Last Minute Thanksgiving

After the following conversation, I really had to remember this verse. Give thanks in ALL things, right?

"HAPPY BIRTDAY, THANKSGIVING!"

Apparently Hope thinks all celebrations are somehow linked to her favorite one of all... birthdays. Birtdays, actually.

Then she continued with glee, "And PopPop and Nana and Uncle Biwee and Andweea (Uncle Biwee's girlfriend) and..."

And, well, not exactly.

When Nana had to leave after her last visit we consoled Hope with the idea that Thanksgiving would bring a reunion with all of the above people and more. But, unfortunately, Nana is super sick right now. She's been put on restrictions from overdoing it and being too close to her grandkids. For those who know my mom, you can imagine that it would be easier to fit a camel through the eye of a needle. Please help us pray she gets better SOON!

After being really, really bummed about this visit now delayed we decided to stop wallowing in it and send out the word in case anyone else needed a table to gather around too. You'll never guess who the turkey drug in.

The Hightowers. Some extended family, after all.

"Gobble, gobble," as Hope says.

We're hoping maybe we'll find someone else on our way over there who needs a warm meal and sweet fellowship. Either way, some last minute projects have kept us busy. Hope has even had a little creativity up her sleeve-- technically, up her arm, as you'll see below. The conversations I had with her to make these were the best part! Here's a peek:

(She and Joe love to dance in the moonlight... all to see their shadows wiggle!)

(Always a few casualties in a project like this...)

(But, always worth 'em!)

We're praying your Thanksgiving is FULL of good food, special memories, and a table that welcomes you to join it! As we've been reminded, don't forget to tell those you love how thankful you are for them in your own way. We took these pictures last night and realized all our kids could tell you who are reading this with their little, and sometimes furry, faces (and necks and heads too now that we look at the pictures again):

As an important side note-- Help us wish GOOD LUCK to Uncle Biwee, who's coaching his Varsity Rockets in the PLAY-OFFS tomorrow in those luminous, Friday night lights. Wish we could be there, but we're hoping you go ALL THE WAY (then when you finally have time again, get your whistle-blowing self out here for a long overdue visit!)