Phone conversation

Amanda: Either someone just fell or the tree fell over.

Amanda and Lura simultaneously: I hope someone fell.

My new house key!

Inside the house...

The house...

Hey, it's Lura posting for Amanda. They started moving into the new house on Saturday. She is stressed (as expected), but doing well. I'm sure she would covet your prayers during this time!

Our new home...

has a shed out back.

Thankful

I am thankful for so much. It is impossible to write it all down. A lot is private, a lot may seem silly - I truly feel so blessed. I know so many look at my life and wonder how I could call our situation, pretty much my life a blessing. I look at my life and wonder how anyone couldn't call it one! Sure there is a lot I wish would never have happened, things I wish I could change. I often wonder what it would be like if I wasn't so clumsy or scatterbrained, but that makes me me and that makes me wonderful! I sounded full of myself, didn't I? I don't mean to, I am just thrilled to be me. All my flaws - and I have many!!!- all my unique habits, my good qualities it makes me who I am. Sure, I would love to have a supermodel's figure. I would love to have perfect health, well behaved children and great grace and luck. But what fun would that be? I mean really. Life would get predictable and boring. I love that everyday is a mystery to be solved. You never know what is going to happen when you get up in the morning. You could have your day scheduled from morning til night and I guarantee it won't happen that way. What a gift that is! Some of my favorite moments have happened during the spontaneous surprise moments my days throw at me. God has blessed me with so much. He has given me fantastic opportunities, experiences, adventures... He has given me the greatest husband and children and wonderful friends and family. I had every intention of making a list of what I am thankful for, but decided to ramble instead. I guess that was a spontaneous decision too! I am thankful for that!

I hope that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and look at whatever the day may bring you as a chance for a new experience. Each day is an adventure. Sometimes the road may be full of speed bumps, pot holes and road kill, but there are also the unexpected pleasant surprises that await you around the bend.

Happy Thanksgiving! I love you all!! Thank you all for being unexpected surprises.

Weekend Highlights Part Deux:

How could I forget the most traumatic part of my weekend????
On Saturday the kids went outside to play. My mom has Koi Pond that is in the shape of a kidney. It is maybe 15-18 feet long and 4 1/2 feet at its widest points. It comes right to the tops of my knees, so it is not too deep. Well the kids know to stay away from it....they are continuously told. I sent them out and was checking every few minutes out the window. All of a sudden I heard Luke wailing. Sean ran outside and discovered a sopping wet Luke standing next to the pond. I ran up and ran a warm bath and we stripped him and put him in the water. It turned cold almost immediately! He was shaken up for not even 5 minutes before he was talking about the whole thing like it was some great adventure. I was not happy. Apparantly the kids were checking to see if the pond was frozen solid. Girls, I was so scared! Caitlin is proud to announce that she is the only one who has not fallen in, but all the other times have been in the summer! I thanked God over and over for keeping Luke safe. Even though the water is not deep, it was deep enough and ice cold!