Thanksgiving and a Funeral

What's in a family?  To me a family are those that are given and those that are chosen.  I was given the most amazing family that I love, although they do make me insane a lot!  My mom is one of those people that people just want to be around, and she has made our family a welcoming place for all...even some I want to give back.  :)

We just got home from Thanksgiving and a Funeral.  My grandfather lives in Alabama and we go there for Thanksgiving.  (I skip out sometimes bc the trip is FOREVER) This is probably our last Thanksgiving with Grump.  His body is giving up.  Today we went to the funeral of my mom's uncle, my grandfather's brother-in-law, Edsel.  I think I met him twice, but while sitting in his funeral today I realized I would soon be sitting here for my grandfather and I hate that.  The minister today said something that made a impact on me... (well 2 things)

1.  He is absent on earth, but present with the Father.

Oh to be present with our Father!!!

2.  In this family, you loose the "in law" status real quick and you are just family.

That is so true of the Frenches!  I used to think it was only from my grandmother, but my grandfather's family is that way too...and so is my mom.

So this Thanksgiving held some precious memories for me.  I said good bye to my Grumpster this morning.  He held my hand and said he loved me.  That is a memory I will treasure always.  I pray you stored up some precious memories too and that you are part of a family that looses the in law status!

Day 7

Today I am thankful for music!!  I love to sing, I am horrible at singing, but I love it!  Today I am thankful for the songs that speak the words your soul cannot express, for songs that connect you to God in a way that spoken words cannot, and for those who are gifted to sing.

Here are a few of my favorite songs, I hope you enjoy them!

I can't find a video for this one, but the words are so, so amazing
Inside Out
In the heart of me
There's a mystery
In my weakness there is still
A goodness not my own
That comes from God alone
But it cannot be known until

You turn me inside out
So that I can be
A reflection of the One who made me
So the world can see
That it's Christ in me Lord,
Turn me inside out
Turn me inside out

What my pride conceals
Lord, Your truth reveals
And Your grace is seen somehow
There is mercy when,
In spite of who I've been,
Your glory dwells within me now

Whatever else you see
The only good in me
Is Jesus, Jesus
Whatever else you see
The only good in me
Is Jesus, Jesus

Day 6

Today I am grateful for my sister, Carrie Lemm Baehr, and how much she loves my little boy! I don't know that she could love him more if he were her own. I couldn't ask for a better sister and Cal couldn't ask for a better aunt!

Day 5

Today I am thankful for Mrs. Wood! There are some people on earth that are just nicer than most and Mrs. Wood is one of them! She was my middle school math teacher and now is my favorite person to work with! I simply could not face my job every day without her and Rosie loves her dog biscuits too!! :) Every day when I get to work I get to see her and discuss what we can try to learn/solve/do that day and there is no one I would rather spend my work day with!!

Day 4

November 1- 9 years ago today I was starting my first full day of bed rest. I had just been told "I'll see you when the baby is born" and I was lost as to what I was going to do without being able to work. Today I am grateful for time passing and progress! God is so good and has had his hand on my plans every day of my life. I am so thankful for the progress HE has provided for me!

"I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference." Robert Frost

Day 3

I am late in posting, but on Day 3 I am thankful for making childhood memories as an adult! I have always loved Halloween, but we never did much with it that I remember. I know we went to the church Fall Festival but I don't remember trick or treating ever. Last year I got to have "door duty" for the first time and loved it!!! I got to do it again this year and things like that always remind me: it's not to late to do what you've never done before!