Happy Thanksgiving

Well, it's been a few days since I've blogged, and what a few days it's been! Today is Thanksgiving and I'm home with the girls, hoping they'll nap before we go over to the family's for the big shindig. Mom is with McGrooter over there now. I was hoping to get some work done but getting the girls to nap early has proved a little more work than normal, so I decided I could at least blog in between putting little ones back down. For the moment it is quiet so that may be a good sign.

The past week has been kind of rough at The Daddy Day Care. The core of it has to do with some struggles of my own (anger/bitterness toward some wrongs done to us) and how that seeps out throughout the day. On top of that we've all been sick, but I do think we're on the road to recovery. Combine that with the snowball effect of feeling bad, doing bad, feeling bad for doing bad, doing badder (as M would say), and so forth. It's a downward spiral. Plus we've been in negotiations over a house that hasn't been going as well as we'd wanted. It's been tumultuous. But some good counseling by my wonderful wife, some good convicting by the Holy Spirit, and I'm sure the wonderful prayers of my mother and others have me regaining my focus.

One of the highlights is captured in this picture. Yes, a highlight around a cheese-like food product. Thanks to Mimi, who brought these Cheetos last time she came, the kids are now obssessed with them. These are not any ordinary Cheetos. These are special holiday Cheetos (a sidebar...I remember when this time of the year was not called "holidays" but "Christmas time"). Anyway, these normal-looking orange Cheetos turn your mouth green. Yes, green! And the kids think it's the coolest thing since Noggin. We've finally just about finished off the bag after rationing them out over the past week. After each feeding the kids would insist on a trip to the mirror to have a look themselves. Then they'd just giggle and giggle. Below are some green mouths.

So get all the kiddies some exciting and fun holiday Cheetos to provide hours of quality entertainment. Sorry the Munch got left out.

Another moment of quality time was one night around bedtime. I discovered the new music channels that had been added to the TV. I couldn't resist turning on a little Bluegrass for the kids. And so, without prompting, the older two proceeded to have a little ho-down right in the living room, circling each other. McGrooter even threw in a couple of breakdance moves. I always knew he was going to be an inovator. Who'd have thought? Breakdancing and bluegrass...what a combo!

Finally, it is Thanksgiving and so I should write something about what I'm thankful for. There are really inumerable things, even after a crummy week like it's been. I'm thankful most of all that life is not meaningless and that I'm not left to my own devices to give it some kind of meaning but that meaning has been given to my life outside of myself. Specifically, I'm talking about the fact that my life has been redeemed, that I'm adopted by the King, and that there's now rhyme and reason to every little detail of life. I'm thankful for my wonderful wife who is patient and loving and faithful. I'm especially thankful for her God-given gift of discernment. I'm thankful she's helping me grow out of my "doormat Christianity" and discern the difference between letting people use you and being a real servant. I'm thankful for my kids, and especially for this time that I have right now with them. With all the stress and strain, day in and out, it's so worth it. It's special because I feel like it's redeemed time from all that I lost over the past three and a half years. I'm thankful for their smiles and personalities and creativeness. I'm thankful to God for their potential!

There's so much more, but it's been quiet for a while now so I should capitalize on this time and get some work done before we head over for the festivities. Happy Thanksgiving!