Another First...Stitches

Yesterday started out as a just a normal Thanksgiving. Aaron had a rough night so he slept in while Alex and I put up the tree in the living room (1 more to go). Mom and John came over for breakfast and we watched the parade-the whole thing. I have never really been a fan, I'm still not but hey I try to entertain my kid! Aaron and I were dancing and twirling around and I put him down and just about that time he lost his balance and fell onto the stool in front of the fish tank. OUCH! He cried for less than a minute and then went about playing, singing and wrestling with Daddy. This was around 11:00-keep that in mind.

At 1:00 I got dressed and started to get Aaron dressed when I was combing his hair he screamed, so I finally looked at his head. I proceeded to find quite a gash smack in the middle of the back of his head. I camly called Alex to come up and he immediately decided we were going to the ER. We called Mom and got dinner out on hold and off we went.

He did amazing in the ER. He ended up with 5 stitches and actually fell asleep while they were putting them in. We headed straight to Mom's to eat and then went to Krissy's to see their new tree. It is quite gorgeous! Today Dad and Sandy are coming. Krissy is cooking her first ever Thanksgiving dinner for Tish's family. Yesterday I realized that I will never partake in the cooking of a turkey as it is just plain grose. In addition, the onion and celery that was cooking at her house for the dressing made me want to barf. So, this year I am thankful becasue she spent a lot of time at Mom's learning everything and is willing to carry it on when the time comes-THANK YOU KRISSY!

I hope that you all had a great day with your families.

Thanksgiving Plans

So far this week has been really great. Monday I work I co-facilitated a class at work that I have been wanting to facilitate and it went really well. Slowly I will get to where I want to be. I just need to be patient. I know, me and that word are really friends huh?

Yesterday and today I am "off" from work because Denise went to Wisconsin. We didn't have anyone to keep Aaron so I took a vacation day and am working from home for the other 8 hours. I am not sure how people really work at home with kids there, becasue it is hard for me. I wait until he naps and goes to bed to get the majority of things done. I wasn't planning for this so I have a lot of work to do before my class starts Monday. My DAY class that is-woohoo!

Tonight Alex gets off early so we are going to Mom's for subs and to decorate her Santa tree. Alex helps with that tree every year so she has been waiting on him to come and help. I think we will start to get the dressing and turkey as well. My goal this year is to learn exactly how to make those 2 things so that I could actually make Thanksgiving dinner some day.

Tomorrow we will go to Mom's after we wake up and have breakfast. More than likely everyone will come over here for bacon, eggs and hashbrowns and then we will lounge for a while. Hmmm, maybe we will even get up the last of our trees. We only have 2 left-Andy's and the one in the living room. After that, the rest of the day will be just lazy for sure.

Friday Dad and Sandy are coming for the day and Saturday they will head to Krissy's. I am not sure what we will do other than hang out and play with Aaron.

I wish so much that Alex's parents were going to be here. It would be really nice to have them here for a holiday. This year we look forward to next year becasue the kids will be here-woohoo!

I pray that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and are able to have special times with your families. Lots and lots of love to you!

A lesson from Aaron...

Last night I was walking upstairs with Aaron to give him a bath and he said, "God is testing me". I asked him to repeat what he said so I could be sure and then asked him why God was testing him. He said, "When I am afraid of the dark God is testing me".

WOW! I was speechless for a moment and then went into the little speech we give him about God protecting him and letting him know that God watches out for him and is always right beside him. I am not sure where he got the testing part, but I was floored.

And the pain is still raw

This has been a rough Don week....

1. Sunday Dan came down to hang out, see Aaron and of course eat whatever was in the fridge-sound like someone you may know? It is always really good to see him, but man it just stings at the same time. I am sure that it does for him as well. He is such a good kid, trying to find his way and I try to give him the best advice I can. It is probably cleaner and more adult like that what he was used to with Don, but still I try.

2. Wednesday night I dropped and cracked into several pieces a hot tea mug that Don gave me. Technically it is a coffee mug, but he gave it to me for my tea. It is corny with bears on it and rather ugly but it is SO darn special. Thankfully, Alex fixed it enough to get it back together but I won't be able to drink out of it.

3. A text from Collin came with a picture of the grave marker that was laid this week. Fresh. Raw. Pain. Hurt. Anxiety. Dread. Slapped. Torn. Broken. Those are a few words that come to mind.

4. I talked to Dan tonight and the tears just fell. We were talking about Don and then Collin. Ah! It hurts so-I will leave it at that.

5. Tomorrow, oh tomorrow. We are going up to Peachblow Rd. to spend the day with Don and Sheree. We will start off by going to the cemetary together. That I am having a hard time grasping. I can think of the first time I met them thinking to myself there is a possibility that these people could be my in-laws(funny how we hrils are). Can you imagine? That was in the first week of me and Don dating! Now I am going to his grave with them. It just sickens me.

Oh I miss him so much. I miss sharing things with him. I miss it all-even ALL the annoying things. He was so honest and true. He made tears dry. He made smiles shine. He made days brighter. He made things funny. He didn't hurt people. He made my life better.

