Picture Post.

SURPRISE!  

My wonderful friend Mandy surprised me with an early birthday present- MY SISTER! 

She must have known I've been missing her bad:) So she flew her in for a short weekend!

North Dakota is just WAY too far!  I was so surprised that I'm pretty sure I screamed a little and then cried when I saw her.  

I got to spend the whole weekend with my family, friends, and the people I love the most. 

Thanks again Mandy and Britt for pulling that off- I know flying standby really stinks!:)

It was a super great birthday surprise! 

So, my sister just recently bought a new camera and has been taking some photography classes just as a hobby.  She was so excited to finally be able to take some pictures of Tripp.  And boy, did Tripp give Nanny a treat for the weekend... he really had a pretty good weekend, overall.  He stood up for her about 3-4 times, which lately is a whole lot! 

I think they came out great... Pictures I will treasure forever!

Update on little man's transfusion:

We are waiting for approval from the hospital to be able to do the transfusion at home.  

Please say some extra prayers that we can make this happen. 

Also, I think we are battling an infection that can no longer be treated with oral antibiotics.  

I think some tough decisions are coming my way soon.  

Please pray that I make the right ones. 

Thank you all for your KIND words and so much encouragement! 

Love,

A Thanksgiving Song

A Thanksgiving song.
Because we have Someone to be grateful to.
And the greatest gift to be forever thankful for!

Jesus, We Are Grateful

 

Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to come

You are the ark of God who saves us from the flood

You are right to judge my sinful heart

But Your glory is Your mercy

For You condescend to make a friend

Of an enemy like me

Jesus who says come forth and calls the dead to rise

You are the Word of God whose breath sustains our lives

I was dead in all my guilt and shame

'Til you spoke my resurrection

Now you hide my life inside your own

Where you whisper me your love

Thank you, thank you

Jesus, we are grateful

Thank you, thank you

Jesus, we are Yours

Jesus who gathers us like children in His arms

You are the Lamb of God who shepherds us from harm

We will follow into family

And be seated at Your table

Where matchless grace of an orphan makes

A child of God in full

Fun, Fall, Food and Thankfulness

Want to know what these things are?

You should.

They're pretty cool.

And toddlers and preschoolers alike enjoy them!

They're puff ball magnets!

They are super easy to make - simply hot glue a round magnet to the bottom of each puff ball -

And work wonderfully with do-a-dot printables!

(If you don't know what a do-a-dot printable is, look here at a post by Jolanthe at Homeschool Creations who explains what they are and other ideas for using them!)

 

My girlies had so much fun placing a puff ball magnet on each of the circles on their do-a-dot printable!
There was quiet for a good 15 minutes straight!

Following our leaf bingo nature walk, we decided to use an idea I found on Pinterest to make a leaf lantern!
The only thing was the only instructions given were to simply use leaves and Mod Podge.
Well...the Mod Podge didn't work so well!
So we washed it off and found some contact paper to use instead!
Worked like a charm!
And added a nice glow to their after swimming/before bed snack!

Also, this.

I may have a problem.

I can't stop baking.

Can. Not. Stop.

(Pumpkin Creme Pies, yet another Pinterest find!)

Finally, our only truly Thanksgiving craft for the week -

Thankful turkeys!

Tait's is on the right.

She is thankful for:

Piper

Mama and Dada

Eggroll

Food

Home

"Yes, Jesus Loves Me!"

....

She came up with the last 3 all on her own.

Although it did take me a while to figure out what 'ome!' was!

Piper is thankful for:

Mama's baby

My eyes

Mookie and Papa

My crayons

Auntie Mya

Nana and Boppa

.....

I'm assuming Mom and Dad are a given?

Also, she wanted to put 'my bum' as one of her thankfuls.

I told her that was more of a private thankful!

Hahaha!

But just so you know, she's thankful for that too!