I feel like this year has just flown by...and Thanksgiving just snuck up on me! I think I got so consumed with the Twilight party that I didn't have room in my brain for anything until that was over.
Jakob had the entire week of school off...which I wasn't really looking forward to -- I know, I know...what a bad mom! -- but it was actually really nice to have such a laid back lazy schedule!
I was able to catch up on some of my photo editing, we went to prehistoric pets, mickey d's, carl's jr. (hey, it rained! and we couldn't go to the park...) and spent Thanksgiving over at Brad's brother's house. I made my traditional green bean casserole (i could eat a whole pan of that stuff!!!) and yummy raspberry jello treat with pretzel crust. It's funny how every year, I get out of making the turkey! I wonder how old I will be before I actually cook a turkey. My friend Vanessa tackled it for the first time, and her's looked quite yummy! Maybe for Christmas I'll try it...oh wait, I forgot - Hanson tradition is the have home-made lasagna and mac-n-cheese for dinner. SOO yummy, but just not normal! MMM it actually sounds really good right now! Anyway...
We ate and ate and ate - ok, I ate and ate and ate - the kids played out back with their cousins and our friends the Van Boerums were there too! It was fun visiting with them and we even played the Wii! Jeff is quite competitive! By 7pm our kids were ready for bed, so we packed up and went home. It was a nice day and I'm glad we have family so close to share holidays with!
I have been thinking about things I am thankful for, and I know I could never list them all - but mostly I am thankful for the abundance of good things in my life - namely: Family, beautiful/amazing children, a husband who works so hard to take care of us and loves me unconditionally, GREAT friends, health, comfortable home, car, food, clothing, safe neighborhood, valiant members of the church who work so hard to serve me and my family, beautiful CA weather, my photog business, jakob's amazing kindergarten teacher, $1.79/gallon gas at Sam's club, etc. etc. etc.
Yesterday Pres. Monson (of our stake presidency) spoke in sacrament meeting and I remember him talking about a family's home that was so bare - he was overcome with emotion and was crying - they thought he was crying tears of joy at their missionary's homecoming - but he was really crying because he felt ashamed at how much he had - and how little they had.
Today, while stopped at a traffic light, a (presumably) homeless man walked across the crosswalk, right in front of me - carrying a sleeping bag and a tattered duffle bag - his hair looked like it had been combed, but it was very long and he had a long scruffy beard, dirty clothes, etc. At that moment, I remembered what pres. Monson said...and I felt overcome - overcome with all that I am blessed with...and yet neglect to thank my Heavenly Father for each day.
My friend Tiffany posted a really nice blog about what she was thankful for (
click here) and it ended with "...count your many blessings, name them one by one..." If you actually tried to sit down and name all of your blessings, how many would you come up with? I think the list would be endless. Because all that we have and all that we are is from the Lord. I owe everything to Him and am so grateful for His atoning sacrifice that allows me to continually learn and grow and strive to be better so that I can one day return to Him.
Here are a few Thanksgiving time pics:
This is Jakob in his Pilgrim outfit on his way to the Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast.
Our good friend Tiffany invited us (and a bunch of other friends!) over to make some yummy apple turkeys - the kids stuck toothpicks in and pushed gumdrops and marshmallows on the toothpicks for feathers. Thanks Tiffany! The boys loved it!
And how could I leave this one out? Yes, I am even thankful for things like this! Life would be so dull and boring without little boys!!!!!!!!!!! Joshy is such a little rascal - but I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE him to pieces!
I've enjoyed reading about all of your Thanksgivings...thanks for sharing!!! I hope everyone out there had a wonderful, relaxing holiday...Christmas is only 24 days away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I couldn't get this image to post any larger and still be readable, so here's what it says:
