We had a pretty low-key Thanksgiving this year! Since having Micaiah, we have decided that we are just going to ONE place each actual holiday day. Before, we would run out to Hart's family, my family, and between the two it was just too hectic that we never really got to enjoy family and time together. Last year, we did Micaiah's 1st Thanksgiving with my side of the family, so this year we went to Hart's Aunt Chris & Uncle David's to enjoy time with family! They live right here in Columbia, so we didn't have to go too far, which is nice!

Here's a look at last year at 2.5 months old!

And now this year at 14.5 months!

Micaiah enjoying his 1st Thanksgiving Meal! 

He played a lot with some toy cars and with Hart's girl cousins, Pam, Ellen, and Anna! 

I totally made him get dressed up in a traditional southern smocked outfit complete with knee high socks (that were Hart's as a kid), a turtle neck, and stride-rite boots. He wasn't too happy when I put the turtle neck on him. I promised him it was the last one he would ever have to wear. Ha! We'll see about that! 

We have so much to be thankful for from the Lord, particularly in this sweet son that God has given us! I'm so thankful that I can just praise the Lord for him and give thanks all the time for the joy he brings us! We love him so much! My mama heart is overflowing! 

And one last fun shot that I took with our camera! Well, we took all of them with our camera, but this one I had some fun playing around with.

I hope your Thanksgiving was GREAT! Lots of love to you from The TRAYLORS!

How Can I Really be Thankful?

This idea of thankfulness is hard. Its not something that comes naturally to me. Every morning I battle with how I am going to walk throughout my day and way too often I walk in the flesh. We stayed up late watching the baseball game last night, so this morning I was cranky and tired and didn't start my day well.

Feelings of discontentment surged through me. My husband pointed to My List that I started yesterday and I wanted to stick my tongue out at him! I don't WANT to be thankful! I waved to him goodbye and walked back in the house. I put away the last of the tuperware sitting on the counter and knew I had to read my Bible.

I started reading through Philippians asking myself How can I really be thankful, especially when I don't want to be?

This is what God revealed to me.

The thanks-giving is hard when you compare and believe Satan's lies. Instead of being the person that takes every opportunity to look for the good in that situation, you reel back and are not filled with joy. You are filled with darkness and bitterness that what you have is second best. You believe that if you were really loved your lot would be different. Better. What someone else has.

Is it really about what you have that makes you happy? No, it's about the joy that you find in what has already been given.

I read Philippians 1:11 and got stuck right there.

"filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."

The first thing I thought of was Homemade apple pie filled with sweet gooey goodness. So full that it flows out of the intricate lattice on top. I know at my Aunt's house at Christmas, we slice a piece and it just pours out the sides onto the plate.

That's the joy I want. I want overflowing joy, the sweet goodness of Jesus' righteousness so full in me that it cannot be contained. It comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. My response to being filled so full is praise. Praise to God.

Hart prayed for me that the weeds and roots of bitterness would be dug out so that the real fruit could grow, and I prayed that again for myself.

Lord, dig out the ugly in my heart and fill me with your righteousness!

Thankful for our Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving with my family this year. We went to my Aunt Kathe's house out in Gilbert! She is an AMAZING southern cook! I'm not kidding...think Martha Stewart. I loved that it was Micaiah's first Thanksgiving and I dressed him in a festive outfit!

My mom, me and Micaiah (sucking on his Wubanub paci).

Micaiah in his 1st Thanksgiving outfit

And this just made me laugh... my brother, Hunter. Apparently this was his first Thanksgiving, too.