A life of Thanksgiving...

I'm stealing this idea from a friend because it's something I need in my life right now.

The Thanksgiving holiday is one of my favorites...food, family, friends and lots of fun. But, originally, it was meant to be a day to pause and give authentic thanks to God. Unfortunately, for many, including myself, thanksgiving is more of a one-day holiday that a way of life. I don't know about you, but I've been blessed beyond comprehension, and even in the unwelcome moments of life, I have so much to be thankful for.
What would it look like if I ONLY spoke words of gratitude the entire week of Thanksgiving? If I went so far as to look at a pile of laundered clothes that awaits my folding and putting up, a task I normally hate, and instead think and speak out loud, “God, thank you for these clothes, for providing covering.” When my daughter voicing her grumpiness, “God, thank you that she has a voice that works and you are shaping her own unique personality.”
If every time next week I see a person, I tell them why I am thankful to God they are in my life.So, starting today and going through this Sunday evening, I'm challenging myself to live an entire week full of thanksgiving.

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:4 ESV)

Anytime I'm tempted to think/say/do something negative (filthy, foolish, crude or otherwise unthankfull), I will instead choose, in that very moment, to give thanks to God for His blessing in my life.If you'd like to join me, please leave a comment saying so AND repost this (in our own words, if you'd like...no need to link me) on your blog, twitter, facebook, etc. and challenge your friends to do the same. Even if you're not reading this until after this morning, it's never too late to take up a good challenge. And, keep in mind that nobody who takes this challenge is going to make it an entire week without missing the mark...so, when that happens to you, just pick yourself back up and start again!

Feeling very blessed

As I lay on the couch last night, with the sweetest baby girl on the planet curled up in my arms, snuggled close to my heart, I had a moment where I just felt so blessed. All the tantrums, demands, crying fits, just don't matter in those sweet moments where my pretty girl is next to me. She is getting so big and I know that these moments will be farther and farther in between as she gets older, but for now I am just going to relish in those moments with my little girl snuggled up to my heart.

Birthdays....

We are coming up onto our birthday chaos at the Christensen household. For those of you who don't know you can check out my post of birthdays.... http://katichristensen.blogspot.com/2008/02/celebrating-birthdays.html

Last night Dave and I were discussing the upcoming birthday events when it dawned on me...Andrew will be 13 this year.....Ethan and Alex will be 10.....Oh my goodness...I will be 30!!!

It's hard to believe that my little baby boys that I got will all be in the double digits!! Where does the time go?

Trick or Treating...

Just some good pics of the kids trick or treating..

All of them

Ninja Lord Ethan

Ninja Lord Andrew

Officer Alex

Tinkerbell Taryn

Our Candy Haul...