Giving thanks.

We had such a lovely, peaceful weekend out of the city at my great-uncle and aunt's for Thanksgiving. Truly an environment to awaken our minds to the presence of great blessings in our life. I will let the pictures speak for themselves, and there are many (mostly for my family's benefit); be fore-warned. 

 Late afternoons were spent near the wood stove with wine or tea, conversations and laughs.

 Beautiful Thanksgiving dinner table.

 My lovely great-aunt preparing.

 Michael got to indulge in semi-antiques; a block set and a highchair passed down in the family.

 Aunt Patricia had planned a lovely meal blessing song. We then proceeded to go around the table, giving thanks for one thing as we lit our individual candles. 

The food was delicious, the turkey moist and tender, contributions from everyone, dessert in abundance=perfect Thanksgiving feast.

Friday afternoon, some of us ventured into downtown Leavenworth to check out the Christmas market. I only had my camera phone with me and it was raining, so we didn't get many pictures, but we sure enjoyed the shops.

 Michael enjoyed the Christmas lights and watching the passers-by. 

 Saturday breakfast table; Allison is great with babies!

 Uncle Frank made me delicious espressos. 

 So nice to see cousin Kerry!

 Saturday morning we headed up into the hills for a Christmas tree hunt. Michael took his morning nap at that time.

Lots of snow! The views were breathtaking.

 

 Greg and Al with their tree.

Good find, Andrew! Definitely a different type of tree than we have had in past years, but perfect and cute nonetheless - thank you, Greg!!

 Michael checking out his first snow!

 Loading up the trees.

What a beautiful couple of hours. 

So thankful for this weekend. Thankful that I am usually near some extended family for the majority of our holidays...I feel very blessed. God is good.

Around here.

It's been a pretty quiet week; we've been staying indoors out of the cold and rain, doing a few things to prepare for Thanksgiving, and reflecting on our blessings.

Who said decorative pumpkins go to waste? I got about 13 lbs out of my mine pureed and in the freezer for soups and baking.

Not to mention roasted pumpkin seeds for a yummy snack.

With Michael in the beginning stages of walking, I've been on the lookout for some shoes for him. When we're outside, we like to give him a break from the Ergo now and then, so I was delighted to come across these PediPeds at Goodwill, practically brand new for $3.99. New, they run $30-40. Score.

On that note, I finished one "footie" for the little man over the weekend and started on the other...as the weather gets progressively colder, I wanted him to have something warm for his feet, and as he's not technically walking yet, these will do fine at home, and out and about.

With the holiday season upon us, I have started baking again, which I have much missed since we embarked on the Paleo track. Visiting and gifting gives me the excuse to fire up the mixer and bring out the baking sheets/pans! Keep the word GIFTING in mind, hubby. :) Coming from the oven today, are wheat honey rolls for Thanksgiving dinner and pumpkin cranberry walnut bread.

It's been a very short work week for hubby, as he already gets Tuesdays off, and today, Fr. let the staff go at 1pm. Even though he had to prep for class tonight, it was nice to have him here this afternoon to help with Michael while I was in the kitchen!

Michael loved it.

Our love for our little man grows leaps and bounds by the day, and we are so grateful to God for this beautiful gift.

Meditating on this...

"Do you not know that utter dying to self, to live only in God and for God, can only take place by degrees, through a persistent fidelity in making the sacrifice of the intelligence, of the will, of all our passions and caprices, of our feelings and affection; finally and above all, the sacrifice that comes of a complete submission in all trials, in unceasing interior vicissitudes, and in states, sometimes painful indeed, through which God makes us pass in order to change us completely into him?"

~ Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade, S.J.

November is always a contemplative, sentimental month for me...my dear Nana passed away in this month, and I miscarried our first two children consecutively in the Novembers of 2009 and 2010; on Thanksgiving the first year, and on All Soul's Day the second. Ah, the sufferings He sends us along with and triumphs and joys. Many lessons in dying to self so that we may be united to His holy will. In retrospect, I am able to look back at the past trials and sufferings of my life, and see how the Lord has worked on me or through me accordingly, and I am thankful. With this in mind, I must work on being thankful during the trials or struggles that I face, beause I am sure that if I approached things with a more joyful, trusting, and grateful attitude, how much more good He could work on/through me. This November brought the arrival of Dilanji nephew #5, and he was recieved with much joy. Born on November 3 and baptized on November 11, Connor Donald is such a cutie, and I hear he is a great baby and very loved by his siblings. I hope to meet him in the near future!

Tomorrow we are going to Mass, and then will be off to my great-uncle and aunt's in Leavenworth for the holiday. Looking forward to enjoying a few days with them, in their cozy log house by the river with a wood stove! We will probably see a bit of snow on the way, so praying for a safe drive. Wishing you all a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving celebration. Remember to pray for complete religious freedom - the very origin of this holiday.