Thankful.

Dear Readers,
 
 Last week was hard. Mom and Benjamin were in the hospital, and being away from them was really difficult. Yesterday Benjamin came home. It honestly is such a relief to be all together again. I'm so so grateful. But this week is still very difficult. Benjamin is in a lot of pain when he sits in his wheelchair, and it is just excruciating to see him in such pain.

Since the surgery I've felt the exact way I've known I would feel since finding out about it. I've felt like a complete idiot for signing up to go to Argentina next Thursday. I really can't even tell you how much I missed my Mom while she was in the hospital with Benjamin. And I got to see her everyday! How on earth am I going to be able to leave the country for ten days without her?? I've been pretty freaked out thinking about it, and have done a really great job ignoring the fact that I'm leaving soon by burying my head in Maeve Binchy's books. But I'm leaving on Thursday whether I believe that fact or keep on pretending I'm not.

I go through moments where I'm really excited to hug everyone and hear Spanish and be back in that country. But when I see Benjamin in pain like this and think about how much I missed Mom in the hospital I really feel pretty stupid and scared.

But today God showed me in a couple of neat ways that He knows how I feel.

One of my Mom's dear friends sent me a package in the mail today. It contained a precious little cross bracelet and a note telling me that this was just a token to help me remember that she and many others will be wrapping me in prayer while in Argentina. How sweet is that? And what a sweet reminder from God that He's in control.

On my way to the mailbox, another of our dear friends was picking Cate up to take her to her swim team practice. She told me that her mom told her once that when we do something that God is telling us to do, but that we don't want to do, that's when He blesses us the most. Wow. I could have cried right then...

And then when I got in from walking to get the mail (when it rains it pours! ;)) I saw I had gotten a message on Facebook from my dear Aunt Nina, who is a missionary in Mexico. It was a precious note of encouragement telling me she was praying for me as the trip nears.


I'm so blessed.  I find it incredible that He cares enough about me to orchestrate all these kind acts of encouragement today. Yeah, I'm still scared and I know I'll probably doubt myself more as next Thursday approaches. But today my heart was really encouraged. And instead of worrying about what I'll do on Thursday, and Friday, and Saturday, etc.,etc., I think I'm going to just rest in the fact that today is okay. And that God is near and will be in control the entire time I'm in Argentina, as well.


Thank you, dear friends, for the support and encouragement you've blessed us with this summer. We cherish your prayers and love. Please don't stop! We have a long way to go and appreciate every prayer.

And I leave you with a quote from Maeve Binchy's Firefly Summer that I loved; "Nothing was what we expected things to be like. But we've survived, and we'll go on surviving."
Your Blogger,
 Claire

Road trip!!!

 Dear Readers,

 We are at Grammie's house in Tupelo! Yes, we made it safely. Through AZ's mountains and plateaus, then New Mexico and the millions of Indian art bill boards ( I DO mean millions!), to Texas, the never ending (it seemed) Oklahoma, Arkansas,  and a little dip into Tennessee, we finally arrived to Mississippi! I have to tell you- it was a lot of fun. I love road trips, and even if I left home with a less than thankful heart, God used this trip for amazing things and left me feeling very thankful! Let me give a few examples...and a picture or two...

 

  My mom is amazing at contenting kiddos. I guess her camp counselor comes out, and there was not one whine for most all of the trip. We sang Christmas songs the whole drive- seriously, I think we clocked hours! Miles! Days! Ha my throat is so sore...but it was worth every minute! As we sang 'Away in a Manger', we were driving through Texas. It was dark, so we couldn't see the   ranches we were passing.

 But all of a sudden we were hit with the smell of cows- big time. And it became so real to us- Jesus wasn't born in a cleaned out, white washed stable. Our King came into the world in a filthy barn, with cows and their manure all around Him. He was laid down to rest in a manger- where slops had been set earlier that day, and lay down on straw- which the animals used for bathroom tissue! Now I am a huge animal lover, and I actually do like the smell of cows and horses for all the pleasant memories they bring up. But I wouldn't exactly want my baby- or my precious King- to have to lay down next to it.

  But that was just a beautiful reminder of all He gave for me- for all of you! He didn't come into this world as He should have, and He didn't leave it as He should have. He was ridiculed and shamed the whole way.

 And yet He did it all for US. Isn't that something BIG to be thankful for this Thanksgiving?

