November 2010 in Review

(As my turkey is making us all wait with growling tummies, and I can do nothing to hurry it along, this is as good a time as any to get to work on my month in review post.  We are having our Thanksgiving dinner late, not only late in the month, but also late in the day.  Late, late, late.  I'd skip it altogether if it wasn't for the shining eyes of anxious little children  :) and for the fact that my husband loves a turkey dinner!  Me, well, I don't look forward to spending the entire day in the kitchen only to see the results gobbled down (no pun intended) in less than ten minutes -- that would be us girls -- and fifteen for my husband.

(This was drafted before I had the joy of sitting down at a full and pretty table and seeing the happy faces of my family.  It was worth it.)  :D

(insert photo collage from Amy's post)

We have tried to make Thanksgiving a big deal in the Rough Diamonds house.  Each year it is preempted by a visit to my folks' for what is becoming a traditional Thanksgiving picnic with my two brothers and their families, and even some of my cousins.  That is wonderful fun, but it does not include the big turkey dinner.  So... we do our own Thanksgiving whenever the turkey is thawed.  This year it was Monday.

We had a great picnic, even if the temp was in the high 50's.  At least the sun was shining.  The teriyaki and orange chicken were delicious.  Emily was disappointed that we didn't have Thanksgiving lasagna again, after all, we had lasagna the last three years, and in the eyes of a seven year old that constitutes an immutable tradition.  Get used to it, kid.  Life changes.

Here's our bunch.  I do love them, every one!

This is my nephew,  Nate.  Nate is eight years old. Up until Wednesday, the poor boy had lost only two teeth, and those were helped out.  It bothered him to see Emily, only seven, with her two front teeth missing.  So Nate fixed that.

Elisabeth is my one child who feels a deep need to do those things that all children should have the opportunity to do.  It pleased her to be able to rake up a few of Grampy's leaves. :D  Jumping into the pile remains to be crossed off.  We'll have to spend a fall at Jane's sometime!

Alison had the privilege (and thrill!) of running through a few pieces with the world-renowned Musique Sur la Mer Youth Symphony Orchestra.  Director Marcy Sudok started this group in 2002 with just a handful of homeschooled beginning violin students who had nowhere to perform.  They are amazing!  Thanks, Marcy!!!

Alie also partially satisfied her longing for a grand piano, playing in the choir loft at my parent's church while no one was listening.  Well, no one but us.

Some people just relaxed.   Emily loves togetherness.  She is the cuddler, the hugger, the kisser, the one who needs  (And gives) company.  Daddy gives the gift of time and does it well.  Sometimes it's nice just to be in the same room with someone you love. :)

As for the rest of November:

We played more soccer,

and Emily thought she needed an official jersey.  I fixed that.  There's nothing a little bit of duct tape can't do (except for come out of your clothes once it's been there a while).  She was proud to wear her new "jersey" shopping.

Photographer Amy had a blast taking thirty photos of the same item, one each day for a month.  This is one of my favorites.  You can see the rest at her photo blog.

I got a new laundry helper, or rather, Alison did.  Mother in training:

Elisabeth played along with the church "orchestra" this month.  She has had a love-hate relationship with music and musical instruments, but I think love is starting to pull ahead.  Yay!   Amy is also doing quite well with the violin now, and has become bored with flute.  The violin might last until she finds a viola... or some other instrument.  She is the jack of all musical trades, master of none.  Unless you can somehow call the camera a musical instrument... It does make a nice little "bleep" when you turn it on, but no, I don't think it qualifies.

If it weren't for the two dozen feral cats in our neighborhood, I'd say we need a sandbox.  It is just way too much fun to play in the food!  I discovered five gallon paint buckets are WAAAAY cheaper for storing food than food grade containers are.  I'm sure there's a reason for that...

And last, I burned my hubby's lunch.  This is only worth mentioning because I am not a burnt-toast kind of wife.  I can't remember the last time I burned his food.  This was supposed to be a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, but I added one too many tasks to my multitasking that noon.  (Amy artistically embellished the photo.)  :) In the aerial view, this really looks like asphalt... I say if you are going to burn the toast, do it right!

This Thanksgiving season I am again reminded that giving thanks to the Lord, from whom all my blessings come, is for every day, and not just for once a year.  He is good.  All the time.  The USA may appear to be going to hell (Psalm 9:17, The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.) but God is my Saviour and my help.  I am thankful that no matter what happens around me, there is peace IN me.  Jesus Christ is the source of that peace.  I am thankful to know him, but even more, I am thankful that he knows ME!

Psalm 12

Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; 

for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: 

with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips,

and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; 

our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, 

now will I arise, saith the LORD;

I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
The words of the LORD are pure words: 

as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, 

thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
The wicked walk on every side, 

when the vilest men are exalted.