"A thankful heart is a happy heart....."- Junior Asparagus

It happens all the time....it is just exceptionally easy to send up thanks when you are surrounded by colorful leaves...
And of course, like every other year, I feel exceptionally grateful for what I have. It doesn't seem to matter if hard things have happened that year....if I began to put things on a scale of good and bad, the good would win by a landslide- always does....


This year we decided to make a Thanksgiving Tree. I am always determined to minimize the Christmas hubub until we have spent some time being truly thankful...but this is the first year I have ever done one.  The kids are so excited about it, so I thought I could give you a little tutorial;) I know, you didn't ask for one.....  

The Beginning

I took some limbs from the back yard, big enough to stand straight, but small enough to have some twigs, branches and leaves on them and arranged them in a container. In this case, I used an old paint can that I filled with rocks and some water to make it heavy.


Then, I printed some "I am thankful" tags off the internet. A sheet for all members of the family to fill out.  In hindsight, I wish I had had some colored cardstock, but I just let each kid color the paper lightly.  They filled out things like, "Mommy, Daddy, I pod, Car, House, Health."  I wanted them to be able to put both essential needs and extra luxuries God had given them.

Loosely tied ribbon and the chain

We then made the chain with scissors and a stapler and hung it on the tree. I assembled some left over ribbon in fall colors and tied them loosely on the tree. I tend to be free with my ribbon tying, you may want a more traditional bow or smaller length.  Personally, I like the flowing ribbon....but I am weird like that.

Printable Tags

 Then, the kids and I, along with Will's list inspired a photo and clip art search. You can use all clip art, or all digital photos, which ever works easier for you.  We have a zillion wonderful cousins, so instead of each individual, I printed a clip art pic that said "BEST COUSINS"....but our Grandparents.....they were too special..They got their own photo.  I resized them into a document and printed them. I did it on paper and then glued them to index cards so they would hold up- again, wish I had had some card stock...would have been easier.   

example of picture "ornament"

I punched a hole in each pic and threaded it through the
top of the hole from the front. It seemed to lay better that way. Of course, there are tons of ways to attach them to the tree. 

Threaded ribbon 

Picture Ornaments Hung

After finishing the tree, I sent each kid and myself on a hunt to find things to add as ornaments or put under the tree that they were thankful for.  (Notice the action figures)...

An ornament from my Mama

Just a few items from the kids: a playbill from Jaden's play, an engagement announcement from Eason's wallet, a pic of the cousins, a Wolverine action figure........

Hobby Lobby had these on clearance, and so I hung a few on the tree for effect.....:)

The Finished Product:

a post I "unjumbled"....

Recently, a lady whom I had never met, prayed over me.  She did not know Branson's story or even that I was pregnant again....
She prayed this:


"That the wound she has experienced will stop here- and be forbidden to continue to affect her presently."


"That she will look to YOU as her Savior and stop trying to make others into a savior"


"That she heals"


"That she will open up, stretch, move and bend to what You want to accomplish in her"


"That you will protect her"




Among many other things that had me in tears and weak in the knees, these are some of things she prayed.


Sometimes I forget that this is not God's "plan B".  That He isn't sitting in heaven with his notebook planning the next journey based on the next road I take.
I am NOT a "choose your own adventure" book that surprises Him.  I AM His adventure, His Glory, His child, His beloved.  He knew what today looked like for me as he knit me together in my wonderful mama...almost, eh-hem-cough-cough, 30 years ago......
He knew that I would choose hard roads, bad alleyways, sketchy sidestreets, wide meadows and rocky switchbacks.  But, He loved me enough to give me the freedom to choose....and He still pursued me....relentlessly.  He knew what this journey looked like from the beginning.  He is not a puppeteer.  He is an all-knowing, all-loving Father who wants to guide me, always.  


Just like sending me this woman of God to pray for me this weekend, He has surrounded me with people who continue to pursue, look inside, and pry into my life.  It is the most wonderful feeling in the world- to be known....really known.


As I continue to walk the next 10 days out until my 20 week anatomy scan, I will remember her words....that I will not look to the doctor's to be my gods....
I will not allow their knowledge of life, death, illness and cure to cloud my judgement of who holds this baby.  I will trust them, thank them and then look to my Father for comfort...for He is my Savior...He has already saved me.

can't hold my love back......

My words are jumbled.  I can't explain how I am feeling any better than this song can........

Words can never say the way He says my name
He calls me lovely
No one every sees the He looks at me 
He sees me holy
Words can never hold this love that burns my soul
Heaven holds me
Heaven holds me 

You will not believe the way He touches me
He burns right through me
I could not forget every word He said
He always knew me
Earth could never hold this love that burns my soul
Heaven holds me
Oh, heaven holds me

It feels pretty good to be held by Heaven.......that is a pretty safe place to spend the next few months.  There are about 6 blog entries in my head at the moment,  and I will spare you the chaos of trying to sort them out on this page. I will begin to sort them myself before I type them out:) It is the least I can do.

PS( my baby girl is the size of a cantaloupe!) rats!...I promised I wouldn't do that;)