Gift #94- Marker Mustaches

Sam has asked me several times to draw a curly mustache on his face.  I am not quite sure why he wanted one.  It is probably one of those things that will forever remain a mystery.  A few days ago, I finally gave in.  I don't know why I was hesitant.  It made him so happy.  He loved his mustache so much that he asked me to draw a unibrow also.  

Psalm 139:14 reads; "I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and my soul knows this very well." In the original Hebrew text, the word 'fearfully' means: with great reverence and heart-felt interest.  The word 'wonderfully' means: unique, set apart, uniquely marvelous.   That describes our Sam so very perfectly-  Uniquely Marvelous!

Gift #93- Long Summer Days

Rub a dub dub three boys in a tub.  

Sam with his friends Ricky and Colson
(a little bonus gift is that the boat is no longer in the dining room.)  :0)

Gift #92- Real Life

 You are seeing it right.  That is a boat in our dining room.

Because why not have a boat in your dining room?

 And this is a hot wheels track being hung precariously from the curtain rod
that is hung precariously.


This is a spaghetti noodle on our wall in the kitchen.  Jack heard that the best way to test spaghetti noodles for doneness is  to throw them against the wall to see if they stick.  This one is obviously done.  This picture was taken a few weeks ago.  The noodle may or may not still be sticking to the wall. 

So you may be wondering how all of these things can be considered gifts.  I admit that it is kind of a stretch to call them such.  But they are real signs of real life going on all around me.  Life to be loved and lived and devoured one flying noodle at a time.  And that is the gift.
( Well, that is what I am telling myself anyway.)  ;0)

Gift #91- Singing with Macy

Macy called shotgun on the way home from the beach today. We sang our hearts out to Taylor Swift and Jason Aldean.  I am pretty sure that we sounded just like them.  Maybe even better.  Our favorite was Big Green Tractor.  We listened to that one twice.  As we got closer to home, I found myself wishing that the drive would last a little longer.  She had no idea how happy her company and her little twangy voice made me.  She thought that we were just driving.

And I can take you for a ride on my big green tractor
We can go slow or make it go faster
Down through the woods and out to the pasture
'Long as I'm with you it really don't matter

PS- Macy has decided that she wants to try out for the show America's Got Talent.  
She has not decided whether she will be singing or jump-roping for her talent.  ;0)

Gift #90- Memories in the Making

1992

Today is my 20 year class reunion. 20 years! I have such amazing memories of my high school days.  Spring Break, Prom, Football Games, Pep Rallies.  Back then, I could have never imagined that my best days were actually yet to come! 

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2006

2012

 And the story just keeps getting better and better...

Gift #89- A Letter from Ecuador

We received a letter from our sponsored child in Ecuador!  Seeing his handwriting and reading his sweet words filled me up.  That the God of the universe would allow the Thomas family to have a small part in the life of this precious little boy is beyond my imaginings.

Livington Alexander Malagon Lema- 9

Look at those sweet cheeks!

Gift #88- Alex

There are so many things that I am thankful for today, but one of my biggest blessings is my little niece Alex.  Happy Birthday to A Fantastic Five Year Old Fire Cracker!

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Ephesians 2:10 NIV

Gift #87- Hank's Story Telling

Hank comes from a long line of practical jokers and story tellers.  I did not have the chance to meet Hank's Grandfather before he passed away, but I have heard that this larger-than-life man could tell a story or a joke like no one else.  Hank did not necessarily inherit the joke-telling gene.  He knows that about himself and is ok with it.  He still tries occassionally and this is very endearing to me.  About mid-way through one of Hank's jokes or funny stories I usually begin to laugh.  He realizes that I am not laughing at the joke, but at him telling the joke.  Then he laughs at himself trying to make me laugh.  It is one of our crazy things.  

BUT....  I think that he did inherit the story-telling gene.  Just mention the subject of flying and you will see what I mean!  Hank can tell some flying stories.  He becomes so animated.  He uses his hands to illustrate his story.  He makes all manner of jet engine noises.  He turns into a big kid! You can tell that he is passionate about his craft.  He gets particularly excited when the story involves some kind of danger or near-death experience.  He usually doesn't tell me these types of stories.  He saves them for dinner guests and I hear them over dessert.  Sometimes I smile at him sweetly and kick him under the table.  Other times, I pretend like I have heard it a hundred times and just keep pouring the coffee.    I am not sure which is a bigger blessing, Hank's endearing inability to tell a joke or his super ability to tell a great flying story.  I like them both.  I am sure that his Grandpa would be very proud to hear one of his tales.  My friend Jen took these pictures of Hank when he was visiting in Beaufort last summer.  I stumbled across them today and they made me smile.  

Gift #86- The Lord of the Dance

I know that I have posted about Sam for two days in a row, but he just provides me with SO much material!  Jack caught him on video today dancing!  It is just a short little clip, but super cute.  We got a kick out of the dance itself, but we laughed and laughed at the replay.  Laughter is so good for the soul.

Gift #85- The Simple Things

 Sam went to a little pool party the other day and came home with some glow in the dark bracelets.  He wasn't wearing them on his wrists.  He chose to wear them on his cute little ears instead.  He wore them around the house for hours!  I am not sure what the appeal was, but he was happy as a clam with those bracelets around his ears.  Next time he says that he is bored, I am not going to make any big plans to entertain him, I am just going to give him some glow bracelets.  It is the simple things in life.

Gift #84- Date Night with Jack

Not only did Jack make me a cake for my birthday, he gave me a coupon for a free dinner out with him!  I cashed in my coupon  a few nights ago and he and I went to a little restaurant on base called JD's Grille.  We had a fun time together.  It is rare to spend time alone out with just one of the kids and it was a reminder that I need to do it more often.  Jack was a gentleman.  He checked the menu price to see how much a soda was.  It was $1.75 so he said that he would stick with water.  But, he said that I was welcome to get a diet coke if I wanted one.  ;0)  We split a chocolate cake for dessert!  A perfect way to end a perfect date!

 Jack checking out the bill!  ;0)