A restful weekend

 How many ways can a puppy cuddle with you?  LOTS!  Velle goes from lap to lap finding just the right comfortable position.  She loves having us home!

 New yummy treat...Cinnamon (and sugar) Chex mix!  Sweet and salty...mmmm!

We have been burning candles and it smells so cozy in our house!  My favorite right now...Sparkling Snow...though I am not ready for snow yet!  The kiddos are, so they say!
Thankful for the time to rest and relax before the crazy of the December schedule!

Thanksgiving 2016

Alisa is becoming a wonderful roll maker!  She made the  crescent rolls and I made the pies.

A pretty table!

Uncle Pastor carving the turkey!  The kiddos and the dogs just hanging out...waiting to eat.

Gathering around the table...

 I am so thankful for the time we can spend reflecting on the faithfulness of God in our lives!  Thankful for Uncle Pastor leading us to thank God in song and directing our hearts to focus on the right thoughts!

Thankful for family...especially when Ted is away!  He was making his way home from Mexico all day!  We made sure to save turkey and pie!!!

Grandma Stille and Auntie Mari made such a pretty table!  We all worked together to make a yummy meal!  Thanksgiving is a meal of traditions!

Velle watched Papa Stille pick the turkey off the bones...she has tasted turkey and was hoping for a nibble or two.  

Sitting around drinking coffee, watching a movie after the football game was over, shooting bb guns, burning wood, and just being together...waiting for Ted to get home!

 Welcoming the traveller to Thanksgiving dinner...saved for him!

 So thankful for Ted's safety in travel.  He always has interesting stories for us when he returns.

The girls had a sleepover at our house...they boys at the other house.

A restful and thankful day!

I needed to hear this song this week!

As I got ready for school on Tuesday morning, this song played on KNVBC.com.  It was just the reminder that I needed to focus on for the day!

My Redeemer Is Faithful and True

Steven Curtis Chapman

As I look back on the road I've travelled,
I see so many times He carried me through;
And if there's one thing that I've learned in my life,
My Redeemer is faithful and true.
My Redeemer is faithful and true. 

My Redeemer is faithful and true.
Everything He has said He will do,
And every morning His mercies are new.
My Redeemer is faithful and true. 

My heart rejoices when I read the promise
'There is a place I am preparing for you.'
I know someday I'll see my Lord face to face,
'Cause my Redeemer is faithful and true.
My Redeemer is faithful and true.

A week of blessings

 School has been full of activities as we prepare for all the holiday fun!  Girls helped our Music teacher make cookies to go along with the singing team for the friends at the assisted living home.

 Alisa (mostly) and Ashlynn babysat for two little buddies.  What fun to have little people roaming our house again!

 Allison is home from college for Thanksgiving and made us one of her first stops!

 Puppy snuggles!

 Thanksgiving Feast 2016 is in the books!

 Our students like to dress up for this event.  Everyone looked so nice!

 Choir singing before the meal was served.  I had one of my little boys sit with us because both his parents had to work.  I think he did well!  He received awards for the K5 student who had the best costume in the judges view, and he won the coloring contest!

 We ended the busy week with our Pie and Praise last night.  What a blessing to be reminded  of all that God has done this past year!  Two of my Kinders sang with me..."Father, We Thank Thee."  We  memorized Psalm 100 for the month of November and learned this song.  It was a blessing to me that their parents made an extra effort to come last night!  And then at the end...we sang "God is so Good" and "Thank you, Lord for saving my soul" and you could hear these two little guys belting out the words!  Oh my heart!  What a privilege it is for me to teach these little ones!

 We are looking forward to Ted's return from Mexico on Thanksgiving night.  God is good...even when trips interrupt our desired holiday plans...we are thankful for jobs!

We don't usually hang out on our phones in furniture stores...only when we are couch shopping!  I like this picture...he patiently waits as I look at colors and fabrics.  Thankful for our relationship...and miss him when he is gone!

Taught my class about voting this year!

 It is really exciting when you are 5 years old!  It is really exciting when you are many more years than 5!  Alisa made star sugar cookies for us to eat on our special Red, White, and Blue voting day!

 Mom, see...the scarf you bought me...it was perfect for my patriotic look!  That is a tired look...wow...should have added lipstick before the selfie!

Thankful to live in a land that still allows us the opportunity to vote!  Praying it will be so when my little Kinders get old enough to have a voice!  Praying that the foundation we are laying now...will guide them in the choices they will make in the years ahead.

Looking fine!

When the girls are away...this is how we play!

 We have a fire in the fireplace and try to keep Velle from being a "hot" dog!

 Teddy got to go to the circus with his buddies to celebrate A's birthday.

 Ted and I got to go on a date...shopping for a couch.  Ours is old and falling apart.  "We are losing our stuffing now!"  Do you know how old that couch is?  "Yep, as old as Teddy is!"  It is time then!  So many choices...how will I decide?

Poor Velle...what a rough life she leads when the teenagers are gone and all she has is Dad and Mom!  We like Saturday schedules...and cuddles!

Girls' Day out...

at the mall.  The young girls wanted to shop.  The mature girls wanted to sit and talk...and eat soup from Zoup!  Yum!  Thankful for time with friends...even at the mall.  The girls were happy and enjoyed their time too.

Sharing American family time with a co-worker

 Ted routinely hosts coworkers from Europe and Mexico.  This weekend, we had the opportunity to open our home and share some American activities and food with one of the men.  He got to go paint-balling with the guys on Saturday and then share supper with us.  He accepted the invite for Sunday dinner with us and we had the traditional Thanksgiving meal.  It was fun to talk with him and learn Spanish too.  He is missing his family this week.

Just thankful to open our home and share it with someone this weekend.  Ted has wonderful opportunities to experience other countries.  This weekend we shared an American custom of hospitality.