Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year we had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We spent the morning with my parents who had come up north to spend the Thanksgiving weekend with my grandparents. We climbed into the car and drove 30 minutes to have Thanksgiving. Karlee had a great time at Great Grandma Jenkins home. She played with very same toys that I remember playing when I was a young girl. They just don't make toys the way they used to. Dinner was amazing, Some of my Thanksgiving dinner favorites are: mom's turkey stuffing, cranberry salad, frog eye salad, sesame salad, and dinner rolls. If you noticed we get a lot of salads at thanksgiving time, which are just so amazing. I will have to post these here so they are kept safe for posterity. hahaha. We had a nice afternoon there with my family, we visited with my grandparents, aunts & uncles and cousins.

Our little family - So Blessed!

Karlee hanging out in the kitchen.

We were then off to our 2nd Thanksgiving dinner with Rob's family. They always have their Thanksgiving dinner, at well, dinner time. We had a nice break between the two or I am not sure how we could have done the two dinners. (Yes we paced ourselves, knowing that we would be attending both.) Thanksgiving this year was held at Rob's parents house so again it was a short drive. Dinner was wonderful, turkey, potatoes, gravy, corn, and sweet potatoes, rolls. There was a lot of family there as well, so it was fun to catch up and visit with everyone.

We have so many things to be thankful for this year, new job, Karlee, our health, both our families, the gospel, our little home, food on the table and in our pantry, and the blessings each new day brings. We had a GREAT Thanksgiving Day!!!

1st Snow fall of many, I fear...

November 14, 2010

It has decided to snow with just a couple days to go before Thanksgiving. Looks so funny to see my poor little pumpkin out front just covered with snow - Poor thing! hahaha. Can't say that I am too anxious for this kind of weather to come, however that the winter up north for ya, so I will try to embrace come what may.

Karlee made me laugh... (Karlee standing at the door, pointing at the snow covered lawn.)

Karlee: Mommy, whats that?

Me: Thats snow, Karlee.

Karlee: Oh Snow! - I want some. (to eat of course)

Karlee wanted so badly to go out into the snow, so we bundled her up. She had so much fun. Good think the weather today was warmer than it has been, I know that helped. Karlee got her shovel, and walked all around the backyard. She only came in with 1 glove, I guess we will have to wait until the snow melts to find the match.

Oh to be a child again and not get cold, while playing.

Bring it on... Karlee thinks it amazing and thinks it tastes good too.

November Decor

I am documenting my Holiday Home Decor, so that I can enjoy them longer than just the month that they are out - but seriously, I haven't taken pictures of them, and so I forget some of what I have.

I love November and all the fall colors that we get to use to decorate with. The 3 little turkey pilgrim set I made many years ago, they still are not completely finished, one day though. The pumpkin is the reversable jack-o-lanturn from Halloween, I stained it to give it more tecture. The wooden pilmgrims are new this year. My sister and I each got a set at the wood connection and then painted them one afternoon. The garland is one of my new loves. I have spent hours making them this month. I just love all the different colores it brings into the room..

My two pilgrim were a gift from a special friend in St. George (thanks jamie). I just love them. My Happy Thanksgiving blocks are a perfect match to the pilgrims. The two pumpkins I made with my aunt Jen. She is so talented, and creative - so thank you as well.

The fall blocks here are reversable. They spell snow on the other side. (I will bring those out in January). My turkey is also semi-new to my decor, he was really bright and loud, so I stained him, which helped to blend him better.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Adoption has filled my heart

Adoption is such a blessing to our little family. Seriously not a day goes by that I don't look at our little Karlee and think how blessed I am. I am so blessed to have been entrusted with this beautiful child of our Heavenly Father's. I also think of the special people who have made life changing decisions so that we could have Karlee in our family. I pray for them, that they have peace in their hearts and that they are living a happy life as well.

Each new day with Karlee is a gift to experience with her. Karlee is at such a fun stage in life, that I try to soak it all up before its gone. I tell her that I love her, and she tells me that she loves me too. I give her hugs, sit and listen to her tell me how good she slept, so darn precious. We get to read books together, eat popcorn (her favorite treat - right now), play princess, and rock-a-bye her babies. So much Fun!!!! I am loving every minute of it.

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One song that comes to mind for me with Adoption is the song written by Michael McLean, From God's arms to my arms, to yours. The words are so perfect, and bring a tear to my eyes everytime I hear it.

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The only way that I can express what adoption means to me is that:

Adoption has filled my Heart.

Here are the words to this beautiful song:

From God's arms, to my arms, to yours

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So many wrong decisions in my past,

I'm not quite sure

If I can ever hope to trust my judgement anymore.

But lately I've been thinking,

Cause it's all I've had to do.

And in my heart I feel that I

Should give this child to you.

And maybe, you could tell your baby,

When you love him so,

that he's been loved before,

By someone, who delivered your son,

From God's arms, to my arms, to yours.

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If you choose to tell him,

If he wants to know,

How the one who gave him life

Could bear to let him go.

Just tell him there were sleepless nights,

I prayed and paced the floors,

And knew the only peace I'd find,

Was if this child was yours.

And maybe, you could tell your baby,

When you love him so,

that he's been loved before,

By someone, who delivered your son,

From God's arms, to my arms, to yours.

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This may not be the answer,

For another girl like me.

But I'm not on a soapbox,

Saying how we all should be.

I'm just trusting in my feelings,

And I'm trusting God above,

And I'm trusting you can give this baby

Both his mothers' love.

And maybe, you could tell your baby,

When you love him so,

that he's been loved before,

By someone, who delivered your son,

From God's arms, to my arms, to yours.

(This poem was based on the writings of a young birth mother, whom she shared with songwriter Michael McClean. It has been set to music and comes with a 100% guarantee that no one who has been involved with adoption in any way will make it all the way through with dry eyes! )

© Michael McLean