It's That Time of Year

 Is it really possible that it is that time of year again where we turn on Christmas music, haul out the decorations and snap pictures of our wonderful holiday memories?!!  It doesn't seem possible for the calendar still says November, but we held to tradition and put up our tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  We had a good time and the kids get better and better with helping.  Here are a few photos of our fun afternoon.

Andrew in his santa hat

Hannah hanging an ornament

For some reason, this one is really enjoying under the tree this year.  Good thing there are no gifts there yet!

Merry Christmas!

Afternoon Entertainment

 After the Thanksgiving was over and the project complete, we still had some time to spend with Chris's parents.  So, one afternoon we headed to the base.  We started with a spirited game of bowling.  OK, it may not have been spirited, but it was fun.  The kids are about at the stage where they can complete a full game without losing interest.  Each of them had their own technique, but they did great!  As for the adults, they did great as well - some better than others :)  Afterwards, we headed over for a drive along the flight line and to see where Chris spends some of his time running these days.  Finally, we let the kids chase several jack rabbits.  Wow, there are a plethora of them on base, but I find it funny that I've never seen one off base....

Luke is almost strong enough to bowl like Daddy!

 Hannah gets some help from Daddy, but preferred the underhand technique

 Andrew liked the roll it down the alley method.  He is so far back because he kept going over the line and it would buzz, which he didn't like.  I don't think he ever figured out where that line was!

  Part of the flight line - Chris's plane

Chasing jack rabbits - yes, that's one thing we do for fun here

Thanksgiving

 Most of the kiddos

As I was growing up, each Thanksgiving was mostly the same.  We would get the entire side of my Mom's family together and we'd spend the day and enjoy the Thanksgiving meal together.  Although it was quite simple, it will always hold a special memory in my mind.  When we entered the Air Force, I had to sacrifice those memories.  If we got to have what I classified as a typical Thanksgiving, great!  If not, that would also be fine and we'd make do with what we had.  Over the years, though, God has provided for us to spend Thanksgiving with someone.  It may not always be family, but it was the family God provided for us at the time.  For that, I am deeply, deeply grateful!  This year, we were deeply blessed to be able to host a Thanksgiving meal in our home.  I really looked forward to this day.  We had Chris's family in town along with three other families and one of their parents.  In total, we had 12 adults and 12 kids ages 7 and under.  It sounds absolutely crazy for our small home, but it worked.  It was a delight to have all of them in our home.  My only regret...that we couldn't have invited more families that were also away from their families this Thanksgiving season.  When you are in the military, family is also defined as those who you do life with and we have been blessed with a beautiful military family here.

Most of the adults - someone has to take the picture and take care of the kids :)

Another Project Complete

 Before

Chris and I were thinking that maybe the house projects were done for this home.  However, there is always something that can be fixed and improved.  With that in mind, we took on one of the cheaper projects...a new bathroom floor for our guest bath.  Chris's Dad was coming into town.  With the two of them...really three of them (Luke helped of course!), it really didn't take long at all.  We probably wouldn't have changed it, but some of the wood was showing water damage.  You can see it in the top picture a bit right behind that sliver of white wall.  It was an easy decision to put in the same tile that we put in our master bath.  The colors are very similar and I like that tile.  Plus, it just gives the house a bit more continuity.  I love it and I'm thankful for the help we got in putting it in!

After

Thanksgiving According to Luke

Here are a few things about Thanksgiving that Luke brought home.  I thought they showed a bit of Luke's personality.  He wrote the last two.  I deciphered it for you below the picture.  Enjoy!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Of course, Legos are the first thing he's thankful for!!

Directions on how to make a pumpkin pie:

Buy the crust.

This is the temperature 13.

You have to stir.

Peal the skin.

Take the gooey part.

Squish it.

Put the whip cream.

You have to eat it.

One day my Dad shot a turkey.  And we got it.  And we took it home.  And we ate the turkey.  And we had pumpkin pie.  Can you guess what holiday it was?  Thanksgiving.

