New Van and Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

I am off a few days to posting this.  I try to do it on the weekend.  But I am still doing better than I was before. So there's that.

Been quite a week.  So let me rehash...

I got a van!!!!  I am so happy!  It is beautiful!  It is a 2015 Kia Sedona White with grey and black interior.

God is so good to us. I looked all over the internet for a van.  I wanted room.  And I checked CarMax and Craigslist and many car dealerships for the right van, white, with under 50,000 miles, no wrecks, maintained, one owner, a good price and voila!  God provided.  Not only did He provide but He held it for us until we could get down to Larson Toyota in Tacoma!  We test drove it and bickered with them and got the price down and some extra's and a full tank of gas and I drove it home!!!  I was scared spitless because 1. it was Tacoma, 2. the van was new to me, 3. the traffic was busy, 4. we weren't really sure of directions, 5. it was Tacoma (bared repeating).  But we made it home!  I went and showed Karla and Madi first. Then I went and picked up Lauren from school because Papa was hurting and gave her a ride to Central Market and then to her house.  That was on Thursday the 15th!  What a great day. But my foot sure was swollen from all the driving.

Saturday was our family Thanksgiving.  We stopped having holidays at our house last year when it got to be too hard on Papa and me to get the house ready and cooking and baking and hosting. We would really rather just sit back and enjoy.  So Amanda volunteered.  She is an amazing hostess and cook too!  We went to Amanda's on Saturday and Aaron, Andrew, Joel, Karla, Dylan, Madi, and Kevon were all there and we had a fabulous dinner.  Lauren was a an overnight Debate contest. Tara and the group were having a birthday party for Riley. Heather and Jared came over for her party but we didn't see them because we were at dinner.  Later me, Andrew, Manda, Karla, Dylan and Madi played a game.  Kevon slept on the love seat,  Joel went home, Papa and Aaron were watching tv and us. NO one likes me to take pictures. People only like to take selfies but I did it anyway.  Karla and Dylan let me. lol

andrew

karla and son dylan (home from UW)

Madi hiding from my camera

taking a selfie sense no one else taking pics

dylan

amanda, karla, dylan (aaron in kitchen)

manda gave me pumpkin pie with a little whipped cream 

 We went home and our animals were very happy we were home!!!!

We didn't do much of anything else the rest of the week. Yesterday I was having low back spasms.  That always scares me because of my history with them.  I never want to go there again. My mammogram came back normal.  Paid off my Dell card I have had for about 15 years. That felt SO good!!!

We have Mac for a house guest for about a week.  He likes our big fenced yard so much!

Papa worked on putting up some outside lights yesterday and paid for it in pain today.  His knees have trouble with ladders.  He even had Rich, our neighbor guy, come over for the high spots.  We need to downsize this Christmas.  We are downsizing in the house.  I ordered a 4 foot tree to put on our table in the corner.  It was funny the other morning when I didn't wake until 8 a.m. and when I did Papa was pumped up. He is talking about all he is going to do by putting hooks way up all over the house to hang lights and all these plans he had!  After I woke up more I told him I didn't want him to do it.  I don't want lights up there. It would be beautiful but the ladder would kill papa.  It is strange how our body gets older but not our mind.  I always think of things I want to do and then find out I can't anymore.   I didn't know my back would end up so bad.  I didn't know Papa's knees, legs and hips would hurt like they do.  I am only 62 and papa is 69.  Sucks.  The saying is true that aging isn't for sissies.

Well, I will share my blessing from last week with you all!
On Monday and Tuesday I was thankful for our Veterans! And the ones in our family!

Tuesday the 13th I was thankful to God for Kevon, my blue eyed baby boy!  Unfortunatly when I posted on facebook I confused everyone and they thought it was his birthday and started posting happy birthday and contacting him. Manda called me and told me I should probably change what I wrote. Lol!

On Wednesday, the 14th my pick was my eldest grandson Andrew!!!!  I love this boy.  We have such a close relationship.  We know so much about each other, share our faith, problems, happiness, etc... Great young man!

NOVEMBER 15th thankful for Joel! Great son, husband, dad, and worker!

Nov 16th we are so blessed with our baby boy, Scruffy!

We've had him 5 years ago on Friday!

The 17th I chose for our grandson Parker to be our blessing! He is so sweet!!!

The 18th was picked for Riley because it is her birthday!!! She turned 16 today and I am so thankful for her and adore her!

Not only am I thankful on the 18th for Riley it was also her 16th birthday!!!

The 19th is for Heather, our daughter!

The 20th is for my brothers and sisters!!!

today~~~~ David, libby, lois, douglas and rick!!!

Well, I guess that is all I have to write about!  Papa takes the van to tacoma tomorrow to get a coating on the van inside and out and to check why the "pulse" I am suppose to have on mine isn't working.  What it does is the brake lights flash 5 times if I am stopping to alert cars behind me. I want that!!!! I am so paranoid since I was rear ended thus the bad back.

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!! Ours will be quiet with just papa and I unless Kevon shows up.  But we are still making the works!

BLESSINGS AND MORE BLESSINGS!

I am freezing!  Our house is cold.  It is a beautiful blue sky but it has been chilly outside. I can't complain because 34 years ago it was pouring rain!!! It was on our wedding day!  We were married in Miller Bay Clubhouse in a small ceremony with our friends and family.  It was so nice.

