Thanksgiving 2008!

Since, I will be cooking in the morning and getting the kids and myself ready I thought I would go ahead and do my "what all I am thankful for" post now.

1. I am so thankful that I serve a God who loves me unconditionally. That He graces me each and everyday to walk through this journey called life. I am thankful that He sent His only son, Jesus, to die on the cross for ALL of my sins. Because of that I am able to have a personal relationship with my Heavenly Father. I am thankful for all of the blessings He has poured out on my family. I am also thankful for the trials I have gone through, because if I hadn't I wouldn't know my Heavenly Father the way that I do now.

2. I am thankful for my dear sweet loving husband. He is one incredible man! God knew exactly what I needed when He brought Byron and I together. In our 4 1/2 years of marriage, we have gone through quite a bit of change. Thankfully, we have supported one another and kept our faith strong in the Lord. I don't know what I would do without him. I am thankful that he is the head of our household. I am thankful that He is a man after God's own heart. I am blessed to know that he is always there for me supporting and loving me. Even when I have hard days and I am wallowing in self pity he still loves me! I am so thankful that God gave Byron to me and that we will continue this journey through life together.

3. I am thankful for Jaycee Ann Lohrer. My baby is not so much a baby anymore. I couldn't imagine life without her. I am thankful that God has blessed us with a lively little girl. She is definitely momma's little helper. She has a smile that will light up any room. I love her questions and I love all of her stories. She has a sweet sweet spirit about her. I am thankful that God has already touched her life and that Jesus lives in her heart! I love how she runs around the house singing songs all day long. She is such a good big sister. I am so blessed to have this precious girl in my life and I am so excited to watch her grow and develop into the person God has created her to be.

4. I am thankful for Jackson Alan Lohrer. I don't think I was prepared at all when I had this little boy. I hadn't been around baby boys at all growing up. So this was a whole new thing to me. It has been wonderful. He is one energetic boy. I love his craziness. I love how he rubs the corner of his blanket in his ear one minute and the very next minute he is crashing cars together. He loves music and his guitar. He cares deeply for his sister too. I am so blessed by that. I am thankful that he is a healthy and happy little boy. I look forward to the day when He accepts Jesus into his life. I can't wait to see him become all God has created him to be.

5. I am thankful for family. Byron and I are so blessed that our children have 2 sets of grandparents and 1 set of great-grandparents. They all play an important role in our kids' lives. We are so blessed to have families that serve God Almighty. We know that we don't see a lot of our families enough, that one day we will spend eternity in Heaven together. To our Washington family we love and miss you all so very much. Thank you all for supporting us. I know at times its difficult and definitely not easy on your hearts. Thank you all so much for all of your guidance and wisdom. God has truly blessed me with a wonderful in-law family. Thank you for accepting this Okie girl. I hope you all know how special and wonderful you are to me. We are so blessed to have you all in our lives!

6. I am thankful for our friends near and far. We are so grateful for all of our friends. Some have been in our lives since we were young and some for only a short time, but we are so thankful that you all are in our lives. As you all have been a blessing to our lives I hope we have been the same to you. We don't take your friendships lightly at all and we know that we are truly blessed to have such great and wonderful friends!

7. I am thankful for our church families hear in Oklahoma and Washington. We thank you for your support, love, and prayers. We are thankful that the gospel of Jesus Christ is going out to all the Nations. We have grown so much through the word of God that has been spoken. We love you and are excited to see how God continues to use His people for His glory.

8. I am thankful that we live in an awesome country. I am thankful for all of the soldiers that protect our freedom every day. I am grateful my kids can play safely outside and we can sleep peacefully at night. We love the U.S.A.!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2008! MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES! WE LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Date Night!

This isn't a date night for Byron and I, but a date night for Jaycee and her Daddy. It was to celebrate her half birthday. She turned 3 1/2 years old yesterday. Amazing! Byron is carrying on the family tradition, that Andy started with Phil and Byron.(Thanks Papa for one incredible family tradition.) This is Jaycee's second half birthday celebration.

Jaycee and Byron went into Duncan. The choice for dinner was McDonald's. I am sure you are thinking what is so special about McDonald's? Well, Jaycee has never been on the playground at McDonald's! Byron ordered their food and they went into the play area. She was so excited! She walked up to it and said "This is going to be AMAZING!" So she played for half an hour. Byron said she chatted away to herself the whole time and every time she went down the slide she made her girly squeal! After every couple of trips down the slide, she would run over and take bites of her chicken nuggets. So I would say she enjoyed her dinner!

