After reading this account of our first few days on holiday, I'll let you decide if our Christmas has been merry. :)
Christmas day was started at our house bright and early around 5:30am as we made our final preparations to fly to Michigan. We made time for stockings and coffee and everyone was merry.
Our friend Ryan also had to get up early, drive to our house to pick us up and take us to the airport (thank you Ryan!!).
Our flight was scheduled to depart at 9:50am through Allegiant. We (Rob and I, equally) thought that we were reading our itinerary correctly and had Ryan take us to the Orlando International Airport (MCO)...but when we got there and asked for help finding our ticketing gate...we were told that our flight was indeed scheduled to fly out of the Orlando/Sanford International Airport (SAN). BIG OOPS. So we ran outside, flagged down a cab driver, asked if he could take us to SAN before our flight left, he had 2 car seats, we loaded up and drove off.
We made it in 30 minutes!!! He was flying (in the cab that is). So after $106 and a Merry Christmas to the cabby, we were off to find our gate and more coffee. :)
After all that, a lot of prayer, grace, and a sense of humor, we all made it into Grand Rapids with our holiday cheer intact.
The very next day at our first party, JoeAnna came down with the stomach flu and vomited all over the kitchen rug in Nana Pitt's house. Needless to say, we've seen better days. I sure hope and pray that we don't all get the bug and that we can continue to breathe grace and laugh.
Merry Christmas! (without question! :) )
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Quick Look at our family Christmas 2009
This is the before...
Thompson Family Christmas 2009 (Graham's 1st; JoeAnna's 3rd)
Here's the after...
Thompson Family Christmas 2009 (Graham's 1st; JoeAnna's 3rd)
Here's the after...
Monday, December 21, 2009
Thompson Family Christmas Letter 2009
Don't be disappointed! We are handing out picture cards this year, and I just wanted to save on ink and write our letter here for everyone!
Merry Christmas! I love this time of year for so many reasons, and this year has brought even more. This is Graham's first Christmas, and his 2 bottom baby teeth are ready to gnaw through whatever comes his way! And this is also JoeAnna's 3rd Christmas! I can't believe how much time we've had with her already! She has been very timid towards "liking" Christmas, mostly because when we left family in November everyone told her "we will see you at Christmas" and to her that was an ominous thing to say! She didn't remember what "Christmas" was. So for about 3 weeks whenever she heard us talking about Christmas or buying Christmas things she would say "I don't like Christmas." To which I would reply, "That's okay to not like all of the fuss or parties, but Christmas is when we celebrate Jesus - He was born to save us from our sins! We celebrate his birth at Christmas." I think I said those words over a hundred times.
Then we put up our Christmas tree, and all the "I don't likes" stopped! We have an angel on top of our tree and she loves it (and she knows that the angels sang and told the shepherds of Jesus' birth). Now she sings Christmas Carols in the car and she talks about "my Christmas." I am actually thankful she didn't "like Christmas" at first because it taught us all that Christmas is about Jesus.
Well now for a recap of 2009:
What a year of gifts! And there are too many for me to list, but here are a few: Graham Alan Thompson (born 4/11/09), a job for Rob in Florida, a home in Florida, my dad (recovered from major brain surgery), family and friends who continue to love and support us, and many, many anonymous gifts (gift cards, money, time taking care of our empty house in MI, etc). God has richly blessed us this year through the generosity of others and He has provided a way for us to continue serving Him by providing for our basic needs. For me, moving to Florida has been a test of trust in God, and He has been so faithful. I am very thankful to be where He has brought us.
Merry Christmas! I love this time of year for so many reasons, and this year has brought even more. This is Graham's first Christmas, and his 2 bottom baby teeth are ready to gnaw through whatever comes his way! And this is also JoeAnna's 3rd Christmas! I can't believe how much time we've had with her already! She has been very timid towards "liking" Christmas, mostly because when we left family in November everyone told her "we will see you at Christmas" and to her that was an ominous thing to say! She didn't remember what "Christmas" was. So for about 3 weeks whenever she heard us talking about Christmas or buying Christmas things she would say "I don't like Christmas." To which I would reply, "That's okay to not like all of the fuss or parties, but Christmas is when we celebrate Jesus - He was born to save us from our sins! We celebrate his birth at Christmas." I think I said those words over a hundred times.
Then we put up our Christmas tree, and all the "I don't likes" stopped! We have an angel on top of our tree and she loves it (and she knows that the angels sang and told the shepherds of Jesus' birth). Now she sings Christmas Carols in the car and she talks about "my Christmas." I am actually thankful she didn't "like Christmas" at first because it taught us all that Christmas is about Jesus.
Well now for a recap of 2009:
What a year of gifts! And there are too many for me to list, but here are a few: Graham Alan Thompson (born 4/11/09), a job for Rob in Florida, a home in Florida, my dad (recovered from major brain surgery), family and friends who continue to love and support us, and many, many anonymous gifts (gift cards, money, time taking care of our empty house in MI, etc). God has richly blessed us this year through the generosity of others and He has provided a way for us to continue serving Him by providing for our basic needs. For me, moving to Florida has been a test of trust in God, and He has been so faithful. I am very thankful to be where He has brought us.
