We had such a great Thanksgiving! Not only did we have 16 people over to our house for a pot-luck style dinner, but we had such a good time hanging out. After dinner (which was amazing! We had a smoked turkey AND a roaster turkey!), we went around and shared something we were thankful for. Of course, I got teased for coming up with the idea (apparently lots of grandma’s do that kind of thing so they affectionatly called me grandma the rest of the evening). After that, we sat in the living room and had a wonderful time of laughing. We then decided to play Cranium. Because of the potpourri of people we had over, there wasn’t a dull moment. And I laughed so hard a few times! My sister in law, Bekah, is pregnant and is going through the phase where when you get laughing, you can’t stop, and she gets this really cute high-pitched laugh when she really gets going. I love it! And Ryan…well…Ryan will probably be the one we remember the most because immediately following dinner, he fell asleep on the floor, snuggled up against the back of my couch amidst all of the ruckus. And he slept for what must have been an hour. And after he woke, I dont think he stopped eating until he went to bed. And because of his lack of sleep from the two previous nights, he was quite loopy, and so hilarious. I love my friends and family! Luke and Bri provided some great comic relief too. Our friends Jen, Joni, Anne, and Beth came too and we had a grand old time just eating and being in each others’ company. I will never forget that day with my friends and family and some of the jokes we shared. You guys are so special to me and I truly enjoyed having you over to my house that day. Joel and I are truly blessed to have you in our lives. And I MEAN THAT! 
Random pic Friday: This is at my going-away party in Kansas City with the Healing Room staff
Happy Turkey day, people! Inspired from my friend Lora, I’m going to write a list of things I’m thankful for:
1. That God gave His Son so that I might live!
2. My amazing sons, Rowan and Asher.
3. Pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread from Beth
4. My hubby and our romance!
5. my amazing family and friends
6. a house, food and clothing
7. Chocolate
8. Lora
9. ZHOP
10. and lastly, steak.
11. Oh, and cheesy worship music. Some days, there ain’t nothing better than some good ol’ Hillsongs.
I’m so thankful that Jesus is alive and that He hears me when I pray. He is my hope and salvation! Thank you, God.
I know this is my second blog promoting Above Rubies, but seriously, it’s worth it. I’ve been doing the Power of Motherhood Bible study the past few days and it is totally wrecking my heart for this calling on my life. I am realizing every time I look at the pages or go to the website that I am in desperate need of daily encouragement in this area. I never thought that just reading something would get me excited to have lots and lots of kids! The Lord said “be fruitful and multiply” so many times in the Bible, and I was never really too interested in the ‘multiply’ing part of it until I multiplied twice! And now, even though my youngin’s are so young and close together, I feel encouraged and even empowered to keep on this path. What a great honor to raise up a generation that will fight the enemy and bring light to the earth! I feel like we, as women, don’t believe that our womb is as important as it really is. Do you realize that the most wonderful thing that has ever been on earth came from a women’s womb? the Lord Himself! I am starting to understand more every time I pray and ponder this that it is my destiny. It is why God made my body the way it is. With a reproductive system, means to nourish my baby after they’re born, a motherly instinct, a tendancy to nurture and be emotionally sensitive, and so on. I will be quite candid with you: i have wondered in the past if I am cut out for this mom thing. But I no longer wonder that. I’m not saying that I think I’m an amazing mother, but I do know that I am called to this and therefore must be cut out for it!
Sometimes people ask me “How many kids to plan on having?”. I used to say “maybe 4 or 5.” Now, I can say with almost full confidence that I want to have as many BLESSINGS as the Lord wants to give me.
