So Very Thankful

Collin, the kids and I had such a great Thanksgiving yesterday, and I hope all of you did as well. We were sitting around with the kids yesterday morning eating blueberry pancakes made by the best pancake maker in the world (Collin…bet you didn’t know that did you? But he is!) and watching the parade, and I asked Mak and Clara Beth what they were thankful for. Mak answered “my friends, and my family”. I asked him if he was thankful for Jesus and he said “Yes, Mommy! But I already said Him. Jesus is my friend”. Ah, thank you, Lord for this precious Boy! He is definitely at the top of my Thankful list!

Then it was Clara Beth’s turn. She always just copies her big brother, so of course she was thankful for her friends and family and God. But, she’s also thankful for her big girl bed and her polka dot pillow. Sweet baby girl. Another one at the top of my Thankful list.

Making pancakes with Daddy…

We finished watching the parade and watched some of the dog show while we put the Christmas tree up. And mostly just enjoyed being together. I am so unbelievably thankful for these three people. And I just love spending the day with them. I love that we all stayed in our pajamas until 1:00 yesterday. I love that Collin did that for me, even though it drives him absolutely CRAZY to stay in his pajamas that long! But, he loves me. And he did it for me. He does SO MUCH for me. I am so thankful to have him as my husband! And these two children that the Lord has blessed us with…WOW. My heart just hurts when I think about how much I love them. I love that they love one another, and would rather play with each other than anyone else in the world. I love that they give the absolute BEST hugs and kisses. I love that they are learning so much everyday that sometimes I just sit back amazed because they are already smarter than me. I love that we no longer have diapers in the house. 🙂 I love that they already love Jesus, and I pray for that love to grow.

Measuring this year’s hand to last year’s handprint ornament. Why do they have to grow so fast?

But you know what? I love that all of you, our clients, feel the same way about your families. I started thinking about Collin’s job yesterday, and realized how blessed we are that you invite us into your lives to capture those people that you love the most. That really is what this whole business is about. Collin photographs life. Whether that life is a wedding, brand new baby, a growing family or a High School senior about to leave the house and start her college career. It’s all Life, and I am so thankful that you allow us to be a part of it and document it for you. We have gotten to know so many people that we otherwise would not have. We have seen “our brides” come back to us with families of their own, and seen some of “our first babies” grow up into pre-teens! You truly are our friends. And I love that you are wise and want to capture all of these life stages that your family goes through so that you have them forever.

We ended our day by going over to my parents’ house for a delicious Thanksgiving feast! That’s another thing I’m thankful for. That my whole family lives right here together. That my kids will actually know their cousins as friends. And that next year there will be two more sweet little ones gathered around the table! We are surrounded by their love, and I love that! Although it does make me miss Collin’s family that much more…

So, Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you all were surrounded by the ones you love most in this world! And thank you again for being so willing to let us in on your life. We feel truly blessed!