{Thanksgiving 2018}

Another wonderful thanksgiving in the books. We had a very relaxing holiday. My parents came for the holiday and stayed to watch the kids while Rod & I snuck away to Portland to check out some potential jobs. We watched the parade in pajamas. We ate snacks before dinner. I always love making our charcuterie board. Its fun laying out the cheeses and nuts, preserves and herbs. We watched Christmas movies and just really enjoyed each other. The kids are in a stage that I am really REALLY enjoying. They are happy and trying so hard to be helpful and obedient. It is not always perfect, but I can see their desire to make home a happy place for themselves and each other. School started out tricky for Madds & Coop, but now we are in a routine. Coop loves the teacher that took the place of his teacher he started with. She really is just the sweetest and smiliest teacher. She is just who Coop needed. Maddox needed extra love. He was struggling with not being with any of his best friends. He was linking up with boys who maybe were not who he needed in his life. The vice principal (a true angel!!!) had an impression that Maddox just needed one of his good friends (who really bring the best out of him.) I loved that she was inspired. I had written a note at the end of last school year requesting he be with Jared, Micheal or Eli for the reason that he really thrives around these boys, & although we won't always be able to control who is around and what classes he will be placed in, we felt very strongly that he needed to be with at least one of these boys in the school year to come. Class assignment days arrived over summer and Maddox was assigned to a fantastic teacher, but not with his buddies. We gave him a little pep talk and told him we knew he could make new and good friends in that class too and would still see his best friends at church, scouts, soccer, play dates. He was sad, but we were optimistic. I didn't say anything to the school, just hoped for the best. The letter apparently had been lost, so when the Vice principal (again..an angel!) felt he just needed one of the boys he usually spent time with it was all on her own. or was it? I know our Heavenly Father had his hand in that little miracle. So now everyone is happy. Maddox is with Eli, our Bishop's son, and life is just steady. I am so very grateful for that.