Gift #115- Help With the Groceries

So this is why I had four children!  I can bring in a whole weeks worth of groceries in one swoop!  And yes, they do their fair share of complaining while they are helping.  But they help none-the-less.  Don't you love Josh's face and the "thumbs down" sign that Sam is giving.  Now some might argue that I wouldn't have so many groceries to carry if I didn't have so many children.  But I am choosing to be a "glass half full" kind of girl in this situation.
Yay for help with the groceries! ;0)

Gift #114- Fluffy

As you can see, Fluffy the bunny made himself right at home with our family.  Tomorrow he goes back to his Kindergarten classroom.  We will miss having him around.  I like to think that he will miss us too.

Gift #113- Homemade Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

We are going to try our best to cut sugar from our diet.  But we are not going to start today.  

Maybe tomorrow.  ;0)

Gift #112- Playing Hide and Seek

We played Hide and Seek in the house this afternoon.  Sam found the perfect place to hide (in the unfolded laundry pile) and then he fell asleep.  He won!  :)

Gift #111- Peace through Surrender

1. 
   
   For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4: 17-18
2. 
   God seems to be working in our hearts.  Hank and I are both ready to say "Yes" to whatever it is that the Lord has in store for us.  We know that saying yes to God can be painful, but we also know that it is the only way to truly live.  So yesterday, on the phone together, I prayed sincerely in my heart as Hank spoke: "Lord we will do anything."  In saying anything we are handing Him everything.  We have no idea what our "anything" will look like, and we are both a little anxious, but we are resting in the knowledge that His ways are far better than ours.      

Gift #110- Home Again Home Again

We had a great time in Okinawa, but it sure is nice to be home!

Jack and Josh on the plane this morning.  We had to be at the terminal at 5:20 for an 8:45 take-off.  The kids were deliriously silly as you can see from the photo with Jack wearing a sleeping bag on his head!  :0)

Gift #109- Teppanyaki

Today is our last day here in Okinawa.  The kids and I head home tomorrow.  We finished our vacation well by eating at a Japanese Teppanyaki Steakhouse.    I googled the word "Teppanyaki" and learned that, in Japanese, teppan means iron plate and yaki means grilled.  We had a great time together.  The chef twirled the utensils and salt and pepper shakers. The kids loved it.  Sam said that he can not wait to get home so he can try it for himself!  Yay!

Gift #108- Day Trips

To celebrate Discovery Channel's 25th Anniversary of Shark Week, Team Thomas took a little day trip to the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.  It was fantastic.  The highlight of our trip was seeing the whale shark!  

Gift #107- Sweet Potato Icecream

 A friend of mine told me that we had to try purple sweet potato ice cream while we were here in Okinawa.  Twist my arm!  You can't tell from the picture above, but the ice cream is a pretty shade of lavender and it tastes like Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole.  Dr. Oz calls the Okinawan sweet potato a "Purple Powerhouse of Nutrition" and listed it as a top Superfood in 2010.  This made me feel really good about my double scoop choice.  We might go back and get some more today- for nutrition purposes of course.

 We found a neat shopping area called American Village.  It is an outdoor shopping complex with American style clothing stores and restaurants.  We felt right at home.  We took a ride on the Ferris Wheel and got a birds-eye view of this beautiful city.

Look who is standing under the Big Dip sign.  :0)

Gift #106- Do-Nothing Days

Hank had to return to work yesterday, so the kids and I were on our own.  We found a little mini-golf place and played a few rounds. It was at least 172 degrees outside, but not one of the kids complained.  Of course, I bribed them with the promise of soda and sugary treats.  But any mom who values her sanity would have done the same thing.  We spent the day golfing, swimming, and snacking.  We had a great day just doing nothing.  I love vacation!

Gift #105- Take Out in a Hotel

The Thomas Kids LOVE staying in a hotel.  Especially if the hotel has a pool.  We don't have to go to Disney World or Legoland to have a fun vacation.  All we have to do is pack up and drive 5 miles to the nearest Holiday Inn and they are completely content.  We are here in Okinawa for the week staying on a beautiful Air Force base.  The pool is within walking distance and we have cable tv (we don't have cable in Iwakuni).  The kids are in heaven.  Last night we picked up chicken nuggets and fries for dinner.  A hotel room, chicken nuggets and fries, and Cartoon Network- does life get any better?  I think not.  Hank and I love seeing them so happy, but the hotel room does get small after a day or two.  When Josh was little, he called hotels "heltels".  Hank and I thought that was a very appropriate name and for years we have affectionately referred to them as such.  :0)  As I type, the kids are watching Cartoon Network and eating leftover fries for breakfast.  It is going to be a good day!