Thanksgiving photos

Our Thanksgiving started last Sunday.


We had a great time at church with our Bayview family sharing in worship, food and testimony.

I forgot my camera, so this is a photo from my phone.
My deepest apologies to Maddy, I didn't mean to cut off your face.

The boys had school M-W, which was a change for us.
We had the whole week off in San Diego for Thanksgiving.

The baking started on Wednesday, and we got to see a Seabee friend passing through,
Mike Monreal from NMCB-11.  The BUZZ CLUB baked up loads of sweet treats for the Seabees
that are deployed here from Gulfport, Mississippi and I know the troops were thankful for a homemade
cookie / brownie treat!! 


Thursday was spent with the Gillams.  They came over early afternoon and we ate about 2:30.
Sam and Maddy were both a bit under the weather, but that didn't stop her in the kitchen! 

She asked me to do the BIG BIRD in my oven and she did the rest.
(*for a video of Zion helping with the turkey..........click here

Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Dressing
Sweet Potato Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
Ham

I don't think I have mentioned before, but Sam is not American, (she's Canadian)
But really, you would think she has been cooking American Thanksgiving her whole life.

(I can't wait until Christmas.........20 some odd days, and we will do it all again)

A great day

great food

great friends

We are so thankful!

They were playing some kind of pretend vampire game.  (That's Maddy's coffin)
(for a few pictures from Sam's blog with Thorntons in it............click here!)

On Friday after Thanksgiving, we also hung out with the Gillams.

The DADS were at the Gillams watching the A&M game.

The kids and moms at the Thorntons.

Kids = playing

Sam and I - scrapbooking.

We have been scrapbooking once a week now for at least a month.

We used to do this once a week back in Panama City Beach in 2004 with another buddy, Chris Lewis.

It is a little piece of joy in my life to scrapbook, and spend time with Sam.
Double bonus! 

She has talked me into doing an album called, December Daily

It will be CAKE for Sam - (she's really so organized)

and will require an extra bottle of TUMS for me. 

But, she knows I don't back down from a challenge............so here I go!!!

I said, "WHAT?"

They say opposites attract.

There are some things that Mike and I have in common,
but mostly, we don't.

For example:   I talk 100 MPH to anything.
(just ask my friend Sam: she recently commented on how much I talk to my dog)

So I am famous for sticking my foot in my mouth.
(everyone that knows me just chuckled, I heard it)

But Mike is really good at thinking before he speaks.

And usually, when he says something, it is straight and to the point and accurate.

We banter back and forth every year (all in good fun) about putting up the Christmas decorations.

Mike leans toward "Scrooge" and I lean toward, "Macy's"

We have to meet in the middle -
which usually means, as long as I don't ask him to do too much,
"go for it". 

So last Tuesday as I joke about putting up the Christmas tree soon........he gives me the eye roll and the what for.

I replied, "Because I love Christmas and it just makes me happy"

He retorted, "Well, by all means, if it makes you happy, leave it up all year"

(He didn't think about THAT one)

The tree is up.......it went up LAST week!

YES, before Thanksgiving.

SO HAPPY!  

good bye little scarecrow, see you next fall

it's a process

Ellie helps with decorating

Zion

Maddy - giving directions!  :)

See there - it makes EVERYONE happy! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Christmas

We are THANKFUL - Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving
from the Thorntons

Posted here is Megan's Thankful tree.

and Heather's here.

and then the Thorntons - sad, little Oriental Trading Company Tree.

Whatever.......we are still thankful!  :)


Here are just a few of the things that the boys wrote on their leaves this year......

Zion - home, food, Guam, Harvest church, and Jesus dying on the cross for our sins.

Isaac - Mia, (our dog) food

Michael - Mia and my friends

Melda - healthy, growing boys:  that we are all together this year, and our home in Guam.

Mike - the Gillam family, short commute to work, Bayview Church, warm ocean water, our big house, and the Orphan Ministry


But most of all, I am thankful for what these photos represent for our boys.



Michael's baptism



New life

Eternal life

Because everyone will live forever,  somewhere



Isaac's baptism



because it is something we didn't earn

or work for

or inherit

or deserve

we are most thankful



Zion's baptism



For while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.



I am THANKFUL (day 6)

I am thankful for clean water.

Sound too simple?

Listen to this video about water.

I am THANKFUL (day 5)

I am thankful that we have everything we need and more.

Did you know that the average salary across the earth is only $2 American dollars per day?

How much do YOU make per day?

Can you live without it?

I encourage you to donate it ........ watch one day's wages

I am THANKFUL (day 4)

for my home



tent city in Haiti - how people live 10 months after the earthquake



I am THANKFUL (day 3)

I am thankful for my dishwasher.

Read about washing dishes in Haiti here