Let it Snow!

I was so excited to wake up this morning to the first sight of snow! I absolutely love it. It is so pretty, romantic and snuggly. It just makes me smile from the inside, I wish there was MORE!

I got some not so re-assuring news at work today about my schedule, but what can I do? I know in my heart that God has a plan and it will work out the way he intends it to. Until then, I will continue to pray for the following:
1. Peace in my heart.
2. My husband to continue to be so loving and supportive.
3. My son to continue to be the adaptable kid he is.
4. My mom and sister to continue to help pick up the adaptable kid.
5. The dogs to be OK with it to.
6. The ability to adapt to it.
7. Me to keep my job.
8. A prize at the end (kidding)

So THANK YOU if you have been praying for me and please continue to do so for the above.

Yesterday was an amazing day here. We went to church and I had a really amazing moment while praying at the altar-hence my uplifted mindset today. I keep telling you all that God is good all the time and all the time God is good! We took our class to lunch and it was insane, but oh so much fun! To be 13 again huh?

I just love my life. I am so thankful for my relationship with God and the blessings I have been given. When you get a note from a kids Mom that says "Thank you for loving my kid and being an influence in her life" it goes more than a mile. I am blessed and thankful.

Off to fix dinner!

Hi.

Life has been a real whirl wind lately. I feel that we are busy, but cherishing the moments as they go. Every single day is a blessing that we are thankful for. I just got home from work-fun huh? Hey-as least there is a job to come home from. That is a true blessing right now. It could be worse-you know?

I am so tired from this week of changing my schedule. I cannot seem to get anyone to understand how draining it is emotionally and physically. Anyone that really knows me knows that all I dream of in my life is taking care of my family and that doesn't just mean my kids. I want to have family time and eat dinner together. I want to play and do activities as a family. I want my children to know what its like to have parents that loved them together as a family and for them to have an understanding of what family means to me and Alex. Well, guess what. When your schedule changes that doesn't happen. Alex has to change his schedule, Mom or Krissy have to pick up Aaron and we don't see each other from 7am to 9:30pm. I know that some women would be happy with that, but not me. I love my husband and I miss him. I miss family time. I miss having dinner together. I am so sad and overwhelmed by it. I am so tired from it. I want it to stop. HOWEVER...I am thankful, very thankful that I have a job. I just want to not work the nights or I want to be able to better plan for it and for it to be less frequent. It is driving me crazy right now.

Our small group is going really well. We are doing the Purpose Driven Life study. This past weekend we celebrated Thanksgiving at the Russell's and Alex and I ran the study. Next month it is at our house so. Woohoo! Sunday we are taking our class to Mongolian BBQ-there are 18 signed up. WHOA!

Aaron is awesome. He is so smart and cute. He is loving and fun.
Alex is all the same to be honest, just more on the handsome side.

Ace-ARGH! He is chewing things still. Nothing too major. We will see what happens with him.
Abbie is perfect!

Good night! Please continue to pray for me around my job. I need to be able to handle this better-I know that!

Also-please pray for our friend Lisa. She is having a really hard time right now with the passing of another friend. Life has definitely dealt her a handful this year. She is someone that is truly special to both Alex and I and she is part of our family. Gallygirl-WE LOVE YOU!!!

Adjusting and Blessed

We are adjusting this week to Alex's new work schedule. He is working 4 10 hour shifts and will have Fridays off. It is a big adjustment for all of us. I now pick Aaron up every day and we are still trying to figure out the dinner thing. We are really big on eating together as a family so we have to adjust to new timing.

Today at work was really tough. DSW eliminated many positions today and I am blessed to report that I was not one of those people. My heart is so very heavy for those who were effected and for their families. Please pray for all of them.

Life is such an amazing thing. You never know what is going to happen. I have major anxiety every dingle day of my life that I am going to lose my job and it is driving me to the point of misery. I feel so guilty that I have so much anxiety because I have so much Faith. If I truly believe should I really feel like this? I was blesses again today with a call from my amazing friend Michele. She is such a strong Christian and a role model for me. She truly was a driving force in me wanting to be a better Christian. We talked for a while and she made me feel so much better.

I hope you are all doing well. Continue your prayers for my peave of mind. Lots of love!

With Fall comes the Pumpkin Patch

My whole life I have loved Fall. Maybe from back home where there are hills and endless sights of beautiful trees with leaves changing colors. Maybe it is the fact that sweatshirts and warm comfy pants are the norm. Whatever it is, it makes my happy. I have been going to Rennick's for years. It now takes on such a different meaning when we get in the van and have a Family Day-it makes my world everything. I love days that I spend with just us and relish in the memories we are making. The ONLY thing that would make them better is Andy and Ashley being here with us.

I love this man!

Don't be jealous that he is sooooo cute!

2 missing Grandpa's in this picture!

3 of the 6 Aces!

Can you carry them all?

Such beauty

In the simple things