Thankful Thursday

It has been awhile since I have done a thankful Thursday post.  So this Thursday I am thankful for:

~All of the laundry I do every week because it means we are blessed with much.

~Claire's recovery from her surgery.  She is doing great with her 2 digital ears!  She was so proud to go to school and show her friends that she now has 2!

I know you can't see her 2 digital ears in this picture but isn't she just so cute?

~Hunter receiving Honorable mention for his Young Author's book!  Out of over 100 students, Hunter's book was in the top 12!

Hunter and his teacher, Mrs. Hill

 His book cover

 Sample of the inside of the book

~Family.  It was great seeing my Grandpa again.  It was hard to say goodbye though, he is 95 and I don't know when we will get to see him again.

Grandpa with some of his great grandkids

My brother, sister, Grandpa and me

 Grandpa with the gang

~Snow day projects.  Brianna and I worked on Caleb's measuring board during one of our snow days earlier this month.  Now we can keep track of his growth with the other kids!

Brianna painting

 The finished project

~Caleb's successful oral surgery on Monday.  Caleb needed a lot of dental work so it was decided to do outpatient surgery and just take care of all it at once.  Poor baby ended up having 15 teeth that needed work.  We initially only thought 8 needed work so we were surprised when the dentist told us how many really needed work.  He also had his tongue clipped at the same time.  He was very tongue tied and it was affecting his speech and his ability to eat certain things.  So glad to have it done now maybe he will start gaining weight!

Caleb's cute tongue before surgery

 His tongue close up..I don't know if you can tell but his tongue makes a heart shape

 After surgery..he only wanted mommy and to sleep

 He did not want to wake up and he struggled with vomiting.  We were in recovery for 6 hours.

 On our way home..he still isn't feeling too well

He is happy again at home!  This was taken later on the same day as surgery!

What are you thankful for?

Saying goodbye...

Wow, what a weekend.  On Saturday, we said goodbye to my Grandma in Kansas.  My Grandma was an amazing Christian woman.  She greeted everyone with "God bless you, I love you".  She was also known as the kissing bandit.  You did not get away without a hug and a kiss from her!  I've heard stories about her pulling her car over just to get out and tell someone she knew, "God bless you, I love you".  She would give them a hug and kiss and get back in her car and go on her way again.  My Grandma loved her Bible and read it constantly.  I remember staying with her and as we ate our breakfast she would be reading her Bible to us.  I am so thankful to have had a heritage like that.  I am glad that God blessed this world with her presence for 90 years.  The impact she has made will live on forever in her children, her grandchildren, her great grandchildren and all who knew her.

This poem was found written in her Bible:

I'm Free
By: Anne Lindgren Davison


Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free
I'm following the path God laid for me
I took his hand when I heard Him call
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
I found that place at the close of the day.

If my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss.
Ah yes, these things I too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow.
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much.
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all to brief;
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me
God wanted me now, He set me free.

Happy Birthday Nicholas!!

I cannot believe that another year has gone by and Nicholas is now 14!  Crazy to think that he will be in high school next year!  He loves to remind me how much longer before he is driving.  I don't even like to think about it! 

I am so proud of Nicholas.  He is a great student and always does his best.  In fact, he was the student of the month for January!  He is active with band playing percussion.  He is always drumming on everything.  Sometimes all the drumming drives us crazy but he can't help it - he is a drummer!  This is the first year that he played tackle football.  He really enjoyed it and he thinks he wants to play next year in high school.  Right now, he is playing basketball.  He is a leader on the court.  It is fun to watch his skills develop from week to week.  I don't have birthday pictures yet because we haven't officially celebrated yet.  Rumor has it that he wants to go to Hu Hot and eat Mongolian BBQ for his birthday!  Gary and I did go get him at school and take him out to lunch!

That is Nicholas looking at the camera with the big bass drum

 Nicholas and Caleb

 Nicholas and his great smile! Gonna break some hearts some day!

 Nicholas after his first football win!

Happy Birthday Nicholas!  We love you!

Chinese New Year!

We just spent an enjoyable evening eating Chinese food with our good friends.  We dressed Claire in her Chinese silks with some leggings and a turtleneck (it is in the teens here so had to think warmth over fashion!)  Wish I had an outfit for Caleb but he is so small nothing we had fit.  I will have to work on that!  Claire is doing great after her surgery.  Next week we go back to the doctor to check her incision and after that appointment they will activate her implant.  It will be an exciting day!

Here Claire is focused on her chopsticks!

 Our crazy gang celebrating!

 Claire enjoying herself!

 Claire and her doll that she named Claire!

Happy New Year!  It is the year of the rabbit!