tip toes

(This Moment)

Joining with SouleMama

papa papa papa

Sometimes late in the afternoon, when we're really missing Papa, I find our little son reading the "papa book"; pointing to every picture of his father saying "papa!" over and over and over through the whole book. Melts my heart into a puddle of mush. 

Kimmie and Kevin and Ever Bars

While we were out taking our Christmas pictures, I thought I might as well take some shots of our love-bird photographers...

Kimmie's boyfriend, Kevin (whom we all adore) is an entrepreneur and launching his business "Ever Bar" in the very near future.  He and his cousin have created an all natural and VERY YUMMY health bar that they want to get into stores. They are looking for people to back their business and there is only a few days left in their kickstarter campaign.  I wish I could give you an Ever Bar to try...they really are amazingly good.  In a way I wish I never ate one, because now every other granola/health bar pales in comparison. Here's the link, if you're interested in backing this new business. Oh, and watch their video, Kimmie makes an appearance or two. :)

Christmas photo shoot

During Thanksgiving break we did a photo shoot in hopes of getting a nice family picture for this year's Christmas card.  My littlest sister Kimmie and her boyfriend Kevin did the honors (thank you, habibis!). And I must say that Kevin was instrumental in those winning Levi-smiles. Levi thinks Kevin is VERY funny. 

I suppose I won't spoil the surprise and show you the photo we chose for our cards, but here are a few other shots from our morning walk around the neighborhood. 

Brian and I even got a few shots by ourselves. That hasn't happened in a looong while.

(Gosh, how I love this man.)

God seeping

How my eyes see, perspective, is my key to enter into His gates. I can only do so with thanksgiving. If my inner eye has God seeping up through all things, then can't I give thanks for anything? And if I can give thanks for the good things, the hard things, the absolute everything, I can enter the gates to glory. Living in His presence is fullness of joy- and seeing shows the way in.

- A. Voskamp

Still counting these gifts...

- a full Thanksgiving; yummy breakfast, parade viewing, a warm tasty dinner, slow and restful family time
- a great start on a whole-family collaborative Christmas gift for Levi
- a little boy marching around the house singing "Mama, Mamaaaa, Maaa-maa!"
- a good and healthy and collaborative start to baby-discipline (I think?)
- Sunday naps, all of us
- a successful Christmas card photo shoot (thanks to Kimmie and Kevin)
- that I forgot to bring dinner to my best friend (not that I forgot..but thankful that she will always forgive!!) :(
- surprise cookies and hot chocolate from B
- Levi's love for his family, our family's love for Levi
- advent just around the bend and a start on decorating
- breakfast at A&J King Bakery with the WHOLE family (and that it just keeps getting bigger!).
- a church-wide prayer for healing for my parents
- a wonderful, wonderful Arts Sunday at church; my husband's inspiring sermon, a gallery full of art, a beautiful and thought-provoking poem, lots of enthusiasm...a church that values the arts! (SO thankful!)
- the other millions of blessings that I know I'm forgetting just now..

feast and family

truly blessed beyond measure

Have a joyous and peaceful Thanksgiving, friends!

(we made our "word cloud of thanks" at wordle.net)