Thanksgiving with Mom

After yesterday's Thanksgiving with Jon's mom, today was spent with my mom and brother.  The girls and I were able to help my mom do a little cooking for the day.  It was nice to be able to spend time visiting with Mom and Bob.  My brother Michael joined us for the evening.  

Caleb spent part of the day working on final projects for school while the girls played a little Yahtzee.  

I think we all finished the day off fat and happy!  I'm pretty sure we ate our way through the day. It was great to have us all together, but much too short of a visit! 

Let your father and mother be glad;

    let her who bore you rejoice.

Proverbs 23:25

Thanksgiving at Granny's House

Our first Thanksgiving stop was at Granny's house. Granny and Donnie had a houseful of people, I think I counted 18+ at dinner.  Jon's brother Bob and his son BJ were in town; we were only missing Jess. Lots of laugh and story telling and plenty of delicious food make for a great holiday.  As you can Sport was worn out from all the activity! 

And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Matthew 15:26-27

The Boy is Home for the Holiday

The boy made it home for Thanksgiving break!  His last class finished up today at noon, but he was working in Professor Patty's office until 5pm.  So happy to have him home for a few days.  His sisters and puppy were so excited he was coming home, but Sissy fell asleep before he arrived.  

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24 

Support for Malori

Malori Maddox is a sophomore at LCU with Caleb, who collapsed in the locker room during a volleyball game, she was rushed to the hospital after complaining of a severe headache and blurred vision. A surgeon at the small hospital in Wichita Falls who just happened to be trained in her symptoms performed an emergency surgery to treat her brain bleed, which was caused by a arteriovenous malformation (AVM) - a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries to the brain.

Malori is making big strides as she recovers and on November 19, she was able to eat by herself for the first time since her collapse.  Malori would have died had the doctor in the Wichita Falls hospital not performed an emergency surgery to stop the hemorrhaging, and her family is hoping for a full recovery once the AVM is removed next month.

Today students at LCU purchased shirts to show their support for Malori and her family.  Caleb is on the second row, toward the center.  

And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 

Acts 15:31

Christmas Recital

The first of the holiday events, our PEACH Christmas Recital! Abigail chose to play Burgmuller's Ballade on the piano. She was more that a little nervous because she's spent almost twelve weeks in a cast or brace with a torn ligament in her left thumb! 

To his son Shemaiah were sons born who were rulers in their fathers' houses, for they were men of great ability.  I Chronicles 26:6 

Something's Rotten in the State of Denmark

Our PEACH Drama Club is preparing for our spring production.  This year the 9th-12th graders will be putting on, 'Something's Rotten in the State of Denmark.' The play is a spoof William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Abigail will be portraying Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude.  This is the sixth years for our drama club and it is so enjoyable to see how comfortable the kids are with each other, they've become quite the 'hams!'  

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,

    but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.

Proverbs 12:4

Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Part II

If you haven't experienced a teen flick, especially the latest book to movie adaptation, know it should be experienced sitting next to four fourteen year olds. Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Part II came out last night and Abigail and a few friends were at the first showing this morning. 

The girls giggled through the promo clips of upcoming movies with Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter). The promoters knew their audience placement!  it was fun to watch the girls who had read the books and knew when 'something' was about to happen.  The girls would begin to slouch down in their chairs, grab each others arms and brace themselves!

The girls declared the movies to be a hit, true to the book, just marvelous.  The mom vote goes something like this, lots of action, no profanity, no sexualized scenes, great family entertainment all except for that depraved society that kills children.  

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up,
 as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Dinner

Who doesn’t love it when Peppermint Patty invites herself and her friends over to Charlie Brown’s for Thanksgiving?  Linus, Snoopy and Woodstock help Charlie Brown put together a quasi-feast of sliced buttered toast, pretzel sticks, popcorn, and jelly beans.  Each year our homeschool families from church get together and celebrate a meal of thanksgiving together.  

The Gungan family has always hosted but with their recent move to Oklahoma the Hunt family graciously opened up their home.  To the delight of everyone, the Gungans drove down for the afternoon.  Lunch was filled with all the traditions of the 1973 holiday classic with a few additions like meatballs and brownies.  The kids enjoyed Nerf wars, basketball and a few games of chess while the moms caught up around the dining room table.  

It was a fabulous afternoon for all and to quote Linus, quoting Elder William Brewster, “We thank God for our homes and our food and our safety in a new land.  We thank God for the opportunity to create a new world for freedom and justice.”

Here are a look back at previous Charlie Brown Thanksgivings: 

2014 Homeschool Thanksgiving

2013 Homeschool Thanksgiving

2011 Homeschool Thanksgiving

2009 Homeschool Thanksgiving

2008 Homeschool Thanksgiving

2007 Homeschool Thanksgiving 

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge I Corinthians 1:4-5

Lovepacs for Children

Everyone has different things that motivate their behavior, I find that my sweet oldest child is a huge motivator for many of the routine things I do.   

Today was one of those tear-jerk moments, you see last night despite torrential rain and tornado warnings Frankie went with me to load 31 boxes of food into the back of my mini-van. You see, these boxes were loaded with can goods: Chef Boyrdee, vegetables, fruit, tuna, crackers, granola bars, oatmeal, etc. The boxes are headed to children who qualify for the free school lunch program.  With the upcoming Thanksgiving break many of these children's families will struggle to supply three meals a day for the kids.  Enter Lovepacs to help these families. 

Lovepacs relies on individual and corporate donations to fill these boxes.  They are prepared for children identified by school counselors for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break. In the Lewisville ISD school district where we live 478 boxes were packed and prepared for today's deliveries.  

Our first delivery today was made to The Colony Police Department.  These police officers will be taking 19 of the boxes along with bread and turkeys for families identified through the high school.  Our second delivery was to Griffin Middle School where we met up with other volunteers to delivery 36 boxes. 

It was touching to see so many people working together, many of them for children they've never met. I get choked up at the sight of my sweet girl who loves helping other people, grinning from ear to ear knowing she is helping children.  

For He satisfies the longing soul,

    and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

Psalms 107:9

Lady Storm Softball

Our lives have been relatively softball free due to the ligament damage in Abigail's thumb.  However, now that she is without a cast, without a brace and has a doctors release she can resume playing.  

At the time of the injury to her thumb Abigail had aged out of 14U ball with Southern Force and she was shopping for a 16U team.  She has been subbing for the Lady Storm team even with her brace.  She isn't on the team until they can see her play at full capacity.  Fortunately for Abigail, today they need an extra player to join them for their five tournament games.  

The girl played right field and it may be a little time before she is back behind the plate, but the important thing is she played ball!  She ran into several friends from former teams including Sarah who plays with Abigail on the CHANT home school high school team.  The Lady Storm won their game against the Frisco Fusion and both games against the Little Elm Wolfpack. It was a good day for softball! 

Fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

8 

It will be healing to your flesh

    and refreshment to your bones.

Proverbs 3:7-8