Gift #536- The Ability to Rock Out

This kid has really gotten good on the guitar.  He has moved up to an advanced class.  His teacher is a hard-core rock and roller with the 80's hair to prove it!  I am very proud of you Josh!

Gift #535- Finding the Gifts in the Crazy

Life has been completely crazy these past few weeks.  With so many squadron and base and school and church events, I really have been feeling a little overwhelmed.  Lets top it off with a stomach virus that won't go away and forgetting to take the trash out this morning when the trash is already overflowing.  I decided that I should probably sit down and list some of the things that I am thankful for.  It helps take my mind off of the crazy and focus on the gifts.  Sometimes it helps me to see the gifts hidden away in the crazy.  So here it goes:

 I am thankful for this group of 312 Spouses who support each other and have fun together. 

We had a wonderful Christmas dinner out at Breakwater Grill.  

 The 5 younger kids and I joined a group of squadron spouses for a Christmas show at the Historic Savannah Theater!  It was AMAZING!  I hope to make it a new family tradition.  Hank agreed as long as there wasn't ballet or interpretive dance involved in the show.  Well, there might have been a bit of both, but we won't tell him.  :0)

 This sweet lady danced when she won the prize for being our oldest guest- 102 years young!

 The Senior Citizens Tea on the air station is an event that I have loved for years now.  I will admit, this year it seemed more like a chore- just something else on the to do list.  But once I arrived and saw the faces and watched the Marines escorting the ladies and heard the voices of the people singing together "Silent Night,"it didn't seem like a chore at all.  It was a pleasure.

 Look at this girl playing the violin!  She has way surpassed her momma with her violin skills.  She is very talented and I loved seeing her perform with her classmates.

This is the birthday boy.  Henry was not feeling very well on his birthday.  In fact, it is 5 days past his birthday and his cake still sits unopened on the counter.  It was one year ago this time of year when I was seeing this sweet face for the first time.  He has brought so much joy to our days.  What a gift you are Henry boy!

Gift #534- Ham Tetrazzini

Today, I am thankful for Ham Tetrazzini, because, as you can see,  it is Henry's most favorite food!  Im also thankful for my friend Jenna who shared this recipe with me almost 15 years ago.  Thank you Jenna!  It has been a staple in the Thomas home all these years.

Gift #533- Hometown Christmas Parades

 Henry had a wonderful time at his first-ever Christmas Parade!

 Bo had a pretty great time too.  He kept saying "Merry Christmas HO HO HO"

And you gotta love being able to wear shorts and flip flops in December.  I love the South!

Gift #532- My Constant Comic Relief

You Gotta Love a Sam!

Gift #531- Watching your Children Grow Up

Jack led the call to worship this morning at church.  He made me very proud!

Gift #530- A Boy's First Visit with Santa

We went to the Tree Lighting ceremony at the Naval Hospital last night.  Bo met Santa for the very first time.  As you can see, he was very excited!  As you also can see, Bo's little brother did not find it quite as exciting.

Gift #529- A Bare-Bottomed Christmas Tree

Having a bare-bottomed Christmas tree is a true blessing because it means that I have a Henry in my house who so proudly and persistently made it that way.

Gift #528- A Cup that Overflows!

It has been so very long since I have written.  Not because I have had nothing to be thankful for.  On the contrary actually!

First of all, I am so thankful for our summer spent on Avery Street.  Avert Street is way more than just a little street in the middle of a little town.  It bears the name of my mother and of my "sweet" little girl.  It is where I learned how to ride a bike and how to drive a car.  It is where I trick-or-treated every Fall and where I hunted eggs every Spring.  It is the site of a little barn-shaped home where I celebrated Valentines day by candlelight and New Years Eve with shotguns!  It is where all roads lead.

I am thankful for a boys first catch and for the memories that he made with his uncle.  Thankful for Bo's first American birthday and for the family that we shared it with.  I'm thankful for the new Commanding Officer of  the VMFA-312 Checkerboards.  Thankful for all that he does for our family. I am thankful for my new home and for its beautiful view- from the inside looking out and the outside looking in.  I am thankful for a big double sink where I can bathe 2 babies at the same time.  Thankful for these kids of mine who have followed their dad and I around the country and across the ocean and back with so much courage and resiliency.  I am thankful to be back at our old church home- thankful that it still feels like home.  Thankful for the new friendships that the big boys have made.  Still so very thankful for the friendships that we have all made along the way. Thankful for weekend visits with grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins.  Im thankful for a Thanksgiving spent with family and for a double oven to warm all of the trimmings.  Im thankful for little boys in hooded jackets, little girls wearing big girl underclothes and sweet little heads in home made Indian headdresses.  Thankful for first earrings, first haircuts, first movies, and first days of school!  Im thankful for 13-year-olds and 2-year-olds and for the crazy joy that they both bring to my days.  THANK-FULL!

Gift #527- An Adventure in China

 Bo and I stayed in China for two weeks to complete the adoption. It was hard being away from the other kids, but I knew that they were well taken care of.  My family and my best girlfriend, Joy, took turns keeping them each day and night.  It was such a blessing.  Bo and I visited the Terra Cotta Warriors in his hometown.  It was a fascinating exhibit. 

Bo went in a swimming pool for the very first time!  He loved it!  No fear.  You have to wear a swim cap in the pools in China.  Bo picked a ladies swim cap and he was so proud to wear it!  ;) 

 We visited the Guangzhou zoo. Bo was so excited to see the "kirin".  Our guide told me that the giraffe is his favorite animal.   

 Bo went on his first-ever plane ride!  He was excited and behaved so well on the trip.  He quickly made friends with the sweet older lady sitting beside him.  he spent much of the time in her lap looking out of the window.

During our days together, I learned that Bo has some very interesting tastes in food.  Not only does he love a chicken leg, but he loves the head and feet too!