Oh Christmas Tree 2014

Knowing that I would be starting my cancer treatment right after Christmas, we wanted to get our tree as soon as possible as to enjoy it as long as possible. We usually go the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving, but sometime push it out a bit if the weather isn't great, but not this year. So, we set on on a rainy morning to head out to Baggenstoes Farm and have fun getting our tree despite the weather! It was a relatively short trip but we had a great time!

Ready to head out!

"Look, mom, a Charlie Brown tree!"

We found our tree pretty quickly

.. and found our across the street neighbors the Neubauers, too!

Rain or shine, there is always fun in running outside!

We got home, dried off and began the Christmas decorating!

My two favorite elves!

Every year they help more and more and really do a great job!

My sweets....

"Ta-Da!"

Happy to be done!

After a quick dinner we got the kids ready for bed and into their Christmas jammies and headed downstairs for popcorn and the first Christmas movie of the season. The kids picked Rudolph!

Yay for Christmastime!

I love our tree....

Thanksgiving 2014

We once again did a "two stop" Thanksgiving and thoroughly enjoyed our day celebrating with both sides of the family!

I started the morning by taking the kids with me for a walk. They really weren't excited about it at first, but when I told them they could stay in their pj's they were all for it! HA!

It was a lovely morning for a walk indeed!

First stop, Doug's aunt Mary, who always works hard to make today special!

All the Morris cousins... Ages almost 3 to almost 16!

Pretty baby girl....

Mr. Handsome Pants

This peanut. She is a firecracker but man, I love her!

Matthew and Lilly dancing..they both had fun and it was so cute!

Pie!! My mother-in-law always makes small birthday pies for Evelyn, Matthew and Lilly who all have birthdays next month. It's a highlight for sure!

...and he usually eats his like this! Silly boy!

After a lovely time at Mary's, we headed over to my mom's for another fun time with family.

Aunt LoLo loves her Matty!

Da boys. I am thankful for the way Cole loves on and takes Matthew under his wing. He is a special young man!

Evelyn and Regan

This guy.....no words for how much I love him!

A feeble attempt to get a cousin shot. Not too bad for tired kiddos!

This year more than ever we are acutely aware of how much we have to be thankful for. In want or in plenty, we are blessed beyond measure. Happy Thanksgiving!

Rain Puddle Fun

Oh my how the rain came today today! The storm drain across the street gets clogged easily and today the water was building up quick and our street at times looked like a river. The kids begged to go play in the big puddle and I really had to reason to say no. So they got booted up and off they went!

Deep water!

These pics don't do the puddle justice. Trust me, it was big and deep! The kids had a great time playing and were completely soaked when they came in. Happy, but soaked!!

.... and I am quite sure this won't be the last time this big puddle appears to bring on more fun!

Thanksgiving Feast

Matthew had his Thanksgiving Feast at preschool today. They have been learning about the pilgrams and indians, etc and he has been excited for this day for weeks! Since I thought I was going to be in isolation this week I was so excited to be able to go and celebrate with our little pilgram!

Matthew and his "fwend" Bella

Gosh I love him!

Little Miss Maleah looking adorable!

Waiting patiently for the "feast" (which, if you must know, was popcorn, goldfish, oranges and apple cider). Those folded hands..... they get me every time!

It was a fun morning and we both were glad to be together!

The "Night Avengers"

Doug had to work late tonight so after dinner the kids and I went for a walk. They were SUPER excited to grab their flashlights and go "exploring". They decided they were going to call themselves the "Night Avengers" and protect the neighborhood. I love their silliness and creativity!

And indeed, all was safe in the 'hood! A fun way to end the evening!

Fall is here!

Ahhhhh... it's that time of year again. Changing color of leaves, the crisp cool air mixed with the rain showers and occasional sunshine. We have had a rainy patch of late and have been anxiously waiting for dry weather to do some yard cleanup. Thankfully the weather has been lovely and dry the past few days so Doug got to work today. Sadly I can't help much due to my continued physical limitations but I CAN take photos...haha!

He works tirelessly for our family. We are blessed!

Matthew didn't enjoy the loud leaf blower but did enjoy running thru the leaves as Doug blew them off the roof!

It wouldn't be fall without jumping into a big pile of leaves!

Love these two!

My happy little bike rider

The kids wanted to make a big "Go Ducks" O out of leaves... turned out pretty good!

Thankful for sunshine and family for sure!

Joy will come....

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." Proverbs 16:9

We met with the doctor yesterday and found out that my cancer treatment will have to be pushed out to January. The plan we had of  getting it done before Thanksgiving just isn't going to work due to many different factors. We could do it in December but it would be hard to make it work around Matthew and Evelyn's birthdays and Christmas, events I do not want to miss out on (the main part of the treatment involves being in isolation for up to a week). While we are thankful that my prognosis is good and we CAN push treatment out, it was really discouraging news for me to hear.

Today has been a hard day, the reality of this adventure not being over when we want it to be has really gotten me down. When something big like this, that you have been planning on and expecting (and other have been planning on and arranging their schedules to help or bring meals) for over 2 months, doesn't pan out, it is hard, especially when you are a type A planner like I am. We would rather not have this hanging over our heads. Having to wait is not what we wanted, but it is the way it has to be.

Psalm 16:11 says, "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."  God has set this new path before us, one that is not what we expected. But it is HIS plan, and I know He works ALL things for good. He can take my discouragement and replace it with the JOY only He can give.

I need to embrace this and be positive about this new plan. Other than being tired and still working on getting my neck stronger, I am feeling really good right now, the best I have felt in 4 months (that's when my neck started acting up). I can continue to get stronger and be in an even better place for treatment come January. I can plan and celebrate holidays and my kids' birthdays free of special diets and lack of energy that treatment will bring. Doug can get some much needed rest from doing "double duty" the past 4 months while my neck was in bad shape and while I have been recovering from surgery. My sweet kids are SO excited that I am doing better and can do more things with them and that it will be this way for a while. There truly are so many things we can be thankful for regarding this delay.

I remember being bummed at having to wait so long for surgery to remove my thyroid and the cancer that was growing in it, but in the end it was the best thing for me, since my neck really needed that extra time to heal. I am believing this is extra time God  has again allowed for me to get even stronger and enjoy feeling good, hopefully making the treatment even easier for me to tolerate when it happens.

God's word (don't recall the verse at the moment) says that "Weeping may endure for a night, but JOY comes in the morning". While today has been hard, I will lay my tired head and tear streaked face on my pillow and go to sleep.

And in the morning, I will choose joy. Because I have a lot to be joyful about!