Thankful!

We went back to Michigan for Thanksgiving since we won't be going for Christmas. Can you believe I didn't take ONE. SINGLE. PICTURE??!! We brought our camera, but forgot the memory cards at home...in the computer. However, I couldn't leave out a post about how thankful I am this year! Thankful for my family, my friends, my faith, my freedom and so much more! One year ago we had no idea how our lives were about to change.

We got back from Thanksgiving in Michigan last year, only to come back and finding out only a week later (Dec. 2) that Ty was going to be laid off. Wow, what a shock that was to us. There we were in a new state (we had only been there for 10 months), no family around, a new baby and two other little kids. I have to admit that I was worried. BUT I am so thankful for a prayerful husband who trusts the Lord and His plans! To be honest, I was devastated and worried about how we would provide for our growing family. Ty was my rock during that time. He hardly seemed phased by being laid off and He trusted that God would provide for us, just as He always had. I remember Ty saying, "Well, that just means God has something else in store for us..." Little did we know that Ty would have a new and even better job in a state not too far from our families JUST two weeks later.

There is no doubt in my mind that even though Ty being laid off was not ideal, that it happened so God could open another door for our family! I am so thankful for my husband. Not only for our relationship, but also for the dad he is to our children and for the personal relationship he has with Jesus. I am happy to say, a year later, that we love it in Champaign and we are so glad God has continue to provide and meet our every need!

A Lot To Be Thankful For!

I do have a lot to be thankful for! Family, friends, health...I could go on and on. We went back to Michigan for Thanksgiving since Ty won't have enough time off for Christmas. I was excited, we were going to have almost a full week, which we needed considering we have to split our time before 4 places (since both of our parent's are divorced). My sister also moved back to Michigan so I got to spend a lot of time with her and Micah! Also many of our family members got to meet Emmersyn for the first time! I suppose these pictures will speak for themselves:

At Ty's Mom's side:

All R kept asking to do was "feed the goats"!

E meeting Great Gpa Arent!

Ty, R and his sweet sister, LaCross!

At Ty's Dad's:

They liked the cat until they got scratched!

Meeting Gpa Paulk!

At my Mom's:

Thanksgiving dinner!

Since we won't be home for Christmas the kids opened a couple of things!

R loving on baby Micah

A Christmas tradition: all the guys get matching boxers, then have to get a picture in them

This is where L spent most of his time at Gma's: in their shower, playing.

At my Dad's:

Uncle Kolby and Aunt Britton meeting Emmersyn

Scooters!

Lincoln loved this little robot and kept making it walk between his legs.

Thanksgiving

I realize that I'm a little bit late on this post...but better late than never right? We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, spent with lots of family. We went to my dad's side of the family--to my Aunt and Uncle's house. Dinner and desert was delicious, as always and time spent with family is never long enough. Riley loves Nani and Papa and calls them constantly--I think that's why I went over on my phone minutes last month (seriously). She also got to see my cousins who she's always been fond of (especially Britton--not to be confused with my sister-in-law, yes they have the exact same name now). When she was a baby he was the only one who was able to hold her without her screaming. This time she branched out and spent most of her time with Whitney, reading books and eating raisins :).

Riley and Lincoln in their Thanksgiving outfits.

My little old man.

Riley and Whitney reading a book.

Britton and Riley

Papa and Nani with Riley and Lincoln.

I can't say enough about how thankful I am for my family--for Ty, Riley and Lincoln. They mean the world to me and mean more to me than life itself! No matter how long of a day I have with the kids they always bring a smile to my face and make all the scarifies we've made worth it. I am also thankful that Ty has a job--yes, it's not the greatest and it's not very predictable, but he has a job and I know that in these difficult economic times many people don't have a job at all. I am also SO thankful that I am able to stay home with the kids.--watching them grow, interacting with each other, and taking care of their every need. I can't imagine having to go to work everyday and leave my babies with someone other than myself. I am also thankful for my God and his faithfulness--he has provided and has given us two beautiful children that I couldn't imagine my life without. God is good!