Giving some Thanks...

This time of year is always a tender time for me. Three years ago my idea of Thanksgiving changed forever. That was the morning we got the call my boy was born...but it really was so much more than that. Camden's birthday will always be special just for the fact that he was born and he is on this earth spreading joy and love wherever he goes. But it is so much more than that because it was the end of a long personal journey for me that was filled with some of the darkest days I've ever known. It was also the beginning of another long, hard journey as I fought the fight of my life to get Camden legally adopted and sealed to us. I can't help but reflect on all the things I learned and the love that I felt. It truly is a special time for me. With that said...my Thanksgiving day looked pretty traditional and normal on the outside...

I started my day with a traditional Thanksgiving morning Turkey Trot...

After a gorgeous run by the lake with some great friends, I had a quiet day with my kids, my parents and Aric while we had a Harry Potter movie marathon. Oh and I made a pumpkin chocolate cheesecake! Yes...me...I made something that tricky and yummy! I can't believe I didn't take a picture.


Later that night we had dinner at my sister's house. Aric, Andy and Joe made sure the house didn't burn down. Although Aric did lose some knuckle hair and escaped near death as the turkey was too big for the fryer and almost made the oil overflow...Yikes!

The turkey turned out delicious and we all got full...

(seriously...I hate blogger. I can't get this picture to load right, but you get the idea)

Camden and Andy decided to take a rest after dinner to get ready for dessert...

We celebrated Camden's and Olivia's birthday with my mom and Joe. Ev got Camden this very appropriate shirt...(Trouble is My Middle Name)

Before we left Camden and Max decided to give us all a muscle show...

After the kids and grandparents were sleeping, Aric and I decided to brave the midnight shopping crowds...it was crazy but we got some great deals so it was worth it.

And that, my friends, is what our Thanksgiving looked like. Pretty traditional, but underneath all the turkey, rolls, pie and shopping, my heart is full. Full of gratitude for what this season means to me now, and how it will always remind me of the Lord's tender mercies and how great God's plan is.