Thanksgiving Day

Luci enjoying a ride on her daddy's shoulders
John and his brother, Bernie, enjoying Thanksgiving lunch outside.

Lorene is busy getting drinks for everyone.

Bernie bought all the children reindeer ears so Savannah, Kelsey & Nicholas decided to wear theirs!

Buddy and his four children also enjoyed the meal outside.

Nicholas lost his first baby tooth during Thanksgiving lunch!

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. I Chronicles 16:8

Our family has so much to be thankful for. Our church had a testimony time last Sunday night and it was a blessing to hear the many testimonies of our church family. I have so much to be thankful and one of the things that I am most thankful for is that all four of my children were in church together on November 8th. As I reflect on 2009 it has been quite a year. We traveled to China and brought Abigail home on April 2nd. We had waited two long years for the day that we would be united with our daughter. It was a very good trip and we were blessed beyond measure.

Our first granddaughter was born on July 27, 2009. It was difficult knowing that we had a granddaughter and not knowing when we would see her for the first time. God blessed me with the ability to travel to Boise on August 20th. It was love at first sight! Luci has stolen our hearts and we all long to see her, John, and Melissa again soon.

Shane started pre-school in late August and it has also been a blessing. He loves school and it has allowed me and Abigail time together that we previously did not have.

Jeremy returned to Liberty University in mid-August to begin his Senior year. As always, he had done very well, take his studies very seriously, and has begun dating a lovely young lady that we are all growing fond of quickly. Again, we are blessed beyond measure.

Our family traveled to Boise in October and spent a wonderful week visiting with John, Melissa and Luci. We were thrilled to have Lorene and Bernard travel with us and were blessed to be able to bring Luci home with us for two weeks! It was a precious time for our family and one that we will always cherish. John and Melissa flew home on November 7th and our first Thanksgiving celebration of 2009 took place on November 8th. We had 35 people celebrate an early Thanksgiving with us and it was a wonderful time of fellowship.

Our second Thanksgiving celebration took place at Lorene's house on Thanksgiving Day. We very much missed not having John Anthony and his family with us so we made a short video and sent it to them. It was a great day even though daddy wasn't feeling well and did not join us and Roy and Carol could not attend as they were celebrating with her family.

The Lord has blessed our family with so much this year and we have so much to thank Him for.