Thankful for a Great Thanksgiving

Once again, we spent Thanksgiving with our dear friends, the Kinniers. We always have such great food, wonderful fellowship, yummy desserts, and fun traditions.

When it's time to eat at the Kinnier's house, Mrs. Kinnier ALWAYS rings a bell to let people know to come to the table. This Thanksgiving, she let Anne, Hilary, and Lyle all pick a bell and ring them together. (This is a really big deal and honor!!)

Another tradition at the Kinnier's, is when we come to the table, we stand behind our chairs. Mrs. Kinnier says a few words (which makes me cry everytime), she prays, and then we sing the Doxology.

Here's my dear friend, Kaylynn:

Last, but not least, the tradition I LOVE!! After the meal, the young people clean up while they rest of us visit at the table. Nothing I like seeing more than a man washing dishes and two girls drying and putting away. From the sound of the laughter coming from the kitchen, I think they had a lot of fun, though! I poked my head in the kitchen and took a picture of them:

Thank you, Kinnier Family, for including us in your family Thanksgiving!

Mixed Emotions

Young people spend a great deal of time searching the Web, pouring over books, catalogs, and brochures, visiting campuses, taking SAT tests, gathering recommendations, working on an application and keeping up your grades - all in the name of "going to college". Then they wait for months for that envelope that will arrive in the mail and begin to set their course for the future.

Well, Hilary received that envelope in the mail - her acceptance to Humboldt State University!

I am excited for her, and CONGRATULATIONS are definitely in order!! B-U-T...(yes a capital B, U, and T), I had such mixed emotions. Letting go is challenging! It has to be done, and I will be able to get through it. I have no choice but to get through it. I know it wouldn't be fair to keep her home and not allow her to go to college just because I worry. She has worked hard for this and deserves this opportunity.

So, we'll enjoy this next 9 months and cross that bridge when it comes! :0) Congratulations, Hilary!

Fun?

I just got back from visiting my kids! They are at Movies 14 waiting for the 12:01 a.m. showing of the new Harry Potter Movie. They said this is "fun"! What part of this is "fun"?

• Waiting for 4 hours for a movie to start?
• Sitting on the cold cement on the curb?
• Sitting outside for 4 hours when the current temperature is 49 degrees?
• Watching all the strange people dressed up in costumes?
• Getting home at 2:30 a.m. and having to get up and go to school?

I guess I'm OLD because this just doesn't sound like "fun" to me! :0)

A New Driver

Yes, we have a new driver in our family! Congratulations to Lyle on passing his "behind-the wheel" driving test yesterday!! Now a trip to the insurance company to hear the "bad news" about the cost of insuring a young, male driver! :0(

Visitors

Every morning for the last few weeks when we come out to leave for school and work, we find these visitors on our sidwalk and/or lawn:

If I had a gun and didn't live in the city limits, I would be ready for Thanksgiving! :0)

On The Road Again...

Somedays it seems like all I do is drive, drive, drive (and did I mention I HATE to drive!)...

Today's Driving Schedule

• Drive from Redding to Palo Cedro to take Lyle to school
• Drive from Palo Cedro to Anderson to go to work
• Drive from Anderson to Palo Cedro to pick Lyle up from school
• Drive from Palo Cedro to Redding to take Lyle home
• Drive from Redding to Anderson to go back to work
• Drive from Anderson to Redding to come home from work
• Drive to the store
• Drive from Redding to Palo Cedro to take my Mom her laundry I did for her
• Drive from Palo Cedro to Redding

With all those miles, I could have been halfway to somewhere fun :0)

Time To Give Thanks

WOW, it's November 1st! Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I have been thinking a lot about "giving thanks". So often I find myself griping and complaining when I have SO much to be thankful for. So often I dwell on the things I don't have instead of being grateful for the things I do have.

I have a roof over my head. I have enough food to not only sustain my health, but to expand my waistline, hips and thighs. I am in relatively good health. I have two children that if I think about them deeply enough I truly believe my heart would explode. I have a husband who has been faithful to me for over 26 years and who I trust whole-heartedly. I have a mother who loves me. I have a brother that makes my life interesting and fun. I have true friends. And I even have a cute cat! And that’s only a small list of the things I’m thankful for!

"Oh, that men would give thanks

to the LORD for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works

to the children of men!

For He satisfies the longing soul,

And fills the hungry soul with goodness."

Psalm 107:8-9