Thankful

I get all excited thinking about getting my Christmas decorations out. Then I'm sitting here at almost 10 at night looking at every room a mess & wonder why I got the decorations out. Fall decor covers the kitchen island. Plastic bins laying about. Mantel all bare. Christmas tree is done. Not a put together room anywhere. Ugh. BG sat in her high chair eating a cookie while we decorated the tree. My standards for baby food have far slipped since Madeline was a baby. BG polished off the last of my watered down coke as we rode the last 30 minutes to Gram & Gramps for Thanksgiving. She shrieked if Camille even put her hand on the cup. She got to enjoy cheetos on the final descent back home. She was a total orange mess. Kept her quiet. Do what you gotta do. We took two vehicles to Arkansas since the snowboard bums along with Madeline the ski bunny felt the need to drive to Taos. Singlehanded, drove 5 kids to Arkansas. Todd then took off on Thanksgiving day with Lucas & Madeline in tow. What should have been a twelve hour drive turned into a 15 hour day. They got a flat in Angel Fire. So close to Taos but yet so far. Luckily it was still light out. Unluckily the jack broke. God was watching over them as good Samaritans stopped. The Mrs. stayed with the Stan clan while the Mr. went and got what Todd described as a NASCAR size jack. Got them safely on the road. I'm so thankful for the new friends. I imagine we will see them again. Got the supreme pleasure of going to the Nutcracker today to watch my friend Helen's son perform the part of Fritz. It was a great production. Todd made it back in time to keep BG. Love it when he's been gone because he comes home being so happy to help. Hence the Christmas decorations getting out.  Church got us off to a great worship and with the reminder of keeping us grounded in Jesus during this time of tinsel and excitement. We are starting advent with our eyes on the cross. Thankful for the time with my family, blessed by good Samaritans, and excited about the advent season.