There's Always Next Year!

It's that time of year again...

The tree has been trimmed...

the decorations are up...

the lights are lit... 

the presents are wrapped...

goodies have been eaten baked...

the reason for the season has been talked about, studied and prayed over...

there is only one thing left...

dun, dun, dun...

yes, it is time for the 2015 attempt at a good half way decent Christmas picture!

Why...

why is it the same every year...

is it too much to hope for...

that this year would be the year...

the year that everyone smiled at the same time...

the year that everyone looked at the camera at the same time...

with their eyes OPEN...

the year that the dogs all sat still and regal...

you know, like a pretty painting...

the year that the cats...

oh wait, no cats...

we are crazy but we are not stupid...

and we value the skin on our arms...

yep, they get a pass on the Christmas insanity picture...

but not these guys...

they are not so lucky...

or maybe they are...

cause in the end...

after all the "takes"...

and all the "re-takes:...

yes, that is a truck that so rudely interrupted us...

I am convinced the one "good" pic is behind that yellow truck!

*grin*

Anyway, behind all of these crazy mixed up pics...

is a wonderful glimpse into our crazy mixed up family with all the noise and all the chaos and all the fun and all the love and I would not have it any other way.

So, I thought it might be fun to look back at this Christmas adventure over the years and the way in which the noise and the chaos and the fun and the love have grown!

Merry Christmas from our crazy mixed up family!

The Non-Ending Season

As I have mentioned before...

soccer is a big part of our lives.

Five out of seven of our kiddos play...

and the 7th one wants to play sooooo badly.

I don't know what her soccer future holds but I do know that the Lord has transformed her hopelessness into hope and that hope is healing our sweet girl from the inside out.

The 6th one is just happy to come along for the ride and enjoy the games, as she just has fun where ever she goes!

Yep, soccer consumes us about 8 months out of the year and while I have my moments of complaint...

notice the rain..

I have many more moments of fun...

of laughter...

of pride...

of bonding...

and of inspiration...

awe inspiring moments of reflection...

and thankfulness...

Soccer has been a vehicle through which the Lord has used to bond us together...

and one through which He has used and is using to heal...

certain ones of us.

We don't ever take it too seriously...

but we do seriously love the way in which it has been used to grow us individually and as a family.

Yes, it has been a long season and yes I am glad to have a break...

and yes, by February, I will be rested and ready for soccer 2016.

It will be Christian's senior and final high school soccer season.

He played his last club soccer game this season...

and I am struck by the length of each season...

and the brevity of such a multitude of seasons...

and I just want time to stand still...

except when I don't...

and there in lies the secret...

the longing for tomorrow...

while cherishing the past...

and learning to enjoy the moment...

cause it goes by too fast and in the midst of the complaints...

there are memories being made...

and I will remember that in the rain and the heat and the cold and the bugs...

except when I don't

*grin*

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  2 Peter 3:8

Lord, thank you for memories and the moments and the days and the years...

and even the soccer!

Choosing Thanks this Thanksgiving!

Pictures can sometimes be deceiving...

rode trip to Thanksgiving...

had car trouble, sigh...

made it to Thanksgiving at in-laws with beautifully decorated table...

sweet Mom-in-law sick...

got a few good shots of the boys Christian - ugh - Charlie - typical - hehe...

minus Caleb as he was sick...

got some really cute shots of the girls and their cousins...

just hours before Em revisited her Thanksgiving meal, over and over and over again...

all night long.

poor baby.

Despite all of this however...

I am so thankful to have been able to spend this time, sickness and all, with my sweet family cause ya see...

even though we had car trouble...

my amazing Hubby was able to trouble shoot, we both prayed, He answered and when we were on our way again...

Hubby and I just smiled, held hands and thanked Him...

and even though my sweet Mom-in-law was sick and yes, still managed to create that gorgeous table...

it allowed my awesome Sis-in-law and myself a wonderful opportunity to enjoy some rare time together (minus kids) to cook the Thanksgiving meal - even the turkey - which for this vegetarian was a labor of love y'all - let me tell ya...

*grin*

and even though my Caleb was sick...

he was wanting some Momma time and hugging on me all night long...

and even though Em probably never wants to eat turkey again...

sweet girl rallied by Friday, somehow managed to get no one else sick and was ready to face the loooong drive home!

So despite all the set backs, I am thankful...

I am thankful for a sweet Mom-in-law who always makes theses times so very festive and who despite sickness, was willing to dig out the turkey innards, neck and all!

Did I mention the vegetarian thing...  Bleh!!!

I am also thankful for turkey roasters, complete with instructions, and a sweet Sis-in-law who makes everything fun.

I am thankful for the flu shot (hehe) and an almost 13 teen year old who still wants Momma when he is sick.

and I am thankful for stain resistant carpet and an amazing 9 year old who can be down one minute and so up the next.

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

So this Thanksgiving, I am giving thanks in all circumstances...

and I am most thankful for an incredible Hubby who is choosing to be thankful too!

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!