Thankfulness

I am thrilled the holidays are upon us.  

I love the time between Halloween and Christmas - 

so much to celebrate, time with friends and family and 

traditions from years ago and new ones to be made.

Most Thanksgivings I'm overwhelmed with thankfulness and I can't stop thinking about my family, relationships and things that God has blessed me with.  This year was a bit different for me...  I had a hard time focusing on that thankfulness.  It wasn't that I wasn't thankful and overwhelmed by how blessed we are - but my heart was being pulled somewhere else and it was breaking.  Things in the DRC news were stirring.  M23 rebels took over Goma, a city in the Eastern DRC and have threatened to move forward into other cities, including Kinshasa, the capitol city where we are adopting from.  Thousands are dying, women are being raped and children are becoming orphans.  Local people are being forced to flee their homes on foot in hopes of protecting their families.  My heart has been heavy for the DRC this past week.  I can't get it off my mind.  I like to fix things but even I know this is WAY out of my hands but I'm so thankful to know it's not out of God's hands.  My thankfulness was more focused on His faithfulness and that He knows what tomorrow holds for the DRC.  My devotions today read "When your mind is occupied with thanking Me, you have no time for worrying or complaining." This adoption has already taught me so much about hitting my knees in prayer.  It was just a different kind of thankfulness that I had this year...

Here are some pictures of some Thanksgiving festivities and traditions that took place...

Addison's Thanksgiving Feast at school.  Doesn't Xavier look thrilled to be there?

Xavier was glad to join the boys this year to watch football.

Decorating cookies at the Christmas tree farm.

Visiting Santa at the farm...  (Xavier greatly dislikes facial hair so Santa isn't going to be his favorite this year).

Our family and my brother - the coolest Uncle ever!

Looking for the perfect tree.

Xavier has already yanked over the playroom Christmas tree 3 times - it's going to be a loooong season of Christmas trees,

We have a tradition of going out to eat with my parents and then driving through a local light display and seeing Santa...  Here's my girl and I getting ready to see Santa.

Todd and Xavier getting ready to see Xavier's favorite guy... 

Again...  not his favorite!  Poor kid - we just stood and laughed at him and his expressions.

We're waiting for you little man and we can't wait to have you be part of our fun and traditions next year!