Thankful

This time of year always makes me feel like crying. I guess it must those pregnancy hormones kicking into high gear this year. I am just so overwhelmed at all the things the Lord has blessed me with this year. This year has been filled with ups and downs. When my dad was diagnosed in March with Leukemia I felt like I had the wind knocked out of me. My mom and I just kept saying to each other that God is never surprised by the things in our lives. That has been my theme for this year. God is never surprised. Last night as I sat through our praise and worship service at church I just kept thinking of all the things I have been blessed with.
I am thankful for
*the doctors catching my dad's leukemia in the very early stages
*my dad's last chemotherapy treatment was last Friday (120 sessions and 9 months)
*a wonderful husband who treats me like a clean especially when I am throwing up
*wonderful parents and in-laws who love the Lord
*the job Carl has that provides for our family
*the awesome privilege to home school our six blessings
*paper to draw on and all the pictures I get that say "I love you mommy"
*a new life to be born this year
*six beautiful children who teach me patience everyday of my life
*the Word of God that we can freely read from
*a great church where I can fellowship with others without fear of persecution *soldiers who are willing to leave their families on holidays so I can live in a free country
*a house that we can afford
*gas prices going down
*Walmart and Aldi's
*books to read to my little ones
*Alex finally being convinced that "Yes, I can read"
*Nathan finally being able to hold a pencil and form letters and numbers
*William and his sensitive heart (his hugs warm my heart)
*Esther and her desire to be just like mommy
*Daniel and I dancing together in the kitchen
*Sam and his smiles and cuddles and giggle
*11 years with Carl

Oh, the list could go on and on. We are so blessed. I am just overwhelmed at how the Lord always provides and then blesses us above and beyond what we deserves(which is nothing). Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow. That says it all.

More Harvest Fest Pictures

Here are some more awesome pictures of my guys enjoying the Harvest Fest.

Harvest Fest 2008

Every year our church has a Halloween alternative. It is an amazing outreach program to give parents an alternative to trick or treating. This year we had an awesome time eating hot dogs and nachos and popcorn and snowcones (I know, real healthy.) We had games and a slide and a bounce house and a hay ride. It was awesome. The last two years we have all dressed up as Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia characters. This year I decided to make cowboy costumes. They were much easier to make than the other costumes last year. They all looked so cute.