Pilgrims.

As we were growing up, I distinctly remember a set of ceramic pilgrims that my mom would display around Thanksgiving time. It seems that those little figures displayed on the shelf signified that the much-loved Thanksgiving gathering of our family was right around the corner. I also remember a set of ceramic carolers that she would display around Christmas time. Sometimes, I think that we (I) get so caught up in getting the latest and greatest holiday decorations, that we forget about the simple ones that, when used year after year, become so special and meaningful to our children and families. Until today, I didn't really have anything specifically for Thanksgiving; sure, I decorate our table with pumpkins and gourds, and I have a few "Give Thanks" signs that stay up year-around, but nothing specifically to decorate for Thanksgiving. Today, when I was at Hobby Lobby, I spotted this neglected set of pilgrims. They look old, and I love that. Better yet, they were 80% off so the set cost less than $4.00. I brought them home, set them on the table, and it is amazing how my kids keyed right into them and held them and talked about the pilgrim and Indian story. I hope that these will become beloved family heirlooms across the years, and that my kids will come to see these as a sign of the holiday, just as I did as a child. I also rescued a metal turkey for 80% off....he had a missing wing. I have looked at these at Hobby Lobby for three years now but could never quite bring myself to pay the 49.99 price; but this one-winged guy.....I got him for less than 10.00, and even found the random wing to boot. After a little Thanksgiving operation, he should be as good as new.

And, here is my little pilgrim this morning at his preschool tasting feast. This is a time when the kids get to sample traditional Thanksgiving foods and dress up like pilgrims. So adorable. My son's favorite tastes were the mashed potatoes, corn bread and whipped cream. The pumpkin pie? Not so much. But the heart-shaped corn muffins were a hit, and the kids even got to make their own butter. So much fun.

Tomorrow, I'm going to share our Tree of Thanks that we have been hanging tags on. It has been a fun holiday project and a great way to encourage kids to get into the habit of expressing what they are thankful for. Enjoy this crispy fall pre-Thanksgiving Monday, everyone.

Find What Doesn't Belong.....

Over breakfast this morning after church, I was reciting my grocery list to Kennedy, and she was writing the list for me. She is really into spelling these days, so she loves to make lists. After breakfast, I put the list into my purse and didn't look at it again until tonight, when I was at Meijer getting some groceries for Thanksgiving party preparations. So, I pull the list out of my purse and start reading.......corn muffin mix (for Hayden's preschool tasting feast tomorrow), pumpkin pie (for Kennedy's class' feast on Tuesday), corn, hamster.........HAMSTER? I had to laugh out loud, and I chuckled throughout my whole shopping trip. I tell you, you just have to give her credit! She has been obsessing over getting a pet hamster for Christmas, so we are in the position of deciding whether or not to make her dream come true and add one more species to our home.

I found some cute little heart-shaped muffin foil cups so decided to make my corn muffins into hearts. The 4-year-olds should love them tomorrow at the tasting feast.

My sister and I had a nice weekend scrapping, sharing meals, and just catching up. It has been a long time since we have spent 2 days together without kids or husbands, so it seemed really nice to reconnect. Today was pretty much church and resting and getting groceries and making sure everything is set for this week's cooking. See you tomorrow for the first day of Thanksgiving festivities.

Where Did Friday Go?

The days seem to be just flying by around here, and we're trying to slow them down. Do you ever have those days where you drop into bed and wonder where the past 24 hours went? Today consisted of meetings at work with Little Man Hayden in tow, driving the kids to grandpas' house, a few errands, and them some scrapbooking with my sister tonight. We are headed for all-day cropping tomorrow, and we are looking forward to some creative time together.

Oh, and yes......my husband shot a deer. A button buck. And he's getting the meat processed. And bringing it home. And expects us to eat it. Yikes. I was really praying that he wouldn't get one, but now.....well at least it wasn't a big rack, so I won't have to fight the whole "let's hang the deer head in the house" dilemma. To each his own, but a deer head on a plaque just doesn't fit into my idea of a cozy home. Great job, Honey.....I hope you plan on eating lots of venison in the coming months!

Celebrity Look-Alike.?

How interesting is this. A friend happened upon this software that will scan your facial photo and compare it to a celebrity database to identify those celebrities that are the most similar to you. My most similar match was with Kirsten Dunst, but I also came up highly matched with Tori Spelling and Courtney Thorne Smith. Just a little bit of fun for a chilly fall Wednesday. We're supposed to get snow tonight. My hubby is deer hunting so it feels kind of strange without him in the house. I'm praying that he has a great relaxing time communing with nature....but that he DOES NOT come home with a deer. I just don't like venison, nor do I want to deal with having it around the house. Run, Bambi and Feline and all those other deer up there in Mt. Pleasant....do not let that handsome man in the camo. coat get you!

Conferences.

Last night was Kennedy's first parent-teacher conference of the year. I always approach conferences with anticipation but also a little bit of anxiety; I think it is always somewhat hard for parents to listen to someone who is evaluating their child, and I am no different in that respect.

In a nutshell, Kennedy is having an exceptional year. She is already beyond first grade in all academic areas and especially excels in reading and writing. She is working in second and third grade levels and, in the words of her teacher, "thinks so maturely and beyond her young age" intellectually. Her artistic and creative skills are also strong for her age. Math is advanced, too, though Kennedy said that math centers are her least favorite thing about school. She is making good friends, showing good citizenship, and always want to make the right choices. The only area that she needs to improve is running in gym. She would rather walk, and doesn't like to get sweaty! We are so proud of how hard she works and how she always gives her best effort. Amazing work, my Girl. You have made us and Jesus very, very proud.

