November Thankful Dump

*Reading the word cuddled up together in the mornings.
*For the challenge of my first Kiss the Sky boutique. It was hard and God taught me some unexpected necessary things.
*A walk with Mama Holly around our little lake.  I love her presence in our lives. 

*Cute little birdhouse painted by Josie for our yard, and that she still likes to make me things. 
*Michael speaking truth into me and praying over us. 
*A break from the mundane and a school day at the Cool Bean with Josie.  We were both energized by being around people (note to self: must do this more often!)
*The kids' giant fort which they slumber-partied in.  I'm grateful that my big kids aren't "too cool" to do silly together. 
*Josie's cinnamon bagels. Glad this girl loves to bake!
* a finished art project, and adding more color to the landscape of our home.
*Rainbow hot wheels- a Josie and Noah collaboration.   

*A delightful and encouraging dinner with Ron & Margie Grant, before their next adventure to Africa with MAF
*Sara's encouraging messages to me. Canada is too far away. 
*The girls as inventors: Marion Donovan- the inventor of the disposable diaper, and Herbert Johnson- the inventor of the Kitchen-Aid Mixer, for their home schools' wax museum.  My girls are the cutest!!
*My family.  I love that I get to be with them every day.
*Celebrated my 30-oldest birthday with a girls' night made complete with; appetizers n' margaritas, 4 on a Couch, Pictionary, "I Never,"  Sylvia's  chocolate chip cookie dough cake AND Michael's Heath toffee crunch cheesecake with homemade caramel sauce (spoiled much?), while being surrounded by laughter and love.
*Birthday celebration continued with a night out with "my Ethel," Diane- my dear friend who MOVED BACK TO CA. FROM WA. AFTER 10 LONG YEARS! And who also wears purple skinny pants, and who spoiled me with a pair of matching purple skinny pants!
*A conversation with my dad for his birthday.  He asked me how old I was.  When I responded "39," he tenderly said, "how can it be!?"  Sometimes I get moments of who he could be if he were healthy. Grateful.    

*The one year anniversary of living in our home, and that God got us through some tough months. 
*Thanksgiving in SLO and that the kids got to go to the beach (something they've been looking forward to). 
*The finale of icarly with the Sloas' & Meeks,' complete with Spaghetti Tacos, "Pepi-Cola," and Groovy Smoothies (there may have also been some tears during the icarly igoodbye episode)! 
*Delighting together when we'd spot brilliant red autumn trees.  
*That Emilie has a sweet group of girlfriends from school.  
*Skypeing with my God-sister,  Melanie and Imogen. Imogen showing me her stickers. 
*Matching cherry aprons with Sylvia at her daughter Maddie's M.E. birthday tea party.  
*Babysitting my second cousins, Ava and Ian.  Noah was a rockstar  helper with Ian.  While sitting beside Ava when she went to bed, she asked "Prima, why are you still here?"  Too cute. ("Prima" is cousin in Portuguese.  I love that she calls me Prima).  
* That eyebrows grow back, and that this is going to be a HILARIOUS story she will get to tell some day (I can't say which "she"... but I can tell you it wasn't Emilie).  
*A full day of errands and grocery shopping with Josie- her soft hand in mine, conversations, and silly with only her for an entire day. 
*My name on a frosting balloon at life group.  Thoughtful.  And this post by Sarah Markley, which described perfectly why I love being the church with our life group.  
*When my grandmother lovingly refers to me as, "Creda" (child in Portuguese).  
*A fresh batch of Kristen's cookies.  

*Cuddling with Michael at the end of the day... especially while watching Parenthood or Survivor
*That Deb is back in blogville.  I've missed her poetic, gracious voice.  Reading her description of herself at her new blog and that she is a "crafter of life with words."  Beautiful.   
*A darling video of our nephew, Jack, 1 1/2, who lives in Australia, doing the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" along with my three kiddos to the video we made him last spring.  It makes my heart glad to see him "play" with his cousins even though we are a zillion miles apart. 
*My sister Toni's encouragement and nudging me to, "what is that you always say? 'give it grace.'"  I love her.
*And finally, that neediness isn't weakness, and that the LORD allows me to be needy because He wants me to be close to Him.  God. Wants. Me. Close. To. Him.  My neediness is part of His divine plan (breathing it in).  He sure must love me a lot. 

 Live in Peace!