Berlin Trip

Over the Thanksgiving long weekend we went on a trip to Berlin with some friends, Andrea, Dennis and their girls Ada and Ella. Ben and Dennis went to pilot training together (way back when) and Ben was actually in Dennis and Andrea's wedding in August 05. When they came through Altus for training a few years ago, I met Andrea for the first time. It was so nice to travel with another family who knows CRAZINESS. With kids outnumbering adults, there were definitely some crazy moments. After the first night eating out (just shy of disastrous) we opted to grab sushi and Japanese food and take it back to our room before heading down to the pool. A MUCH better option with 4 toddlers and a newborn! We enjoyed the Menjivar's company and traveling with them worked out great. We are looking forward to our next adventure with your family. Thanks for the good times!

Berlin wasn't necessarily on my have to see list when we arrived in Europe. But I am really glad we went, and even wished we had had more time to spend in the city. We tried to hit as many places as we could in the 2 1/2 days there. Our first taste of German Christmas Markets... and Berlin definitely put on a great display of the markets. With over 50 Christmas markets in the city... we barely made a dent in the list by going to 5 of them. They were all over the city. These would be a total hit in the USA. Great food, clothing, Christmas decor, gleuwine... and cinnamon sugar doughnuts... my favorite part! Bella's favorite parts were definitely the rides. I remember when the Berlin wall fell. I was 8. I didn't understand the reason why or its significance. But seeing it as an adult and now to understand... it was incredible to see this part of history. I could not imagine living under a communist regime and then feeling the relief freedom brought when the wall fell. One of my friends here in Rodenbach lived on the East side (the communist side) and how after the wall fell her dad put her and her siblings into a car and drove across the 'line'. What a feeling that would have been. I have to ask her more about it. Definitely a worthwhile trip!

Thanksgiving in Billings, MT

I headed with the kids to Billings for 12 days for Thanksgiving. Ben was able to meet us for 4 days at the end of the trip. The day after we arrived, the weather turned and it got COLD and snowy. I had to buy Bella a snowsuit so she could go outside and help Mimi with the kittens and shovel the snow. I couldn't believe that the cold really didn't phase her at all, although she really didn't enjoy getting all bundled up! Being there made me miss the snow... it is so beautiful... but definitely NOT the cold. I guess this southern living has made me a wimp to cold (actually I've always been a wimp... it's just made it worse).

Ann was so wonderful. She was so great at taking the kids (mostly Ethan) in the mornings, so I could get a little extra sleep and during the day, so I could get out and do a little shopping and go to Starbucks (not a big deal unless you live in a place where Starbucks doesn't exist) a few times!!!

A few very exciting things happened while we were there. Dan and his girlfriend got engaged on Thanksgiving Day... Operation Sanny Say Yes, was what I called it... Ben and I were right there apart of it, helping Dan scout out when Frannie left work, so he could be waiting at the corner to surprise her with a sign that said

Frannie

Will You

Marry Me?

It went off with out a hitch and the element of surprise was bigger then anyone expected. Thank goodness the traffic wasn't any worse or Frannie could have caused quite the accident when she stopped her car just outside the traffic circle when she saw the sign.

We are really happy for them and are excited to see how God works in them and through them as they plan a June wedding. Congrats Dan & Frannie (soon to be auntie Sanny... as Bella calls her!) We'll be praying for you as you prepare move into this next stage of your relationship!

Thanksgiving was wonderful. Being able to spend such an important time with family is so great. Ann does such a nice job as hostess... her table settings could take on Sandra Lee's any day! And the food too... and it's all Homemade!

Somethings I am thankful for this year:

A risen Savior in Jesus Christ!

Being able to experience God and be confident in who I am in Christ

A husband who continues to love and support our family through his dedication to his job.

2 happy (most of the time) and healthy children

To live in the United States, where I am free

Loving friends and family

Thanksgiving!

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." ~Psalm 107:1

This Thanksgiving season I have so much to be thankful for...
As time just seems to continue to go faster and faster (are we really almost in December) it is important to reflect on giving thanks and give credit where credit is due. I am thankful for Ben, for the wonderful husband he is and the father he has been to our precious Isabella; for our sweet little girl (who is growing up faster then I could ever imagine), for her sweet spirit, the fact that she loves to sleep and her sweet little hugs and kisses; for our families, who have been such a support in so many ways throughout our lives, for what they teach us and how they love on us; for health; for healthcare; and for freedom!

Have you ever asked yourself who am I thankful to? I know that I am thankful for things in life... but if we are the recipients of thanksgivings, who should we be thankful to?

"But as for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord" ~Joshua 24:15

Most of all, I am thankful TO our Father in Heaven FOR the blessings he has so graciously given to me and my family. Not one thing I have received in my life has been given to me apart from the Lord's doing. What an awesome God we have!

Dan (Ben's brother) came from Lincoln Nebraska to celebrate thanksgiving with us. We had a quiet but fun time with unky Dan. We ate great turkey, had good conversation, watched Dan continually entertain Belles and did a little shopping! Thanks for coming all the way down to see us Dan.

American Thanksgiving!

This last week we celebrated American Thanksgiving with the Shaub Family.

We drove up to OKC last Saturday to pick up Grammy. We spent the day eating at the Cheese Cake Factory and shopping before heading back home.

Dan, Liz and Grampy all came on Tuesday!
Our week with everyone was packed and we had so much fun!

On Wednesday night we had a fire in our fire pit in the back yard.

After the fire pit we got into Ann's homemade Apple Pie (a night early).... But it was O soooo Good!

Thursday was Thanksgiving Day... The girls cooked all day!

I told the Shaub's that the only way they could all come and stay with us for Thanksgiving was if everyone helped cook the Thanksgiving Day meal. I was a little scared to do the whole meal, as the last time I was on duty for cooking was two years ago when Ann was out on disability due to a foot surgery... Liz and I TRIED to cook the whole Thanksgiving meal and here's how it went:

• The Turkey wasn't fully cooked when we were ready to eat... so we cut off the pieces that looked done. (no one got sick, so they must have been ok)
  
• We had NO stuffing or gravy (because the turkey wasn't fully done)
  
• I was on mashed potato duty and ruined the mashed potatoes by whipping them in Ann's non stick pan... needless to say there were little pieces of the non stick mixed into our mashed potatoes. They ended up in the garbage and luckily we had back up mashed potatoes out of the BOX!!!!

Anyway, this time around was MUCH MUCH better! I think our turkey was the best turkey I've ever had!

On Friday we went for a post Thanksgiving Day hike up at Quartz Mountain. It was a beautiful day... and it was so much fun, not to mention good for burning off all of the calories from the week! Isabella was a little trooper and loved being in the hiking pack! Ann has better pictures... so more to come!

This morning we had to say goodbye to our visitors... It was sad. We had so much fun with all the Shaub's being here over the last week. We are so Thankful for having such a wonderful and loving family. Isabella sure does love her Grammy, Grampy, Uncle Dan Dan & Auntie Lizzy!!!

Thanks so much for coming to visit us here in Altus! We are Blessed!