I love it when I get a stack of work that Kennedy has done at school. It is so fun to see what she chooses to journal about at school.....you always wonder what they are going to say about home and family when they are writing at school. On one journal entry, she was writing about how badly she wants a hamster for Christmas. She wrote "I wish I could have a hamster. I don't think it will be that hard. But my parents say it will. Now I believe them. But I still want a hamster." And she wrote an essay about career day: "When I grow up, I want to be a vechrunarein. I want to help heal animals. I want them to feel better, and I don't want them to be sick. So that's why I want to be a vechrunarein, to help animals and if my pets get sick, I can help them feel better." Don't you love how she spelled "veterinarian!"

And then there are the incomplete sentences. Some of her answers were I WORRY ABOUT "Hayden and Kaden chasing me when I get home from school." (This is my son and his little friend, who like to dress up as pirates and chase all the girls). And I HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT IN......now, you think that given her academic level, she might write reading or writing or something like that. But no. Our little girl wrote I HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT IN "singing the Conga!" Oh my, did we laugh at that one. She is referring to singing karaoke, and one of the songs that we sing is the Conga Beat......such a fun, energetic and upbeat song. Yes, little girl, you do an amazing job with singing the Conga, so keep on, Girl! You Go!

This and That.

1. We enjoyed a lovely dinner party on Friday night. Many notable people from Grand Rapids higher education and politics were present to honor Dr. Rogers as he moves on from our university. It was nice for my husband and I to dress up a bit and enjoy a dinner out. And the dessert was to die for! The kids had fun hanging out with some of my students at their "college pad."
2. A friend and I attended the first holiday craft show of the season. It was pretty mediocre, though I did buy a cute stitched Christmas sampler and some hand-carved walking sticks for the kids.
3. We can now park one car in the garage! Now this may not seem like a big deal, but ever since we moved 2 years ago, our garage has been stacked with boxes. And truly, after 2 years, do we really need whatever it is that is out there? We are obviously getting along fine without it! The kids did find lots of treasures, and I am happy not to have to scrape my windows every morning!
4. We introduced the Christmas program to the kids at Compass. I wrote the play entitled "The Christmas Rainbow" and it is the final thing that I will do in my work with kids' ministry before we change to a different church. Bittersweet, but I think this will be a fun and meaningful way to make the transition.
5. A restful Sunday, including breakfast out and an afternoon nap.
6. The kids made these amazing masterpieces Sunday afternoon. I have them paint at least one canvas a year to display on our walls, and it so so fun to see how their skills and insights change from year to year. Great Creative Work, my little Picassos!
7. Happy Veteran's Day, especially to those who have served our country. My grandfather, Hank M., and Matt's father, Ed. M., have both served bravely, and we are especially grateful for their influence. A special thanks and prayers for those who are currently serving overseas, as well as those families who have sacrificed immensely so their loved one can defend our freedom.
8. I am looking forward to scrapping with my sister, Kendra, this weekend. We will be working on some Christmas books that I have started for each of my siblings' families. The time together will be wonderful!
9. This is post #300 in my blogging.....still loving the journey.
10. Have a very blessed Monday, and take advantage of the opportunities that God places in your path today, wherever it leads.

Thoughts on Change.

Fall always puts me in a very reflective, nostalgic mood. Change is all around, from the green plants drying up and turning to all shades of brown and gray, to the leaves bursting into magnificent color, falling from the trees, and littering every yard and sidewalk. As the weather turns gray and cold outside, I always find myself turning inward. Today, I find my mind wandering to the topic of change.

As a psychologist, I am very interested in the process of how humans change. Often, they don't. People resist change. We become comfortable in our routines and the prospect of change scares us. We like security and predictability. That is one of the things that I believe draws people to Jesus Christ and Father God; He is the same, unchanging, yesterday, today and forever the same. As humans who are constantly faced with change and uncertainty in this world, God is a rock and an anchor on which we can always rest and depend. Amazing.

In more ways than one, this is a season of change for me. Tonight, my husband and I are attending a going away dinner for the president of the Christian university where I teach; Dr. R. has been our leader for more than 15 years, and he is moving on. Change can be very good for a university as fresh ideas and directions are introduced, but with it also comes some uncertainty.

Our family is also facing change. Over the past few months, and through a very painful and prayerful process, we have come to the conclusion that the church we are currently involved in just isn't where we are called to be. We were involved in this church plant from its birth. We have many friends in our church. Our children are connected in the children's program. I am involved in children's leadership and in vocal worship teams, so this change hurts to the core. Even when we know change is right and good for our growth, it often nonetheless comes with pain and grieving.

I, too, am facing changes personally. Over the past 2 years, I have settled into some habits that, quite frankly, I don't like. These habits have resulted in extra weight, I no longer work out, and I just don't prioritize staying physically healthy. That needs to change. I have started the process over the past 2 months, but it is time to get serious. For most of my life, I worked out religiously including both cardio and weight training; but parenthood and 2 moves in 3 years has left me complacent about this area of my life. And so, these changes need to be made. And its exciting and scary and just plain hard.

What changes are you facing as a person? A family? A community? Remember that although change is scary, there is also an element of hope and excitement. And always keep in mind that no matter what changes come, God is the unchanging Rock who we can always look to for strength when we think we don't have it, hope when all looks like gloom, and inspiration when we just can't see past the immediate.