Happy *late* Thanksgiving

So....I'm a week late. I'm sorry. I've had goof intentions to post each day, but have had a heavy heart, and just haven't felt like I had the right words.

This Thanksgiving was, one that won't be soon forgotten. Not because of anything super incredible, but more the gratitude & love I had for my family. Various situations caused me to dig deep, and see life from a different perspective. I was so grateful for those who founded America years ago, yet, my gratefulness was focused more on the present, and how the Lord is continually watching over & guiding us. How, even our darkest days or hardest nights are still blessings often in disguise. (I love Laura Story's song, Blessing!!!)

Thanksgiving Day, was fun...Brian & I got up, and while I was finishing getting ready, he & "the sweets" watched the beginning of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Then, we loaded up, dropped my contribution to the McDonald meal off, and were on our way to Galveston. We were able to finish the parade there, and enjoy some extra special family time together. We were SO excited to have all the local family around "one" table...or almost around one table. :) The first picture is of Mom Moreno's pretty table before we all sat down. I knew it'd get crazy, so I snapped a picture early.

Around 4:30 or so we left the Moreno's and headed to the McDonald's. Dinner was to be at 5, but the turkey wasn't cooperating and wasn't through cooking yet. I think we ate around 6...that was after I was informed that they couldn't get the Royal Icing to work for holding the Gingerbread Noah's Ark together...we'd prepared the pieces on Monday, and the girls were to help Mom on Thursday "glue" it together. Well, since the icing was too thick, and I wasn't there to help, they really did glue it together; hot glued! Lol it was cute! :) The second picture is of the McDonald spread!

After dinner, we looked at Black Friday Ad's...Aspen enjoyed looking through them too, or at least spreading them out! We decided we'd brave the crowd & go to walmart at 10:00. We left our girls with Mom & Dad, then off Joshua, Rebekah, Suze, Brian & I went. We found a blu-ray we were looking for, but that was it. We were going to get Despicable Me, but Brian decided $9 wasn't worth it...lol We settled for Megamind on DVD & The Blind Side on Blu-Ray for $5 each. Not bad! The outing was worth it, and lots of fun! Thanks for the memory everyone who was involved. Yep! Even Suze, who tried to get run over.... Lol ;D love ya girl!

It was a special Thanksgiving, yet throughout the day my thoughts, heart, & prayers continually turned to dear friends struggling, whose day wasn't as joyful. Yet, they too are so blest, which is such a good reminder during tough days. "Thank you Lord, for blessings, visible, joyful ones & also trial blessings, as You have a special, planned out purpose for each one..."

Getting up to speed - 2

Let's go out of order.... :D

The second picture, is the photo from dinner with Uncle Ruben after the Bridal Shower. It was such a fun evening!! The picture isn't the best, but...oh well. :)

Ok, now the first picture. I've been praying and praying for the Lord to provide a clip-on portable high chair. I've looked all over and couldn't find anything in the price range I really wanted. So, we decided to pay a little more...I found one that we thought would work, and discovered that the BabiesRUs in Sugarland had it in stock...and cheaper than anywhere online. :) After calling the store, and getting them to hold one for us, we drove out there to get it. Once there, we saw that the chair was $7.98 vs. $15.98! (the price typically ranged from $18-$30.) Yay! That price was within our original price range. I was SO excited, and praising the Lord for Hos provision. Since we had a "little" drive, we had packed our lunch...after stopping at Whole Foods to walk around, we found a little park to eat at. It was breezy, so we sat in our car to eat. Aspen was so precious; sitting like a big girl eating her carrots & green beans. Just before the picture was taken, she had flipped her little bowl, and dumped everything out all over daddy's passenger seat. Lol So, cleaning & vacuuming his car is now on the agenda for this week.

On Monday, we went to Granny's to mix, cut-out and bake the "cookie" parts for the Gingerbread Noah's Ark. Annabel & Alyssa had alot of fun. Aspen enjoyed playing around under their feet as they worked... She was pretty fussy that morning.

For dinner on Monday, we met up with some of Brian's former students from Cy-Fair. He surprised me and we went to a favorite seafood restaurant of mine. :) Before we left though, we was SO helpful preparing the house for our guests to come for dessert. I was so proud of him I took a picture as he was vacuuming. Aspen was too cute as she followed him around...I hadn't bathed & gotten her ready yet.... Lol

Getting up to Speed...

Ok, the past several weeks have been crazy here, and I've been taking pictures of all the "exciting" things, just haven't blogged so, here's a quick run down.

I believe on the 10th, Aspen discovered a pumpkin at my parents house. She really enjoyed pulling at the stem, and trying to figure it out. It was really cute when she was standing next to it...that picture was blurry...

Next was Kelly Huffman's Bridal Shower cake. I was so proud of Brian for keeping the baby while I helped with the shower. He's such a good daddy! We went to dinner later with Ruben...that picture will be in the next post....

Aspen's first time having kiwi!!! I think she really liked it...unfortunately, she had a little diaper rash later, but she sure was happy eating it.

Last Tuesday, my Mom took me shopping & to lunch to celebrate my Spiritual Birthday. We had a special time together, and lunch at Gringo's was by far the best. We ended it by stopping to see Daddy at his office...Aspen enjoyed playing Patty-Cake with PawPaw.

