Thanksgiving!!

This is great time of year to really think about what we are thankful for. And we have a LOT to be thankful for!! But I have really tried to not just save all my thankfulness for one time of year. We have so much to be thankful for all year long. I read another blog and the writer does a “Thankful Thursday” post each week. I am going to start doing that (if I can remember to post once a week) so I can really think about all the things (big and small) that we have to be thankful for throughout the year.

As I think about all the things we have to be thankful for I can be overwhelmed with how God blesses our family each day. I have to work hard at looking for those things sometimes so I don’t get caught up in life and not appreciate each moment.

I could try to list all those things….but there is no way I would ever be able to do that. The “good” things in our lives are multiple. But we have also had a few “bad” things as well. If I really think about it then I am thankful all those things as well. I am thankful for those things because they are God’s plan for us and even though they might seem “bad” to us at times, He has a plan based on every experience we have. The things we see as “good” and “bad” are all given to us to help us grow into the person (and family) that He wants us to be.

I sat in church Sunday and listened to our pastor talk about being thankful. He talked about being thankful for our Savior and what He did for us. I was thinking….well, of course I am thankful for Jesus and that He died on the cross to save me from my sins. But I guess he challenged me to think a little deeper. If I didn’t have Jesus as my savior then all these “things” that I am thankful for wouldn’t matter.

I am thankful for each one of you that is interested enough in our family to read about us! I hope that each of you has a Very Happy Thanksgiving!!

Super Naked Girl & Captain Underpants

Cory informed me today that Hayley decided what she wanted to be for Halloween next year. Are you ready for this one? Let me first say that Hayley is a little out there sometimes and tends to make us laugh quite a bit!

Super Naked Girl

That's right.....my daughter wants to be Super Naked Girl......oh my!! I am not really even sure what that would consist of....

I tried to explain that she could NOT be Super Naked Girl because clothes are required at all times. Which, honestly, in Hayley's world they tend to be optional! So, while I am struggling with Hayley begging to be Super Naked Girl (and at this point I think she is just going for as many laughs as she can get), Hayden pops in to the conversation. He says, "Well, if Hayley is going to be Super Naked Girl then I will be Captain Underpants!"

No....I am not kidding.....this was an actual conversation in my house!! Where do thing kids come up with these things!!

Hopefully, they will forget about Super Naked Girl and Captain Underpants before next Halloween......because if they don't that will be quite embarrassing for all involved. And I can't imagine what Alex could be...Diaper Man, perhaps!?!

I have an eight year old!

It is official…..I am the mom of an eight year old. Tuesday, November 10^th was Hayden’s birthday (I am just a little late posting this). I really can’t believe that he is already eight. I mean…..really…..people tell you that it goes by fast…..and they are right!!

We celebrated his special day with cupcakes for his class at school. They all sang Happy Birthday to him….in a whisper as to not disturb the other classes. It was very cute…..and the 2^nd grade version is pretty funny!!

To continue the celebrating we let Hayden pick where we would eat for supper. He chose Denny’s…..yes Denny’s. So we drove to Corsicana and ate at Denny’s. I brought my camera to take pictures but I left it in the truck. Sometimes eating out with three kids has to be more about making everyone happy and keeping them semi quiet than about getting pictures! Hayden ordered pancakes with a whipped cream smiley face. I am pretty sure that he ate the entire whipped cream smiley face by scooping it up with his fingers……hey…it was his birthday (and he was quiet…..see how this works sometimes…and it had nothing to do with the fact that I was busy keeping Alex quiet and Cory was busy keeping Hayley quiet). Although we did insist that he use his fork to eat his pancakes….because he did try to just pick them up and eat them with his hands too. Who needs a fork?!?!

Hayden is a great kid and we are so proud of him. He is so much fun! I love getting to spend time with him.

Happy Birthday Hayden……We love you!!

The Akeman's and The Johnson's

I have talked many times on our Caring Bridge site about Paul, Angie and Avery Akeman. Avery is a very special girl!! She is an adorable four year old who has had to endure a lot in her little life. She has been in the hospital a total of 372 days and has had 20 surgeries or procedures requiring anesthesia. With all this medical intervention, Avery’s case is still a mystery. To read more about her story go to: www.caringbridge.org/visit/averygraceakeman

Some of the Akeman’s friends have been planning a way to bless them financially to help with all the medical bills. The amount of money that is required for the things that Avery needs daily is a highly overwhelming number. There was a benefit last night to help with this effort. Cory, Alex and I were able to attend and we feel very blessed to have been able to witness the outpouring of love for this family.

The benefit consisted of a dinner, silent auction and live auction. I know that it is hard to accept financial help and I can’t imagine the humility involved in receiving on this large of a scale. I know that it sometimes feels like you can’t bless others in the way they are blessing you. But I want to say that Paul, Angie and Avery bless me and so many others way more than any amount of money could bless anyone. The way they have handled everything that has come their way is a true testament to their faith in Him. In the midst of their trials, they continually concern themselves with others and what is going on in our lives. Angie has been a huge blessing to me and has had many words of wisdom since we have been on our own “Caring Bridge Journey”. Thank you Paul, Angie and Avery for what you mean to so many people and for the way you continue to bless others with your love and kindness!! I loved getting the chance to give you a hug!! We love you!!

Cory, Alex, me, Angie and Paul

Unfortunately, Avery was not able to attend the benefit. She cannot risk getting sick even with the most minor things because her body can’t fight it off. I hope to meet Avery Grace someday and see her beautiful eyes in person!

Along with the benefit last night, a website has been created where donations can be made to continue to help with the ongoing medical expenses. www.averyakemansangels.com

We also had an opportunity to meet another family that we found through Caring Bridge. I am really not sure how I found them (but I assume it was through the Akeman’s site) or when I started following their story. The Johnson’s are an amazing family and I feel like I know them because Marianne updates every single day!! Her daughter Makenna has Cerebral Folate Deficiency (CFD) and to be honest I really don’t know much about this disorder. (does that make me a bad friend? Marianne explains it on their Caring Bridge site like this: CFD is a disorder in which folic acid is not absorbed into the spinal fluid and brain. Folic acid is necessary for a brain to function normally.) What I do know is that Makenna is a beautiful 5 year old girl and reading about her life for the last year or so has had an impact on me. She has had four brain surgeries in which a large section of her brain was removed. There are quite a few things that Makenna can’t do but what she can do is amazing and truly shows God’s miracles.

Makenna

I might haven used a picture from her Caring Bridge site....hope that's OK Marianne ;)

I think one of the reasons I felt connected to Marianne, Makenna and their family is that they also go to Cook’s and Makenna’s neurologist is the one who told us about Alex’s stroke. I guess it makes it even more real to read about someone you have never met when you know that they have been in the same offices and hospital that you were in (looking at the same screen with a picture of your kid’s brain). Also, Marianne shares about their lives daily. She is so open and honest and that has really encouraged me. She loves Jesus and doesn’t worry about what people think. I strive to be more like that!!

So, back to meeting them at the benefit. Cory ended up outside most of the night because Alex didn’t think the auction was as exciting as I thought it was! Marianne’s husband Matt was also on kid patrol for awhile too. It did give us a chance to chat and it was so great!! Marianne, I am so glad that we got to meet!! I am so thankful for your friendship!!

Me and Marianne

Me, Angie, and Marianne