Random Conscious Thoughts

Some days, I empathize with a tattered out of date sweater that has been worn, enjoyed, and cherished but abandoned for a new more exciting in fashion one!  Silly, I know... I long for real closeness, dedicated love and the comforting endurance that goes along with knowing each other for many years in all of my friendships... but is it better to just move on in some cases?  Maybe.
On a lighter note, I am completely vanilla happy-go-lucky lately... Latte?  Add a little vanilla!  Cookies? Pour it in! Apple Turnovers? Give it a splash, please! Fruit salad? Of course, drench it in vanilla--->Yep. I'm in love with my organic Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla... and no it's not because of it's alcohol content. I don't think...
L-O-V-I-N-G the weather this week!  "Dear, Snow storms, you are more than welcome to stay here anytime."
My husband is working so hard to organize, make important profitable changes both at work and home, and like always attempts to share the gospel and glorify God in everything he does.  He's an inspiration to me, constantly. And speaking of my husband, he is the best daddy ever as well. I lean on him for everything, probably a bit too much. I'm sure the Lord is constantly waving His mighty hand at me saying,"Yoowhoo!  Remember me?  I'm here, too!" 
This past weekend, just in time before the cold weather and storms hit, he took our kids out and raked up and played in our yard of leaves. They had fun tricking me. They would call me outside so I'd come and be like,"Where's so and so!?"  And then I would see a pile of leaves shaking with quiet laughter and a bright green straw poking out the top of it (for the so and so to breathe of course!). They would then jump out of the pile with pure joy at their craftiness. It was hilarious and fun!
Oh my, I believe this is the first year where our leaves we're "raked"(jumped in, hid in, thrown in the air, trampled...), a hallmark Fall staple of course, AND our first snow day have both happened on the same weekend! CRAZY! Some years when winter hits, IT HITS.
So the other day, these two we're sitting there quietly eating(eggnog and cookies), snuggling, kissing and enjoying eachother.

It was so sweet!

Hm, it brings me right on back to the sweet moments of THIS day almost a year ago... they grow far too fast!

Or this precious video from over a year ago:

I can expect to get nothing else accomplished today (except for the fact that I do work at Jolts tonight ((Yippee, excited!)) so I'd better tear myself away from this treasure trove of days gone by) as I am in complete blissful contentment at the moment. Shuffling through our vintage photo collections, our hilarious home videos and memories.

Remembering.

Re-living.

My heart caught up in grateful song.

There are SO many photos and videos I would love to share with you all but I will leave you with this one from almost 2 years ago.

My fifth blessing was on her way but still in the oven.

Here I am adoring and giving thanks for the many years of gracious living that we have been afforded. As well as through the crazy mess-ups, not so lovely days, dark times and growing seasons...

God you have always been so good!

"So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture,

Will give You thanks forever;

We will show forth Your praise

to all generations."

Psalm 79:13