Gift #132- Hank's Photography

Hank has many talents.  He can cook, clean, build, fix stuff, fly an F-18, etc etc.  Of course I am most attracted to his cooking and cleaning abilities and owe much gratitude to his mom for those things.  ;0)  In recent years, he has become very interested in photography.  His work is quite demanding so I enjoy seeing him have the opportunity to get out every now and then and do something that he enjoys so much.  He took the above picture last week out on the flight line in Okinawa.   Pretty good huh?  We have his photographs all over the house and they make me smile every time I see them. 

Gift #131- An Impromptu Science Lesson

Yesterday, the Thomas family experienced yet another "first."  Our first little earthquake!  It only lasted for 10 seconds at the most and it only slightly shook our furniture.  In fact, only Josh and I noticed it at all.  The other kids were oblivious.  When I told Sam about it, he had no less than 1200 questions.  We googled tectonic plates and magnitude and the earths core. We learned some very interesting facts about our amazing earth.  Sam finally said "God must have been weally good at science."  I love that child-like faith.  So, while the little shake was just a tiny bit unsettling, the science lesson and the conversation that flowed from it was a gift.
God truly does work in mysterious ways.  :0)

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.  Psalm 19:1

Gift #130- Cozy PJ's

Friday night.  

Popcorn, movie, and cozy P-Jompers!  Gifts Indeed.

Gift #129- Japan

My love for Japan continues to grow.  Every day brings some new experience.  Yesterday I went and sat in "Electric Chairs" with one of my new Japanese friends.  We sat on a green padded cushion and put our feet on a rubber mat on the floor.  The cushions and mats are hooked up to machines that send an electrical impulse to supposedly smooth and clean your blood.  My friend kept asking me if I felt the tingling in my toes and fingers.  I kept telling her no.  I could tell that she was disappointed.  So after a few minutes, I told her that I felt a slight tingling in my toes.  That made her so happy.  I am not sure how I get myself into these kinds of things.  But I do it well & consistently.  Before the session was over, the teacher gave me a frequent visitor card.  Now I can sit in the electric chairs & have my blood cleaned anytime my little heart desires.  :0)
Oh Japan, I love you a little more with every passing day.

Gift #128- A New "Hair Dude"

Macy got a new haircut!  She is super-proud of her new hair-dude (that is what she called a hair-do when she was younger).  She woke up early today to brush it just right so she could show her classmates.  She looks like such a big girl.  It seems like yesterday when she was getting her very first haircut.  We were in Beaufort, South Carolina.  I saved her wispy little curls in a silver box.  The days turn into years so quickly.  2 Corinthians 9 tells us that "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."  I hope to spend my days sowing generously into the lives of my four little ones.  Because tomorrow, they will not be so little.

Gift #127- 13 Amazing Years

"What are the chances of a guy like you and a girl like me... ending up together?"

-  Lloyd Christmas

Happy Anniversary Hank.  I love you for always.

Gift #126- Sweet Riley

Happy Birthday to our Riley girl!  We hope that your sixth year is your best one yet.  You are one of the sweetest gifts that the Lord has given the Thomas family!  

Gift #125- Calm after a Storm

Friday morning at the Thomas house was not particularly pretty.  Lost shoes, tears, complaints about the lunch box menu, a few "she looked at me's", missing homework, etc. etc.  We have not quite figured out our morning school routine, but we will.  When we stepped outside to get in the car, the tornado of chaos that we had been experiencing inside just seemed to disappear.  We are starting to get a little glimpse of Fall.  The air was cool and clear.  There was a nice breeze blowing.  The neighborhood was quiet.  It was so peaceful.  We were a little late for school and two out of the four were wearing plaid shorts with tie-dyed t-shirts.  I am pretty sure that at least one of them had not brushed their teeth (but 3 out of 4 ain't bad on a morning like that).   The Lord seemed to know exactly what we needed on that particularly crazy Friday morning.  Psalm 46:10 came to my mind as we were getting in the car.  "Be still and know that I am God."  Thank you Lord for the reminder to simply be still.  We have Monday and Tuesday off for Labor Day.  Wish me luck on Wednesday.  :0)