Winterizing

This morning was so productive.  Sissi and I went out shopping and got some odds and ends at Walmart.  Then we ran over to Ross and got some sheets to put in our "Going to Africa" bin out in the garage.  We got some things for Khan at Petsmart and then went to Hobby Lobby to get our craft supplies for next week and more yarn to crochet a few more gifts.  Last stop was the Sunflower Market to pick up our turkeys (yes, plural ;)) and sandwich meat, cheese, eggs, produce, etc.  I splurged and got sushi for lunch and Sissi got to show off her use of chopsticks with the lady behind the counter who gave her some sushi rice...it was super cute!

We got home and after lunch we decided it was too nice of a day to not take advantage of it....we decided to winterize the backyard.  Now, this is something that is usually done by the end of October.  How is is that this year we have had no real snow yet and it is Thanksgiving next week?  In my mind, this is so strange!

Indy fixed a rung on the play set that had fallen out and he put a new piece of wood on the side that the kids had broken by standing on it several months ago.  I put all the chairs and tables away, took out the tomato plant stakes from the garden, added some stuff to the compost pile, and raked mulch...  All the while, I was thinking, I'm not going to be doing this next year.  I'm going to be living in a location that is 90 degrees, humid (I might have Orphan Annie hair there ;)) and there won't be a traditional (by American standards) "fall"!  This is one of my favorite times of the year, we absolutely love Thanksgiving and harvest time in this house.  We are always bummed when retailers seem to "skip" it and move right on from Halloween to Christmas.  Now, don't get me wrong, we're not big Halloween fans either and were so happy this year to do the Reformation Day Party at our house.  BUT, we do like to stop and take the month of November to remember what we are thankful for...for the founding of our nation, our freedom to be Christians, our wedding was in November (13 years soon), etc.

I guess I wonder what it will be like, will we miss the fall?  We can still celebrate Thanksgiving, no matter where we are, even without a turkey...it's all about our attitude and remembering what we are thankful for, it just might be different things that we're thankful for next year.  A new place to live and new friends.  I might even be thankful that I don't have to winterize my yard ;)...what do you think?  I could go for that!  I'll also remember that God is working a new thing in us, it isn't always easy; but, we're ready for it...

Isaiah 43:19 - See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

Our Family Photos

Thank you Courtney...if you're reading this, we absolutely love all the photos and it made it so hard to choose which ones....I'm putting quite a handful here for you all to view!  Let me know what you think!