Then, the 18th was one of my friends Birthday. I snapped that last picture of Aspen to text to her...it was just too cute to keep to myself.....

Our Chair...help!

Ok....so, there's lots of things I want to post about, but this is what I'm trying to figure out today.

This chair...is a staple and might as well be a family member in the McDonald Family - the Fred McDonald family. And, I'm sure there's a few of you reading this post whose spouse might of wanted this chair... To which, I do feel bad...y'all can come visit any time! :D For the rest of you who aren't "McDonald's", this chair was the one that was most often fought over at my Grandparents house. It rocks, kinda bounces a little, and is "fun" to sit it... many naps have been taken in it, by all of us, I am sure. I asked Paw Paw for this chair years ago, and he said to write my name on a piece of paper, and stick it to the chair on the underneath side. So, I did. And, everyone knew that was "Meagen's Chair." It was a fun joke between PawPaw & I, and I knew, one day I'd be bringing the chair to my home...I just never really wanted to, because that would mean that PawPaw wouldn't need it any more... I'd much rather have PawPaw than that chair. The extremely bittersweet day has come though...today was the day I needed to get "my" chair. I hated it, but my parents made the best of it, having a fun time together as we picked up various items of PawPaw and Grandma's that are now mine & Brian's.

Okay...that's the sappy, sad part of this post that I cried myself through. Lol! On to the REAL purpose. So...I love this chair, but absolutely hate the color, etc... The burnt, dingy, dirty orange/brown color/style doesn't necessarily match my color scheme very well. (imagine!) I'd love to recover/refinish it, but, that's not in the budget right now. What can I do to make it "better"? Be specific...I know I could add pillows or something, but what size, shape, color, etc? :) Input is great! :)

Wrapping up Nashville

The Lord answered many more prayers, and the remaining 1/2 of the Nashville trip was great. I am so very thankful to Grace & Kristin who were amazing the entire week. Grace organized the whole conference and was the head teacher; Kristin was our wonderful assistant. Both of them are precious ladies who love the Lord. I am so very thankful that I had the honor to spend a week working with these dear friends. What a blessing & encouragement they were to me! Thank you ladies for allowing me to be a part of your team!

Aspen got a nice warm bath on Monday since I was feeling better after being sick & crazy busy on Saturday & Sunday. Then, she enjoyed her yummy avocado...Aspen does not like, and will not eat jarred/prepackaged babyfood. I don't blame her. So, on one of our trips to walmart, I picked up some fresh fruits & avocados. She was much happier. Then, she was super excited to be on the airplane, going home to Daddy & her Sandie dog. The Lord worked out the flights perfectly! (Why am I surprised?!) I was planning to check her carseat at the gate, but when we were boarding both flights, I was told the flight wasn't full, that I could use a seat & buckle Aspen up. Yay! That was really neat to me. Freed up my hands, and, I knew she was safer, even though she wasn't necessarily happier.

Sandie was very happy we were back home. She could once again roam the house, sleep on the coach, and snuggle under the blanket...vs being locked in the laundry while Brian was at work. Thank you to Mom who so graciously had a heart for poor Sandie & dropped by the house and let her out occasionally. :) And, it also meant she could eat more! You can tell she lost weight. She's finicky like that! She won't eat much while I'm gone; we're fatting her up again now though...even Aspen. Sandie has discovered that patience while sitting by Aspen's highchair during meal time pays off.....

Okay...hopefully I'll post again tomorrow on everything that's happened since we got home. I'm having a very hard time keeping up with my life...since the end of September, I've lived in a whirlwind. I'm SO thankful we have a while week off next week and that the Holidays are nearly here. For you, that probably means craziness, it does for me too, but honestly, I see a slower paced schedule! Crazy! :)

Nashville - 1/2 Way

Aspen & I are currently in Nashville. This is the week I'm teaching PLSC (professional labor support course) to a new group of young ladies. The conference started Wednesday. I left my sweet husband early Tuesday morning. He's so sweet to share me. The conference has been going good, but not without challenges, that's for sure. Aspen has been an incredible trooper, and I truly believe she's looking forward to seeing her Daddy & sleeping in her own bed on Wednesday night! :)

I think it was Thursday...I was holding Aspen, after she woke up from her morning nap, and she began to get sick. :( Poor thing, she "lost it" probably 8 or so times. :( She was able to sleep 5 hours that afternoon, and has seemed much better since; with the exception of a semi runny nose. Early Saturday morning (Fri night) it hit me. I was "out if service" most all day Saturday, and ONLY by God's grace & strength I was able to teach my session that evening. During my class, my fellow staff members & one student began coming down with it. It has certainly been a crazy weekend. I truly believe we are facing major spiritual warfare. I greatly covet your prayers as we press on to fulfill our purpose here. It's only in His strength we can face & stand against "the wiles of the devil." This is not how I thought our Sunday would be, but it hasn't taken my Lord by surprise, and He is in control, knowing what is best. Thank you for your prayers! Enjoy the pictures & video of our precious "Brooks." (She started playing peek-a-boo all on her own.)

Peek-A-Boo