Then Byron took her to Wal-Mart. Byron picked up a few things that he needed and they headed back to the toy department. This of course, for Jaycee takes a very long time for her to choose. She looks at every toy and plays with it. She doesn't necessarily want the toy, she just plays with it to see if she might want it! They were looking at the Littlest Pet Shop stuff, but Jaycee wasn't quite sure. So they moved on to the next aisle. Well, she saw the My Little Pony collection. Then she decided that was going to be her choice. She picked out a purple pony with stars on it and with shiny glittery hair. As they were leaving the toy department, Jaycee said, "wait Daddy we have to get something for Bubby!" So precious! So they went over to the boy section in the toys and Jaycee picked out a new motorcycle for Jackson.

After the trip to Wal-Mart, Byron took Jaycee and got her some ice cream. Usually she eats about half of it but last night she at it all! The conversation Byron and Jaycee had in the car was cute. They were talking about this being Mom's birthday week. Byron made the statement that mom is really old. Jaycee defended me and said, "No she is not old." They went back and forth for a while, then Jaycee said, "Sarah and Abram were old, Mommy is not old!" That is so sweet!

It was a great night for everyone. Byron and I had alone time with each child. Jaycee loved her new pony and found her other pony that she has had for a while. That is all she wants to play with for now. They even slept with her last night. The new pony's name is Star and we named the old pony Rainbow. Jackson loves his new motorcycle and was so excited to get it. They are both so precious and we are so blessed by God to have them in our lives! Our life would be pretty boring and empty without them!

I am so thankful that my children have an awesome dad! He loves them so much. My children are so blessed to have a dad that is an active part of their life. They are excited everyday when he comes home for lunch. Jackson is usually screaming Daddy and Jaycee is hiding so Byron will come find her. They talk about him all the time. Jaycee even told Byron last night that He was a good daddy! We would be totally lost without him! Thank you Lord for placing in our lives this wonderfully awesome man!!!

Early Birthday Gift!!!

My birthday is Sunday, but Byron, my parents, and grandparents surprised me yesterday with my gift!!! My hubby is very sneaky! Yesterday afternoon when everyone got up from naps, Byron had Jaycee come to me and say she wanted to go to Mam-Mam and Paw-Paw's house to see Dusty the baby colt. I thought to myself well okay we can do that but wasn't sure mom and dad were even there. We loaded up anyways. We got to my parents house and I was a little surprised to see Ma and Pa sitting on the couch. I didn't realize that their truck was in my parents' driveway, I thought it was my parents. (They both have a white 4 door pick-up) Anyways, not too long after we arrived Jaycee came out of the bedroom with a large polka dot gift bag. Mom said it was my birthday gift from all of them! I was still clueless as what it could be. Using Pa's knife to cut open the box, I discovered that I got a new digital camera!!! WOOHOO!!! Its a Nikon Cool Pix S550. I LOVE IT!!! Byron had planned this whole thing. He ordered the camera from my parents house and had it sent there too. He also had talked to my mom at church and arranged for us coming to their house yesterday. He is a good man and a wonderful husband!!!

My old camera is a Cannon. Byron had gotten it for me 4 years ago for my birthday!!! I can't believe how much these cameras have changed in 4 years! I am so glad I don't have to buy any more double A batteries!!! My new camera is so sleek and light! I can't wait to use it at Thanksgiving!!!

Here are some pictures I took yesterday at my mom's. While we were there, Jaycee put on make-up and Jackson got his hair trimmed. This was my first time to witness Jackson's hair trimming. My mom puts him in her bathroom sink and he plays in the water while she snips away hair.

Family Traditions!!!

With all of the Holidays approaching I have been looking for new ideas and collecting old ideas to incorporate in the Lohrer Family's Christmas Traditions. My memory is not at all great when it comes to remembering my childhood. At this point, the family tradition that comes from my side is that we always gather at Ma and Pa's on Christmas Day. Which I totally love. I am wanting more to bless my children with though. I want to make it more about Jesus and less about what the world makes of Christmas. Byron brings from his childhood of baking a birthday cake for Jesus and singing Happy Birthday to Him. So that is one family tradition that will be carried on. I believe that they also slept in front of the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. That will definitely be a tradition we do at some point, but Jackson I don't think would do too well with that right now. Oh, I just had a memory come back to me. My sis and I did sleep with my parents every Christmas Eve night in their bed. We did this up until Amy got married.

