Giving thanks?

 The grown up table

The kids table

 YUMM!!! The turkey.

 The spread!  Makes my belly full just looking at it.

 The kids table. It looks better with the kids and the plastic green plates don't you think?

Shameless dogs hoping for another bite of turkey.
 I can't even express all of my "thankfulness".

 In the same breath I can't even begin to express my feelings of selfishness, gluttony and greed. How can you love God, love orphans, love the poor and sit and feel happy about Americans celebrating all of our 'stuff'.

Yes, I know many of us are also thankful for familly, friends and freedom of religion... but how many of us sat and really thought about how thankful we were for clean water, air conditioning or heat, having the basic 'necessities' of life?

By necessities I mean "necessities" not things we think we are entitled to. Not our excessive amount of '1st world' stuff. Nor our over-sized homes, gas guzzling cars, all of our electronics and gizmos.

As I write this I am laying on the couch with my computer on my lap thinking to myself "I could use an extra pillow for my neck right now." immediately my thoughts turn to the 10's of millions (no I am not exaggerating) of children around the world who have no pillows... have never had pillows. They have no couches... will probably never have a couch, nor have a computer? My gut cries out when I think of the conditions most of the world lives in. Why? WHY?

No. Me giving away all of my possessions would not make all the children in the world suddenly know what it is like to sleep on a mattress or have a pillow, or have clean drinking water or sleep without fear of thieves or those who intend to do them harm.

But slimming down on the excessive things in my life is one step closer to what God calls us to. Slimming down frees up the means to help a little more than I do already. Slimming down helps me step out of the "rat race" and stops promoting the "American dream" with my lifestyle.

The world is unjust. That is never going to change. Christ himself said the poor will always be with us but I don't think that meant "the poor will always we with us so don't worry about it because you can't change it."  We can't eliminate poverty but we can show God's perfect love. We can't totally alleviate loneliness disparity and hopelessness but we can die trying.

There is never going to be a day when I stand before God and He looks at me and says, 'I wish you would have kept more for yourself.' -David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream.

OK if that wasn't a random stream of thought I don't know what is?! Sorry! :)

Over the Interstate and Through the Traffic

To Grandma Miller's house we go!  

Yep I am still covering Thanksgiving weekend... don't judge. ;)

Friday afternoon we got to go over to Grandma Miller's house for hot chocolate and an afternoon of play in the back yard. 

A classic tire swing will just never go out of style! 

 

It does tend to get more uncomfortable the older/taller you get. Just ask Ayi (aka Aunt Kristi). There is a reason she is standing in this picture. Not to comfortable on your tushie. Oh the joy of trying to become a child again. 

The kids especially love playing in the tree house.  

Maylin getting a push from Kylie.  It is so much fun to watch the kids play together. Thanks for having us over Grandma Miller.

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving day was just plain awesome. There was no rush, for anything. We slept in... well what some would consider sleeping in... Not necessarily what I considered sleeping in prior to kids. 

We climbed swing sets

 We caught rides like royalty.

We sat in trees.

 We flipped... and we flipped!

We got on board the Grandma train.

We slid down slides.

 Climbed magnolia trees.

 Cooked, and Cooked and Cooked!  Oh boy did we cook!

 We straddled fences.

 And posed for pictures.

We went for walks... or runs depending on who you were. 

 We climbed the "curly tree". And if your name is Maylin you fell out of the "curly tree". :o

We walked and walked.

We climbed downed trees and took pictures.

 WE ATE! Oh boy did we EAT! What is cuter than six Asian born children celebrating an age old American tradition of stuffing themselves.

 Finally the kids ate fudge cycles.  I present to you Princess/bride/fairy Godmother Darcy Q

 Monkey Maylin

 Hokie Daniel

 Heartbreaker Caleb

 Puma Pierson

 And Cutie Pie Kylie.
 Don't you remember the joy of fudge cycles?

We ended up the day with setting up our gingerbread houses. It was a beautiful day filled with beautiful children. It was a bit chaotic but wildly fun! I just love it when family comes to town!

So much to be Thankful for!

(sorry for the delay my computer is on the fritz... having a hard time typing and uploading)

This Thanksgiving there was so much to be thankful for; family, friends, having our children home with us and being able to celebrate Maylin's fifth birthday. I couldn't have asked for a better holiday!

 Maylin was VERY excited about her remote control Strawberry Shortcake car. Thanks Grandpa Mickey and Claire!

 Incase anyone thought she was a delicate, gentle little girl let this picture show you the truth. She set up this 'village' over and over so that her giant car could destroy them! lol

 Thursday we enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving meal. It was such a blessing to be with everyone. There were 12 adults and 5 kids! Full table but even more full hearts!

 Pierson and Maylin really enjoyed the full Thanksgiving meal! Well done Claire! It was delicious!

 Of course after the meal there were full blown food coma's. Three generations of Cline's resting their stuffed bellies.

 With five little sets of legs there was a lot of energy to burn off. Uncle Ian and Daddy are good at helping make that happen!

 The cutest little group of cousins on the planet! (Minus one! yep! My sister is at it again! Next year there will be 6! Daniel we can't wait to celebrate with you too)

 Despite what it looks like Adam did not land on Maylin! : )

 These five know how to have fun anywhere at anytime!

 Before we left on Friday we went to a Christmas tree farm to find the very best tree!

 Pierson and Maylin thought it was awesome running through the trees to find just the right one.

 After the tree was cut we went inside to warm up and get some hot chocolate. Pierson and Maylin also experienced their first candy cane!

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

From two little pilgrams to you!

PS more to come from Maylin's birthday (yesterday) and Christmas tree lighting in small town USA. We have been pretty busy around here... I am getting behind! I will catch up after all the Thanksgiving festivities.