The last few days....

So, a few new things are taking place in our home. Isaac has started Cub Scouts, Thanksgiving will be at our new home this year now that we have the space for it, and Ainsley is...well, Ainsley!

Our little princess has a way of driving Mommy to the edge. Isaac was always really laid back and VERY obedient when asked to do something. Ainsley on the other hand, she likes to see how many times Mommy and Daddy have to ask her to do something. (or stop doing something that she is not supposed to be doing!) So, we have been working with her intently on being obedient, doing what she is supposed to be doing, and using self-control.

Actually, the self-control thing is part of a list of things the Bible calls the Fruit of the Spirit that we are teaching our children in our home for 9 weeks. There are 9 fruits of the spirit(love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control - Galatians 5:22) so we feel led to teach one per week for 9 weeks. We started out with self-control as we felt that it was a necessity with both of the kids in their daily lives. School was a tough place to remember that you are there to learn first and have fun while doing it. This week we are working on joy. At the end of every day at dinner time we ask the kids to give us an example of how they used their fruit of the spirit at some time during that day. They are REALLY enjoying this stuff!!! We even had a craft time and made a tree and some fruit. So, each week as we pick a different fruit of the spirit to work on, they put that fruit on the tree!! If only I would have thought about this a long time ago!

Okay, so that being said, our little Ainsley is working VERY hard to do "the right thing" each and every day. She has done a great job today and we are very proud of her. Isaac has had great reports home from school too so we are being shown that our work at home is paying off!!!

We are really looking forward to Thanksgiving at home this year. Though we will miss being with my family on Thanksgiving day, it will be nice to do something new and to do it with Andrew's mom and step-dad that now live not too far from us here in NC. So, tomorrow, Thanksgiving Eve, I will be spending the day preparing the dishes that will need to be cooked on Thanksgiving Day. I am making Very Cranberry Cranberries, Noodle Koogle (an old Jewish family tradition), Sweet Italian Sausage Stuffing, Mahogany Turkey, and Caramel Cheesecake Bars. Tad, my MIL, is bringing the Sweet Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Ambrosia Salad, and some yummy dessert also. Yep, for 4 adults and 2 children, there will be WAY TOO MUCH food. But, isn't that the fun of Turkey Day!!!!

I can't help but post the picture of Ainsley in the dress that I made her for Thanksgiving now. So, the pics are of Isaac in his Cub Scouts Uniform and Ainsley in her pretty new Turkey Day outfit that I made for her!!!

We pray that you have a blessed and prosperous Thanksgiving with your families. We are grateful to God for our family and friends amongst many other things that I will post about later!!!

Enjoy overeating!!!!