Praise Him with thankful hearts

This Thanksgiving was our first holiday as a family "struck down, but not destroyed". 

We thought of Darin often and talked about the wonderful memories we have of him and the aching our hearts felt without him. 

I missed him... so very much. 

But we lit a candle (for both celebrations) in honor of his spirit that still lives on in heaven and our memories. I read this hymn  http://ingridschlueter.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/from-god-can-nothing-move-me/
(fyi-this is the only place i could find the lyrics online... i know nothing about the blog where it is posted)

Seriously check out that hymn when you have a moment... the lyrics are more than comforting. They are incredibly focusing. It's beautiful.

Here are some fun pictures from our Champaign Thanksgiving.

a relaxing afternoon

grandma painting with the girls (bell on left and bean on right)

Grandad with his grand-daughters

bailey

Bean - she looks a little intimidating here

Bean's "silly face"

Bell

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:9-11

 

 cousins all watching the first snow

we love snow

trying to get a great picture of all 4 at the same time is not easy

we got a few good ones though

to the untrained eye...this might look like a tower. it's not. it's a cd player.

all playing together

so sweet

⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this 

all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  

⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. - 2 Corinthians 4:7-12