Family Pictures 2012

 Robey Family 2012

Luke - 7 years, Hannah - 5 years, Andrew - 4 years

Just Like Daddy's!

Luke just got this new shirt this week (thank you very much thrift shop!).  He was so excited when I got it out for him to wear to church this morning because he now had a shirt just like Daddy's!   I must admit that I rarely dress them in button up shirts because I have to iron and that is not one of my favorite activities.  However, for the right price and to see Luke's excitement, I guess I will occasionally get it out once in a while.

A Hidden Truth - A Book Review

A Hidden Truth follows the lives of two young adult women as they experience life in the Amana colonies.  One was born and raised in the colonies.  The other was raised as an "outsider" and she was attempting to discover the answer to why her mother rarely spoke of her time in the Colonies.  Along the journey to finding her mother's secret, she finds much more - a friendship with the other young woman and they both find love.

I originally wanted to read this book because I had heard of the Amana Colonies, but knew very little about them.  Intertwined with the story line was quite a broad range of information on how the Amana Colonies ran.  I found it very interesting and the author did a wonderful job of explaining the culture of the colonies while telling the story.

Overall, I did enjoy the book.  I did think it got off to a rather slow start, but there was enough information along the way to keep my interest piqued to prompt me to continue reading.

I received a complimentary copy of A Hidden Truth by Judith Miller from Bethany House Publishers.

The Scar

So.....a few weeks ago, I, yes, me, Kim, was responsible for putting this nice wound on our brand new van.  We were out and about during some windy weather.  A wind gust grabbed the driver's door just as I opened it and slammed it into a neighboring car.  Thankfully, the other car was just fine, but unfortunately, ours did not fair so well.  It's still hard for me to look at it and it just absolutely made me sick.  I won't go into detail as to all the reasons why, but it had more to do with it than...now there's a significant scratch and dent on our van.  I was horribly upset...  Anyway, I prayed about it and told myself time and again that "it's just a van!"  Chris and I didn't know what to do.  We had three options 1. do nothing  2. fix it like it's brand new  3. fix it so it doesn't rust.  The fact that the paint cracked was not a good thing for future wear on the van.  I prayed about it and asked that it wouldn't cost anything.  I knew that was a huge stretch, but I felt like Chris had worked so hard and I went and dented it.  I didn't want it to cost him more.  God answered prayers, though!  I eventually took it to a body shop here in town and he told me that he could fix it so we would still see the mark, but it would be protected.  As for how much it cost....nothing and it was done in a half hour!!  I'm so thankful for answered prayers!

Before

After - I actually think you can see it more than this picture shows, but the dent is gone and the paint is fixed.  Now we just have a scar.

Hobby Lobby and Others

Hobby Lobby is one of my favorite stores.  I would definitely put it in the top 10 & possibly the top 5 of the stores I most enjoy shopping in!  It's been a bit challenging to me not to have one located in the town we currently live in...the first ever for me!  However, I have made do.....

All of that to say, I was disheartened how this company is currently being treated by the government.  I know I just admitted that I really enjoy this store, but I would feel this way despite that.  A few weeks ago, I read a letter that was written by the CEO of Hobby Lobby, David Green. They had tried all avenues, but eventually had to file a lawsuit because the new health care required them to pay for abortion pills and practices.  Since they are a Christian run company, they could and would not go against God's will in the matter.  This would ultimately result in a $1+ million fine a day!

Then, yesterday, I saw this update and it made me so very upset and saddened by where I see things going.  The courts have more or less ruled against Hobby Lobby.  This is only one instance.  There are other similar cases out there.  It's just disheartening to see the moral integrity just dissolve before our eyes.

So, I feel like there is not much for me to do, but pray.  Pray for our country and pray for Hobby Lobby and other business like them to stand strong for God's principles even when it may be the hardest thing in our present lives.  The eternal reward will be great. I would much rather no longer have the opportunity to shop at Hobby Lobby and have them stand up for what is right than to have them compromise their beliefs to stay in business.