Sister Time

After a good night's sleep and lounging around Friday morning I headed to the spa with my sisters. There was a little mix-up with Courtney's appt so they gave her a gift certificate for a free massage and they still managed to squeeze her in for an express manicure. It was so nice to relax, talk, and not have to keep up with a little one.

(L-R) Lynley, Dawn, Courtney, and me

Unfortunately, the pampering had to end sometime. I had made reservations at Mrs. Hardesty's Tea Room earlier that morning, so off we went to have lunch and, of course, tea and scones! If you're local and have never been you should go, even if it's just for their afternoon tea. My younger sisters and I grew up having tea parties and talking in British accents whenever possible, so the tea room was the perfect place to continue our "girlie time". Dawn couldn't join us, but we still had fun! I just realized that I should have taken a picture of my food to show you! Oh well. Trust me it was good. And while we were there a batch of fresh chocolate chip scones appeared! Oh...my....word! Those are delicious coupled with clotted cream and a pot of vanilla cream tea.

Here is the Christmas tree in the tea room

Part of the Christmas display at the Hardesty-Higgins House

It's great making memories with my sisters. Someday we'll look back and say, "Hey, remember that Thanksgiving we went to the spa and the tea room?" Who knows, maybe we began a tradition?

Giving Thanks

The past three days have been busy, full of quality time with family members. Thursday morning Tom got Tennyson up and fed so I could sleep in before the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade came on. I must watch that every year......no exceptions! Mid-morning my youngest sister, Courtney, showed up for breakfast with a surprise in tow, my sister Lynley, and her husband, Dan, had come in late the night before from PA. So Dan (and amazing cook) got busy in the kitchen making omelets for everyone. After breakfast they went to buy stuff to make 3 pies and came back to our house to use our kitchen since my parent's oven was full of baking bird. Dan and Lynley whipped up the best pumpkin pie I'd ever eaten and 2 apple pies. Yum-my!

After Tennyson's nap we all headed over to my parent's house for dinner. With such a large family to feed things usually take a lot longer than anticipated. We were shooting for a 4 o'clock eating time, but didn't sit down to eat until around 5:30. There are 22 in my immediate family (parents, siblings, in-laws, nephews, and niece), but there were only 16 there for Thanksgiving dinner. Of course everything was chaotic, but the food was delicious! We even managed to squeeze in a game of Cranium before heading back home to put Tennyson to bed. Here are some photos from the day.

It took 4 tables to hold all of us

My brother-in-law, Mark, working on the turkey

Keeping the kids busy until the food was ready

One of Dan's awesome apple pies

Dan, tired from all the pie-making

My oldest nephew, Nathan, making a face

Tennyson having his first taste of pumpkin pie. He loved it!

Bethany and Tennyson

It always so good to stop and reflect on everything we have to be thankful for. The ones that top my list: Tom, Tennyson, my family, being able to stay home full-time, and living in a free country. I could go on and on. Along with being thankful comes feeling blessed. And I am SO blessed.

Photo Shoot ~ Kaitlyn

My friend, Cheryl, asked me to take Kaitlyn's 6 month photos, and I was honored to do so. She was so good and we had fun! I haven't gone through all 333 pictures, but here are some of my favorites so far! *Be forewarned she's so cute you may want to squish her!*

Since We're Among Friends

Though most of what I post on my blog is light, fun, and photographic I have been feeling like I need to share more about what's going on in my life. What's really going on. And though I know everyone who reads this I don't necessarily know their life circumstances at any given moment. So I hope someone reading this can find comfort in knowing they are not alone if they are in a similar trial.

Our pastors have been talking a lot about favor (and faithfulness) in church and I don't mind telling you that "favorful" is the last thing Tom and I have been feeling. Every year we have experienced a major, and sometimes devasting, challenge. We've been frustrated because we know we are doing things right, but still can't seem to get ahead. We know without a doubt that I am supposed to be home full-time with Tennyson. We don't want anyone else caring for him day in and day out but his Mommy. We know without a doubt that Tom is supposed to be teaching at Blue Ridge. As the only full-time male teacher, we know there are kids that need him to be that Godly role model, especially those children from broken homes.

