Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone. It was a quieter holiday for the Shaws than the usual Thansgiving, but I think it was perfect. We began the morning with a yummy breakfast with our girls and their families and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, we always have the parade on, and of course we peruse the newspaper ads for good deals. In the afternoon Fred, Meg, Dru, Erin, Violet and myself headed to our friends the Bailey's and Callie and Tim joined the Payne family. Of course we all ate too much.
Then it was back to or house for a gathering of friends for some football watching, dessert eating and the final plans for our traditional Black Friday shopping spree. It is funny because on Thanksgiving night no one feels like getting up early and going shopping, but the next day we are so glad we did. So, Friday morn we were out the door at 5:30 to make the kill. Meg couldn't join us since she has Mono, so it was just Erin, Callie and we roped Lori Ann Bailey into our memory making tradition!! It was worth the sleep we gave up!!

Then we celebrated Erin's birthday over lunch on Friday. We had turkey sandwiches and gluten free cupcakes that were so good!!!Then Saturday evening we got to see Jon and Lory Payne and their sweet baby Ellie. It was so fun to be with the Paynes and have all their kids there. I am sure Erin will post pictures of Ellie and Violet meeting!! Sunday was a quiet recovering day, more football (once again the Broncos disappoint us) and to bed early as we have a full week ahead.
As the weekend closed I went to bed with gratitude that though this year has been a bit more challenging than others, we still have much to thank God for. He has dealt bountifully with us and it is good medicine to recount those dealings each night. But of all the wonderful blessings I have on this earth I am truly most thankful for the gift of salvation God has given me and the family I have to share that with. If I am given nothing else in this earth, the treasure that my children are all serving God is the most tremendous gift I could ever receive. I am aware that it is all of grace and all His doing. He has been so good to me.

Is this cute or what?? Violet is wearing the jacket her Mommy wore 24 years ago!! I saved a few things from each of my kids ad this jacket was one of them! I can't wait to see Violet running around in Erin's little dresses soon!!

From Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, Nov. 3, morning:

"Prayers are instantly noticed in heaven. The moment Saul began to pray the Lord heard him. Here is comfort for the distressed but praying soul. Oftentimes a poor broken-hearted one bends his knee, but can only utter his wailing in the language of sighs and tears; yet that groan has made all the harps of heaven thrill with music; that tear has been caught by God and treasured in the lachrymatory (a bottle of tears) of heaven. “Thou puttest my tears into thy bottle,” implies that they are caught as they flow. The suppliant, whose fears prevent his words, will be well understood by the Most High. He may only look up with misty eye; but “prayer is the falling of a tear.” Tears are the diamonds of heaven; sighs are a part of the music of Jehovah's court, and are numbered with “the sublimest strains that reach the majesty on high.” Think not that your prayer, however weak or trembling, will be unregarded. Jacob's ladder is lofty, but our prayers shall lean upon the Angel of the covenant and so climb its starry rounds. Our God not only hears prayer but also loves to hear it. “He forgetteth not the cry of the humble.” True, He regards not high looks and lofty words; He cares not for the pomp and pageantry of kings; He listens not to the swell of martial music; He regards not the triumph and pride of man; but wherever there is a heart big with sorrow, or a lip quivering with agony, or a deep groan, or a penitential sigh, the heart of Jehovah is open; He marks it down in the registry of His memory; He puts our prayers, like rose leaves, between the pages of His book of remembrance, and when the volume is opened at last, there shall be a precious fragrance springing up therefrom."

This was in my devotions today. what a comfort for us all. At my weakest moment, He hears, He sees and He cares. I love the line that says "The suppliant, whose fears prevent his words, will be well understood by the Most High. He may only look up with misty eye; but “prayer is the falling of a tear.” Oh, what an incredibly loving God we serve.