Give Thanks

Yesterday was our last day of our Tuesday Classical Conversations class until January 13th. The program consists of two 12 week sessions with a nice long break in the middle for the holidays. Yesterday also happened to be our family's presentation day. Each week a different family gets to hold the flag for the saying of the pledge of allegiance, and then the family shares a 5 minute presentation that they've prepared for the school. We did a presentation on our favorite Thanksgiving tradition...

and told our friends just how truly special this book has become to us. Lets just say that when I made this book back in 2001, the year we became a family with the birth of Colton, I had no idea that it would be our last Thanksgiving with him...

My very dear Uncle Tom.

You see, the book comes with us to Thanksgiving dinner each year and those who we are celebrating with write in the book what they are thankful for that year. Then later I add photos from our Thanksgiving celebration. Colton and Gracie have enjoyed coloring a Thanksgiving picture to go along with their entry of what they're thankful for and it's been fun for them to see their coloring and writing improve each year.

In 2003 we were so extremely blessed to celebrate my mom's 50th birthday followed by the birth of our darling little girl...

{gracie in '04}

Little did we know, that it would be our last Thanksgiving to celebrate this joyous holiday with my mom. We went to Gainesville with her that year and had such a blessed Thanksgiving with her and her family. This year we will be going back up to Gainesville to celebrate with her family once again.

My mom Peggy, also known as Nana (pronounced nah-nuh)

And then last year was our last Thanksgiving with our dearly beloved Grammy.

After we shared this book with our friends, Colton and Gracie read a book that they made themselves called "My Book of Thanks" and ended by saying Psalm 107:1 "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever."

I was so very proud of them! They were a tad bit nervous about getting up there in front of the group but they truly did a great job and didn't show any signs of nervousness! Fletcher stood proudly as he contributed to holding the flag then once we started our presentation, he lasted about 30 seconds before he made his way back to our seats where he helped himself to some popcorn that was in our bag. I guess he was making himself comfortable for the show!

Back in class, Gracie's sweet teacher tutor Miss Nadine had a little early Christmas party since we won't be meeting again until after the New Year. The children all wore red or green and wore their slippers to school. They even left class with a Christmas gift from Miss Nadine. Gracie was super excited when we coincidentally saw Miss Nadine again that evening at Carrabas while we were there having dinner in celebration of aunt Katie's birthday.

Also in class, we finished studying the organs of the human body by making big models of our body. This was fun but turned out to be quite challenging for us to figure out precisely where all of the organs go.

{colton said he wishes his hair was like his drawing. scary huh!}

So as I look through our book each year, although I am reminded that our hearts have been forever pierced by the sadness of loosing loved ones, I also reflect upon the many blessings that we've received. I am reminded that every blessing I've been given is more than I deserve. Knowing that I've received the gift of eternal life is truly more than I could ever ask for. But He didn't stop there. Oh no He didn't. And I will be forever grateful to Him for that.

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
Psalm 9:1

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
Psalm 92:1

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
Psalm 100:4

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!
Psalm 105:1-2

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:6