Now to new tradition ideas, I read these in a Focus on the Family magazine. I am thinking about making a Christmas gift box for Jesus. Then the kids can color pictures, draw pictures, or make crafts that they can give to Jesus. Also, hanging a Christmas stocking with Jesus' name on it. Then Christmas Eve night talking with the kids about what Jesus would like in His stocking. Jaycee and I can bake goodies. The kids and I will deliver them to our neighbors. Through our church, we will participate in our Angel tree. We will take and buy for a child in our church that their family can't afford to buy Christmas gifts for them.

Growing up I knew the reason we celebrated Christmas. I desire for our children to have a passion about it. To really understand what this means to us as believers in Jesus Christ. I want them to learn to be givers and to know that God will always supply all of their needs. For them to learn to be very thankful for all that they do have. Through this I hope that it will carry out into their everyday life.

Any suggestions on more traditions? I would love to "hear" them!

Pacifier M-I-A!!!!

Jackson's pacifier as of tonight has gone missing! Byron has been working on me since we came back from our visit to Washington to break Jackson of it. I haven't really worked on it or even wanted to discuss it because Jackson is my baby. For me, its one of those last items that symbolizes that he is still a baby. I had recently discovered that his pacifiers were getting holes in them. At first, I thought Zoe had chewed on them, but realized it was Jackson doing it. So I thought well if that is what he is going to do I will not buy anymore and when the last one is gone we will be done with the pacifiers. Unfortunately, we had gotten down to 1. I wasn't planning on it disappearing so fast. I looked the house over tonight before bed time and couldn't find it anywhere. After dinner tonight as I cleaned up the kitchen I could have possibly tossed it into the garbage, totally by accident.

Thankfully, Jackson didn't cry when he went to bed tonight. He asked for it and I told him that I couldn't find it anywhere. It took some time for him to fall asleep, but he did it! It was a lot harder for me then him. Well, maybe I shouldn't state that just yet. We haven't gone through the day without it. We shall see. I just hope that the pacifier doesn't reappear. So now, does this classify Jackson as a big boy?!

Love Letter!

My Child,

Not only can I hear you, but I know everything about you. (Psalm139:1) I know when you sit down and when you rise up. (Psalm 139:2) I am familiar with all your ways. (Psalm 139:3) Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. (Matthew 10:29-31) For you were made in My image. (Genesis 1:27) In Me, you live and move and have your being. (Acts 17:27-28)

For you are My offspring. (Acts 17:28) I knew you even before you were conceived. (Jeremiah 1:4-5) I chose you, when I planned creation. (Ephesians 1:11-12) You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in My book. (Psalm 139:15-16) I determined the exact time of your birth, and where you would live. (Acts 17:26) You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14) I knit you together in your mother's womb. (Psalm 139:13) And brought you forth on the day you were born. (Psalm 71:6) I have been misrepresented by those who don't know Me. (John 8:41, 42, 44) I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. (1 John 4:16) And it is My desire to lavish My love on you. Simply because you are My child, and I am your Father. (1 John 3:1) I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. (Matthew 7:11) For I am the perfect Father. (Matthew 5:48)

Every good gift that you receive, comes from My hand. (James 1:17) For I am your provider, and I Meet all your needs. (Matthew 6:31-33) My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) Because I love you with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3) My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. (Psalm 139:17-18) And I rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17) I will never stop doing good to you. (Jeremiah 32:40) For you are My treasured possession. (Exodus 19:5) I desire to establish you with all My heart, and all My soul. (Jeremiah 32:41) And I want to show you great and marvelous things. (Jeremiah 33:3) If you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me. (Deuteronomy 4:29) Delight in Me, and I will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4) For it is I, who gave you those desires. (Philippians 2:13) I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. (Ephesians 3:20-21) For I am your greatest encourager. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17) And nothing will ever separate you from My love again. (Romans 8:38-39) I have always been your Father, and will always be your Father. (Ephesians 3:14-15)

Love,
Your Heavenly Father

Byron had bought me a t-shirt. The company is called NOT OF THIS WORLD. I went on their website to check out what all they have to offer. I came across a shirt with this written on the back. I will be reading this daily to Jaycee, Jackson and myself! There is no greater love then the love of our Heavenly Father. Hope this blesses your heart like it has mine!

Arbuckle Wilderness!

Our wonderful friends Trey and Serah had us over so Andy and Marilee could go through their animal park. It was so much fun. It was a great sunny day, not too hot or too cold. Trey got the jeep, hooked a trailer on back, tossed some hay on it so we had a place to sit and off we went. This was the kids 3rd time to go through it this year. It never gets old seeing the animals or feeding them. Jackson had so much fun that he had to take a nap during the middle of the ride. So here are some more pictures for you to enjoy!