Thankfully, we are part of an awesome home group and when we shared with them about how life's been going for us, they offered to come pray for us.....and bring reinforcements! I won't share everything that was prayed for us and over us, but it was all GOOD! Tom, especially, has felt that there's something "bigger" out there but doesn't know what that "bigger" thing is. So we are believing there are bigger and better things ahead for us as husband and wife and as a family. We are also believing these lean times are just a season of learning before God brings His bounty. Tom and I do feel blessed in so many ways, but we know that God has something else for us.

Along that path, there has been talk of expanding our family. We know we may face the same challenges (and expenses) trying to conceive. I do have to confess, since we're among friends, that it's really, really hard for me to be excited for people that can make babies without trying. I guess it would come under that ugly word of "jealousy." (Gasp!) For me, and many of my friends, it's was a long and painful road. One friend in particular just found out she may have problems conceiving. I have cried so many tears for her this past week because I know her pain, confusion, and grief all too well. Listening to her was so surreal. It's exactly where I was 2 years ago. I have told Tom that if Tennyson is the only child we were able to have, though not ideal, I could still be content because we were blessed with him. I am just so thankful for our little boy! For me having Tennyson was God's restoration in the most profound sense. And I await....and pray....and hope to have that again. For me and my dear friend.

Storytime

This is how my husband and our little boy like to spend a lot of their quality time together - reading. Appropriately, the book Daddy Loves Me is a favorite. I just can't get enough of those little feet! Tennyson often wiggles his toes with excitement while Tom reads. My heart is so full of love for my "boys" I am afraid it may burst!

PS - This is my 100th post! It only took me 11 months to get here.

One Year Ago

This is how our little guy looked on November 16, 2007. My how quickly they grow. *sigh*

Sunrises

I had forgotten that I took these photos of two gorgeous sunrises. The first one was taken on October 22 and the others on the 27th, all right from my front porch and looking toward Massanutten peak. I always think about how much fun God must have painting the morning sky.

Notice the dark shadow shooting upward from the peak. And don't the towers on top remind you of the 3 crosses? Maybe it's just me, but it gives me goose bumps to look at it.

I love seeing how quickly the sun comes up and how with each photo the sun and clouds have altered. (I took 10 pictures of this sunrise but thought posting them all might be overkill.)

Just a Little Taste....

Of the photos I took of Tennyson today. It's late and I don't have time to review them all tonight, but I'll post more soon! The weather (and his autumnal outfit) were too perfect not to take advantage of the opportunity.

Our Week in Review

Well, we are still trying to get healthy over here. Tennyson was running a 102 fever on Tuesday, but I still went out to vote....in the damp weather. Unfortunately, my guy didn't win. I can't believe this liberal, socialist, anti-life, pro-Islamic, pro-gay marriage man is going to be our president. *sigh* I'll miss having a Christian president with morals.

Anyway, after voting I headed to my sister's house to eat before going to my brother's 23rd birthday party. But Tennyson threw up (from coughing) allllll over her dining room and kitchen. Poor thing, he was shaking uncontrolably and crying. I called Tom for emergency supplies because he needed to be bathed before we headed home. We had to take Tennyson to get a chest x-ray at RMH on Wednesday to make sure he wasn't getting pneumonia. Since I couldn't say with 100%, absolute certainty that I wasn't pregnant I had to leave the room. Well, my little guy was noooot happy with Mommy leaving the room. Tom did a great job of trying to calm him and hold him still for the x-ray. And if you know Tennyson at all, you know that child does not do still whatsoever. Thankfully, his lungs were clear!

So now it's Saturday and I am excited because my childhood friend is coming in town for a visit and I am going to the tea room with she and my sister. I love girlie, girlie time! Not sure what else the weekend will hold, but I am looking forward to it just the same!

Bad Blogger

I have been a bad blogger lately. I blame that on the fact that Tom, Tennyson, and I haven't been feeling well for the past week. Of course, now I have joined Facebook so who knows how much I'll be blogging now. Hee hee.

Once we get some more videos backed up I can post more photos. I have lots to share: sunrises, Tennyson's teeth, and just general photos of him being adorable! I'll try to work on that soon. "After all tomorrow is another day."

I Just Couldn't Resist