Halloween

Halloween was lots of fun this year with two kiddos who were totally into it! We traveled to Florida for the weekend to attend the UGA/FL football game with my family. I must say that Trick or Treating was muuuuch more fun than the game the next day. We did have a great weekend though and it was fun to Trick or Treat in a new location and with my family! My sister Sherri, who lives in Washington D.C. got to Trick or Treat with the kids for the first time and that was a huge blessing! She got little noses for all of the adults to wear. I was a fish, Nick a pig, Sherri a shark, and Dad a wolf (which Luke thought was UGA and called him that all night!). My mom got some fun glasses to wear. We got to go where we have our family vacations at the beach every summer with my family. It was neat to be there and see all the homes decorated for Fall/Halloween. We got some super duper candy too! Luke LOVED the candy and insisted on eating it with the wrapper on. I had to hang onto his treat bag so he wouldn't do that. Once he got a lollipop though he tore the wrapper off and went to town! He finished the thing off and was a huge sticky mess...but he loved it and that is what Halloween is all about. Sophie was so brave this year - not afraid to run up and ring the doorbell. My little kitty and puppy dog were so cute and I cherish this time when we get to Trick or Treat with them.

"Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation." Psalm 35:9

Bye Gook!

Oh I just love the way Luke talks. I love to hear him say words (and so does Sophie!). He is always repeating what we say and I love the way he pronounces words...it is just adorable to hear a 19 month old talk. He says "Burd" for Big Bird, "Beeear" for Bear, "airpane" for airplane, "Ermie" for Ernie (Bert and Ernie on Sesame St.), "tuck" for truck, "bunkin" for pumpkin. Any who...I could listen to him talk all day long and not grow weary of it. The other night we were at church and we were leaving the nursery. The ladies that keep him each Wednesday night said bye Luke and in return he said, "Bye Gook". That is the way he says his name "Gook". I laughed so hard! My sweet little Gook...who can resist?

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14

I've Been Tagged!

Amy Farley tagged me a few days ago so I thought I would keep it going....

7 Random and/or Weird Facts about Me:

1. OK since I have been giving the opportunity....I have to get something off my chest. A random fact about me is that I think there are just too many famous people in the world today! I can't keep up with all of them. There is always someone new on the cover of magazines and I am always asking Nick - who is that? Where did they come from? How are they famous? I am so tired of people being famous for just being rich, or pretty, or just because their parent's are famous. There are so many people who are famous today who simply aren't talented. They are just rich and pretty and wear really expensive clothes. I am tired of these "famous" people telling us the "common people" who to vote for, what to buy, how wonderful they look after having babies since you know we all can have personal chefs and trainers. I know we don't have to listen, but it is everywhere! A little is alright, but there are so many now that you can't get away! I am really frustrated about this. It seems that many of them aren't very educated either. I mean so many of them aren't even talented....can't really sing...or act. I guess it is because of all of the reality shows that are on today there are just oodles of famous people, but I am just tired of it. I am ready for our society to change and not focus so much on these people. I am ready for well educated women to be in the spotlight more and to be the ones who have more of an influence our young girls. I am ready for some good role models for young women to arise. I am tired of famous girls selling out - I wish more of them would stand up for what is right and stick to it. Whew....

2. Another random fact about me is that I read my Bible every night. I have been wanting to do this for some time and about two months ago I decided this was it...I am going to do it. I have tried very hard to stick to it. I am really wanting to read the entire Bible. I have read lots of the Bible over in the course of my life, but never really started in one spot and finished. So that is what I am trying to do. I have started in Psalms and we'll see how long it takes me! It has been a blessing to go to bed each night after reading my Bible and it is really the best time for me. In the morning it is just too early and too hard since I usually have to get three people ready. I am not a morning person so the night time is great for me.

3. I love being a mom and wife. I knew my whole life really that I wanted to have children. I babysat for as long as I can remember - even helping my sister babysit when I was really young. I have always loved kids - really at any age. Being a mom is a tough job and I really didn't understand fully until I had my first child. I have learned that it is much more physical than I ever imagined. It is also much more mentally demanding than I ever imagined. However, it is the most rewarding and amazing thing. I feel so privileged and honored to be the mom of Luke and Sophie and the wife of Nick. What an amazing blessing. I also love being a wife. I love that I have someone by my side to live life with. I love that God gave me someone who is so compatible with me and helps me be a better person and loves me even when I have smelly breath in the morning and also when I get mad. I love that he loves being a Dad and that we are trying to figure this whole "life" thing out together even though sometimes we make mistakes. I am glad we have each other to learn and struggle with. These two things are so rewarding and I feel so blessed that God has given me the opportunity to be a mom and a wife. I try not to ever take it for granted.

4. I love Trader Joe's! I love their chocolate pudding and their tapioca pudding! I love their cheese sandwich crackers (they are much better than Ritz cheese crackers!). I really like that my hubby can buy wine he likes for under $3 and I like the white Zinfandel on occasion too and it is equally as cheap. I love their breakfast bars! I love that they have little children's buggies that Sophie can push around when we shop. I love that the selection isn't so overwhelming and I don't leave exhausted. I love their tea/lemonade...so yummy! I just love Trader Joe's, but wish it was a little closer to us.

5. My favorite department store to shop in is Nordstrom. I love how nice the sales people are and they aren't stuffy or pushy. I love the selection. They seem to have a wide range of prices and I like that so I don't have to go and spend a ton of money when I shop there. I don't go to the mall very often, but when I do I love shopping at Nordstrom!

