Thankful for 10 Months

Hulse and Olivia,
you were 10 months old this Thanksgiving day and are up to something different everyday. You are both crawling everywhere and getting into everything. Neither of you like to sit these days and prefer to be on the move or standing up.

Olivia, you are cruising around the ottoman and walking really well behind your lion toy.

Hulse, you're still working on the foot placement for the cruise but you can do a few steps.

Both of you are kind of clingy right now, not with mom and dad but with people in general. You don't really want to be alone at all and prefer to be played with nonstop. You have both started eating the lunch at school and have tried all kinds of new foods. You both ate well at Thanksgiving and loved the dressing, sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce. You are both doing well with the sippy cup, and we will start in January really trying to get away from the bottles as we move toward milk for both of you. Everyday you bring a new challenge, but you also bring a new joy, and we love you.

Today I'm thankful for...

prayer. I'm never in a more calm steady place than when I'm praying. It is such a comfort to have God's ear anytime I need it or just want to talk to him. I am also thankful for the power of prayer and the countless things I've seen it do in my life and the lives of so many people.

October and November Pictures

A little Hulse and Livi Update

I haven't really updated on what the kiddos are up to these days so here goes. Hulse has decided that he wants to crawl and he's going at it with gusto. He gets up on all fours and he's off. It's so funny now to be in the kitchen and here those little hands hitting the tile and he's there. I keep saying over and over again, things are never going to be the same. He's also decided to spout not one, not two, but three teeth. I think he's trying to rush it so he can get a happy meal. Olivia is still scooting around and hasn't really tried to crawl yet. She is however a great little "walker" she love to hold on to your hands and go. Maybe she's going to skip crawling and go right to walking! We've also been trying a lot of new foods. They've had mashed potatoes, green beans, dressing, cheese, oatmeal, and chicken nuggets to name a few.





On another note, today I'm thankful for people who are willing to help. We just wrapped up our holiday food basket and Samaritan's purse box collection at church and I am always astounded by the love and generosity that people display. I'm thankful that there are so many individuals who give up themselves to help those who need it.

Today I'm thankful for...

email, Facebook, blogs, and any other medium that makes it easier to stay in touch. In the business of life I may not talk with someone every day, but I can always shoot a quick electronic message or check their blog and be connected to the people I love.

Today I'm thankful for...

the Weekend. I love spending the weekend with my family and always look forward to some good quality downtime. Even If I have errands to run I love knowing that the time belongs to me. I'm blessed to not have to work on the weekends and enjoy my hubby and babies.

Today I'm thankful for...

my health. I come from a line of pretty healthy people and I'm hoping I got those good genes! I am truly thankful to be a fairly healthy individual with a healthy husband and 2 healthy kiddos. I know how blessed I am to live in a country where I have access to resources like doctors, hospitals, and health insurance (for now!) that help me be as healthy as I can be.

Today I'm thankful for...

laughter. It's so much fun to laugh! I honestly believe that laughing is great medicine. A funny movie, story, joke, or listening to my kids giggle can just make my day.

Today I'm thankful for...

the opportunity to travel. Whether it's to Branson or on a Caribbean cruise I'm thankful to have to opportunity to get out and see places from time to time. I've always been a "goer" and love to get out and see places. I think I love to travel because it makes it so nice to come home!

Today I'm thankful for...

stability. I am so blessed that in a world of shifting sand to have stability in my life. First of all I the stability of having my life built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Because of that firm foundation I am also blessed with stability in my marriage, family, and finances. Stability is a fading commodity in this world and I am daily thankful for the solid things in my life.

Giggle Box

The kids are pretty ticklish. They also love standing up holding on to things. So while they were distracted, I thought it would be funny to tickle them. It was definitely funny.



Did you notice how the moment that I stopped tickling they immediately quit laughing? Those two are hilarious.

Scooting

A lot of effort for such little movement; but it's progress.

Today I'm thankful for...

The freedom we have in this country. I'm especially thankful for the sacrifices made each day by men and women in the military to ensure my freedom. A freedom I've done nothing to deserve but that is extended to me anyway. No problem that I may have is comparable to the war they encounter on a daily basis.

Today I'm thankful for...

A day off. Even though it was spent cleaning house and doing laundry it was still a nice break from the norm.

Today I'm thankful for...

Books. Every Saturday morning my mom, grandmother and I would start our day at the library. I loved to go in and pick out as many books as I wanted and you can bet all of them got read. I've always loved to read and I still find a great story a magical get-away. I love to read to my babies and I hope they fall in love with reading also.

Today I'm thankful for...

Trey's job. Trey works for a wonderful company that values their employees and has some great benefits. I am truly grateful for his job and his provision for our family.

Thankful Weekend

This weekend I'm thankful for my job and my education. I'm keenly aware these days how thankful I am to have a job. With so many people out of work I am truly blessed to have a good job (I may not always act like it!) and a great boss. I am also thankful to have been afforded the opportunity to go back to school and further my education.

Today I'm thankful for...

My home. When Trey and I moved into our home on last May I couldn't help but think about how it wildly exceeded my expectations. I was so overcome with how much the Lord had blessed our search and led us to the perfect house. We were looking for a home with more room so that when a baby Hankins came along we would have a place to put him/her, what we didn't know then was that we were going to be having 2 babies to fill it up. I always pray that our home will be a place filled with love, safety, and tons of laughter.

Today I'm thankful for...

My friends. I have always been the type of person who loves being surrounded by people and having lots of friends. I am so blessed to have close girlfriends who are in all stages of life. I've got single friends, friends with older kids who I can go to for advice, and friends who are just starting their families to share stories with. Trey and I are also blessed with some wonderful couple friends who we so enjoy spending time with.

Today I'm thankful for...

My family. I am so blessed to have parents who are still together, raised me with a sense of right/wrong and who I am, and who love me (and now my children) unconditionally. I am also blessed to have grown up with all of my grandparents surrounded by love and fun.

Thankful November

I'm thinking that I'll dedicate the whole month of November to things that I'm thankful for. I'm blessed beyond measure so I shouldn't have any trouble coming up with a new thankful thing every day. I'll do three things today to get me caught up.

I'm thankful for my relationship with my Savior. No matter how little or how much I put in, his steadfast love and presence never waivers. Salvation is my most undeserved yet treasured blessing.

I'm thankful for my husband. I could not ask for a more loving and patient husband and father. Even when it's hard my marriage is a treasure.

I'm thankful for my children. With so many women struggling with infertility, sick kids, and loss I am all the more thankful for 2 happy healthy babies. Hulse and Olivia are the gleam in my eye and the joy in my heart.

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:27-29