Thanksgiving Blessings

Brad and I had such a relaxing Thanksgiving this year! Brad had Wednesday - Monday off work, and it was SO NICE having him home. We got a LOT of things done around the house, and spent some good time with friends. My friend, Melanie, came up for two days, and she totally helped prepare the Thanksgiving meal and she watched the kids TWICE for us. We got to hang out with our Sunday School class after our Thanksgiving Eve service until the wee hours of the morning, and then we got to go shopping (at 5:00 a.m.) the day after Thanksgiving...that's a whole story in itself. There was no rush, and little worries. We did drive to Fargo on Saturday to see my parents and my brother and his kids...just for the day. It was still about 5 hours of driving, but there were no overnighters and no clean up! Sammy just LOVES playing with her older cousins, and my parents were eager to see how much Caleb had grown. Since Brad and I and the rest of my immediate family have been SO BUSY, it was the only real time we could get together...and it was just right. Brad and I REALLY needed some time just to be at home together as a family.

Not only did Melanie watch our kids, but she also took some pictures of our family...since it's near IMPOSSIBLE to take a family picture ourselves and have both children look in the general direction of the camera! She also loved on my kids! She made Caleb laugh, and laugh, and laugh. It was such a joy having her spend those days with us. And even though I wanted to bless her by welcoming her into my home for the holidays, I was the one who was truly blessed. She loved us so personally by giving Brad and me time together and by playing with my kids. She truly blessed my heart.