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We started the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree in the beginning of November a couple years ago. We call it the Thanksgiving Tree. We set out a basket full of index cards with yarn to hang them with. Every time we think of something we are thankful for we jot it down and hang it on the Thanksgiving Tree. Its starts out sparse and gradually becomes loaded with the fruit of gratefulness. Come on over. You can hang something on the tree!

[Thanksgiving Tree Archive: 2007, 2008]

My sister (center) and Jason (right) spent the week prior to their wedding in a huge house, on a mountain, with friend and family. Awesomeness.

We made the trek down to Crossett, AR the day after Christmas. That’s where all of Ginger’s family lives.

Royce holding Samuel, the youngest of his great grand children.

Emily is Sophia’s favorite cousin. Why? Because they both love horses! Duh! They are definitely bff cousins.

One of the neatest things about Royce and Sue’s home is all the family photos.

Abuela & Shmuel.

Lamar, AR

Remember the New Year’s Resolutions I made way back when? “Participate in Significant Celebration” was one of them. Over the past year I’ve put some energy and creativity into rethinking significant dates (Christmas and Easter, for example). Amidst that rethinking we initiated last year what I hope will be a lifelong family tradition, the Thanksgiving Tree.

It’s amazing what happens when we make an abstract idea tangible. The Thanksgiving Tree is our reminder to be grateful. Every time we think of something for which we are thankful, we write it down and hang it on the tree. It’s filling up fast!

Once Thanksgiving Day arrives, we’ll take all the cards down and read them. You can read the ones from last year here.

David Cole helping us find a good tree. We decided against the Banana tree. Mainly because they attract monkeys.

What translation of the Bible do you use? Why?

I’m just wondering because I’m sorting through the question myself.

We’re at a unique stage of life and we feel like this is a pretty important question. We would like to decide on a version that we use as a family. Amanda is storying with Sophia starting with Creation (they’re to Noah) and we realize that as we begin to expose Sophia to scripture, it is important to provide some consistency. Also, we feel that it is important to read something she can make sense of and connect with.

So, share your thoughts. I’d love to know what version you use and why you use it.

. . . is to them.

I love my wife and daughter (you too Samuel!) a lot. And, this weekend we got to spend time just hanging out with one another. It was great.

Some of that hang out time took place at Jacksonville’s new water park, Splash Zone. It’s pretty sweet really. The kid area is amazing! But, it was kind of embarrassing when the lifeguard blew her whistle at me for trying to go up the slide.