Hello December...

How did you get here so quickly?  I've horrible about blogging, seeing as I skipped the whole month of November.  Oops!  Oh well, we've been busy, and when the only place that our internet works in our apartment is the guest room that's cold, cluttered and requires sitting in one the most uncomfortable chairs we own, I decide the internet isn't all that worth my time.  But I miss writing, so here I am back for at least today.
I had the morning off unexpectedly.  I always have mixed feelings about getting unexpected time off.  I like what I do, I love playing and teaching and learning right along with the kids.  Sometimes it's nice to have a break though too, but when that break is because they're sick I feel bad for them.  It seems this fall has been terrible on these kids' immune systems; colds and coughs abound, runny noses and fevers, and even strep.  Ugh...I'm glad I haven't gotten anything yet, and I am grateful for the parents who call off therapy due to illness, but I miss the time with them.  Oh well, 'tis the cold and flu season, and hopefully it will pass quickly.
What else have we been up to?
-I had a birthday and my wonderful husband cooked Shrimp Alfredo for me
-We've been having friends over and going over to friends' for dinner



-Steve went to Milwaukee for training
-We helped the youth group at church fill boxes for Operation Christmas Child
-We bought new bedroom furniture (finally!)
-Thanksgiving was celebrated at a couple's house from church, as well as at our house with our own meal for 2: Stuffed sweet potatoes, tangerine glazed turkey, homemade gravy and stuffing, and cranberry sauce.  Pumpkin pie was made later in the day too!

-Shopping happened on Black Friday...and we didn't even have to wait in lines as we went at 10 in the morning after the rush was gone
Those are the big highlights...nothing very significant.  Maybe that's why I skipped the whole month of November?  I have some ideas in mind for the upcoming month though, it relates to the Bible study I've been doing for the past 10 weeks.  It's one that has challenged me and stuck with me since the beginning.  Not one where I do the day's study and forget about it in 2 or 3 days.  Nope, this one is a study I really needed, and as soon as we're done I'll be starting over and sharing it here.  One, to keep it fresh in my mind; two, to remind myself in the months/years to come; three, to help anyone else out there who might benefit from a challenge like this.

A Simple Thanksgiving

So I am very sad, I had to change my whole background because of one slight misjudgment.  I was helping my mother "fix" her blog (i.e. make it look nice).  I made a really neat header and was trying to find the perfect background to go with it.  I found one that worked, but for some reason the previous background she had kept showing up.  So I looked in the FAQ's as to what to do about this problem, and went to fixing it.  I did and was like wow...that looks awesome now!  So I immediately went to my blog and did the same thing to mine WITHOUT previewing it first.  Sad day...it was not the awesome blog that was my mother's.  It turned out the background I used before contained fall foliage that I was unaware of, and it hindered the reading of the text.  I was thinking it would just show up white like it was before, but I was oh so wrong.  So I had to go about finding another new background and "fix" my own.  I loved how it looked before this all happened, but I guess I'll just have to get used to this one. Or maybe when Christmas comes closer I'll just redo it all over again?  We'll see...

On another note, it's Thanksgiving and I had wonderful day with my parents and husband.  It was quite quiet around the house, Cam and Kristen were unable to come this weekend so it was just the four of us, plus 2 dogs and a cat.  There was a lot of lounging around and it was much needed after a hectic week and a half.  We ate cinnamon french toast for brunch and then watched the Lions do well, and proceed completely blow their 3rd straight game.  Grandpa came over for supper later and it was good to see him.  The food was fantastic!  I love the Thanksgiving meal: turkey, taters, swiss-k beans (my mom's specialty), corn casserole, broccoli salad, and Grandma's pumpkin pie and strawberry tapioca (which was newly added to the menu this year).  MMM...so good.

Tomorrow we're headed to Bass Pro Shops for some black Friday deals.  I am scared...I have never been out in the public on black Friday.  I don't prefer to be mobbed by people, or stand in long lines just for a good deal.  Granted, if my husband was all for it, I'm sure we'd go, just the two of us, but since he's not a big shopper I don't push it.  But my mom and dad want to get some deals and I thought what they hay, it could be fun.  It'll be an adventure for sure.  I'd best be getting to bed though, since I have to get up early in the a.m.

Finally, it wouldn't be a Thanksgiving post if I didn't write about what I'm truly thankful for.  I need to remember the spirit of this holiday year round, and I haven't done the best job at it recently.  I am thankful most of all for my Savior, the LORD Jesus Christ and a God who loves me and has awesome plans for my life.  I praise him for all the blessings I have: a mother and father who love me and the Lord (and will do anything for Steve and I as well as my bro and future sis-in-law); a husband who is doing all that he can to provide for our little family and seeks God's will in all that he does; a puppy dog who, even though he lives far away, still sleeps in our bed when we come to visit; a brother who I can share anything with (and also has found me a new sister); a family of in-laws who are there whenever we need them; and a job where I have another extended family of co-workers and bosses who love what they do and in turn make me want to be a better teacher.  God is so good!