Our Family Thanksgiving

A Thanksgiving in South Texas!

Not what Kirk and I (born and raised northerners) are used to! Something is just weird for us having weather in the mid 80's at the end of November... wearing shorts.... no signs of fall leaves, but instead tropical flowers still in bloom.

It's strange, but fun at the same time!

Here are some family photos of our Thanksgiving 2008.

Teri (me) waiting with Kirk for the deep fryer to heat up... Notice the flowers?

Kirk is the "master" at deep fried turkeys!

Andrew is helping cook the bird.

Jessie is a great little helper! mmm-mmm, candied sweet potatos!

Joe surprised us with a "flower" he picked from the backyard.

Getting our feast ready to eat...

Each person in our family wrote down three things they are thankful for. We went around the table and shared.

Kelsie had fun with Jessie and Joe by making a variety of Christmas decorations to use to decorate their bedrooms. What a GREAT BIG "SISSY" you are, Kelsie!

Our kitty, Mocha, hears a critter we have trapped in the wall... Not sure if she would know what to do with it if she caught it... don't really want to find out, either!

Thankfulness

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

I love this verse (1 Thessalonians 5:18)!

It was one I memorized years ago, and meditate on frequently as God convicts me when I'm behaving unthankful OR when my attitude is filled with gratitude.

As we approach this "Thanksgiving" week,

I reflect on the many things I'm thankful for.

I challenge all my friends and family to do the same...

make a list if of ALL the things you're thankful for...

you might be surprised how truly blessed you really are; I know I was.

OUR FAMILY TRADITION:

At the Thanksgiving dinner table we go around the table and each person shares what they are thankful for...

... and, throughout the entire year, we play "hi - lo" as a family at the dinner table. This is a great way we share our day with eachother, expressing 3 "hi's" (good things) and 1 "lo" (not-so-good thing) about the day.

Happy Thanksgiving, EVERYONE!

(Thanksgiving family photos to follow)

Another weekend gone by!

Wow, where has the week and week-end gone! It has truly been a "blur" with most everyone in my house having been "under the weather" with some sort of illness from Monday thru Sunday (yesterday)... I was "down and out" yesterday with body aches and tiredness. And today, my oldest child, Kelsie, is staying home from school from being sick all weekend. Hopefully once she's recovered, we'll all be on the road to complete health again. As a mom, I feel so helpless when my family is sick. I pray for them, make them as comfortable as possible, and am extremely thankful for Tylonal and other pain medication products to help take the edge off.

As I was laid up yesterday not feeling well, I watched A LOT of HGTV. It was relaxing and a treat to "veg out" soaking in the different topics of home improvement... many of the shows I watched focused around "how to sell your house". I have to admit, watching these shows made me really inspired to get serious about "de-cluttering", updating certain areas, repainting, and "staging" my house. I figure if I start this process now, I'll be able to enjoy the fruit of my labor as the many tasks I need to do in the house will get done. As I begin the process now, the house will look great by summer 2011 when we will most likely be selling and moving away. Honestly, I'm ready to move away from here today!!! Corpus Christi just doesn't feel like home. We've lived in Texas 2 1/2 years and as hard as I've tried to make this experience in Corpus feel like a "home", it hasn't. HUMMMM, what's up with that? Well, being the expert "mover" that I've become (moving to over 16 addresses over the past 20 years; husbands' military career), I have the answer to "why this doesn't feel like home", but the answer is too long, that I will save it for another Blog some other day.

Prayer: Lord, help me be content right where you've put me. Help me understand that this void I'm experiencing of not feeling at "home" in Texas will serve your purposes. Thank you Lord for providing my every need and being my Everything. You are mighty and sovereign, Lord... I praise you and love you with all that I am. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

SPIKE IT!

When you hear the phrase,

"SPIKE IT",

what do you think of?

Do you think of...

...Driving a volleyball over the net into your opponents face?

...Sneaking alcohol in the punch bowl or a soft drink?

...Creating a hair-style that stands straight up in a cool way?

...Maybe you're a guy, and "SPIKE IT" means using the remote control to change to your favorite TV "man channel"...


For me, a gardener, it recently meant pounding fertilizer SPIKES into the ground 2 feet from the trunk area of each tree and shrub in my yard.

This past weekend I SPIKED over 30 fertilizer spikes in my back yard getting my landscape ready for fall/winter. As I slammed my rubber mallet down multiple times with each spike, I pondered how the phrase, "SPIKE IT", means different things to different people. When considering the term SPIKE IT (or any word/term for that matter), a person needs to consider who's saying it, how they're saying it, and what circumstances surround them saying it. The terms' meaning is determined by multiple considerations that need to be thought through.

As I continued in my yardwork, I began to think about how, in the Bible, there's many places that can be misunderstood if factors aren't considered and thought through. There are places in the Old Testament that tells us to "fear the Lord" and people tend to take that phrase in the literal form... to be afraid of the Lord. Many of the Bible references to "fear the Lord" aren't saying to be AFRAID of God, but to RESPECT & HONOR Him in a form of reverence. For a long time, I was guilty myself of hearing the phrase, "fear the Lord", and thinking it meant I must be "fearful" and "afraid" of Him. That mentality kept me from a closer relationship with Him.

