Do you ever realize the goodness of the Lord in moments that just sneak up and grab you?  Like, you weren't looking to meditate, but the words to that hymn just woke you up?

Or, you thought you didn't care about anything but getting the soup made, but all the sudden you've forgotten about the onion you were chopping, because her face is so beautiful and she's telling you a story, and you can't look away?

It's like my distracted, hurried, and often hard heart, suddenly melts into gratefulness.  I'm so thankful that He gives me those moments.  Because I would just chop all the onions, and not listen to the good words of that hymn, and hurry and hurry and ignore her story, and miss her beautiful face.  I would miss being thankful, and that would be so sad.

There have been days recently, when this group of chatting girls comes surging through the kitchen, on their way to the bedroom, to discuss their dancing and singing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer routine.  The routine is loud and adorable. :)

But this conversational and friendly group, they catch me off guard.  It's weird.  I look and see these big, beautiful, blonde heads, saying hilarious things.  I'm just marveling at who they are, and it's like I'm seeing them for the first time in a long time.  Like they stopped being babies and that reality punches me in the heart out of nowhere.  But it's kind of a nice punch.  For a moment I'm drowning in blessing.  Just overwhelmed that they're so wonderful and they're mine.

Perhaps it's because Riley is back and the sister group is operating as a whole again.  It's just so fun.  I mean yes, they scream and fight too. :)  But the sweet moments are enough to freeze my hurriedness, and tell God thank you.

In other news, I totally blew my diet, but it was such a happy time.
Nathan made some gooood crust, so I made a pecan pie with orange zest, and ate some.  You have to put orange zest in it!  Just always do it.

The girls always ask me the most annoying question while I'm deviating from my eating plan: "Mooom...is it worth it?"  Yes, this was so worth it.  They didn't even ask this time, because duh.

Here is the recipe that I like to use.

I also decided that I want to make these stockings because I learned the bobble stitch last year and my house is full of yarn.

Guys,  I hope you have a sweet Thanksgiving.