Sparkle. :)

My youngest says he loves Mommy's "new sparkle."

Because I love him...

Yeah, I know I already posted it.  But it was in a collection of several photos, and I really needed to single out this ONE photo... because I love it... and I love him.  (And he'll hate that I brought attention to it again, but he'll get over it.  :)

Just to make sure there's no confusion... No, I didn't take the picture... so, no, that's not another woman grabbing at my husband.  :)  KS1 was our photographer for the moment.  I only take credit for the editing.  :)

Thanksgiving Weekend.

My family has been SO lazy this weekend!  I guess we got all of our energy out on Thursday, and ate too much to do anything but play and hangout for the rest of the weekend. :)  I'm SO okay with that.  :)

This was the extent of excitement on Thanksgiving Day:

Who knew JENGA was such an intense game???  Haha!  Leave it to my family.  :)

And of course, there was a ton of food:

And plenty of smiles:

A few naps:

But it all came to an end.

The next day, we did...

NOTHING.

We are NOT a black-Friday-shopping family.  Um... no thanks, although the hubby and I DID get in on a few online deals.  :)  Now, THAT's the way to shop on Black Friday.  :)

Other than that, the boys stayed in their jammies.  We ate leftovers... pretty good leftovers, though!  KS2 and I made dumplings to go with some of the leftover turkey:

The next day wasn't too much different, although we DID venture out for our last "Silky's treat" before the end of the season.  Today, our favorite frozen custard place will be closed until next spring.  Sad day in the Ketteman house.  :(  ...much better for my calorie intake, though!  HA!  The boys played outside for a bit.  Other than that ... more of nothing.  :)

We haven't even done Christmas decorations during all of this down time.  Ugh.  Well, there's always next weekend.

Today was a little more normal.  We managed to drag ourselves out of bed to get to church.  :)  I'm glad.  I also forced my family into an impromptu photo session this afternoon... just because I wanted to.  :)  Everyone complained.  It's WAY chilly outside.  Oh well.  They got over it.  That's just the kind of mommy I am.

So... tomorrow starts the craziness of normalcy again.  I'm thankful for weekends like this... it's just what our family needed.

Saving the Best for Last.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
-Psalm 100:4-5 NIV

Today is it!... Thanksgiving Day.  :)  My house smells like turkey.  Yum.  It has been a wonderful day.  Family came over.  We ate a LOT.  We spent time together.  What better way to celebrate being thankful than with the people you love most?  Let's hope that doesn't only last one day a year!!!

So, to close my week of reasons to be thankful (like you can actually ever "close" that subject, right?)...

I am so thankful for my Savior.  I am thankful for His loving mercy and grace.  I am thankful to live in a country where I can worship Him.  I am thankful for my church and my pastors who work so hard and sacrificially.  I am thankful for the faith of my father and mother, who taught me to follow my heavenly Father.  I am thankful for a husband who shares this conviction and leads our family in the same light.

Still Thankful! :)

The boys slept in this morning.

I have a list of "to do"s as long as my arm.  Haha!  Oh well.

For these things, I give thanks.  No, seriously, I do!  :)  My children are healthy and well enough to rest.  And my "to do" list means I have a home to clean, food to cook, and family to welcome into my home.

I am blessed beyond measure.

Thankful.

I think my day just started off on the wrong foot with a less-than-great situation this morning, and it carried on from there.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds." -James 1:2

I know I still have an abundance of cause to be thankful.

And I am thankful.

Today, I am thankful for a warm home on a cold, rainy day, cherished friendships and encouraging words.

BFFs. :)

I can't possibly let my list fly by without including my "bestie."  :)  It's funny how things change throughout the years.  "BFF" was popular when I was a kid, and it still is.  But "bestie"?  Who came up with that?  I wonder if teenagers these days have any clue what "LYLAS" means.  :)  Haha!

one from "back in the day":

...and here we are now:

Still love to be goofy and have fun.  :)

Truly, I don't know what my life would be like without her.