My college education. College was so hard for me at times. But I am so thankful that I was able to go and that God provided a way for me to be able to attend the college of my choice. I met so many amazing friends, found an amazing church and gained life experience. Sic’em Bears!
4. My children
Hayden, Preslyn and Ella
You have shown me just a glimpse of how God loves me. I never knew I could love three little people so much
5. My business
Lindentree Boutique
The little business that could. This business showed me so many things about myself that I never knew. It gave me courage, inspiration, and drive.
6. My church
Family Faith Willis and the extending campuses Coldspring and Huntsville. The church body swept us in like a true family and we haven’t been the same since. It is amazing to see the things God has done in one year for our family and we love serving and living life with all of you FFC’ers!
7. Mexican food. Enough said. I LOVE IT!
For thanksgiving I got inspired when I saw my friend Leslie’s little turkey shirt she handmade for her little Brenley. Why didn’t I think of that sooner!?!?!? I thought as I picked up Hayden from her Thanksgiving Day Celebration at school. I figured it was Thursday, I had until Saturday until we had our first family T-day event. Plenty of time to crank out not 1, but 3 turkey shirts….how hard could it be????? Oh did I mention that Sunday was also going to be the twins 3rd birthday bash. Not like I didn’t have anything else I needed to be doing. (Total sarcasm intended)
So the turkey shirt-a-palooza began. I wrestled and fought and maybe even growled at my sewing machine. It hated me at times. I was sure it was purposefully holding out on its magical powers, on purpose, because HELLO! doesn’t it know that I am on a strict timeline of, I’m-already-crunched-for-time-and-now-I-want-to-throw-in-one-more-MUST-complete-task-before-said-deadline!?! COME ON! work with me machine.
Needless to say that I worked hard, stitched and unstitched. Taught myself new things, even read the sewing manual! All of my skills are totally self-taught since I was not properly schooled in the ways of the sewing machine. Instead I inherited a sewing room of supplies with high aspirations that I would easily “catch on”. Well it wasn’t easy, but I did enjoy when I finally started “catching on”.
So , I will show you some shots of my finished product. I only managed to finish Hayden’s for the first family Thanksgiving. Which was a week early, so technically, I didn’t miss the holiday . I finished Preslyn and Ella’s by the actual day of Thanks.
Here are the photos.
Ella was so thrilled to get a matching shirt like Hayden and proceeded to walk around waiting for her’s to be complete saying, ” Mommy making us Tuwkey shuwts” .
Here you can see what I see on a daily basis. Ella has really taken the role of Hayden Jr. to a whole new level. She and Hayden are more like twins than Preslyn and her. Its very interesting to see it all play out. Preslyn is in her own little world. She is going to be an interesting little girl to watch. 
We have so much to be thankful for this year and I am so excited to start off the festivities of the holidays. I think it’s very perfect that Thanksgiving comes before Christmas. To keep us reminded that we have so much in this world and that the meaning of the season is not what we GET but what we give and what we already HAVE. Most importantly our salvation and grace. Without those, nothing else really matters.
I’m so thankful to be healthy and alive. To be living my life daily, raising these three little blessings that I have. Even when I want to pull my hair out because of them, I am trying to learn to stop and be greatful that I have been blessed to be a mother and that they are healthy and strong and growing to be wonderful little girls. I’m thankful for a hardworking husband who does anything for me. He is amazing and talented and a looker, if i’ve ever seen one 🙂
I’m thankful for my extended family that is growing and expanding constantly. For our jobs that provide the income we need to survive. I’m thankful for the hard times we have gone through because they have taught us so much about what is important and what really matters. I’m thankful for old friends and new friends. God has brought some really amazing people into our life over the years and each one is so important to us and who we are as individuals and as a family.
I’m thankful for a church body with hearts that are wanting more of God. Hearts for their community. Hearts of worship and prayer. They have swept us in with open arms and it has been amazing. God’s timing is Always perfect.
Today I am looking toward the new year as a fresh start, a clean slate and a time to do things better than we did this year. To try harder, love more, laugh all the time and learn to see the good in all things.
Thanksgiving this year was so much fun. We hit all three thanksgiving meals that we could possibly and sadly weren’t able to make it to a fourth. Wednesday night we went to BJ’s family meal, then Thursday to College Station for my Dad’s family and then Friday was my mom’s family. We rotate around with her family and this Thanksgiving was my turn to host. We were excited to have everyone over to the new house. And also thrilled to celebrate with Preslyn and Ella for their first Thanksgiving out of the NICU!
So, Friday morning I woke up and started my turkey. My first turkey to make and I was nervous to say the least. So, I knew at least that I had to clean out the cavity in the turkey and then I had my recipe for how to make it. But I wasn’t sure what all was supposed to come out so I called my Dad.
I had already taken out what looked to me like a horn. Couldn’t feel anything else so I called to confirm if anything else was in there that wasn’t supposed to be. He told me yeah there would be a “horn” thing and maybe a bag with the organs. (Gross) So I told him I had the horn thing, did I need to save it to cook with it or whatever. He said no you can throw the “horn thing” away…and he said by the way, that “horn thing” is the neck. THE NECK???? Why hadn’t I realized that all by myself? Must have been the fact that I didn’t get to sleep until 3:30 the night before.
I thought I was going to hurl. I don’t know why it never occurred to me that that was what it was but the thought of it while it was in my hand was pretty disgusting. And the fact of where I pulled it out of….oh it was just all a little much and a LOT gross!
I then told my dad, ” Dad, if you notice that your daughter is calling something a strange name, like a “horn”, then she obviously doesn’t know what she is holding so just roll with it and don’t fill her in on what is really going on!”
Anyway, everyone said my turkey tasted really good, (Thank you Domino magazine for the recipe) and we had a really nice time all together! My grandmother let me borrow her really beautiful accent plates to go with my table and they were perfect!
Happy 2 weeks babies!!
The girls are doing really good. Ella is still holding down the fort in NICU3 . Hoping to start feeds up again soon. Her apnea is improving and she has had no episodes today!! Preslyn is receiving some occupational therapy to learn to suck, swallow and breathe all at the same time. She is trying really hard on the bottle, but just needs a little coordination 🙂 She is creeping her way toward 4lbs. but isn’t quite there yet. Once she gets to 4lbs. 6 oz. she can move to an open crib!!
Well I pray you all have a very wonderful Thanksgiving. I know that I have so much to be thankful for this year especially.
Here’s a quick and easy recipe that is so yummy you may want to make two or three of them 🙂
Mystic Pie
You will need:
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
16 ritz crackers
1 c. pecans, chopped
3 egg whites
Cool Whip Topping
Preheat oven to 300. Combine chopped nuts and crackers, which have been finely crumbled (use a rolling pin). Beat egg whites stiff; add sugar. Fold into nut mixture; add vanilla. Pour mixture into 9 inch baking pan and bake 45 minutes or until golden brown. This looks like meringue. Cool and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before topping with Cool Whip.
Its DELICIOUS 🙂
This is my norm 