Another phrase is, "...I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God..." (Exodus 20:5- emphasis mine) Many think that God being a jealous God, means God is "jealous" OF us- he wants what we have; which is far from the actual meaning. The translation is from a Hebrew word meaning God is *focusing his desire for exclusive relationships. God being "a jealous God" means he wants FOR US what He has to give us... NOT He wants FROM US what we have. HUGE DIFFERENCE!

My point in sharing my weekend insights is to encourage you to think and ponder the different words and phrases in your everyday life and also those as you explore Scripture. Sometimes when you read a passage in the Bible that doesn't make sense, ask God to give you wisdom and discernment to understand. He will do this for you as you seek Him. (James 1:5) Also, take the time to look deeper into the who, what, where, when, etc; you'll be blessed for your effort to understand.

The ultimate "SPIKE IT"...

Thank You, Jesus!

* The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance

Sibling Fun...

On the way home from picking the kids up from their variety of school functions last night, the two older kids (Kelsie and Andrew) were reminiscing about when we lived in the states of Washington and Maine and experienced seasons of snow. Kelsie and Andrew miss the snowy weather... sledding, building snowmen, making snow angels, snow ball fights, etc. The younger kids (Jessie and Joe) listened with interest to their "snow" stories. Jessie and Joe have no clue what fun the snow is, since as long as they can remember we've lived in either Florida or Texas where snow just really doesn't happen.

As the reminiscing continued, Andrew announced, "I remember when I almost got hypothermia!". Jessie asked, "What is hypothermia?" With out missing a beat, Andrew responded, "It's when you pick your nose too hard and DIE!". I couldn't help to laugh at his quick humor. Jessie began to fill with fear thinking about all her "near death" experiences picking her nose. After my little chuckle, we set Jessie straight on what hypothermia REALLY is; having nothing to do with picking your nose too hard. Jessie was quite relieved.

Andrew has a fun personality and enjoys teasing, tricking, and joking with his siblings all in fun. I can relate, since I used to do the same with my younger sister, Traci, and brother, Curtis when we were kids; sometimes teasing on the verge of torment... "all in fun", of course.

Traci and Curtis... if you read this post, I LOVE YOU and hopefully my teasing, tricking, and "fun" joking have not permanently damaged you! ... Except for Traci's fear of spiders... sorry about that, Traci ; )

Mini Delights!

OMG! I am a person who falls into addiction pretty easy, and I HAVE A NEW ADDICTION!

Quaker

"Mini Delights"!

In my effort to eat healthier after just spending the last week on a Halloween candy sugar high, I discovered the greatest snack at only 90 calories a shot... Really good compared to a regular size candy bar that is 250-300 each.

As of this moment, my favorite of the "Mini Delights" are the "Chocolatey Mint" and the "Caramel Drizzle". MMM-MMM GOOD!

As I was on my way to my Beth Moore Ladies Group this morning, I was savoring a bag of Chocolately Mint thinking about the name of this product "Mini Delights". As I reflected on the "Delightfulness" of this low calorie treat, I couldn't help to think about all the other "delights" in my life. I am so thankful for the many "mini delights" I have (not specifically referring to this wonderful product, but to blessings in my life).

So, wouldn't you know, at the end of our Bible study session, we were told to go to Zephaniah 3:17, a chapter of the Bible I am not familiar with. I want to share how God turned a "Mini Delight" moment into a reminder of who I am in Him... who WE ARE in Him... Here's what Zephaniah 3:17 says (emphasis mine):

"The LORD your God is with you,

he is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

he will quiet you with his love,

he will rejoice over you with singing."

When I read that verse, the words "GREAT DELIGHT" jumped from the page to my heart! God takes GREAT Delight... not Mini Delight. WOW! I needed that reminder. I thought that was cool how God spoke this message to me having just pondered the mini delights (blessings) I am thankful for. Now every time I eat a package of this wonderful 90 calorie treat, I'll remember that I have my "mini delights", but, God will take GREAT delight in me... You too!

Mixed Feelings

We have a new president - Barack Obama. I have to admit, I have mixed feelings and I'm a bit bummed since I've been a McCain/Palin supporter. This will be an interesting time for America, for sure. As I reflect on the outcome of the election, I'm reminded that nothing happens that doesn't have a divine purpose; God is always in control. God's thoughts are not my thoughts and my ways are not God's ways... His thoughts and ways are always right.

SO, I go to the Word and find comfort to believe God and his providence.

"Blessed be the name of God, forever and ever. He knows all, does all: He changes the seasons and guides history, He raises up kings and also brings them down, he provides both intelligence and discernment," Daniel 2:20-21 (MSG) (emphasis mine)

"Everyone must submit to the governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God." Romans 13:1(NLT) (emphasis mine)

"Make your motions and cast your votes, but God has the final say". Proverbs 16:33 (MSG)

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God has a plan for us, to prosper us, not to harm us, to give us a hope and future.

Let's all continue to pray for our country, pray for our military who defend our freedom, and pray for those God has placed in leadership. "In God We TRUST"