2008 Thanksgiving Gratitude List (from Stacey)

These are a few of the things that I (Stacey Meade, a mom, wife, daughter, aunt, teacher, & Christian) am thankful for on this 2008 Thanksgiving Day:

I am thankful that God exists, that I have a personal relationship with God - the Father, Son & Holy Spirit - that I know God loves me unconditionally, that I am free to worship God in my country - what a blessing that is which I take for granted.
God forgives me. He loves me NO MATTER if I am good or bad, or loving Him back.
I am thankful that I feel God's love so powerfully when I take time to talk/walk/live with Him.
I am thankful I have a church home that is healthy and filled with loving Christian people.

I am thankful for my family - for my mom & dad who birthed me, for them taking care of me, for the sacrifices my mom made to raise me as a divorced mom, for the many things she taught me, for the way she can still love up my family & kids.

I am thankful for my husband, Robert, who adores me, who care for me & our kids, who loves God, who helps me in so many ways - spiritually, emotionally, mentally & physically. I am thankful he is such a strong Christian man, that he as wonderful parents, that he is calm and content in life, that he wants my love & accepts me with all my faults.

I am thankful for my children. I am thankful to God that I was able to get pregnant & have 2 healthy children. I am thankful for their health, their love, their personalities & the lessons they teach me all the time.

I am thankful for Kelly's happy & playful way about her, for her ability to forgive, her devotion to Jesus Christ, her faithfulness with her friends & her love for her brother.

I am thankful for Christopher's inquisitive mind, for his amazing talent with making up games, math puzzles & magic tricks. I am thankful he knows the Lord & that he has good friends at church & at school. I am thankful he loves his sister.

I am thankful that our kids have a great elementary school with wonderful teachers to help them learn important lessons in education & in life.

I am thankful for OvereatersAnonymous and the way it helps me in my life & the great friends I have in OA and in many other places.

I'm thankful I have food to eat, in a warm, cozy, apartment to live in, beautiful holiday decorations, a job to go to, and such beauty in nature that reminds me of how magnificent our Lord is who created everything!

It Never Rains in Southern California - It Pours!

Well, the unusual heat finally broke, and with it has come the life-giving rains. Kelly is really excited - I bet she'll move to Seattle or the Arctic one day - she can't get enough of cool, precipitous weather! Chris is nursing a cold in his chest - we're glad the powers that be canceled flag football practice tonight, even though it had not started raining yet.

Picture This... Not :-(

Well, it's been a busy week with the kids, and I have some great pictures, but my SD card from the camera is corrupt, so I've got nothing to show you.

However, Kelly put on a most excellent art display at her art class graduation, with several creative animals drawn from imagination, and a sock fish on rice paper!

Chris, upon returning from Outdoor Science School, had his "final" flag football game. He and the team went out with a bang - they won, putting them in a 3-way tie for first, and he scored a touchdown in the winning effort! In the afternoon, he and the Green Hornets played in a one round playoff against the top team in the city. They lost, but they really did put up a great fight against an excellent team.

All afternoon, and the next day, Stacey and Monica Christmified the house - it looks wonderful! Pictures on this should be coming as soon as I get another SD card...

Chris @ Outdoor Science School

All week Chris, along with the entire 5th grade classes of Washington and Wilson Elementary, have been in Malibu for LA County Outdoor Science School. Giving kids the chance to learn "hands on" in nature is a rare treat in Southern California, so we're really glad he's had this opportunity for the week.

Turkey Trot 2008

Once again the kids ran in the annual San Gabriel Turkey Trot 1K "Fun Run" and Mom Farrell was out here this year to cheer them on! Last year I (Robert) had to run with Kelly to get her started, but this she ran the full race on her own! The kids did great - Chris came in 2nd in his division, and Kelly came in 3rd. Excellent!

Kid Recognition

Recently, the kids have gotten some positive recognition...

Kelly was awarded "Student of the Month" in her class (the last time she received this was kindergarten!). She is really enjoying her class this year, and it shows! Thanks, Miss Bennett!

Meanwhile Christopher, while still doing well in school, has found a fun sport in afterschool flag football. He has scored a couple touchdowns for his team, and was selected to be on the San Gabriel All Stars team (3 players selected per school)! Chris is the player in green and red in the far right of the screen.

Way to go, kids - keep up the good work!

Halloween

Chris came up with a "yellow pencil" costume from the box Papo & Halmony used to ship the trombone in. Kelly wanted to be a pirate girl this year. We'll be eating the haul for many moons...

We're Back...

I'm ready to rouse from my self-imposed slumber to restart fall blogging. Stay tuned for family updates and future blogs of interest. In the meantime, check out my facebook profile - just search for Robert Wayne Meade in Glendora, CA