Thanksgiving

I just got back to Phoenix after spending almost a week in Muleshoe with my family for Thanksmas (we had "Christmas" on Thanksgiving this year). Nate is, of course, still in Iraq and got to enjoy a great Thanksgiving feast at the D-FAC (dining facility) in the IZ. He said the decorations were nice, and the food was great, but he missed being in Muleshoe. And we all missed having him there. Every year, Papa and my brothers brothers fry a turkey (or two), and Nate stuffs and roasts one. In Nate's absence, I was given the chore of stuffing the turkey. I'm pretty sure my family is ready for Nate to be home so he can roast the turkey next year! He does a much better job than I do. We all missed Nate for more than his cooking skills. My family LOVES Nate, and they all miss him almost as much as I do! Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder and this year at Thanksgiving, I am so thankful for Nate. There is no man like him, and I feel lucky to have him.

It is difficult to express the emotion of our time together this year. We are overwhelmed with memories of Tyler and his love for the holidays. We miss him so much - all the time, but especially during this season. Tyler loved cold weather and snow, and we got plenty of that this year! He also loved Thanksgiving and Christmas more than anyone I know, and we missed his joy this year, but we also made new memories and enjoyed being together. As we missed him, and celebrated his life, we spent a lot of time being thankful that we can claim victory over death because of Jesus Christ. I have never been more grateful for the reality that this life is such a tiny piece of time, and anxious for that sweet reunion. We have so much to look forward to in heaven, and we are thankful that God continues to shower us with blessings on earth.

We are all grateful for God's timing in giving us little nephews who are always reminders of God's renewal and blessing. Will and Levi are precious, and I don't think any of us can think of what we did before they were around! We loved spoiling them all week and I think Kara and Zach may have enjoyed getting to sleep in a little. I don't know how they do it!

Here are a few pictures from the week.

Me and the boys in our Notre Dame gear...we took this one for Uncle Nate.

Little Cowboys - Heather and Ben bought these hats for the boys...looks like they're ready for some ropin' and ridin'! So cute!

My amazing parents and Cori, the youngest Sheets kid. Proof that it snowed! Some crazies went outside when it had to be 15 degrees outside and tried to play football. It was so cold that, even with gloves, my fingers were so frozen they hurt! I lasted about 5 minutes! We miss playing with Tyler, but he lives on in every new memory we make. The guys with their fried turkey - we haven't burned the house down yet.... I just couldn't finish this post about Thanksgiving without adding a picture of Tyler.

Rain

Today it finally feels like fall. It's 10:00 in the morning, and the mercury hasn't risen above the 70 mark! There's a cool breeze so I have all the windows open as I sit here and study. A few minutes ago, I began to hear rain falling softly on our patio. It's just a few drops, but it's enough to bring that earthy smell of rain. Rain always makes me think of Tyler. He loved the rain...no...he LOVES the rain. He still does I suppose. Every time it rains, I imagine Tyler up there asking God to send rain to us. I think rain probably reminds us all of TY. Part of me thinks every time it rains that it's Tyler asking God to remind us that he is still showering blessings on us, that out of our dried up grieving souls God is making new life in us. I imagine that God is telling me that my parched soul will continue to be quenched by his love, and the new blessings that he brings. I imagine that, for Tyler, rain would have been a reminder that the heart of life is good. And, if I remember Ty for who he really was, I have to admit that a small part of me laughs and thinks that he's probably up there getting God to send rain so we won't forget how amazing he was, hoping that maybe someday, someone will write a book about him.

Texas Welcome

This makes me proud to be a Texan.