Thanksgiving 2011

This year for Thanksgiving we meet up with Brancent's mom, step-dad, sister, brother in law, two nephews, brother, niece, two aunts, two uncles and two cousins in Mountain Home, Arkansas where Brancent's mom and step-dad own a house and several areas of land. On the way there we stopped and spent the night in Tulsa (Thanks Aunt Dee!), but on the way back drove the whole way. Long. Drive. We had a great time getting to see everyone and loved the area. Lots of trees and hills (Ozark area). We were able to visit a trout hatchery and it was a super cool experience. My family could have stayed out there all day, especially the beautiful stream where the trout are released. Being from the Panhandle gives you a fascination with trees and streams (or any body of water) like none other. Tire swing, fire pit, football, football and more football, making Jolly rancher suckers, Lion King, early Christmas gifts, scary lady in bathrobe asking people to cop a feel at walmart, multiple adventure walks, Wahoo, Dixie the dog, stick guns, lots of cousin play time, fish hatchery, gentle rain....we left with full hearts and bellies :)

 

 Jacob checking out the baby trout- they looked like minnows

 Brancent and his pretty momma

 When someone would walk up to the tanks the fish would start splashing like crazy. People can buy feed and feed them so it's safe to say they like people.

 Jolly Rancher Suckers- Great and simple idea posted on the Bonjour blog

 Jacob found a pipe from a broken windchime and dubbed it his gun - here he was shooting birds.

A weekend to remember

The first weekend of November was a busy one and hopefully one that will have a lasting impact. 

My brother and nephew came into town so there was a lot of cousin silliness which involved boxes.

 

On Saturday morning Katie danced down Polk Street with her dance class from school for the Veterans Parade. I didn't even know we had a veterans day parade. She did fabulous, it was cold and her asthmatic lungs took a beating,  We were sitting at the end of the parade route and when I saw her face and cheeks I knew she was hurting, but she stuck it out!

 (notice a familiar monkey and handsome red head in the background)

That afternoon Jacob went to PawPaw's and we began to get ready for a very special banquet. Katie had been attending a mentoring group called Pearls. It's a 8 week program provided by Carenet. The focus was relationships, purity, modesty etc. There were shopping trips, photo shoots, a weekend retreat at a Bed and Breakfast and many words of encouragement and affirmation. Katie and I talk a lot. Maybe that's one of the bonuses to the step-mom/daughter relationship, but we are very open. However, when certain topics are discussed with college age mentors (who are way cooler than me) they are received and processed with more heaviness. The last event for Pearls was a banquet. Nails were done, hair was fixed (thanks Edna!) and off we went. Aside from a great meal in a beautiful room each girl was given a verse the mentor's had been praying over them and there was a special sideshow featuring baby and recent pictures of the girls. The parents were asked to write and read a letter to their daughter. Brancent and I decided for our situation (Dad/step-mom, deaf/hearing) it would be best to each write Katie a letter. I'm not gonna lie-tears flowed. Afterward Brancent presented Katie with a purity ring to remind her of the commitments she has made. Being a parent is such an awesome responsibility, and seeing this beautiful young lady begin to spread her wings knowing the world can be so harsh is such a scary thing. Without the peace of Christ I would be a basket case. Katie has made several stands at school when friends have tried to push her in a direction she knows is wrong. We are so proud of her. I think one of my favorite things I was able to put in her letter was this "Stand secure in that your Creator delights in his creation, and that is YOU! Don't ever let anyone tell or lead you to feel otherwise." I have just now began to come to this realization myself. My heart aches for my children to know how precious they are to the Creator and in turn to know how absolutely amazing and loving He is. 

Side note: A few weeks later there was a Thanksgiving program in which my wild Indian pulled up his shirt and scratched his little pot belly for all to see and of course he was on the front row. We have so much to be thankful for!