Thanks + Praise = Blessing

"If anyone would tell you the shortest, surest way to all happiness - he must tell you to make it a rule to yourself to thank and praise God for everything that happens to you.  For it is certain that whatever seeming calamity happens to you, if you thank and praise God for it, you turn it into a blessing.  Could you therefore work miracles, you could not do more for yourself than by this thankful spirit, for it heals with a word speaking, and turns all that it touches into happiness. ...it be the noblest sacrifice that the greatest Saint can offer unto God."

--William Law, A Serious Call to a Devout & Holy Life

Birthday...SURPRISE!

For the boys' birthdays this year, we pulled off the surprise of all surprises...a joint birthday party! We opted not to make a big deal about their parties because we decided to plan a "surprise" party.  We secretly invited a a few of the boys' friends to show up at the house.  Thompson was probably the most surprised since his birthday was three weeks away.  The kids had a great time playing together, indulging in cake, and then watching Thompson and William discover they would be leaving the next day for a week-long trip to NYC for Thanksgiving. (complete with new luggage from Aunt G & Uncle B)

Through William's Eyes

I had to share two comments William has made this week, which can't help but make you smile.

Having seen Thompson to the front door one morning for school (which W still insists on giving T a hug, kiss and nose-kiss) and reminding him to "Be careful crossing the street!", William closed the door turned around and said, "I like it when it's just us."  I was a bit puzzled and responded, "You mean you like our family?"  "No.  I like it when it is just you, daddy and me. It's so quiet."

On the way to school this morning, William was talking with his sweet friend Nora about their bedrooms and sleepovers.  At one point, William commented, "I don't sleep alone.  God sleeps with me."

Trick-or-Treat

For Halloween this year, the boys knew exactly what they wanted to be - Thompson a bandit and William a knight.  (And I, well, I took it as another challenge to see how inexpensively I could pull it off.)  In the end, we had one suspicious-looking bandit and one brave knight, joined by Annie the Angel and the Haint.  We trick-or-treated early and then boys set-up shop on the front porch and enjoyed handing out treats (no tricks here) to all our guests.

Off with his head for stealing my candy!

Storybook Character Day

Thompson's school celebrated Storybook Character Day today...here's our resident Despereaux!

CYMBL - Season Finale

The final race of the CYMBL series was held this morning at Brevard College.  Having missed last weekend's uphill time trial and Super-D (downhill) races at Bracken Mountain {we were in Chattanooga} cost him some points, moving him from 3rd to 5th in the overall series coming into today's race.  Brevard College's cross country course traversed 0.9 mile, and Thompson's age division completed two laps.  Thompson finished 4th, but wasn't able to bridge the point-gap to place top 3 in the series, placing 5th out of 22 young boys in the series...which we think is something to celebrate.  And William, he too had a great time riding his bike this CYMBL season.  As we continually remind the boys, racing at this level is all about having fun, knowing you've tried your best, and encouraging all the other riders.  Way to go boys!

Sleep, God and Weather

(in the car rider line waiting to pick Thompson up from school)

William: Do you know the only boy who never sleeps?

Mom: Who?

William: God.

(So I begin to explain why God never sleeps and am quickly interrupted from the back seat.)

[William:  I know, I know. (arms making big circles) Because He does the weather. [pronounced wever]