My Favorite Week...

Thanksgiving is my favorite time of the year. I love Fall (when there is a Fall, unlike where I live now...), I love football games, I love watching parades- especially when they're on tv so I'm not standing out in the cold to see them. I can pause them and get something to eat/drink or do anything and come back later. I love Turkey Bowls, Turkey Trots (5k's run on Thanksgiving morning), and everything having to do with it. It doesn't have the commercialism of Christmas, Halloween, Mother's Day, or any other holiday. It's an American holiday through and through and I'm definetely a patriot. I love to think of all the college students coming home for a long weekend visit and people gathering all over the country. I've never been nutty enough to fly over Thanksgiving, but it's exciting thinking about it. Because it's always on a Thursday, schools and many businesses are closed on Friday so our family gets to actually spend a few days in a row together; and then we still have a whole weekend! I love the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special. I own the DVD but still get excited when it's on tv. And by far, Thanksgiving dinner is my favorite dinner/dessert of the year. I love all of it! And when it's over, Christmas season starts!

This year we're planning a really great week. Wednesday, my best friend, Rachel, is coming from Utah with her husband, kids, and dog. (We've been wanting our dogs to meet for quite a while.) We're going to go to our annual flag football game Thursday morning at the park near our house, watch parades and football together, and play games. When dinner is over and we're sufficiently full, we're going to go to the movies. Friday we are going to decorate our house for Christmas and celebrate Rachel's son's birthday. It's going to be over all too fast, but I'm so excited...and it's just hours away from all starting!

I'm very grateful for a lot of things. Right now, Costco is at the top of my list. I'm not kidding. They bake my pies for every holiday. I'm really thankful for a lot of things but I won't make a list here.

I'm really, really grateful for my friends, old and new. Every one of you is a real gift and adds something to my life I wouldn't have otherwise. Collectively, I admire your humor, your parenting, your talents, your generous hearts, your compassion, your honesty, your strength, your patience, your ways of dealing with other people, your testimonies, and your passion for life. If a person is judged by the company they keep, then I'm doing just fine. If you're reading this, you're surely included.

If I'm just too darn busy having a wonderful time with my "sister from another mister" to write this week, have a really great Thanksgiving.

Swim and Dive Awards Banquet

Tonight was the Williams Field High School (Black Hawks) Swim and Dive Team's annual awards banquet. It was a really nice evening held at the clubhouse by the pool to a nearby neighborhood, Power Ranch. Jeremy served as the swim team men's co-captain this season. He lettered in swimming last year so he got a pin this year. He also got a certificate for being a state championship qualifier. Jeremy received the "Golden Wing" plaque for the most points scored by a male swimmer on the team for the season and received the "Black Hawk Award" plaque. That award is chosen by the coaches for the athlete who best exemplifies athleticism, sportsmanship, and academics. What an honor!

It goes without saying that we're awfully proud of him and how hard he has worked with swimming. It's such a demanding sport. And it sure makes him hungry! He used to come home from practice and make several hamburgers and eat them (buns and all), then he'd ask what was for dinner because he was hungry! At one point during the season, he wanted to quit. A caring and awesome coach talked with him and helped him see that what he's doing right now isn't just about right now, it's also about his future. He stuck out the season and is so glad he did. We're really appreciative of his coaches and the time and effort they give to the kids.

I never stop being amazed when watching our boys grow up. Seeing them achieve goals, learn important life lessons, learn to be leaders, make friends, and have a ball doing it is such a privilege. If it seems like I'm bragging...I am. I think it's a mother's right. Jeremy's an awfully sweet young man with an amazingly bright future. Way to go, Jay!

It's safe to have high expectations...

I saw Twilight today with some friends of mine. What a great afternoon; a good movie, a good lunch, and good friends. I could go see Twilight again right now! Usually I don't like a movie if I've read the book first and vice versa. This time I wasn't disappointed! Like so many people, I didn't want to expect a lot but it's ok...expect it to be really good!