It's been a long time, but life has been pretty interesting for us the past few months.
First of all, don't you just love this time of year! I thoroughly enjoyed fall at our new house in the country this year! God created some absolutely gorgeous trees and I think He gave my neighborhood more than our fair share! Everywhere I looked there was another magnificent tree! I also came to the conclusion that God didn't have to make autumn so easy on the eyes so He must have done it because He loves to see me smile :)
Another blessing that our family has enjoyed was the birthday of our Isabella Blessing. She turned three in September and it was so fun to enjoy her birthday with her. (with the added blessing of many of our family members also able to be there since we live by them now!) With each present or card she opened she would gasp in wonder and instantly say "awwwwwww"! It was such a wonderful reminder to me about putting my thankfulness on display for others to see. I need to let them know how important they are to me and it wouldn't hurt to gasp in wonder when they came into the room either (I remember Gary Smalley sharing a teaching about showing honor to others by doing that very thing).
I also had the opportunity to accompany my mom to Idaho this fall so she could attend her brothers 75th wedding anniversary. It was a wonderful time of visiting with family we don't get to see very often and I was so thankful my mom was able to visit with them again. I got to hear many old stories and look through volumes of pictures and just enjoy some sweet fellowship. I love seeing my mom interact with her siblings, it is a side of her I don't get to see very often. The below picture: my mom Reta is in the front, my Aunt Melba is in the middle, and my Aunt Naomi is in the back.
The last thing to update you on is what has taken place with Lyle's job. As I'm sure you have heard Hurricane Sandy pounded the East coast last month. Cunningham Lindsey (the company Lyle works for) was receiving 3,000 claims a day from the storm. As a result Lyle's supervisor called him and basically told him to get your ducks in a row, we are sending you. Then five days later we found out Lyle was going to the heart of the destruction in New York City. He packed up and headed out on the 11th of November. As it stands right now he won't be home until around December 7th. Most of the claims he was going to be handling for the first two weeks were going to be centered in Breezy Point, NY, a place that was pounded hard by the hurricane but also had over 100 homes destroyed by fire. Follow this link to a video on youtube if you'd like to see more about the sad story of Breezy Point http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbMX2A545Wo
I have been so moved by the attitude of the people that Lyle has worked with while there. So many of these people have lost so much, even to the point of their entire home. They have been so openly thankful for Lyle's help, making sure that he is taken care of, and inviting him to come back when they rebuild and even offering to let our whole family stay with them! So often they have said, "it's just stuff" even when they've lost so much! They are amazing! I wonder how much of that attitude has come out of the tragedy of 9-11 and so many in New York loosing a loved one.
Their attitude has stuck with me during this thanksgiving season. I love seeing all the thankful posts on Facebook and everyone taking opportunity this season to count their blessings! But then I saw a post on Facebook that made me think. I'm pretty sure I hadn't heard it before, but I definitely agree with it 100%.
Thanksgiving, it's not a holiday, it's a way of life!
I just love that! And that is my prayer for all of you during this thanksgiving season! May it be our way of life!
Happy thanksgiving to you all and may God abundantly bless you all!
Hope, Lyle, Liberty, Levi, Shayna, and Isabella
ps- a couple recent pictures of my blessings!
Shayna, Hope, and Liberty
Man time!! Lyle and Levi with some friends at a Detroit Tigers game.
