Thanks and Giving

Thanksgiving weekend started off with my 38th birthday.  I actually had to get out my calculator and figure out if I was really that old!  Bummer.  Steve took me out to dinner at Texas Roadhouse and then we went home for cake and presents.  Tyler, Luke, and Austin all wrote me a quick little love note.  Here is a bit of Tyler's, "Happy B-Day Mom.  Thanks for being there for me when I need you.  Thanks for looking out for me when I don't want it."  Man, I know how hard it is to be a teenager.  I remember it all to well.  I do know that life gets a bit confusing for those years.  Luckily

 most of us make it out ok.  I'm learning more and more about the impact I have on the lives of my boys.  I'm understanding that my reactions, attitudes, and example directly affect their reactions, attitudes and examples that they take out into the world.  I'm Grateful for this time to learn.

What could be better than swimming on Thanksgiving Day???? The air temp was in the 70's but the water was much warmer.  The boy and their cousins had a blast.  I give thanks to Steve's Parents for building a home where we can make memories like these.

Luke the back flip king

Nate trying to surf.  Too bad we don't live near the ocean.

 Our Dinner went off with out a hitch.  25 or so family members makes it for a loud and crazy dinner.  I'm

Austin, Dean, Luke, and Kenzie

 still (after 17 years) not used to all the commotion but I'm Thankful for the support system.  My boys LOVE their cousins and truly enjoy spending time with them.  It is fun to get together with everyone.  We are always laughing and joking around.  I'm thankful that I can be apart of this "Christian Family"

Kenzie, Tyler, Kandace, and Brenton

 On my way home from Thanksgiving Dinner I was a bit hungry.  I decided to stop in for a hot dog.  Now, most of you will think that I am crazy for this but I did have a reason.  For many years Steve's family would all get together on Thanksgiving.  By all, I mean, all of his Dad's brothers and sisters.  That included Great Grandma and Grandpa Christian.  As the families began to have their own families each of them felt as if they need to have their own dinners.  Great Grandma was not happy about this.  She wanted everyone to still be together and Im sure she would have cooked for everyone if it ment we would all still be gathered in one home.  One year I remember discussing with her where she would be eating Thanksgiving that year.  Quickly she turned to us and said, "I think I will just stay home all by myself and eat Hot Dogs!"  She was serious.  We all laughed and made jokes about this comment for years.  I think alot about Grandma Christian.  I think about how she made me feel when I was in her home.  She made me feel loved.  I figured she loved me more than any other Grandchild's spouse.  I miss her.


We were lucky enough to be blessed with a new nephew this weekend.  Jan and Paul adopted Miles Colter Forcier.  We were able to attend a special ceremony at the LDS Temple to witness Miles be sealed to the Forcier's.  This means that Miles will be apart of our forever family.  I'm Thankful for the testimony that I have that through the Gospel of Jesus Christ family can be together for ever.

Miles and Jackson

Steve and the boys

 We spend the final night of our weekend at the Tuachan Amphitheater enjoying the Live Nativity.  We enjoyed eachothers company.  I want to make this a new tradition.   I love the simpleness of the evening.

Trouble times 2
Tyler and Brenton

Miles, Jackson, and Jan

Cody, Tyler, Luke, Miles, Paul, Jackson, Steve, Austin and Jan

 I loved all the sweet moment of the weekend.  Not only did we spend time with Steve's family my mom also came up.  It is always hard to spend a holiday away from the traditions that I remember from my childhood but having my mom come up was the best of both worlds.  We spent the day shopping (of course because that's just what we do) and laughing together.  I'm Thankful for my mom.  I love that we are close.  I love that I am grown up enough to enjoy her company.  Not only is she my mom, she is my friend.

I'm not sure if we did much giving over this weekend.  Oh ya, Steve did.  She spent one day visiting with his sister and loading up her wood pile with lots of wood for her fire place.  He also cut down a Christmas Tree to give to a family in our Ward that might not have had one.  Steve is a giver.  He see a need and jumps right to work.  I'm thankful for his example.  Giving is what this season is all about.