Our Thanksgiving

I trust each of you had a happy Thanksgiving! We had a very enjoyable time with Mark's family. His dad had lots of family in for the holiday, and we enjoyed visiting with all of them. I thought I would share a few pictures. (For some strange reason, we didn't take very many pictures. These pictures are mainly taken by Mark's sister Lauren.)

Cousin fun!


Enjoying a yummy Thanksgiving meal!


The kids had a blast picking up pecans. I loved this picture that Lauren took!


A skirt full!


Enjoying the fire


Fun times!


I love playing games! Anyone up for Mexican Train?


or Uno?


Friday we did some shopping - Antique shopping and a thrift store mostly. (We avoided all that mall stuff for the most part.) :) On Saturday, Mark's mom, Lauren, Mary (Mark's brother's wife) and I played Santa's elves - we decorated Mark's grandmothers' homes for Christmas!


So now we are back at home and in the process of putting up all our Christmas decor. (the tree lights have been a process this year.) Speaking of Christmas decor, if you are reading this in a blog reader, you may want to hop over and see my festive blog decor! :) Tomorrow begins the Days of Christmas!

Sunday Blessing

Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.

Isaiah 'twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind.
To show God's love aright, she bore to us a Savior,
When half spent was the night.

This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.

from Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming
by Theodore Baker and Harriet Krauth Spaeth (Stanza 3)

Thanks to my sister, Angie, for letting me use her picture!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope each of you has a very special day with friends and family!! May we all remember Who we need to thank for all our many blessings! I know I have been exceedingly blessed!

What I'm enjoying today...

The last rose of fall. It's so pretty and smells wonderful too!!

Chari Tree Chat

I just wanted to share a little about my weekend... it was a busy one!! Recently, a very special little girl turned one! They grow so fast!! (Just a year ago...)

It was a joint party for all three girls. They all have birthdays in the fall. We had a fun time!!

Faithie will be three in Dec!

and as you remember, Gracie turned five a couple of months ago. (She didn't seem to mind waiting for her party.)

Of course, this one was the star of the show!! :)


I'm so thankful to have these sweet little girls in my life, and for their mommy, my friend, who shares their hugs with me! :)

(Little One was napping when this picture was taken.)

And yes, I did decorate all three cakes. (whew) It wasn't too bad, except I dropped the first one on my glass stove top. What didn't break was the 97 cent plate. (sniff) My stovetop is not the same!!

Wow, Thanksgiving is just two days away!! It seems like it should still be May! Next up is Christmas time! Such a special time of year!

(because of the Holiday, there will be no FOF this week. We will just put it off until next week... and have I got something cute to share!) :)