The thing I'm not loving

My 7 1/2 year computer gave up the ghost yesterday afternoon. I really can't complain, because 7 1/2 years of essentially no computer problems is pretty impressive for a computer. Also, I miraculously backed up the computer two days before it died.. RIP 2007 macbook. Blog therapy will have to start up again once we get a new computer :)

Things I'm Loving

• My father-in-law came to visit us! He had a business trip in Fort Dodge, IA last week and was able to come stay with us for the weekend. It was also his birthday, so we got to celebrate with him. Jack had so much fun with him and talked his ear off the entire time :) 

 
 

• The tool set that grandpa gave Jack for his birthday. Jack AND David love it! 

Jack said he was working on his car

• This. AMEN. #imsotired

• The family "zoozeeum" (museum) I think we will most likely spend all winter here.

• This picture. 

• Santa's visit at our church Christmas party

• These two

• Jack, who insists on sleeping with hard trucks and in a hard pack n' play. My three year old has been sleeping in our room in the pack n play for over a month now. Yep. David has his own room and the three of us share a room. #davidrulesnighttimealways

• This situation - with tears in his eyes, Jack sobbed, "Where's my chocochip? I put it in my belly button for later. IT'S ALL GONE!!!" #threeyearoldproblems

• And this statement from my sister: "The thing I like most about December is that your deodorant doesn't run out as fast!" That's what I like the most about December too, girl ;)

Thanksgiving weekend

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend! On Thanksgiving day, we ran in a five mile Turkey Trot (that had free childcare!) and ate Thanksgiving dinner with friends at our church. When we told Jack that he got to do his birthday party again at the church he was thrilled :)
 
 
The rest of the weekend we spent cleaning, eating too many leftovers, moving around furniture, getting out Christmas decorations, shopping, and playing indoor soccer.
Jack is finally into putting up ornaments and not pulling them down!

We baby proofed our tree this year

One of my favorite Christmas traditions growing up and one I want to continue is sleeping by the Christmas tree the first night we put it up.

David was not invited because he is the lightest and craziest and worst sleeper ever (taking this picture woke him up)

Ham with fresh pineapple all in one bite may be on my top ten favorite foods ever.

I love this article about picky eaters soooo much. These four were my favorite and really hit home for me :)

 
 
 
I have been thinking a lot about my friends who are having a difficult time during this holiday season and I really love this quote from this article:
"How can you be thankful when your doctor says it’s cancer? How can you feel grateful when the one you love just walked out of your life? Or when you’ve been fired, or your dream has collapsed, or an economic tsunami has wiped out all you’ve worked for? This year became the worst year of my life when my youngest son, who’d struggled since childhood with mental illness, took his own life. How am I supposed be thankful this Thanksgiving? When your heart’s been ripped apart, you feel numb, not grateful.
And yet the Bible tells us “Give thanks IN ALL circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The key is the word “in.” God doesn’t expect me to be thankful FOR all circumstance, but IN all circumstances. There’s a huge difference. The first attitude is masochism. The second shows maturity. We’re not supposed to be thankful for evil or sin, or the innocent suffering caused by these things. But even in heartache and grief and disappointment, there are still good things that I can be thankful for....
So what am I thankful for this Thanksgiving?
I’m thankful that although life is not always good, God is always good. Having had a close friendship with him for nearly 50 years, I know without a doubt that God sees all I go through, he cares, he grieves with me, he is close and his strength is available at all times.
I’m thankful that even though I don’t have all the answers, God does. In tragedy we seek explanations, but explanations never comfort. It is God’s presence that eases our pain.
I’m thankful that this life is not all there is. It’s not the end of the story. One day God will right all wrongs, even the odds and settle all accounts. Justice will be served. Evil will not win.
I’m thankful for the hope of heaven. I won’t have to live with pain forever. In heaven, there are no broken relationships, broken minds, broken bodies, broken dreams or broken promises. The Bible tells us, “God will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”I’m thankful that God can bring good even out of the bad in my life, when I give him the pieces. It’s his specialty. God loves to turn crucifixions into resurrections, and then benefit the whole world. God never wastes a hurt if we give it to him."
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