet baby of mine!

adoption awareness month

In honor of adoption awareness month, I want to post this picture of my three little sweeties who have given me a title I didn't know if I would ever have....Mom.

And in honor of their three birthmothers whom we lift up with high honor and love...

Once strangers, not knowing of each other,

God brought us together

To share a special bond of love

With three sweet little ones named Caedmon, Kaiya & Luca Bella.

You may never understand the pain

Or know the tears I cried.

My heart's desire was for a child

To nurture, love, and guide.

I may never understand the pain

Or know the tears you cried.

You said good-bye to these precious children,

Entrusting me to nurture, love, and guide.

I see your face in their smiles,

And love in their sparkling eyes.

They're the answer to countless prayers,

A blessing to many lives.

No longer strangers,

We share a special bond of love

With a very precious gift

From our God above.

birthday time and saying goodbye

What a joy to get to celebrate our nephew Jeremy's 1st birthday with him while he was in the States. Cousins Kaiya and Karis were off playing together by themselves most of the day...I had to hunt them down for a picture. Caedmon & Jeremy The Greats Great Grandma G. with Luca

Shot Day

Both Kaiya and Luca had to get shots this day. I talked with Kaiya before going about being brave. I told her it was ok to cry, but that she should try to be brave. She had to get three and I was holding her tight, prepared for the tears to come after the first or second shot. No tears...not even wet eyes after all three shots. I was proud of her and surprised. Next was Luca's turn and of course she cried after the first shot and got even louder after the next two....poor poor baby. I've never heard her cry like that before. After the nurse left the room and I was consoling baby, I looked over and Kaiya's eyes were full of tears. I asked her what was wrong and she said she couldn't breathe. She felt so bad for her baby sister that she just couldn't hold it in any longer. What a sweet sister she is.

Happy 34th Birthday, Daddy! We celebrated with a family meal at Bandito's.

Thumbs up to the BEST Dad! I'd Pick You

Dad, if all the fathers

Had lined up one by one,

And God told me to pick,

I'd still choose to be your son.

I'm proud to have a father

Who listens and understands,
Who teaches me and sets fair rules

Without unfair demands.

Dad you are my hero,

My role model in all you do.

So Dad, if I could pick again,

You know I'd still pick you!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Love,

Caedmon

Everything Dad

A little girl needs her daddy

To love her with manly charm,

To soothe her when she's hurt,

And keep her safe from harm.

A girl needs her dad

To show her a man who's good,

To help her make right choices,

As only a father could.

A woman needs her father

Just to be aware,

He'll always be there for her

To sustain her and to care.

You've been all these things, Dad.

I hope that you can see

How much I treasure you:

You mean everything to me.

I Love My Daddy!

Love,

Kaiya

Quote of the Day:

Kaiya: "Mom, Dad's just gonna get too old and die and then you'll just have to take care of us"

Dear Daddy,

One day I may meet my

Prince Charming,

but you will always be my

King.

Love,
Your Princess

Luca Bella

I'm thankful for my husband, Kevin. He follows our pastor's advice and prays for me every morning before he gets out of bed. He works hard to provide for our family so I can stay home and do my dream job. He cares about and plans for our future. He reads my blog and likes my photography. He makes me laugh. He is the best father and takes advantage of teachable moments with patience and love. He doesn't speak negatively about others. He's my best friend and a wonderful godly man.

I love you forever! Happy 34th.

Still going with the CPM machine...six hours a day. Although he's been doing it during the night now so he doesn't have to take any time out during the day.

We had one last family get together with Kevin's brother and his family before they went back home to Costa Rica. Our original plans were to go to a corn maze, but it had closed just a few days before. Uncle Lyndon came to the rescue and gave us a hayride around the farm and through the woods...minus the hay. Kaiya and Karis snuggling to keep warm.Kevin with Luca and Jeremy.Krista and me Time for some jammie snuggle time with Grandpa.Uncle Lyndon and Caedmon starting their goodbyes.
Uncle Kevin and Jeremy starting their goodbyes.
Saying goodbye is never easy...one last picture.
I'm so thankful for Skype, facebook and blogs. It helps keep us connected. We love you guys and miss you already!