Happy Birthday Hudson, and Thanksgiving Recap

Happy 2nd Birthday to Hudson!  We almost feel like you have been here forever--even though it has only been 11 weeks!  You are worth it, you are gifted, you are adorable, you make us laugh, you are special and God has an amazing plan for your life.  You had to wait for a family becuase we just weren't ready for you(God was working on us for a while!).  We are totally honored that our Heavenly Father picked us to be your family.  We love you!  And, as we celebrate your birthday, we remember you birthmother in Korea.  We are praying for her to have peace, healing, and to somehow know that you are well taken care of and happy. 

Thanksgiving was great!  We spent Thursday at my parent's home with a crowd of 37--including 3 international college students--2 from the Congo and 1 from India. The kids played outside all day.  Pictured above is my 94yr old grandmother holding my 3months old beautiful, blue-eyed neice.  Can you imagine how precious it is to have your 94yr old grandparents around??  And, their minds are sharp as tacks.  Grandad told us a story about selling a cow for 3 cents a pound and putting his money a savings account.  Then, the stock market crashed and the banks closed.  Amazing memories we are privelaged to hear!  That evening we went to Mike's mother's home.  You should have seen Hudson put on the charm.  He was saying "Na Na".  Of course, this thrilled Nana!!  He is really starting to like her a lot ;)  The next morning MIke and I  shopped Black Friday at 6am with my mother and sisters.  We had a blast and brainstormed random ministry ideas.  Which segways into my next book for you guys AND put it into action ideas, but today I'll focus on the last 2 days recap.  Watch for it tomorrow!!

We went to Mike's grandmother's sweet home in the country.  We LOVE to go there.  It is like therapy for us!  She cooked an old fashioned Thanksgiving meal and we ate way too much.  Mike, Carter, and Uncle Craig had "man time" and shot the gun at pumpkins around the tank(for non-Texans, that is a pond).  That afternoon they had an early birthday party for Dillon.  His birthday is December 14 and usually gets merged with Christmas activities.  He opened presents and instead of a cake(which he doesn't eat much of), we made ice cream sundaes.  We put his 7 candles in the ice cream.  It was really cute.  Oh, a funny on him.  Grandma 's gift had pink and orange dotted tissue paper.  When Dillon opened the box, he pulled the tissue paper and said "I no like pink paper!"  That is one of the funny aspects of his special needs.  He doesn't give a hoot about social rules of niceties.  He is polite and sweet, but you always know exactly where he stands!!!

We ended the holiday with Carter playing his guitar, the girls(my 2 neices and Abby) singing and then the silly dancing broke out, complete with Alyssa and Dillon doing a Dancing With The Stars routine!!  What a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Oh how we are blessed.  Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure it is all real.