Witnessing answers to your prayers is such an awesome thing!

Should never have doubted how this day would go! We were praying! I bet some of you were too!

Our precious daughter was AMAZING today! She was so hungry, and could only have water, broth, and jello until 10 a.m., and then NOTHING after that. She did not want water, broth or jello…..but she only fussed about that fact ONE time!

The two and a half hour ride to the Children’s Hospital was a breeze! Waiting for our appointment time? A breeze!!

Then it was time for sedation. There was no IV needed today! YEAH!!! Just some sleepy medicine by mouth! Unfortunately, as soon as the red, sticky, smelly sleepy medicine was squirted in the back of Eliza’s mouth, she decided she didn’t want anything to do with that! I wore red, sticky, smelly sleepy medicine the rest of the day….but I was so thankful I had a change of clothes for Eliza!

This meant we had to get her sleepy another way. So they put it up her nose. Not pleasant either, but it got the job done!

Her testing went PERFECT!!! Answered prayers we are talking about here! Eliza woke up quickly from the sedation and was ready to eat, eat, eat!

We met with the Urologist afterward, and were sad to learn that Eliza’s bladder has some significant problems that will need managed after surgery. We are SO very thankful to be seeing these amazing doctors at the Children’s Hospital though!

We will be praying that the surgery to untether Eliza’s spinal cord will help heal some of her bladder problems. We know the Lord answers prayers! He is the ultimate healer!!

All in all, it was a twelve hour day. So thankful to be back home safely and to tuck our little sweet pea in bed! By the way, the travel and weather mercies to and from Madison today? Answers to prayer!

Grant and Addie did a great job here at home! We came home to an apple pie that was delivered early this evening by two very special newlyweds! About to have a piece with some ice cream on top! I didn’t pray for the pie….but am so thankful for it anyway!! Thank you sweet Kayla!!

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Phil 4:6

In keeping with tradition, we went and cut down our Christmas tree yesterday! We were thankful for a very warm day in the high 30’s, but the above freezing temperature and beautiful sunshine made for a sloppy ride there and an even sloppier walk up the trail to find the perfect tree.

We decided to have Eliza ride in the backpack, because she is still terrified of the snow, and won’t put her feet anywhere near it. She did great once she settled in for the ride!

I love this tradition! We always have so much fun walking through the tree farm looking for our tree! We think Eliza even enjoyed herself! I can’t wait to see what Tate will do next year!

Last year our tree was so fat, that we had to pay more attention to detail this year. I think we did a pretty good job!

I had a panic attack when I realized we had only 19 days until we needed to be completely ready for Christmas because of Eliza’s surgery!! I gave myself a little “talkin’ to” and had to lower my expectations, including canceling an overnight trip we had planned….but it is still starting to look a lot like Christmas around here!

We are so thankful for dear friends who traveled to the farm to celebrate Thanksgiving with us!

We all enjoyed preparing for our company….and you know my motto….many hands make for light work!

Addie Mae blessed us with not one, but two pumpkin pies!

Blake took a vote, and it was unanimous for ham this year!

We have about three miles of floors….thank you Grant for tackling that big job for me!

Chad was on dish duty – he can put away clean dishes like nobody’s business!

We enjoyed making our yummy traditional Thanksgiving dishes!

These were homemade chocolate peanut butter cups! I may or may not have eaten more than four of them!

Here are the yams before they were “dressed!”

I made a new recipe this year – a wild rice casserole from The Pioneer Woman! It was fabulous! (this was before it was baked!)

I printed some coloring pages to keep the littles busy! They had helped with preparations too!

Soon, the house was full of precious friends….and we were all talking at once trying to catch up! I am not sure any of us were able to finish a whole conversation!

So, so happy to have these newlyweds with us for the day! Aren’t they adorably happy?!!

We love you, dear brothers and sisters in Christ! Thank you SO much for blessing us with your visit!! Can’t wait to see you again! We are holding you to your plan for this coming summer!!!

As we all stood holding hands in a circle before our Thanksgiving meal, and each shared something we were thankful for, I was overwhelmed as I looked around the kitchen. We are so abundantly blessed. I never want to take all that the Lord has blessed us with for granted. He deserves SO MUCH praise!!!

Hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving as well!!

P.S. Heading back to the Children’s Hospital in Madison with Eliza on Monday for sedated testing. Please pray with us! For travel mercies. For Eliza, as her sedation is not until noon and she is not allowed to eat or drink before then. For the testing to go as planned. For the IV to be inserted on the very first try. For the sleepy medication to work this time before the IV is inserted. Thank you for your prayers!

…between these two blessings. Be still my heart.

Lane managed to convince Eliza to help him with his chore of folding laundry before bed one night, and then taught her exactly how to do it! Made us smile. Are you smiling too?

You would never know that these two have “tangibly” only been brother and sister for four months.

What an incredible bond.

God knew. I love that God knew. He knew all along what our family would look like.

Praise be to Him!

Happy Thanksgiving!