Old and New Traditions

-

Over the past few days we have said "goodbye" to one family tradition and "hello" to a new family tradition. We've traveled to Pennsylvania for years, visited family, spent time together, gone shopping, and eaten Thanksgiving dinner at Ruby Tuesday. It has been such a fun family tradition that has created many wonderful memories. Since none of our family is living in Pennsylvania any longer, we said "goodbye" to that tradition when we drove home yesterday.
Here are a few of our favorite memories from this year's visit to PA: 

I got to ride an elephant!!!!!!
This was the most amazing store!
We all like this kind of shopping!



Shopping at our favorite Grocery Store
We got to ride a horse and buggy when we spent the day in Lancaster!
Evan and Dylan got to ride a miniature horse!
Tyson REALLY enjoyed his first time eating a Shady Maple!
We went to Hershey Chocolate World!
We created our very own Chocolate Bars!
Tyson thought the hair nets were soooo funny!
 I'll admit, its hard to leave such a special place knowing that you may never go back. I have truly enjoyed visiting that little town with Bryan's family for the past 20 years, but as we drove home, I started to get a little excited about a new tradition, of having a big Thanksgiving meal at our home. Today, we had a huge turkey, all the trimmings, and lots of family over to celebrate. This is our first time eating an actual turkey on Thanksgiving in years and years! I was soooo excited to make it!!

Here's my turkey!!!! YAY!
Look at Dylan! Haha
My hubby and Me
Katee and Tyson are only 2 weeks apart! They were so cute
together tonight!
Today I am thankful for Thanksgiving Day. Gratitude is something that is close to my heart every day so I truly enjoy when others take time to share what they are grateful for as well! I am also thankful for traditions. We have enjoyed  many wonderful years with amazing traditions. I hate to see those end but I'm looking forward to new traditions and new memories. Mostly I am grateful for the people I get to enjoy these traditions with each year. My Heavenly Father has blessed me abundantly. I am grateful today and every day.


Comments

Post a Comment

Please take the time to leave an encouraging message

Popular posts from this blog

Please don't give me a wedgie!

-
Image
 Would you believe me if I told you that life with 3 boys is wild??  You probably would, huh? I'm telling you, just an average Wednesday night in the Shaw household is full of all sorts of craziness! I did hear a first tonight though!  Bryan was wrestling with the boys and suddenly Dylan starts yelling "Please don't give me a wedgie!" Now by those words, you would assume that he didn't want a wedgie but the way he was shaking his booty in front of Bryan and laughing, proved that he really did want a wedgie! HA! Then, of course, Evan and Tyson started saying, "Please don't give me a wedgie!" (One in English, one in toddler language) So we had three little boys running around shaking their tail ends and begging for wedgies.  There. Is. Never. A. Dull. Moment. As you can see from this picture above, they got their wedgies! They thought it was hysterical! And I just had to show you the picture below, just to give you an id
Read more

Beauty from Ashes

-
Image
I have heard the term "beauty from ashes" a thousand times in the past week. It wasn't the first time I 've heard the term but I've always just brushed it off. Since I've heard it so much lately, I decided to pay it some attention.  So here we go... The Bible says in Isaiah that God will give us beauty instead of ashes. In Biblical times it was the custom for people in great times of mourning and difficulty to lay down in ashes. Just imagine this...you’ve got a big problem in your life so you just lay down in a pile of dirty ashes. There is absolutely nothing beautiful about this scenario. So where does the beauty come from? Can ashes really be turned into something beautiful?   Scripture says that God is able to take the situation that burdens you or causes you pain and turn it into beauty. He can pick you up out of the ash pile of life and make something beautiful out of you. The Hebrew word for ashes is epher and the Hebrew word for beauty is pheer. Just m
Read more

Psalm 84: 11-12

-
Image
For the  Lord   God is a sun   and shield;      the  Lord  bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold      from those whose walk is blameless.  Lord  Almighty, blessed  is  the one who trusts in you Psalm 84: 11-12 I've been pondering Psalm 84:11-12 for a couple of weeks now. It has become one of my favorite verses. After really digging into this verse on my own and in Bible study this morning, I feel like God speaks volumes through these 38 simple words.  God is a sun and a shield. Like the sun, God provides for us, nourishes us, and is always present. The sun provides hope with each new day, just as God gives hope in even the worst situation. Like a shield, God protects us and gives us security. We can hide behind Him and feel safe. But, a shield does no good just laying near by. It only protects when picked up and used appropriately. The same is true with God. If we don't acknowledge Him, if we don't get to know Him, if we don'
Read more