What a blessed Thanksgiving it was this year!! SO much to be Thankful for in 2014. 

At church yesterday this song came on...I wept...it took me by surprise how deeply it hit me. This song means so much to our family...it is the song Steph walked down the aisle too...it is the song I rocked Brody to and sang over and over for 19 nights in the hospital. It is still his song we sing every night and at nap time. I have never heard it here and it was the worship song they sang yesterday...take a moment to listen...

At this time one year ago I was holding, singing, and praying over my precious baby while we waited

for news on his diagnosis.

2 years ago at this time we were sitting in the ICU waiting to find out the prognosis of my sis

after she suffered through this...

And yesterday as I wept through "Whom Shall I Fear" I felt so deeply thankful and grateful for Brody and for Stephanie. So thankful that they are whole and happy. So thankful that I witnessed the miracles, endless love and healings of Christ Jesus. Of course it was bittersweet to spend Thanksgiving with only the 6 of us...but just as I type that...there is no "only the 6 of us" it is THANKS and praise for our family of 6. Thanks and praise for my husband and our love for each other. Thanks and praise that we have 4 beautiful healthy children and a house full of love. We are blessed. We had a beautiful, loud, crazy dinner and we gave THANKS!

The kids had a wonderful time as usual making their Christmas child boxes and delivering them!! We can't wait to see where they go!!

I made all our family favorites including my Gram'Zs cranberry salad! :) I love that I have a cookbook in her handwriting!! She made it for my mom and mom made copies for my sisters and I!! Such a treasure!! 

We had such fun with our 2014 Thankful tree!! We are blessed indeed! And Bentley's were pretty entertaining ;) 

Our little Thanksgiving table!!

Turkey crafts, of course!! :)

Little assistant chef and head chef! :)

I also gave THANKS that after having such a wonderful family celebration Scotty and I got to gou out just the two of us...such a rare treat when you live far away from family! We were blessed by a sweet babysitter from our church and we had a fun night out! Even though it was -33 F and I had to wear boots in and switch to heels! Ha! Life in Canada, EH?

Life has been full, busy, crazy, and just laugh out loud fun and hilarious lately. I am making it a priority to soak it all in. Stand in the sun as my fav show says ;) We are ready to celebrate Advent and excited to start tonight with our Jesse Tree! Such a fun tradition at our house! I did a new exchange this year so we have 2 sets of ornaments now...so the kids are going to rotate hanging the ornament and reading the bible story. 

I sadly missed the exchange party because we were in the emergency room with Bentley...

He was dressed in his SWAT team uniform trying to arrest his sister and it went a bit south...

a fat cheek and a stitch but he is all good to go now...

 The family elves are back!!! The kids left a note and some muffins they baked to welcome them home!! They were excited to find a return message the next morning!!

I hear my little man chatting away in his crib as he is waking from his nap so I am going to sign off...here are family pictures we had made this year for our Christmas card! I hope you enjoy!!

Praying blessings over each of you this holiday season and praying you each remember the true meaning of the season...keep the CHRIST in Christmas!! Much love from Canada, Sarah

What a blessed fall it has been here in Canada!!!

"How kind the Lord is! How good He is! So merciful, this God of ours!" Psalm 116:5

We were blessed with AMAZING weather on Halloween!! The kids were able to carve their pumpkins outside and Trick or Treat without snowsuits covering their costumes!! Woot! Woot! It sometimes truly really is the small things y'all!!! :) 

We had fun making some Halloween treats and decorating, the kids were off school for "Faith Day" kind of funny, or really just lucky for those teachers! Ha! It was nice having the whole day for Halloween fun!

I of course really tried to convice the gang to go with matching costumes...how cute to theme them, right? Yeah...that didn't work out...I even got my hands on the Olaf costume for Bentley and ended up selling it because he was not negoatiating on being a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle...sigh...I guess Halloween isn't about the mom! Ha! :)

Mal was Hermoine Granger from Harry Potter, Whit was Elsa and the boys I think are pretty obvious..Ha! :) Brody kept his on for maybe 20 minutes...he was not into the hat or slipping and slidding on the hardwood floors!! ;)

The kids had a great time trick or treating...Scott took them out along with some friends of ours...the moms stayed back and hung out with Brody while giving out the candy! :) We got the best job! Ha! ;) Whit was pretty happy with her loot...

                 

Thankful for these sweet friends!!

My little man's first costume!! Last year we hadn't been released from the hospital yet after he was born on the 28th so he only had this costume...

Awe what a difference one year makes!! Love this little man SO much!!

and this little Ninja Turtle ;) He only took this one single picture other than the group photo...and only because I said I was showing Leo!!! :) Anything for his bestie!!

That nice weather I mentioned was short lived...here is Bentley with his "snow blower" two days later..

Mal and B have been playing soccer this fall and loving it! Of course it is indoor...this is still Canada after all...here is their number one fan!

Here is their not so great fan...she begs to not come...too bad so sad...we tell her all about all the games we watched of our sisters growing up. We talk all about being a family and supporting each other...I also told her daddy and I wouldn't have met if we didn't go to our sisters games...she is so not impressed. ;) and so totally full of sas...but man I love this little sassy pants!!

Soccer Stars!!

B's jersey is just a little long ;) Ha!

We have just been so blessed this fall! We are having fun with friends, the kids are loving school. They are having a blast with all their activities. They keep me busy running to dance, gymnastics and soccer. They love making new friends and learning new things! The time is going so fast! As anxious as I am to be home I would love to slow these monkeys down from growing so fast!! I love the crazy!! B got some costumes for his birthday...a favorite is his SWAT team outfit...he loves to arrest his sisters...we have had to put a stop to him arresting his brother...that is not very well received on Brody's end! hahahah!

We had a great time cheering on our Hometown Royal's from afar! No one even knew what our shirts were about but it was fun getting asked and being able to share!! By the time game 7 rolled around even the Calgarians knew the Royals! :) Shout out to Grandma for the great shirts!!

Shout out to my mama for keeping me warm and snuggly :) Loving my winter mittens and ear warmer!! :) They will come in handy when the high is 1 on Friday!! AHHH!!

Silly selfie with my little man! He is a mess...a total silly mess and I adore him!

This pic just cracks me up...crazy Mal decorating my birthday cake... and the M is for Mom not Mal there was some confusion with that...right, sister? ;) hahahah!! Love this silly girl to the moon and back!

Speaking of loving a silly girl to the moon and back...yep I feel the same way about her too!! :)

and another silly picture just because...somebody is getting too big too fast...is taking a step here and there and loving his birthday present. He is SO MUCH FUN!!! He is so king of the castle around here!! We all adore him!!

and one last photo in closing...I got out for a girls night and had so much fun with my dear friend, Sonia. I am so thankful for this Gal!! We have been blessed by the people and the love on this adventure!

"Trust in the Lord always, For the Lord God is the Eternal Rock" Isaiah 26:4