Please continue to join us in prayer. Our ministry here could not be accomplished without prayer, and we are reminded of that daily. We want you all to be encouraged that God has, is, and will always keep His promises. He promised a Son, and His name is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Cute things they say...
so my kids always make me smile, but I just have to share what they've said...and I hope you smile too.
Earlier this week JoeAnna and I were talking about extended family relationships and how I am Grandma and Papa Hemmes' daughter - and I explained that she was my daughter, to which she said, "Mommy, I'm not a daughter - I'm a Thompson!"
Then Sunday afternoon (I shared this on FB already) we were getting ready to go to church and Sunday is Awana night, and she gets to go to Puggles. She loves it. I told her we were almost ready to go to church and she said, "I'm going to run to Jesus! I'll race ya!"
She makes me so proud.
Graham too joined in on the cute things... he's been saying "baba" for about 3 weeks, and I have been slowly working on "mama" with him. Well yesterday Graham, Joe, and I were sharing a group hug and he said "mama!" I held him out and exclaimed "you just said 'Mama!'" And he cracked up laughing! It was like he knew how all along, and he also knew I would melt. I love my little man.
Earlier this week JoeAnna and I were talking about extended family relationships and how I am Grandma and Papa Hemmes' daughter - and I explained that she was my daughter, to which she said, "Mommy, I'm not a daughter - I'm a Thompson!"
Then Sunday afternoon (I shared this on FB already) we were getting ready to go to church and Sunday is Awana night, and she gets to go to Puggles. She loves it. I told her we were almost ready to go to church and she said, "I'm going to run to Jesus! I'll race ya!"
She makes me so proud.
Graham too joined in on the cute things... he's been saying "baba" for about 3 weeks, and I have been slowly working on "mama" with him. Well yesterday Graham, Joe, and I were sharing a group hug and he said "mama!" I held him out and exclaimed "you just said 'Mama!'" And he cracked up laughing! It was like he knew how all along, and he also knew I would melt. I love my little man.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Downtown Disney 12\5\09 (22 photos), by cara thompson
I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos
Friday, December 4, 2009
Christmas Decor 2009 (4 photos), by cara thompson
I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos
Christmas Time in Florida...so who wants to go to the beach?
So we've made it back from the Great Up North and we survived Thanksgiving with all of our family and friends. It was a good time to be back in Holland and with friends and family. We struggled the first week with being sick. The kids were completely depended on me and sleep, so needless to say, we didn't get out much those first few days.
I am happy to say that I believe I've "past the first test" of homesickness. I was able to go back "home", enjoy it, and return to our new home and love it. I thought for sure that I would be a mess the day we left, but I was surprisingly ready to be back here in Florida. I am learning in whatever state I am, to be content. :)
And now it is time for Christmas. Our first Christmas away from our families, and without the cold and snow! It doesn't feel right, honestly. And I am talking about the lack of coldness/snow. In the windows of our local Target are these snow flake things, and it looks completely out of place with bright sunny skies and people in shorts. So to attack new traditions head on, and not allow our family to miss out on the Holiday Cheer, I decided to go out and buy some Christmas decorations (thanks to a generous gift) and "do Christmas" anyway! It's not a Michigan Christmas here, but it's a Thompson Christmas and it's ours! I am loving it. :)
Tonight we enjoyed lots of time in the kitchen. JoeAnna and I made pizza for dinner (Friday night, homemade pizza night! (yes we are copying the Kampers!)) It was so much fun. JoeAnna is seriously good in the kitchen. She gets distracted, but that's it! She was able to do almost everything expect chop the chicken and put the pan in the oven. Then we made Christmas cookies as a family! Well, Graham didn't really help, but I let him taste one at least. :) The pictures from snapfish show how much work I should be doing in the kitchen to clean up...
Merry Christmas Everyone!
I am happy to say that I believe I've "past the first test" of homesickness. I was able to go back "home", enjoy it, and return to our new home and love it. I thought for sure that I would be a mess the day we left, but I was surprisingly ready to be back here in Florida. I am learning in whatever state I am, to be content. :)
And now it is time for Christmas. Our first Christmas away from our families, and without the cold and snow! It doesn't feel right, honestly. And I am talking about the lack of coldness/snow. In the windows of our local Target are these snow flake things, and it looks completely out of place with bright sunny skies and people in shorts. So to attack new traditions head on, and not allow our family to miss out on the Holiday Cheer, I decided to go out and buy some Christmas decorations (thanks to a generous gift) and "do Christmas" anyway! It's not a Michigan Christmas here, but it's a Thompson Christmas and it's ours! I am loving it. :)
Tonight we enjoyed lots of time in the kitchen. JoeAnna and I made pizza for dinner (Friday night, homemade pizza night! (yes we are copying the Kampers!)) It was so much fun. JoeAnna is seriously good in the kitchen. She gets distracted, but that's it! She was able to do almost everything expect chop the chicken and put the pan in the oven. Then we made Christmas cookies as a family! Well, Graham didn't really help, but I let him taste one at least. :) The pictures from snapfish show how much work I should be doing in the kitchen to clean up...
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Cookies and Cheer (6 photos), by cara thompson
I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
trip to Mi in Nov (55 photos), by cara thompson
I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos
first session with jodi (26 photos), by cara thompson
I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos
second session with Jodi (23 photos), by cara thompson
I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos
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