A lot to be Thankful for.....

This is my husband's entire clan. We have never ALL been together for an entire day, since before there's been several children. It was a day God especially touched........

The oldest and youngest grand daughter......

The three brothers - having a good time!

Parents and kids.....

My In laws with all their grand kids!

Sock Fashion Expert played while a cousin dances..........

She and Her Papa have a special relationship.....

The Cousins ADORED each other..........

We were invited for her 3rd Birthday Party.........

My husbands brother, wife and baby.....

Grandpa loves playing with his grand kids!

Grandma never stopped smiling - THE WHOLE DAY!

The Boys Hiked in the frozen swamp bogs at my in-laws. Here's an owl who answered their calls......

Driving out of our mountains.......... To the Land of 10,000 LakesAfter the 20 some hour drive and 12 hour birthday party, everybody was exhausted........

After days of packing and organizing, we ALL loaded into our big ol' Suburban and headed to town to pick up my husband's bachelor brother "Chet". I wasn't sure how spending 20 some hours would go with all of us cooped up together, but it went just fine. We pulled into my husband's middle brother's home. It was an amazing and extra special day, especially for my husband's parents who got to have all their kids and grand kids together for the WHOLE DAY.

After that, we drove another 3 hours to my in laws place. Its been a really nice visit here too. Every day The Sock Fashion Expert and I have broken records running on the long, flat highway in front of their house. Today, for the FIRST TIME EVER, we ran 6 miles together. Its a good thing too, because we have been eating from an incredible and never ending feast.

Chet hadn't been back in 10 years or more. It was really extra special just to have him hanging around with us. I marveled in the little things, like the basket ball games the whole family played together, and the times he did simple things like taking out the trash. Every day seems to be a constant reminder that God is faithful to His Word.

I am also doing an Internet class daily, and am reading a lot of good books. One that has been particularly stretching is called "The Excellent Wife". Though the words can be hard to take, and I don't agree with all of it, it is a big eye opener to me. Where I once truly believed that I was an exceptional woman, I find myself sadly lacking in many many areas. Not to be down on myself or anything, I am just seeing a lot of error in my ways, and that is a good thing. We must all remain teachable if we truly want to experience all God has for us :-)

Today us girls went shopping in town. Moonbeam has been reciting "I want to go shopping with Bhama!" for the last 6 months. Today she finally got to. Generously, my mother in law shared us with my sister and her kids too. Once we met them at the mall, we didn't shop much after that..... I had to whisk those cute little cherubs away for ice cream the first second my sister turned her back ;-) We spoiled all the girls rotten with toys, crowns, balloons, pin wheels and whatever else. I wildly skipped and sang down the aisles of the stores crazily pushing the girls in the cart as they laughed hysterically. Then we went to the spectacular Green Mill Restaurant over looking lake Bemidiji and dined in front of panoramic lake view windows. The food was incredible.

Tomorrow we're heading out to see friends, then family, then more family, and then more family before we head back here. Its a little bitter sweet packing up, but I know Chet and his parents will have some good times together while we're gone AND they'll enjoy us again when we're back for a few more days. As I sit here and type, the Sock Fashion Expert strums her beautiful melodies, my Mother in law puts away the rest of her strawberry shortcake, (which, by the way, she's been making me for 22 years), and the rest of the family mills around quietly. There is no question in my mind that God is faithful. His promises are true and He makes them available to anybody who chooses to receive. I've been "coming home" to my in laws place since I was 16 years old. It feels just a little bit like coming back to God despite all the many roads I've travelled and lives I've lived. It just feels right.............