Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope that everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving. My week turned out to be very hectic. Dad decided to check himself out of the nursing home on Monday. This was nearly two weeks early. I think it turned out for the best. He has done excellent this week and I think home was the best medicine. I was very busy making sure he had what he needed but he really didn't want my help. I think we have it worked out now. I'll check in on him but he wants to be independent. I understand that. It is hard for me since I'm concerned about him but I need to respect his wishes and not be overbearing.

We should count our blessings every day but it is easy to forget. Thanksgiving is a great time to reflect and give thanks for what God has done for us. I have so many things to be thankful for. I thought I would list a few of them.

• I am thankful for the trials that God has put me through this year. Through the trials my faith and trust in Christ have deepened. I know He is preparing me for some mighty things to come in 2008.

• I am thankful for Sean. This year we have grown closer together and celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. I'm looking forward to 2008 and what God has prepared for us.

• I am thankful for Dad. We were told twice that he was not going to make it. God has spared him and has given us a second chance to get it right. I pray I never take him for granted again. I am thankful my sister had a second chance so that when Dad does leave this world she is at peace.

• I am thankful for my friends and family. They have been faithful to me and have supported me this year like none other. I pray that I can be a blessing in their lives and give of myself for them.

• I'm thankful that everyday is a new opportunity to try again. Everyday God's mercies are new and there is nothing I can do to make Him love me less or love me more.

Remember that no matter how difficult it is, God is greater. No matter how bad it seems, someone else has it worse.

You've Been Gnomed!

On June 26th, Amy (a friend at work) and I bought a wobble-head gnome and put it on the lawn of our good friend and co-worker Thomas. We had a fun idea to randomly find silly lawn ornaments and periodically place them in his flower garden near his front door. That didn't really work out as planned and time continued to pass us by. We were dying to know whether or not Thomas even noticed this silly little gnome.



Last Thursday, Amy and her hubby had dinner at Thomas' house and assisted him in some home repairs. All evening Amy kept thinking about this gnome outside in the yard and what we had done. She had the giggles all evening and was doing her best to stay mum about it. At the end of the evening as her and Jesse headed out to leave she "noticed" it while they were exiting the house. She commented on his gnome and he began to tell her the story of how the gnome just appeared one day. It was all she could do to not just bust out laughing and make him suspicious.

Amy and I decided we should dress the gnome up for Halloween. So over our lunch break on Halloween we went to his house and dressed it up. I think we laughed the entire time we were there. We had a few photo ops with Mr Gnome and headed back to work.



This morning Thomas and I started talking about Halloween night and our activities. He told me the story about the gnome and that someone had dressed it up for Halloween. I kept it together long enough to finish the conversation then grabbed Amy and headed to the hall. We just couldn't keep it in any longer. We decided to let him in on our secret and I sent him an email that read "You've been Gnomed" and attached our pictures.

Thomas - Thank you for being such a good sport and we hope Mr Gnome brings you years of enjoyment. We had heaps of fun playing this prank on you. =)