Our First Thanksgiving

 Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! We have had some firsts today- for example I made my first apple pie, half a recipe from the internet and half from things I think would make it even better. We are on our own today just Parker and I but we made the most beautiful Thanksgiving spread of food, got a lot of house work done and decorated a little for Christmas. Before it started raining I got some time to shoot archery a little in our backyard. I feel like I need to explain myself but it is in the upper 60's today and short sleeves was the outfit of choice. For late November I have never experienced it being so warm!

We also have been working on our ancestry and discovering where our families had come from. I have found some pretty neat discoveries today about distant family members and their occupations.  

We both have busy days tomorrow and this weekend in general, deer checks and lottery deer hunts that our jobs host- those will last sun up to past sun down. I am looking forward to the new experiences and skills I'll learn working those. 

Last weekend we went to San Marcos, Texas to visit my brother in law and new sister in law. It was so fun, we went to the renaissance fair- that weekend it was the Celtic theme. We had a mead tasting and it was very good, it was Viking themed and kind of helped warm us up since it was pouring rain and around 35 degrees F (1.7 degrees C). We went out to eat that evening at a really good restaurant, slept well- what more can you ask for! 

We collected some pinecones for decoration, I've put them in our tree and on the TV stand. I like how natural decorations just looks so homey and brings the outside in, not only that but it is free, too! When we picked them up they were wet so I dried them on a tray with a paper towel down and it worked very well and they even opened more so they aren't as sharp. 

The Bible verse I have is this, “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world." - Isaiah 12:4-5. So I have a story that goes along with this verse, I have just been telling everyone. So last night we went to Walmart to get groceries and I needed some items to make the Thanksgiving lunch. They- of course- were out of pie crusts since it was the day before Thanksgiving. I was kinda mad at myself for waiting so long to buy it and so I said a little prayer in my head to God to please let me find just one pie crust because Parker really wanted pie and I wanted to make it. As soon as I finish saying it, a Walmart employee (...or angel?) comes up to me and asks what I am looking for, I said "pie crusts, but I bet you're all out, huh?" and he very stylishly opens the box he was holding which was filled with pie crusts and he said, "no ma'am, I saw you over here and thought this is what you were looking for". So I got my pie crust, thanked the employee and thanked God a gazillion times and was able to make the best pie I ever had. Its kind of a simple story, but God cares about even the little things. Count your blessings today and everyday.

💜Nichole