  Another blessing was just being with my family. This isn't exactly something anyone gets to do often, with busy schedules, etc. So just being with them was a blessing! Even if we were in a cramped car, or sharing a one bathroom hotel room, I felt so blessed to be near these amazing people I call mine. Even if I don't always show it (I can be grumpy, after all!) I love them SO much and they are my favorite people in the world. God blessed me too abundantly with them.

And don't you all think I'm going to go into a big adoption rant now? About how you all should offer this blessing to a child aching for it somewhere in God's Kingdom?

Well...I would, but think that's up to God this Thanksgiving! What do you feel called to do? I just ask that you remember them and pray for them at your table this year.

Your thankful Blogger,

 Claire  ~Pictures at bottom!~

Mom and I had braiding lessons in the car! She made it a ridiculously fun trip.

The boys who had to go cross country without braiding lessons and hours of Christmas carols, bless their hearts.

In Texas!

Sorry it was blurry- taking pictures in a jolting car was a challenge!

A very foggy drive through Texas...what a beautiful reminder that God is with us!

Mom and I thoroughly enjoyed learning all about Christmases past! Did you know that striped ornaments originated in the 1940s due to lack of paint from the war?

Cracker Barrel was so much fun- on my list of places we HAD to stop for! hehe

Mom and Dad even made our short hotel visits an adventure!

Another Uhaul picture...possibly about to cross the Mississippi!

Fun car ride! Where's Benjamin?

Dad and Mason cross the Mississippi river! I love this bridge!!

The fall foliage and winter trees made me smile. What a blessing from God that we got to enjoy them.

We cheered when we crossed into Tennessee! Mainly because it was my first state line picture- I had tried and tried and missed them all. :(





It was a LOONG drive, but I really enjoyed being with the best family on earth!

P.S---the Egg  bowl is coming up, my friends! GO BULLDOGS!!

Pictures, laughs, family- Fall is here!

 Dear Readers,

  So- fall has at last come! It may not be the MOST wonderful time of the year- I might reserve that for Christmas- but for me, it comes pretty close. I absolutely love fall..I love the smells, the colors, the baked goods, the pumpkins, the Carol's Cider Delight, the family time, the spice-orange sweaters, and the cool temps. I just love it all!! Even in the desert, where no leaves fall and the temperature is still too high, my mom shares my love for the season and has turned our house into a fall wonderland. And yes, I am wearing a (what I like to call) Pumpkin spice sweater, even though it is in the 90s. I will sweat off my gingerbread lotion happily, thank you!

  We recently took a trip to the pumpkin patch. It was all the more special because Grammie could be with us! Let me tell you- MacDonald's Ranch is horse heaven! I love it there- it is all things western and fall, with the added bonus of horses. Sound like this horse lover? I think so!

 We just have the best time every time we go there...it is wonderful! We ride a hay wagon to the patch, and then we pick out our pumpkin. They even made a wheelchair accessible wagon for Benjamin! The cowboys there are the best.  Benjamin gets the green 'special needs' pumpkin, Mason chooses the white oddball, Cate gets one good for carving, and I chose one that would make a good carriage. Yes, I will forever be Cinderella. :) We also got to pet the animals, eat a slushy, and watch Cate ride the horse. It was neat because is Mississippi Grammie always escorts Cate on the merry-go-round at the mall, but she did it on a real horse here! Hehe I love my Arizona twist on fall. Most of the time!

I was too old to ride-sigh- so spent Cate's ride with this old fella. He completely understood my agony.

My little cowgirl!

And cowboy! He's not nearly as squeezable, though.

The little cheater- caught in the action!

Could I take pictures of horses all day? Yes.

Our red-headed Laura Ingalls!

I love Arizona...

Sunshine ruined this one..but oh well!

I found my perfect pumpkin

We tried several times for this picture...but finally got it!

Fun Grammie time



These are the moments that make memories. I was talking today about the wonderful memories I have of going Christmas tree picking in Minnesota- it was a stressful experience that Mom and Dad endured for us to have memories, and those are some of my sweetest memories.  I think all of these things- whether you just carve a three dollar pumpkin or pick it out at the pumpkin patch, whether you use an articficial tree or go and chop one down, all of these are what make a child's life beautiful, special, and memorable. These are the things that they will take with them for all their lives, and the things they will model their own homes after. So it is important to take lots of pictures, spend lots of time together, and laugh much.  Please fill this fall with warm memories- whatever the climate! Your Blogger,
 Claire