Thanksgiving craft
I know you’ve probably all heard of the whole “handprint/footprint turkey” craft… You may have even done it as a kid. Well, I was looking for something easy for the kids to do & when I saw it, I was like, “Hey, That’s an oldie but a goodie.” So each kid made one. We did a little bit of a twist, though. Instead of just brown construction paper for the body of the turkey (the kids’ feet), I had them color with marker on cardstock, then traced their feet & cut it out. It’s not the “correct” color for a turkey body, but I thought it added a more personal touch. Then on each of the hands I wrote something Sam told me he was thankful for (he helped Addi think of things too). I also let them glue on their own eyes, beak, and legs (well, I admit… Addi put one of the eyes super low so I ended up showing her where to put it… lol). Here are the pics.
Addison’s turkey:
Samuel’s turkey:
Our anniversary
Friday, November 20, was our 5th wedding anniversary. 5 years! In some ways it feels like forever, in others like it was just yesterday. My parents came in to watch the kids so we could get away overnight – for the first time since having kids! It was a perfect night & weekend away.
We went to J. Alexander’s for dinner, which is where we went on our very first date 9 1/2 years ago! We also had free tickets to the Cranbrook Institute of Science so we went there for the first time. It was very nice! We stayed at the Marriot at the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit on the 43rd floor. VERY high. I only worried for the first little bit about having to run down 43 flights of stairs, 7 1/2 months pregnant, if there was an emergency.
Looking out our window to Canada:
Looking down to the ground from our window:
On Saturday we slept in (never get to do that at home!), then rode on the People Mover to tour downtown Detroit (my first time on it ever). Best 50 cents spent all weekend. 
Inside the People Mover (Chris videotaped almost the whole ride!):
We topped off the date with watching The Christmas Carol & stopping for some Starbucks.
A big thanks to my parents for watching the kids so we could have a very relaxing, refreshing, enjoyable 24 hours away!
Pregnancy update
I wanted a place to compare “side by side” all my pregnancy pictures so far, so I thought I’d share them with you as well. Most of these are on Facebook but this will make it easier to see all at the same time.
8 weeks, 5 days:
13 weeks, 4 days:
18 weeks, 5 days:
22 weeks, 6 days:
25 weeks, 1 day:
30 weeks, 1 day (today):
So there ya go – you can see my belly grow! 
Sam’s pumpkin
I finally took a picture of the pumpkin Samuel decorated for Halloween. I had to hurry & take a picture cuz apparently it is getting a little mushy in the back & needs to be “taken care of”. So we let him pick what to decorate it as, and gave him a Sharpie. Chris made the hair, but Samuel drew the face. He wanted it to be a cat. He has big eyes, a big smile, and big ears (on the side). Isn’t it cute?
Growing up
I know she’s almost 2, but Addison right now is still my “baby”. It’s been hard to see her grow up, even though I love it at the same time. I’m seeing some “big boy” stuff in Sam too, which is also hard, cuz he was my first baby. Anyways, today was a first: Addison went TO someone’s house to be babysat without her big brother there. Usually if I take Sam somewhere, Addison is with Chris so it’s not quite babysitting. But today Sam & I went to the dentist & left Addi behind with our great friend, Brooke, and she did absolutely great. I got a little sad when she was walking like a big girl up the stairs to Brooke’s house, so I quickly snapped a picture. See what I mean?
No crying. Nothing. I love my kids & I love each stage of their lives. God has truly blessed Chris & me as parents. What a great calling.
The focus is on YOU
Okay I know I don’t have a slew of followers or anything, but I do want to invite those who read this blog to share with me something you need (or want) prayer for this week. I need to pray more, and when I do pray more, I need it to be less selfish/about me. So go for it… In one sentence or phrase, let me know what I can be praying for you this week.
Ready, set, GO!
(P.S. The picture above is of Samuel “praying”… Thought it was appropriate!)
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true (loving the truth & speaking it), whatever is noble (worthy to be honored, of persons or deeds), whatever is right (observing divine laws, innocent, guiltless, faultless, approved of or acceptable of God), whatever is pure (exciting reverence, sacred, pure from every fault, clean), whatever is lovely (acceptable, pleasing), whatever is admirable (speaking auspiciously [promising success], sounding well, good reputation, uttering words of good omen) - if anything is excellent (moral goodness) or praiseworthy (commendable, deserving of high regard or great approval) - think about (dwell on) such things (only take these things into account).
Ruth’s “interpretation”:
Finally, brothers & sisters in Christ, take only these things into account:
- If it is loving & speaking the truth
- If it is worthy to be honored
- If it is approved or acceptable of God
- If it excites reverence
- If it is pleasing to God
- If it has good reputation
- If it has moral goodness
- If it deserves high regard
Otherwise, let it be a fleeting thought. If you put this into practice, you will have God’s peace (v. 9).
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
A few thoughts & discoveries on this “famous” verse.
- Anxious in Greek is Merimnao, which can be translated “to be troubled with cares, to care for, or to seek or promote one’s interests“. So when we’re anxious, most of the time (or all?) it is because we are caring about our own interests first. Think about things you’ve been anxious about… Is this definition applicable to that situation? If you really think about it, it probably is.
- “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding…” I always thought of this phrase as the peace of God goes beyond our understanding. Like, we can’t understand how we have this peace, etc. But when I was looking up the Greek for “transcends”, this is what it says: “To stand out, rise above, be superior in rank, authority, or power; to excel or surpass.” What it really is meaning is that peace from God is better than having any or all understanding. We don’t need to understand our anxiety or our problem or have a solution. All we need is God’s peace. It’s better. It’s what we need. Not the answer to our problems.
Now with those new “twists” to the verse, read it again & see if it takes on new meaning for you. It does for me.
Giggles
I was in the computer room today and heard the kids giggling in our bedroom. I walked in to see this:
Sam had “pinned” Addi down & they were just giggling away. For some reason they both thought it was pretty funny. Ah, I just love them guys!
Ephesians 6:4
If you haven’t figured out already, I like to study the original words & meanings of words when I’m studying the Bible. I was going through Ephesians & came across 6:4. Here it is in the more common NIV version:
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Here it is in The Message version:
Fathers, don’t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.
And here it is in Ruth Chowdhury’s version, based on the original words, then looking up the meanings of those original words with a little help from Google:
Fathers (& mothers) do not cause your children to be aroused to wrath. Instead, nourish them up to maturity by giving them the substances they need for life and growth. Train, educate morally, discipline, correct mistakes, curb passions, restrain & subdue them in their evil ways, counsel & warn, reprove gently, and spur them on & encourage them with cheers & shouts when they are following what the Lord wants them to do. They belong to Him!
See? Isn’t it cool to look up the original words & meanings? It means so much more to me & I can understand & apply it much more easily. This verse is nothing “new” but it takes on new meaning for me. It is now challenging me to do what it says even more specifically. What part of it sticks out to you?
