Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's the whole gang. After all those years with just girls, I have loved adding boys to the mix! They worked very hard putting up my blinds. . . and I think it was the first time I ever had a boy in my sink. And the Christmas lights were put on the house! Yea! Michelle made cranberry sauce. Craig peeled apples for the apple pie. Laura and Jon made the sugar cookie crust. The Irvings arrived in time to help with final dinner preparation, bearing pumpkin pie (yum!) and the day's chief entertainment(LMC!). Carolyn really enjoyed playing with my little Russians. She thought they were like eggs because you could crack them open. A good time was had by all. We are thankful for all of our boys and girls!

Engaged

Laura and Jon are engaged! Details are still coming together, but a July wedding is planned. We are excited to add Jon to the family tree.

Admittedly, we were watching for Brandon, Brock, Braden, or Bryce (after Brad and Bryan, we thought we detected a pattern!) But Jon is a great match for Laura, and we gladly welcome this last one that we prayed for for so many years.

(For those who like a little trivia, Jonathan was the boy name we chose when I was pregnant the first time.)

Thankfulness

Taking [a] "servant" attitude of thankfulness in all of life's circumstances will help you react as old Matthew Henry did when he was mugged. He wrote in his diary, "Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before; second, although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed."

I wonder if I could be that thankful. Could you?

—Billy Graham in
Unto the Hills

My little Russians

My friend went home to Russia and brought me back these little Russian dolls. Aren't they adorable?

Helping Papa

Square Dancing

Go, Raiders

Texas Tech over Texas 39-33. How long has it been since that happened? Go, Raiders!