8.28.17

Thankful this week for squinty smiles.
{Thank you TJ Maxx for having matchy matchy outfits for our boys!}

 Thankful for encouraging hymns.

 Thankful for striped sweet siblings.

 Thankful for Anniversary drinks last week! Jamba and Starbucks are secret keys to my heart ;)

Thankful that Hudson stays safe when he sleep walks. How he climbed up on the table in our living room and snuggled there? Thankfully it was only momentary, and thankfully I captured it!

 Thankful for after football smiles, and hot pizza to carb load on for this kid.

Thankful for a local church's youth group that has so much fun each week! I love that our  kids want to hang out with other believer's kiddos, and learn bible truths during the week.

Thankful for retail therapy. That one quick dash in TJ Maxx had me at "Final Clearance" for a tad too long- but these pink all stars for $4?! And our Max Studio Flamingo lamp shade!

 Thankful for our groove... and for Hannah getting Hudson every day after school.

 Thankful for God's creation. Some days I am callous to it... but other days we celebrate the beauty.

 Thankful that Matt passed his sub test! Not only passed but aced it. Holla!

 Thankful for Harrison's football team.

Thankful for Friday nights. Movie, new macaroon spot,  espresso and my new Keep Bracelet!
My friend Sherry Seale sells KEEP bracelets, and this was my 1st purchase. It's rose gold and rope, and oh so simple yet so trendy! I am not a jewelry person, but this is just perfect.
I got "All In" engraved on it... It is a great reminder as to our daily mission... to be All In for His glory- in whatever manner that looks like... I have been spoken to lately about being All In and how hard life is when we are All In sometimes... I wish All In and Easy went hand in hand... but we know they don't, and we are thankful for every trial and every situation that helps our character grow and prosper.
Part of my All In character development has me walking outside to do laundry, and hanging all laundry from a *gasp* laundry line! Never. Would. Have . Thought.  When you think of moving somewhere - check to see how they do laundry ;) Or don't, and just grow in that area ...
{And although it seems minor, the amount of clothes we go through has me outside OFTEN... and with drying on the line, comes wait time, and that is another area of character development, so as we wait on clean, fresh clothes to be dried and ready, thank you lord for soap and water, I can hopefully have a clean attitude and be full of patience (this. is. a .process. )

 Thankful for sunsets at the resort area.

 Thankful for our fam. This pic was forced and man can you tell it. The kids are so like momma and can hide zero emotions. Wear it on their sleeves much? But so glad we can capture them as they grow here in Hawaii too.

 We found a beach hut. Yay!

 And a baby lizard!! Brave, gentle Harrison got to hold it :)

 Thankful for living in a vacation land. That means we get visitors often! This one was so special!
I had read about their family from their blog. Then they walk in to church and I'm like what!? I know them from somewhere... yep- their blog!! The Parent family from Toronto got a Children's Wish trip for their son Jadon
( read about Jadon, and their adoption here at www.lovemultiplieshere.blogspot.com )
They also have a son Hudson. Our Hudson was so excited. Two Hudsons!

 This mom was such an encouragement.  Sara Parent - you are one beyond amazing rock star momma!! 

{Just this weekend Matt & I were talking about our parenting and how totally crazy our kids were being and how we needed some refreshment from during this journey. I amen-ed him but thought I may have needed just slightly more refreshment as I am with kids a H-U-G-E part of the day ;)

  And then Sunday morning... Hudson was in tears as soon as we left the car to walk inside meeting. Harrison unbuckled him and he was beyond upset. 

Then we sat for literally 10 seconds in the church, and his 'tude continued... so we ventured outside for "more redirection"... and came back in  "redirected"- but I was already ready to throw the towel in for the day! 

And then the Parent family walked in. 5 kids. Oxygen tank. Jadon in his stroller. 

And I just knew God was sharing them with me, so I could truly appreciate our kids and all the crazy antics they do on an hourly, minute by minute basis- and to be thankful in our journey. 

All our parenting journeys are not the same. Yet we have one goal and it's to raise strong kiddos for the Lord. 

Somehow God knows just the right people to place in our path to encourage us and strengthen us... 

 And the Heaven Hug Sunday was SUCH a boost. 

 We have some new "pets".
Chickens roam wild here. Hannah couldn't be happier! We are thrilled she has a pet or 5 to care for- she feeds them gold fish, pirates booty and oatmeal. A perfect balanced diet. ;) We are getting a broom today so she can also handle their messes ;) She has them named: Violet, Brownie, Trickster, Flash and Cotton Candy. They roam our neighborhood but somehow always come when our sweet pet lover is outside throwing food ;)

Thankful for God's family. It is so incredibly encouraging to be encouraged. When friends ( whom I have never met!) in Texas reach out- ( Matt had visited there a year or so ago), but yesterday we were on their hearts for prayer and encouragement... it truly is such a blessing to be a part of God's huge family of believers- all over the world- meeting in many different places - during many different time zones.


Thankful that many miles away from us here,  our friends in IL celebrated worshiping in their brand new building on Sunday!! Thankful for pictures that help make the distance almost disappear :)