6. I really like my red hair! I have always loved it and think it makes me different. However, lately I have gotten a little worried. I have always had people ask me if it is real...and of course it is so I say yes. However, lately I am starting to get grey hairs. I keep finding more and more of them and I am not sure what I am going to do. I have loved that I don't have to dye my hair and spend a ton of money at the salon. I love that I can tell people that yes, it is real. However, I am definitely not ready to go grey....so what is a true redhead to do? I guess I'll have to get highlights and then say....no it isn't totally real....I have highlights. I am not really ready for that yet....this getting older thing is going to take some getting used to.

7. I love working with teenage girls. They are so full of energy and so eager to learn about life. I love ministering to them and praying with them and for them. I love hearing about their life stories and what is going on with them. I love laughing with them and seeing God move in and through their lives.

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

Ok so now on to tag 7 more people:
1. Rebecca
2. Mary Catherine
3. Amanda
4. Amy Lee
5. Audrey
6. Jennifer Able
7. Meredith

My Love of Fall

OOhh...I just love my new blog background! I LOVE Fall! It is my absolute favorite time of the year! I love Pumpkins, all of the beautiful colors, and the coolness in the air. I love that we have leaves that change here and that I get to enjoy them. I love the mums, scarecrows, and fall decorations. I love the smell in the air! We are going to the mountains tomorrow to pick pumpkins and go hiking. It is one of my very favorite things we do all year and I always look forward to it. I have attached some photos from last year when we went. We had such a grea time! It was Luke's first trip and Sophie was so excited to take him. It is so wild to look back at these photos and see how much the kids have grown - especially Luke! I think his hair has grown about 90% - ha! I love these times with the kids....what special memories.
"The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love."
Psalm 33:4-6

My Little Girl can Read!

Wow - I can't believe how long it has been since my last blog! I just simply haven't had time lately to write. My aunt passed away over a week ago and last week was spent in Florida spending time with my family and attending her visitation and funeral. She died of cancer and it was so sad, but her funeral was truly a blessing. She was a woman of great faith and did so much for everyone around her. She will be missed!
I have so much to share, but was I was looking back through some recent pictures I realized that I hadn't written about a very special thing that took place in our house a few weeks ago. Sophie brought home a book from school and she started to read! Yes, my little 5 1/2 year old can read! It is a simple Dick and Jan style book, but she reads one until she accomplishes it and then she takes it back to school to get a new one. We have all been super blessed and amazed at this! She is learning so much in Kindergarten and of course growing up very quickly. She is so delighted that she can read lots of different things now and is able to spot her "site words" that she practices at school and at home on dinner menus, signs, different books, etc. She is starting to read to Luke some also - which is so neat to watch. I guess I better run...I have to go make dinner, but I wanted to check back in again. I'll be posting more over the next few days. Lots of fun things are going on in the Thomas House :-)

"The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message." Acts 15:31

Is it Real? Are you for Real?

Ok so I took Sophie and Luke to Cici's Pizza tonight for dinner after church was over. I promised Sophie we would go and she was very excited about it. She loves their Macaroni and Cheese pizza! We are standing in line to get our drinks and a lady looks over and admires Luke and says, "Is his hair real?" I am thinking "Are you for real?" I mean do you think I had plugs put in my 18 month old babies hair? Or maybe we got super curly extensions yesterday? I of course said yes, it is, but I really just wanted to look at her and say - "Do you really think my baby would have fake hair?" People are funny sometimes aren't they? I think often about things I say and wonder if it came out right. I even worry about it sometimes. I think I worry about it less than I used to though. I don't really have time to worry about it as much anymore and I feel that those who truly know me and know my heart will know what I really mean and feel. I remember Nick telling me that people used to ask his mom if she bleached his hair and if it was real (He had white blonde curly hair that was curly like Luke) and she would look at them like they were crazy. I guess people are just intrigued by it, because it is so unusual. What I do love is that it really makes people smile. I notice that when people see my children they usually smile. It warms my heart to know that someone could be having a bad day and they see Luke and Sophie and they smile. I love that. I feel that it is like a ministry almost. A way that God blesses others. Just a simple thing that makes people feel good. Of course when they are having a melt down or picking on each other that sort of doesn't work well...but when they are at peace and smiling it really makes others smile. I am so blessed by that.
I also felt blessed tonight when I picked up Luke from the church nursery. He saw me and threw the toys he was playing with in the air to come see me and have me hold him. Wow - that was good stuff. Those are the things that makes being a parent so special. To know that your child truly loves you and is so glad you are there to take them home. I know that he probably won't always be that thrilled to see me (at least not outwardly) so I am cherishing these times.

"Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

First Kiss?

So, we are at the dinner table tonight and Sophie says, "Oh I forgot to tell you! Someone kissed me today!" I am thinking - what next? We started Kindergarten, she has lost two teeth, and now this?? I mean! A kiss - at school - already? Yes, it is true - her new boyfriend Ethan kissed her on the hand on the playground and told her not to tell anyone! I am so glad she still told us though and I hope that never changes, but I must say I almost fell out of my seat! Oh and Brogan the other little boy is out of the picture now...he is now "in love" with Nadia! Ha! He killed a caterpillar the other day and since he "deaded the caterpillar" according to Sophie she doesn't love him and isn't going to marry him anymore! Ha! I wish I could be out there invisible on the playground and see this all play out! Could you imagine?
I did freak out about this for a while and then I remembered we used to play wedding outside on the playground at my school when I was in Kindergarten. I remember vividly watching one of my girlfriends get married to the same boy many times! So, I guess now in this day and age they get kissed! What is next? I wonder how long Ethan will be her boyfriend? She did say they are going to get married! Maybe that is week 3 of Kindergarten?

"An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips."
Proverbs 24:26