If you like spaghetti, raise your hand.

We have to take a little ride down memory lane. Well, as far back as last week anyway! I only take about a thousand pictures a week, so when I find myself in a quandry with no camera battery (thanks, Mary Allison!!), I am always A-OK! I have these from dinner last Wednesday night.

I was serving chicken spaghetti, and I said, "If you want spaghetti, raise your hand!"
Ellie immediately got it, and responded to the call!
Gabbi Girl watched her big sissy and got the hang of it pretty quickly.
She really looks up to her big sissy!
Ok, so once more... "Raise your hand if you want more spaghetti." Nowwww, that's more like it!
Nothing pleases Ellie Sue more than being a helper to her baby sister, "Sweetie"! Look at her facial expressions throughout these pics. For starters, look at the intent on her face above.
And if only I had had a video camera. Oooohweee. Talk about CUTE! She was "chooChoo"ing every bite to "sweetie".
"here it comes, Gabbi Girl. Choo Chooo. Choo Chooo."
"Hey mom. I think she is crazy!"

I know, Gabbi, I think so too!
"But dangit, she is so much fun!"
Urrrkkkkk, and now a little bite for me!
chooooo chooo. choooo choooo.
I think this would go on for as long as I would let it.
Have I mentioned how beautiful my baby girl is? Look at those sparkly little eyes!
Miss E is protecting that spoon from any loss!
Now that is the sweetest thing ever!
Ooops. So maybe a little DID get loose from the spoon!
No, Ellie. I don't think you are ready to start getting Gabbi out of her brown chair! But, I am quite sure you THINK you are!
All's well. Gabbi is safe and sound in her LSU chair. And chock FULL of spaghetti!
And may I say... HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all of you. I am thankful to each of you who read my blog and who love and appreciate me and my kiddos. I am thankful for all of the support I get and feel from you who comment regularly. I am just OVERLY thankful for my babies! I have a couple of birth moms (and dads) who made this possible for me, so naturally, I am thankful to them! And of course, a supportive mom and dad and sister and extended family who knew this is what was going to be best for me and who have loved them and me and been right by my side the whole time. Oh, and let us not forget the husband who had to be open minded throughout this whole process and who supported my decision to adopt. He is a great dad! LOVES his girls... all three of them! Let's face it. I am a blessed chick! and I never want to take any of these blessings for granted.

I love this phrase from a favorite song... "may the Lord bless and keep you. May His face shine upon you". "Bless me indeed, open wide my horizon." That is a prayer! and it is a strong one! Like Jabez! I feel His face shining on me!

I think some may think and actually have SAID, "how do you go on after a loss like the one your family suffered?" Well, it is a choice to be happy and to RECOGNIZE blessings.... to find MO'JOY! Jake would be so sad to see his family sulking! He is thrilled that we are happy and living life to its fullest. And we are happy that we will see him again! Confident of that!

I watched a sermon a couple of weeks ago and saw a pastor (Gloria Copeland) saying that when God sends you a blessing, you have to make a decision to RECEIVE it! I like that. It is ok to feel you are "lucky " as long as you know it is a blessing, and it is God's gift to you. He wants us to be happy and live an ABUNDANT life! He wants you to recognize this gift and RECEIVE it! I pray for you abundance! and a big ol' feeling of BLESSING and HAPPINESS and RICHES for this Thanksgiving!

Ok, whew. That was a big shift from spaghetti, huh? But it was what was on my heart! I am thankful! Mo