As I sat last night cuddled up with a blanket and peppermint tea, I couldn't help but feel so extremely blessed. I thought back to our quiet Thanksgiving alone ( we had a big thanksgiving "shin dig" with the church a few days before) so alone we were and John asked me to say the blessing over the spread which I've never done, he's always prayed the Thanksgiving prayer but he asked me, so I began, "Dear Lord,"...(tears) oh thank you,  joy does come in the morning!!!!"  and then the tears just ran like rivers, overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness and gratitude.  Thankful that instead of dreading the mail, we get tickled to get bills because we can pay them!! Thankful for the gas in our vehicles to get to church functions, the doctor, the grocery store, the blessing of getting to plan our meals a week out again instead having nothing to plan with, Julianna's hernia is gone, Johnny's is shrinking, good friends and family that supported us the whole way through. Needless to say, there was not a dry eye in our house by the end of that prayer. We laughed and cried and praised God from whom ALL blessings flow. Weeping may endure for a moment....but JOY cometh in the morning!!!!

Although we are rebuilding in a sense outwardly, both John and I are fully aware that the real rebuilding God was interested in has already taken place on the inside.... in a major way. A demolition, where parts of us were torn down and rebuilt to be stronger, better and more effective. And the growing isn't done forever now...no way, the heart murmurs are still present and we take those one day at a time but praise God that several parts of that troubling time is over and prayerfully, we are stronger and more full of faith for when the next battle arises.

Heres a few snap shots of our festivites over the last month, primarily for our journals sake:

                                                                 
A 2 day visit with my dear friend Amy. a sweet Georgia peach.

T-DAY!!!

And this is how we kicked off the morning!!!

GOOD MORNING HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

I make my crust a little thicker, thats' how we roll.... ;)

oops whats this doing here....anyway, this was the Sutherland girls and mine playing in Bro.Randy's barn....

o.k. then we dabbled in

some candle making......

cinnamon mint was the choice scent of the day.

Homemade yeast rolls my family and exteneded family love!!!

Again, how we roll here!

My champion chopper here, Junior Master Chef here we come!!!

The Spread..........

Off to see the lights on a train ride........

one of the States oldest old-fashioned candy stores.

and the little man of Mayberry..........

a childhood favorite of Johns......ribbon candy.

Alright y'all, have a great rest of the year....

gobble till you wobble......wait dont do that....bad for your heart...anyway until next time!!!