Being Thankful!!

This morning, well it started earlier than any other morning for this gal! Cooper needed to be in Ames by 7:30, for a haircut, and I needed to get some last minute stuff for Thanksgiving. Welp, Michael left around 5:30, meaning it was pretty much pointless for me to go back to bed. So, I got out my women's devotional bible, which I finally found what box it was packed in just 2 days ago! I was encouraged as I looked at the tabs I had put on some of the pages, because they contained verses that I found very helpful, MANY years ago!
The passage that REALLY brought me to tears was:
Romans 5:3-5
3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance' 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

God has really been teaching me so much about myself, more so in the last week. I have never realized how prideful I was, both in my relationship to God, and my status as "married". It's almost as if I thought that was a pass to all things good, no problems, or hurdles, especially when it came to having a family. I would find myself getting angry, not at people, but at their situations in life, and wondering why it worked for them to have what I though I should have. God has really been humbling me, changing my mindset when I see a young girl pregnant, or finding out people I know who are not married, or who are but have no desire for children, are having kids. It's amazing what God will use to change one's heart. Oh how I wish I could have learned this a different way, but as I read in Romans, this 'suffering' will not stay a suffering, but will ultimately produce HOPE!!

As we head into the holiday season, I pause to give thanks for MANY things!
1- My God!! He's SO big and he sees the BIG picture, and is daily revealing new things to me.
2- MICHAEL!! God sure knew what He was doing when He lead us together! Michael has had SO much compassion and patience towards me. I am SO grateful he CHOOSES to love me daily!! even when I know it can be tough! :)
3- Family!! Where would we be without them?!?!? I wouldn't want to know!! We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family!!
4-Friends! God has greatly blessed us with AMAZING people to love us!! and to allow us to fellowship with!!
5- Work! I really do love my jobs!! My kiddos, teens, teach me SO much!! The more I do long term shifts, as in overnights for my family, I have a much more appreciation for them! These parents do so much to ensure their kids have a great life, and it's just amazing!!
6- Health! Don't know what to put with this! :)
7- Church Family! Our church, which is where Team McHenry debuted, has been such a blessing to us! Striving to minister to us, and allow us to give back with our time! We enjoy working with the older 3 year-olds!

We have so much more to be thankful for. Christmas, and what it symbolizes is a BIG one!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!
Please keep us in your prayers, especially has we enter the holiday season, I will be seeking out prayer, particularly in the next few weeks!!

~Team McHenry~

oh the anticipation....

Well, the holidays are quickly approaching, and now the emotional waves are back, almost fierce now. All of our plans for the holidays are now VASTLY different!! We were going to host Thanksgiving, because I would have been 35 weeks pregnant. Now we are not expecting, and we have decided not to stay home. I really wanna see the lighting of the Plaza down in Kansas City, something BEAUTIFUL to help with the way I am feeling. I think that the worst part of this is just anticipating what each day will bring. I hope and pray I don't become an emotional basket-case and ruin what should be a fun time with everyone. I really almost feel like staying home, but I also want to be around people. I just REALLY DO NOT want people treating Michael and I like we are fragile, that sometimes makes it worse. Sometimes I feel like people are just waiting to see me cry. Now I know that's not true, it's just how I feel sometimes. I am really hoping and praying that when people see us, especially during the holidays, they don't try to ask us how we're doing and coping, I would rather people just wish us a Happy Thanksgiving, Great to see you!, Merry Christmas! and Happy New Year!!! This will help out TREMENDOUSLY!! I understand people are curious, and they care, and want us to know they care, but during this time, being around people we haven't seen in a while, I don't want to have to hold back tears because I am trying to talk about how I am coping. It's already going to be hard.
I do enjoy getting little notes of encouragement. I understand it's tough for people to know how to engage, but just a hug or a pat on the back, speaks VOLUMES!!! We don't need heavy words, or people trying to console us, especially when they have no idea what's going on in our heads. Just letting us know you're thinking about us, and praying is great!
Today has just really been one of those days. Tons of emotions, had to stay home from work! Granted it was a SUPER short work day, we're talking maybe 2 hours :)
Thank you to those who have and continue to lift us up in your prayers, please DO NOT stop!! We need them! At least I know I REALLY do!

I just LOVE when God speaks!!

So, last week I blogged a small bit on Michael's hours, or maybe it was 2 weeks ago. Anywho, that VERY night, he was offered DAY HOURS!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!! We are now in Day 2 of this new schedule, and it's kinda weird!! But I love it!! I am not a huge fan of an alarm going off EVERY day at 5a, but if it means spending the evenings with Michael, then I will learn to adjust!! We got more of our pictures uploaded, not at home but on facebook and a friends blog. We are very excited to get prints ordered and start decorating!! I had called my friend Nicole and suggested a service swap!! She would take our family pictures, and I would cut/color her hair!!! Gotta love having fun skills!! Here a few of the pictures!

In our backyard...


In front of our New House!!




My 2 favorite guys!



Family picture...maybe even the Christmas card photo! :)




Hope you enjoyed those, we sure have!!
We had the privilege to host Michael's parents this weekend. I ended up working some of the weekend, trying to use up hours for my families due to the holiday and everyone traveling, so they won't lose their hours for months to come!
We celebrated Dad Mac's birthday, out to dinner, cake and ice cream, and playing Phase 10!
I really got to work on my domestic skills!! Good thing I enjoy cooking!! I would love to host more often!!
Michael just laughs at me, because I always say something to the fact, "well, when we have people over..." or something to that effect, because our old place wasn't fun to host in because it was a bit tight!
Welp, we love filling our home with laughter, and voices, so if you wanna stop by just give us a call!! Now that Michael has evenings off, we're more available!!

WOO-HOO!!!

God is just SO AMAZING!!!
We have been praying for almost 4 years for Michael to be put on a different shift. Well, starting NEXT Monday, HE NO LONGER WORKS IN THE EVENING!! This is ONE excited BRIDE! I have been trying to redo my own work schedule, since i had been staying at work later, just so the evenings weren't so lonely!
This timing is just WONDERFUL! Just in time for the Holidays, so we don't have to use up PTO, its just great! Although, I will miss our mornings, I will thoroughly enjoy having him home in the evenings even more!
Speaking of the holidays, we have a busy couple of weeks, or shall I say next two months ahead of us! Mom and Dad Mac are heading to our place for the weekend, so that will be fun to spend some time with them! And then I get to meet up with the May gals for some shopping and fun time spent together!! I just love our families!!! We are so blessed!! I even really appreciate all of the wonderful people who continue to reach out to us and love on us. This afternoon, my adopted-in-church grandma Jo came down to see our new house, and to join me for lunch!! She is such an amazing woman, and I so enjoy her company! Who would have thought, that so many years ago, when the church's youth group put on a dinner for the 'old faithfuls' that a wonderful friendship would have been formed!! And all because this particular 'old faithful' thought it would be funny to untie my shoes during a devotional!! It's been a ton of fun ever since! :)
I do get one laid back weekend before we head to Kansas City for Thanksgiving! I am so excited to see everyone! Cooper is excited to meet his new dog cousin Happy! Should be a lot of fun watching the 2 of them run around!
Welp, that's all...
I must say, I've been doing pretty good at blogging lately! :), ooh and if you look at my previous post, I figured out how to add a picture!! So if you look, that is one of our favorites...so far!
Please excuse the RANDOMNESS!! It's just how I'm wired :)