These are some of my favorite pictures with the kids, me dancing with my dad and my parents dancing, Jeff toasting "Here's to the biggest Black family in Kingston". I think we were except Kevon and Karla were Ellis.  I watch the movie back and it really was a wonderful day, despite the rain.
They say it is good luck for it to rain on your wedding day! So there.

So, last week was a good week.  Brad changed our oil in the car.  It was such a relief for Lanny to have it done!!!!  He is more like a son to us than a son in law.  We love him.

We heard from the insurance and we will only be getting just over $3,900 for my van.  We got an estimate on what it would cost to repair it and with everything plus the labor... we would be looking at over $9,000.  Ouch. It would be worth it to me emotionally but not financially.  We have Lanny's car to drive for now and I don't even know if I need one.  But we'll wait and see what the Lord wants for us.  I can't stress about it.

I got my new land line phones on Tuesday.  Took a while but they are awesome!  They work great.  One thing I like is when we are gone it calls my cell phone to tell me my message left on my home phone.  How cool is that?  I amuse easy.

Lauren has been driving with Papa every day to and from school.  He let her drive to our house too.  She doesn't have her dad here to teach her so he has taken the responsibility.  He is a good papa. She loves driving.

Madi started drivers ed last week.  I am so excited for her!  She turns 16 in July and that is when she'll be able to get her license.  Riley completed drivers training and she will get her license next month. Lauren starts drivers ed in January and will probably get hers right after her birthday.  What an exciting time in these girls lives.  We will be praying and trusting the Lord just like we did with our kids.

I got my mammogram on Wednesday.  The hardest part is walking all the way in there because it hurts my back so much.  And during the test I have to take breaks and sit on a stool.  But it is over for this year.

My niece turned 20 yesterday!  I remember when she couldn't wait to turn 18.  I love her so much!  She has always been so sweet and good to me. Even when I am nosey with her!  I've always felt kind of protective over her and her sister.  Isn't she beautiful????

Yesterday was also Don and Heather's 16th anniversary.  The years flew by it seems!  They have done a great job with their family!  I am proud of both of them and so happy to see the love they all share.  It really touches my heart!  Their wedding was beautiful. Here are the pictures. Parker and Patrick were little guys and such a cute part of the wedding! Don became their dad long before he officially adopted them and has been amazing ever since!  He is their dad in every way and the boys love him so much!  As do all of us!

Lauren and Madi spent the night last night.  They always have so much fun together.  We had a seafood dinner of clam chowder, shrimp and fries. It was really good!  Then they disappeared into their bedroom and played games on my computer.  Papa and I could hear them laughing. I love that sound!!!!  This morning they shared the game with me and started laughing all over again.  Papa made Madi her favorite breakfast. Then he took her to her drivers ed class.  Lauren and I played Phase 10 and then I taught her Cribbage. That is a hard game to teach!

Well, I am done for the week. Except my custom is every day in November I post something I am thankful for...or someone.  I would like to share what I have done so far.  Day 1 my blessings from God.  I am thankful for all the blessings God has given us and our family. He has given us good health, love, and everything we could possibly need. I am so thankful!!!!

DAY 2:   My beautiful daughter, Karla, is such an exceptional person. She is so, so smart and always has been. It is exciting when I see others recognize how amazing she is! Besides her brains she is so pretty, caring, and a great mom, wife, sister, and daughter! I love her so much and I am so thankful God gave her to me and the rest of the family! We are blessed!

DAY 3: Our blessing for today is Jordy, our first grand daughter. She was such a blessing after having 3 grandsons! Besides the fact she is beautiful and a sweetie and will always be our princess!

 Day 4: As I write this our son (in law) Brad, is in our garage changing the oil in Papa's car! I think he likes to do for papa and papa really appreciates it. Brad has been in our lives for about 30 years! He has been so fun and caring and a good son, brother, dad and husband he is our blessing today! Thanking God for Brad in our lives!!!!

 DAY 5: Patrick grew up overnight! We are so thankful for the direction God is taking Pat! We are so thankful for the protection He has put around Patrick! Our Pat makes us laugh and we are just so blessed to have him for our grandson! Thank you God!!!!

DAY 6:  Today I am so thankful for our grand daughter Lauren! We have laughed with her, cried with her, and been blessed by her. She is beautiful, funny, smart and we are all thankful she is ours! Thank you, God!!!! 

DAY 7:

Tara, she is our special person on day 7 of blessings. She really is a blessing in our life! She is a great daughter, sister, mom and wife. She does so much for others and is there for us whenever we need her. Love her so much and we thank the Lord for her in our lives!!!!

DAY 8:  Today is filled with thoughts of my grand daughter Madi!!!! This girl makes me laugh so much! She is funny, beautiful, smart and she isn't even aware of it! We love her so much and I thank God that He gifted Karla and Joel with a second child!

DAY 9:  Today I am so thankful for my husband, Lanny M Black! I am so blessed that he loves me so much! I know he would do anything for me and is so funny and I love spending time with him! He is awesome! He is a good papa and dad and husband. Thank you God for this man!!!

DAY 10:  Today I am so blessed for my marriage. We have taken it for granted, damaged it, have forgotten to be thankful... but God has seen us through. We wouldn't be here together today if He didn't love us so much and believe in us more than we believed in ourselves. Thank you, God! Thank you Lanny M Black for hanging in there. Love you!!!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE BLESSED!!!!