t-giving 2014

we were so blessed to spend thanksgiving at the houston's house with lots and lots of good food and just as many good friends. 

 

the beautiful hostess.

 

marin & maddy are so cute that i pretty much just followed them around taking pictures.

 

and that's a wrap.

so mama is going shopping!

i love this snuggly little face early in the morning.

gobble gobble 2013

we had a wonderful thanksgiving weekend with great friends here in hawaii. lots of food, kids and craziness. we even played us some 'apples to apples' and ended the weekend at the hilo Christmas parade. we may be on an island in the middle of the pacific, but we are most certainly in the holiday spirit!

 



 

gobble. gobble.

it goes without saying, but i have a lot to be thankful for. my cup runneth over with so many blessings and i am very very grateful for each one. this year i am humbled by the blessing of the two little handprints on my annual turkey card. i can't even begin to express my gratitude for the amazing husband i have. he is a rockstar at keeping us moving daily, rallying with both kids in the morning so i can get a few extra minutes of shut eye, and he is always offering me encouragement and affirmation. he works hard so i can stay home with our two little turkeys, keeps an eye on an active volcano, and looks pretty good while juggling all these duties! we. are. blessed. 

this year we spent thanksgiving with island friends. it is such a blessing to have fellowship with amazing people when you live in the middle of the pacific. of course we desperately missed our families, but were blessed that gami was visiting over the holiday. we had a lovely time eating (and eating! and eating!), passing a squishing newborn around, and coen played for hours with other kiddos. 

it was inneed and very merry thanksgiving. 

                                       

farewell fall

since we leave in one week for our mainland winter tour i think it is time that i bid a grateful farewell to my favorite season. 

but first a couple notes; 

no matter how hard i tried, fall is just not the same in hawaii. 

BUT it wasn't  total bummer either. the big island has so much diversity and is such a beautiful place.

we managed to check off 13 of the 16 items on my fall bucket list. apple picking is impossible, cause apples don't grow here...so next year i will change it to a seasonal island fruit that we might actually be able to pick. the hay ride just never presented itself, and well there is actually a "corn maze" at the botanical gardens...we just never got there and with our trip one week away, i am counting it as a loss. 

even still 13 out of 16 isn't too shabby. 

we enjoyed a very quite and cozy thanksgiving at out house. the weather has even been blustery, making our hawaiin mountain home seem like it is almost in the pacific northwest. we are thankful for this house, and for the blessing upon blessing we received this year. 

although fall may be my most favorite season, christmas is my most favorite holiday. so now that thanksgiving has had it's chance to shine, i am switching modes and in full swing to celebrate this beautiful season of joy, love, giving, and family. 

it's the most wonderful time of the year! 

i am thankful for...

turkey hand-prints that get a little bit bigger every year.


God's plan, although totally and completely humbling, it is always, always perfect. 


ten (yes, 10!) thanksgivings with my perfect soul mate, so very very thankful for that. 


technology that keeps us connected to all the people that we love. 


flavored coffee creamers that dress up my morning cup of joe. 


the unconditional love of our pets. 


getting to watch the sunrise over the pacific every single morning. 


active volcanoes that bring so much joy to my hubby. 


the support, love, joy, and silliness of family. 


friends that are really more like family.


watching coen grow and learn and try to figure this place out. 


seeing miracles up close and personal. 


belly laughs and temper tantrums, you can't have one without the other. 


our upcoming holiday trip to the mainland, i desperately need this trip. 


have i mentioned how thankful i am for my boys? they are my daily reminder of God's love. 


getting to live this life, be this mama, wife, sister, daughter, friend...i am blessed and my heart is full of joy. 


be thankful, be blessed, and enjoy who you are with today. 

and each one gave thanks 

for love and for living 

and they all had a wonderful, 

happy thanksgiving!