12 Hours

Happy Thanksgiving is a relative term this year.
Last Tuesday morning, November 16th, my dad passed away very suddenly with only 12 hours of illness preceeding his death. I wrote out the whole story in a blog draft which was very therapeutic for me but in the end it doesn't really matter.
The fact is he isn't here any more.
The fact is I think about it every minute of every day.
The fact is no one really knows or understands what I'm going through.

That's not to try and bring out sympathy for me it's just the facts. My life changed forever on Monday evening/Tuesday night. We took our annual family Christmas pictures on Monday morning and looking at those pictures today I think to myself "that girl doesn't know what's about to hit her....that her life is going to change in 12 hours"

The memorial service was on Monday, the 22nd, and by the grace of God my mom and I were able to stand on our own two feet and deliver eulogies. Only 3 days before I was convinced I would collapse in a pile of mush and not make it through but the prayers of so many friends and family praying 2 Corinthians 12:9 over me could not go unanswered:
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
I was certainly weak that day on my own, but Grace carried me. And to see the Chapel full all the way to the back row to honor my dad....that was truly overwhelming and made me gasp a little when I stood at the podium and saw how many people were there.

I really can't begin to tell you about so many things even since that day have to come together that aren't coincedences. I truly believe God is directing my life and my mom's life to bring glory to Him. I'm not in despair because I do belive I will see my dad again in Heaven. However, it doesn't erase the fact that I am sad, annoyed, mad that life continues without him. That I won't get to see and touch his physical body anymore, that he can't watch my kids grow up, that I can't talk to him when I want. That part isn't fair.....but I do believe with all my heart that God is sovereign and God is good.

I pulled out my Thanksgiving paper napkins I bought at Hobby Lobby about 2 weeks ago (way before all this happened). The verse printed on them? "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever" - Psalm 107:1. Little did I know when I bought those napkins that I would NEED that verse today, that I would keep looking at dumb little napkins throughout the day to remind myself that my Heavenly Father loves me even though my earthly father wasn't here today to tell me.

So....even though I have no idea what is going on here and most of the time I want to burst into tears......that's what I'm thankful for this year....God's sovereignty and His goodness....that's all I got.

....And 600 Coffee Filters Later....

....I present you with this.....

I've been wanting to make one of these coffee filter wreaths I've been seeing all over BloggyLand lately. Here is The Nester's version. Hers is great but I'm really taken with the tea dyed versions...You'll remember my tea dyed muslin ribbon escapade last year?? Oh, yes, pass the tea, please.

I've also been obsessed with these coffee filter pomanders by Alice W for a loooong time.

GORGEOUS! I had already made something a little similar for Anna's room when I saw these pictures and freaked because I liked these better. Of course, at 8 months pregnant, I decided not to redo a perfectly good project but now may be the time to do these because I just luuuuuuv them. And this??

I mean, seriously, I'm just going to have to start buying coffee filters at Costco. Maybe my front door will be coffee filtered by January?

Anyways, back to the point: I finally just got off my duff and made the coffee filter wreath. Last year I really wanted to make one of these sheet music wreaths

but never got around to it....typical....that idea landed in the craft graveyard (as Kyle would call it). However, I would not be stymied this year! So I dove in....
I like how they turned out. I have one on each bookcase. I don't think the picture does it justice. I couldn't get the full effect with my 35 lens and was too lazy to switch lenses so you could see the whole wall

I estimated each wreath has about 300 coffee filters....coffee anyone? anyone?

These Are A Few of Our Favorite Things....

(Ok, I'm really behind so I'm just going to throw it all in here together)

Lookin' cute....

Attempting to fly

Riding our bikes (*ahem* that one of us can't really ride because she that person can't pedal)

Looking cool going to the zoo

Throwing a fit at the zoo (camera was on the wrong setting but you get the idea....the freaked out light adds to the drama)

Picnic at the zoo...I thought John had a love affair with cheese but I think Anna loves it more

Working on her PB&J because little momma can eat her weight in food sometimes! It's a little different for me to get used to a kid who eats so much because John hardly ever tells me he's hungry so we can go several days without ever eating a snack with him. But Anna is a different Anna-mal
Cheers!

Climbing stuff that isn't really age appropriate but you can't stop me! I'm going to keep up with brother!

Having tea with Granny

Looking cute wearing the fall dress mommy made

Golfcarting with the fam......

Being squirmy and lacking the graces and ettiquette of portraiture

Playing golf

 Visiting with one of our favorite people....Miss Kara!!!!

