Magic Months: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving celebrations have not been lacking this year. On Monday Abbie and Stephen came for a couple day visit from Virginia. We enjoyed a lot of good things. Relaxed a lot, went to the movies, laughed, reminisced and heard stories while looking through all of grandma and grandpa's slides, ate some fabulous treats and enjoyed one another's company, to name a few. The boys also played lots of football. We then had our big dinner on Wednesday.  

Here are some pictures from our thanksgiving days. :)

Thursday morning we spent doing what we have for all three of our years together. Eating breakfast and being cozy. It's probably what we're best at.  While watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade of course. It's so festive and fun to us... even if it is mostly silly. :) I'm pretty sure Thanksgiving will be forever changed as we remember our first one as parents in the hospital with our one day old Jack in our arms. It was one of the best feelings in the world and something we'll always remember with joy.

First Thanksgiving just the two of us,

Second Thanksgiving with Jack,

We spent the rest of the morning baking and preparing for the Baxter family Thanksgiving celebrations. Such fun to enjoy another day of deliciousness. Jack also got to spend it with three of his great grandparents, which is pretty amazing.

Sorry for just rambling on, but I have a lot to say about Thanksgiving! I want to talk all about our old family traditions in Niagara Falls with some of our favorite people, last Thanksgiving and the fun stories of being in the hospital, details of our family celebrations, the way that it's the perfect holiday to start off the Christmas season... maybe another time. :) 

We have so many reasons to be grateful. Mashed potatoes is one of them... I mean seriously? How are they so good?! I'll never know. 

Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving!

Magic Months: A Thanksgiving Feast

Yesterday we enjoyed our church family Thanksgiving dinner. One of the first real Magic Months activities of the season. :) As my dad said so well, "A day like today was extraordinary because it was so delightful and even more extraordinary because it was not that different than each Sunday we share together. The Lord is good!" and I couldn't agree more. 

The last couple years we have had the joy of experiencing some of the greatest fellowship of believers that I've ever known. It's a complete pleasure to share life with these people. It's such a real, genuine and family-like, grace-filled fellowship. 

We are incredibly thankful for each one of them. 

These are just a few shots from throughout the day... most of which were taken with Jack in my other arm. :)  

  

 

 
 
         

    

The Magic Months.

October is one of the best months of the year. The color, weather, and general atmosphere is hard to beat. But what’s so good about October is that when it ends the goodness isn’t over. It’s like The Last Battle and most good things in life. When it ends a door is opened into the magical world that is November 1st through January 1st. Today we concluded that these are the magic months. A pretty substantial 1/6 of the year. Enough time to really savor, but not too much to grow familiar.

This is a time we’ve grown very grateful for. We’re happy it’s here.

Hurricane Weekend Project - Our Shorey Heritage

On Saturday dad's oldest sister, my aunt Jan came to visit for a night. She was on her way back home to New Hampshire from visiting her three daughters in Virginia. She always stops in on her way down or home and we love having her around. It's always a delight. Unfortunately she had to leave a day early because of the weather. We really enjoyed hanging out with her. A while back we e-mailed her and my aunt Linda asking about all of grandma and grandpa's old slides. My dad had been talking about all the pictures from the 20 years as missionaries in Japan and wrote them about us getting them to sort and load onto a computer. He actually wrote them - I didn't realize and as a birthday "gift" for him I secretly wrote them and wanted to take on this project too. Well it didn't work out then, but to our pleasant surprise Aunt Jan brought them this trip! 

So, we're taking on this project. First step, scanning. I went to staples on Saturday and got a scanner that can scan slides and this has been my hurricane weekend project. I'm about 500 in and I'd guess we've got about a 1000 to go.

It's amazing.

My mind has been living in the 50s and 60s. There's so much I'm thinking about and I'm sure I'll put it into words sometime soon, but I'm still in the middle of it. :) Every bit of it though- soaking up the heritage we have is just, so cool. But then looking at their ministry life, my grandparents as young parents, husband and wife, friends and all through a source that I love - pictures. Sure, this may be my cabin fever-hurricane brain talking, but I just love it. 

There's so much goodness that we can't wait to share with you all. I actually can't wait! There are so many amazing pictures and stories of fun and God's faithfulness and goodness. So grateful for this heritage and also for the fun and anticipation that comes with each set of scans. It's exhilarating. ;)

Have a good night, friends!

Currently Enjoying...

Bill

Listening to: Imagine Dragons: Night Visions

A bit of a stretch for me, but I decided to check the band out with a couple of songs and its going well so far. Alternative rock-ish with a hint of folk and some 80's synths. Intriguing.

Reading: George Steinbeck The Pearl

Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors. The Pearl is a shorter story with fantastically frank insights on life. Not much dialogue to be found here and he executes it perfectly. The relational bits are so fascinatingly human. A great quick read, wish I could say more! 

Enjoying: Sixpoint Brewing Co.'s Sweet Action

Described as a "cream ale" which sounded good to me so I picked some up. A great, well-balanced refresher of a brew: malt backbone finished with a kiss of citrusy hops. Feels surprisingly full and creamy on the tongue. A very pleasant surprise. And it comes in cans!

Bethie

Listening to: The Longing; All Sons and Daughters 

A recent find by Bill. I really love the folksy feel. It's fresh and I can't get enough of it this week. And one of the people sounds like my girl Sara Groves and I love that sound.

Reading: The God I love; Joni Eareckson Tada.

 I first read this book when I was 13. It affected my life distinctly and I'm enjoying the refreshment of reading again. 

Enjoying: Coffee and Baked Goods in all forms. 

Is this anything new? No. But, there's something about the Autumn weather that just makes me want to bake and cozy up with a cup of coffee and some banana bread, pumpkins muffins, chocolate chip cookies, butterscotch brownies the list goes on... it's been a delicous Fall so far.

Jack

Listening to: The Muppets Soundtrack

Particularly enjoying the songs Life's a Happy Song and Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard. This album is a favorite to get dressed to in the morning. We don't claim to have much groove, but when this music comes on it's a whole new thing.  (Also, he doesn't have his own iPod, this was borrowed from aunt Caroline for the picture.)

Reading: Dinosaur Roar! 

Pretty sure the description on the cover speaks for itself. It is indeed a NOISY dinosaur book and that is exactly what makes it a favorite for Jack. Also, I think if your name is Jack Tickle and you write children's books than you're definitely in the right business.

Enjoying: Ping Pong Balls

Jack's enjoying a lot of things these days. Being fully mobile has officially brought him into the phase of exploring everything and learning that there are so many fun, delicious and captivating things to be enjoyed. Ping pong balls played with especially in the kitchen where they bounce all around is a favorite right now.

I had an engagement shoot in Baltimore tonight and my chauffeur-best friend-make everything always go smoothly husband had to work. We love doing these things together, but today we just couldn't. I didn't particularly want to go alone and I also wanted to take Jack so that we didn't need to be apart all day. Well, my mom was also working tonight so my dad, Caroline and Grant hopped in the car and drove me. I love being with them.

They made my day 100x better. 

Jack was happy about it too. He loves them a whole lot.

July 4th

Fourth of July festivities are made for this guy. 

Swimming, fireworks(which he is completely in awe of) and eating/sucking on an abundance of ice cream, pudding and watermelon. He was pretty much living the life. And, he kept his sweet shoes on all day too- which is a first!

We enjoyed a day full of food, laughter, both our families and some of our favorite people. It was a delight.

Hope you all enjoyed the holiday!