An Arkansas Thanksgiving

On Tuesday afternoon, Robert, Corbin, Garrett, and I headed to Arkansas for Thanksgiving. We go to Arkansas on the holiday we have Corbin and this is our Thanksgiving. Usually the drive takes us 12 hours, but there was a rock slide on the North Carolina/Tennessee border and we had to take an hour and a half detour. This only made an already long ride even longer. Garrett did was ok, but woke up each time we stopped. Then I figured out the lights of passing trucks and street lamps were shining on him, so I covered up that side of his car seat with a blanket. We left NC at 1:30 pm and made it to my mom's in AR at 3:30 am on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, we hung out at mom's and Mammaw's. We went to visit my dad at work. It was just a visit day basically. On Thursday, we had lunch at Mammaw's with my mom's side of the family. It was great until Corbin started running a fever right as we were getting ready to go to my Nana's for my dad's side of the family. So, we gave Corbin tylenol and left him with my mom at Mammaw's since they had all already been exposed and Robert, Garrett, and I went to Nana's. We had a great supper there and Garrett got to play with his cousins, Kinley, Cruz, and Chanley. As always it is great to see all my family! I miss them so much and wish it were possible for us to live there, but as most of you know it is not a possibility for us right now! On Friday, my mom and I decided we did not want to fight the crowds shopping so we just hung out at home. Robert went to take Corbin to the dr. as he was still running a fever and his throat was sore, but guess what, no dr.'s offices open...not even the Urgent Care ones. So, they came home and we did Christmas with my mom and RaeRae. Then we left to go spend the night at my dad's and see Tessie and Cyrus, since they had been in Branson. On Saturday, we went back to Mom's to drop off the playpen and say bye. Robert decided to take Corbin to the dr. even though his fever had broken because we didn't want to send him back to his mom's sick. It took them from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm to be seen and get the medicine! There was only 1 doctor and 1 nurse...can you imagine that! They had been closed for 2 days and they only have 1 doctor there...crazy! Anyway, Corbin has strep throat. We are praying no one else gets it! So, my mom and I hung out at Mammaw's and then finally did a little shopping at Kohl's. We went back to my dad's and packed the car and visited with them before starting back at about 6:30 pm. We tried a different detour and made it home at 8:30 am (our time, 7:30 am AR time). Garrett slept better and we stopped less on the way home.

After this trip, we have definitely decided we need a van! Every time we come home, we always need more room because without fail we come home with more then we took out there! Which isn't a bad thing :)!

Now home doing laundry and relaxing and dreading having to head back to school tomorrow! Thanksgiving is too short of a time to head home! Well, next year it will be Christmas so that is better!

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and is looking forward to a joyous holiday season!

I am so blessed!

At this time of year, we are suppose to reflect and count our blessings. Today at church, a ladies group sang a song about being so blessed you can not count them all! That is exactly how I feel! The Lord has blessed me so much more then I deserve! I have a healthy, beautiful family! We have a roof over our heads and food to eat. Even though money is tight we are still able to do a few extra things here and there and I forget sometimes to be thankful for that when so many are wondering how they will find enough money for food or to pay their bills to keep their homes. Robert and I both have jobs in an economy where jobs are scarce. I grew up with parents, grandparents, sisters, brother, aunts, uncles, and cousins who loved me and I am still close to today no matter the distance between us. I am thankful for my in-laws who have added blessings to my life! I have friends I know I can count on no matter the need and most importantly that I can talk to about anything and know I can trust them to hold it close! My church family is wonderful and we are blessed to have them when my family is so far away. For the Lord who saved me even though I am so unworthy! See what I mean, there are too many to count and name. I know I am missing some, but I just wanted to say how thankful I am for what the Lord has blessed me with and to share with all of you as you are blessings to me too!

This week is Thanksgiving and we are headed to Arkansas on Tuesday. Tomorrow, Corbin turns 9! It is so hard to believe how fast he is growing up! Everyone have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving!

Happy Halloween!

For his first Halloween, Garrett was a monkey! Thanks to Didi for sending us the costume! Corbin was a clone trooper from Star Wars! We went to church for Trunk-N-Treat! It was a rainy, miserable night, but we had it in the church, so we stayed mostly dry!