Miss Kara surprised Mommy last Friday by banging on the door at 7 PM nearly scaring her to death. After the initial panic attack it was a fun surprise! She brought us Rita's Water Ice straight from Dallas. This was one of Mom and Dad's favorite things while living in Philly. Let's just say that John got a fair amount of Rita's in utero. He also got a healthy dose of Kara's voice and laughter in utero. We did a lot together and even though John only sees Kara every few months, he always picks up with her like you would an old friend. So fun to see you Kara!

Another favorite pastime: writing my name!

John has picked up an interest in writing. Nothing that I've encouraged him to do until I realized he really likes it. So I show him how to make letters and we write random things.

 We've got John down pat. He can also write "Anna". We're working on his middle name, Thomas. Here he wrote "JOHN" first, then started on "THOMAS". He ran out of room so then he put the A in front of the word but not too shabby....those "M" and "S" are stinkers!

And, lastly, a sweet picture I had to snap when John and Anna were entranced with a song from Mary Poppins, sharing a sibling moment. I love John's arm around her being the protector he is for her. I should print this picture out to remind me of the sweetnesss when I get annoyed with all the sibling drama and fighting/antagonizing that goes on around here

 

Halloween Weekend Recap

So after two days of effort (grrr....blogger!), here are the uploaded pictures from Halloween Weekend....this year was fun because John really got into the costume thing and Anna enjoyed doing whatever her brother was doing.

When you tell Anna to smile she makes this crazy squinty-eyed face....I remember John going through this lovely phase...."cheeeeeze!"

Dad's Little Superhero's

Faster than a speeding bullet!

It's SUPER ANNA!!!!

.....with her Super Brother Man.....

On Friday morning, Anna and I went to a pumpkin patch with my sister in law and neice. This year we missed our annual St. Luke's Pumpkin Patch date with Emily and her son. Boo! Emily and I have had this tradition the past 2 years but this year conflicting school schedules and general busyness with us both having 2 kids it didn't happen. bummer. Maybe next year.

Here is Sadie on a "horse"

Anna posing in the pumpkin cut-out

 Then Sadie...too cute!

On Saturday we woke up bright and early and went to the Spring Valley Fall Festival. This annual festival is one of our favorite things to do in the area. There are games for the kids like this inflatable baseball thing 

Bounce houses...Anna was thinking about conquering this one in her super cape....

John wore his Aggie jersey in honor of the game later that day

Super Aggie!

There was face painting and brush painting. Here John is attempting to write his name (his new obsession--more on that later). He's got the green J and O but the brush gave him some problems after that

Pony rides!

A scary-turned-friendly clown

Another little game where they clock how fast you throw a baseball with a little radar gun. I think John topped about 11 mph?

Little Anna's throw didn't register on the radar gun but at least she tried!

Of course Kyle had to try his hand at this game and he made it to 49 mph. No Tim Lincecum but a noteworthy accomplishment. Speaking of noteworthy accomplishments there was a "Candy Tent" at the festival which was basically a tent where you get a little bag and fill it up with all the candy you want. Super. No game, no rules....just fill up your bag with all the candy you can. I think Kyle liked this tent more than the kids. Gummy candies galore!

Saturday afternoon our church had their fall festival which we didn't make it to. It was from 2-5 PM which was napping/quiet hour for the kids so that didn't work out for us this year. Hopefully we will go next year.

Saturday evening our neighborhood was set up for the annual Halloween party and we enjoyed BBQ and games with our neighbors. The superheros loaded up on their bikes and headed to the cul-de-sac to party with their friends...fun times

 My parents came over to join in the fun!

The actual Trick-or-Treat event was Sunday night and, frankly, I was quite ready for this to be the last day of wearing these costumes every day. Cousin Sadie came over to walk the streets with us. I took about 15 pictures of these kids and this was the best one I got...um, it's hard to get 3 kids to sit and smile....naturally

We only have 2 streets in our little community. We made it up and down our street, which took us 45 minutes, because Sadie and Anna have short legs, ya know. We know all our neighbors and the kids had a blast. Our neighborhood does trick or treating early, during twilight, since most of our trick or treaters are under 7 or 8 years old. Some people sat outside with their candy. Quite a few people our parent's age who just got a kick out of all the little ones in their costumes. I'm not very big on all the darkness and evil part of Halloween so I have to say Sunday night was very sweet and fun and I'm thankful we live in a neighborhood where it is easy and safe to trick or treat with the little ones.