WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME

that Mollee Gray was on So You Think You Can Dance?!?! I know, I KNOW that I don't have cable, and we don't get any TV reception in our stupid house, but I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN CABLE IF I HAD KNOWN. NOW I find out, now that she's off the show. I guess that's life.

I was Mollee's drama teacher. OK...student teacher. But still. Love the girl.

All in a row

The stockings are finally done! Olivia was an angel yesterday, and let me work on them. We have Jingle bells for Jon, Sugar plums for Sarah, and an Owl for Olivia.
I'm glad there are only three of us, because I'm done feeling inspired. For now.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and life decisions at the cutting counter.

We've been getting ready for Christmas, here on the east coast, but yesterday the weather finally cooperated with our preparations. In the morning, fluffy white flakes began to fall from the sky, and by afternoon, the ground was covered. This event marks Olivia's first snow! Here is our little snow angel.
Also, I have been working on Christmas stockings. I found the most beautiful wool felt to make them from, and figured I might never be able to find it again. Since I would like our whole family to have matching stockings, I thought I'd better buy some extra fabric. So I found myself at the cutting counter mentally calculating how many children we might have. It was a strange place to make such an important decision, but I think I got it figured out. I won't tell you how much fabric I ended up with, or make any promises about using it all, but I will say that I spent more money than I had planned.

Here is Olivia's finished stocking.

Olivia's Half Birthday

To celebrate being six months old, Olivia learned how to sit up today! She also ate bananas for the first time and she loved them. She is the best thing that ever happened to us, and the last six months have been the happiest of our lives.

Kirsti's Visit

I was lucky enough to be visited by one, Kirsti Vogeler this past weekend. We had a blast, as Kirst and I always do. We had lots of adventures together including a trip to Baltimore's Little Italy for some good food, and a walk along the inner harbor, a long walk in the park on a GORGEOUS Sunday afternoon, a visit to the International Spy Museum in DC (watch out, we now know how to pick locks and bug your office), and a trip to Fort McHenry (home of the flag that inspired our national anthem).
We are all going to miss her lots! Thanks so much for coming, Kirsti!!

My Thanksgiving Table

I got to host Thanksgiving this year. It was a lot of fun, and a lot of work. Will I ever do it again? Definitely! This is what our Thanksgiving looked like.

(Olivia enjoying her Thanksgiving feast of sweet potatoes)

(The people who make it all worthwhile)

So Much to be Thankful For!

It seems that in these "difficult times" it is becoming the norm to complain about things. The weather, the economy, crime, taxes, the economy, rude people, the economy...you get the picture. Today being Thanksgiving, it is appropriate to think about what we are grateful for. But more than just the season, the "difficult times" have had an interesting affect on me. I won't pretend that I'm not a complainer. If you read this blog, you know that's not true. But over the past year or so, I have had an overwhelming feeling (regardless of weather or not I expressed it adequately) of gratitude. I have been so blessed in so many ways.

I am thankful for my beautiful daughter, and that she wakes up each morning alive and well. I am grateful for my loving and patient husband (though I won't elaborate, due to my recent post's high sap content). I am thankful, too, that we have a home (okay, so mostly, the bank has it, but they are gracious enough to let us live in it), that we live in a country with so many freedoms, even a promised land, that I have a loving family (and in-laws) who have set a righteous example for Jon and I, and who love Olivia.

Mostly, though, I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the opportunity to be a member of His church. I feel so thankful that as, in many ways, the world falls apart around us, we have the knowledge that allows us to "stand in holy places", and be protected. In these troubled times, the words of Christ resonate with me. He said "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you." (John 14:27) I do feel his peace in my life, and that is reason enough to be thankful.

This is my meager attempt to actually express the gratitude I feel. I will try to express it more consistently. I'd love to know what you are especially grateful for right now. If you are reading this (even if you don't normally comment) please take a moment to let me know one or two things you are thankful for! I would be so thankful to hear from you! ;)