First Thanksgiving

What an ordeal last night could have been! I am so grateful to God for protecting us (we hit black ice on our way to the hospital) and providing us with excellent medical care! He is good!
Thanksgiving was hard for me and for Grammy this year. And, not just because we missed our extended family back in California (You guys were there in spirit) but because we don't know how to cook Thanksgiving for less than 30 people! Grammy made huge green bean and yam casseroles and I made a gallon of gravy. Of course, as I finished baking the seventh, yes seventh, dessert I realized I'd gone overboard, but oh well. One nice thing about having a small Thanksgiving is we got to pull out the "good china" and make it a formal dinner. I love the way my table turned out. See:

I used my new amethyst-colored chargers which I picked up at Target at the day after Christmas sale for an absolute song. I couldn't find a turkey napkin fold pattern, so I did the "cocks comb" instead. Close enough, I guess. And, does the centerpiece look familiar? I love using our wedding centerpieces; it reminds me of that glorious day and all your smiling faces.
More later...

Christmas already?

Neither Scott nor I can believe that November is half over. Evidently, it doesn't matter what time zone you live in, time still clicks on as quickly as ever.

This week, we've been busy with holiday preparations. Apparently, Dakotans put up their Christmas lights immediately following Halloween as to beat the coming snow and cold. So, we're following their lead and doing the same. Kinda weird putting up Christmas before eating turkey. But, that's what we're doing.

Played bunko with some friends last night and had a howling good time. Who would have guessed a dice game and some chocolate could be so much fun. I kind of felt like a 1950s TV idol.

Meant to be me

Today what strikes me the most is how happy we are here. We were at dinner the other night when my dad praised God for our new houses. Scott added, "Thank you for our homes. They're not just houses." And that pretty much sums it up.

I LOVE being a stay-at-home mom in North Dakota and have such peace about it. It's like I've finally discovered what I was meant to do and who I was meant to be.

Boy, I sure have turned into the queen of mush since moving here, haven't I? No. Seriously, I'm happy. My husband's happy. My son is happy. My parents and sister are happy. What more could I want?

We had a week-end of indian summer and expect another next week. On Sunday it was in the low 70s and gorgeous. Monday brought teens and twenties and an inch or two of snow. Most of it's gone now but it's still chilly. I've never been particularly fond of the cold, but this isn't bothering me. Besides the cold winds, it doesn't feel as cold as San Leandro did because there's basically no humidity. No damp fog seeping into my aching joints. What?! I'm going on 30 you know. I'm getting old and my joints ache. :)