Fun things about the weekend...Thanksgiving Edition

Family Meals



Coloring ~ lots of coloring



Embracing our greatest blessing ~ each other



Post-turkey napping



Aunts & Uncles



Celebrating generations



Pappaws



Playin' w.Pop Pop ~ hope he put all those pebbles back!



BLOCKS!



Embraces w.those we love



Taking time to play



Block destruction :)



Being w.the women I love most



Unconventional Thanksgiving traditions :)



Laughter ~ oh, so much laughter



Margaritas, Mexican and Fun!



Sombreros & celebrating birthdays



Bowling, Buddies & Beers



The display of bowling skills & the severe lack of for some folks :)



Warming up by the logs ~ finally!



Going to get our 1st LIVE Christmas tree



Some, less excited than others :)




Bringin' in the tree!



Marveling @ small Christmas wonders



1st colored-light tree ~ work in progress



Finally pooping out



Our Thanksgiving was full of family, warmth & love. Our blessings were firmly in our sights, in our arms & constantly on our hearts. God continues to reveal His precious love through the bountiful blessings we wake up to each day. He is so good to us...

Fun things about the weekend...

The star is hung



Weekend cups, full of warm goodness



Using wedding centerpieces to set our Christmas table



Warm candlelight ~ reminder of the warmth of family



Saturdays spent in PJs...



even when we go outside to play :)



Garland & bows



The wonder & discovery of all things Christmas



Soaking up fleeting moments w.our blue-eyed blessing



Building traditions ~ savoring family & home



Trying to avoid photos while still in PJs & sipping adult beverages :)



Enjoying the "fruits" of much labor



Being in the house of the Lord on Sunday morning ~ thankful that He is the King of Kings ~ the true light of the world



Christmas trees!



Hybrid BBQ ~ not quite Eastern, not quite Lexington ~ delicious nonetheless :)



John & The Jungle Book ~ spent a lot of time w. each other this weekend



The reason for it all ~ believing in a loving and sovereign God



The trees, the garland, the lights - they're simple reminders of the joy & beauty of the holiday season. The tiny baby that lays peacefully in the manger, therein lies the true beauty & gift of Christmas. God's most perfect gift to us - given so graciously....

Our weekend, though full of putting out & plugging in those simple reminders was full of much more than what could be captured in a photo. The most filling parts were those moments spent together as a family - being close to one another, marveling at our many blessings. As I was putting decorations on the "family tree" - I came across many Baby's 1st Christmas ornaments. Mine, 1979 and Seth's, 1981 - what a blessing for all of the Christmases that have fallen between those Christmases and now - memories made, lives intertwined. And for John, as I put his baby ornaments carefully on the tree - what a blessed reminder of the gift of children and the amazing joy they put in our hearts.

Looking ahead to this week & Thanksgiving, our hearts have been opened & are ready to receive the blessings of family and togetherness. What a wonderful prelude to the Christmas season - taking time to count blessings, give thanks and be with those we love. A good time to prepare our hearts and homes to welcome the Christmas season. Opening them to being filled w.the greatest blessing of all - the gift of salvation, given to us so lovingly in a manger.

Hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving and that your heart begins to fill as you await the birthday of the bright and morning star ~ the light of the world.

Love ~ The Fishers

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
~George Herbert

Going to the dogs

It's been an interesting week @ the house....

1st, Deddy was home for 2 days - moping around, coughing, snotty, kinda miserable.

Then, that lil' fella had a bunch of stinky diapers - since like Sunday. Not a lot of butt sniffing from me, shewwww! Even though Deddy was sick, he had to go get the lil' guy on Wednesday - that place he goes during the day sent him home....too many poopie diapers.

The next day Mama stayed home & those poopie diapers finally stopped around mid-day. That lil' fella slept straight through lunch & didn't get up till about 2:30 - sure was quiet around the house.

Lucky for me, Mama forgot & left the loveseat wide open - thus, I planted my happy butt up there for a big ol' nap, too. I heard her telling Deddy last night that some "couch vacuuming" was on the agenda for the weekend. I just can't help myself - if they don't block it, I'm on it like white on rice.

After lil' fella's nap Mama kept saying we were gonna go outside & play - FINALLY! Don't know what that lil' one's problem was - she kept saying "outside" and he kept running around inside. Glad she finally caught him & covered his feet so we could get outside - I was about to go crazy.

Unfortunately he & I both left our listening ears in the house & it wasn't too long before she cleaned us off & took us back in, mumbling something about "if yall can't listen any better than that...". We still had fun outside, just wished we could have stayed longer...he let her know by crying, I just whined. She didn't pay our fussing much attention, though. She just came in & poured herself some of that stuff from the bottle she keeps on the counter - dark red "water" in one of those fragile looking glasses - whatever it is...seems to make her content :)

Here some pics of me & the lil' guy...

This is poopie-pants, loungin' around, post-nap - NOT getting ready to go outside

This is us wishing we could have listened better - missing outside (that lil' fella's as tall as me now!)



Mama, how can you say "no" to these faces



That's fine, we'll resort to our usual "under-foot" selves, smack dab in the middle of the kitchen

So, I'm home today, by myself finally. Mama kicked Chester off my bed this morning. Well, she actually flipped it while he was asleep on it - this seems to amuse her. The couches are covered, so it looks like I'll be resting where they say I'm "supposed" to lay. I'm just glad they're all gone cause I've overhead talk of getting out trees & lots to do this weekend. I'm sure I'll be exhausted from being under foot while they knock out all these tasks - need to rest up today!

They've already test run a few of those "decorations" this week & although there's been a lot of "No, John" said - the lil' fella's done pretty good. It should be a good weekend - all of us home together - Mama & Deddy say that's their favorite.

They'll probably make an extra big pot of that black stuff in the morning & keep their sleep clothes on all day. They're funny like that - I just wish they wouldn't wait till so late in the day to brush their teeth.

Well, back to my napping ~ I'm sure Mama will check in next week w.pics & such from the weekend...

Dog kisses & wiggles ~ Love, Salem Belle

Fun things about the weekend...

Griffin Lane



Corben & colanders



Playin' "show me your belly" w.Granny Worley



Tri-cycling w.Pappaw



Unlikely hoop-sters :)



Mastering step-climbing



Inaugural slam-dunks



Cold beer ~ warm Saturday afternoons ~ watchin' my boys play :)



Givin' "life" to the ol' rusty b-ball goal



Pop Pop & yellow shirts



Old men playing on the wall



Icing down more COLD BEER :)



Game winning shots



Smiles & Sunday mornings



Moments w.Mimi



The splendor of Jordan Lake



Peek-A-Booing



Cats that can't be petted enough



Bath-time shenanigans



The beginnings...



:)



Blessings abound...