Thanksgiving Weekend

This Thanksgiving we had the opportunity to go home to Michigan. We normally head home for Christmas, but Don's job passed a new set of rules that prohibit employees from taking the same holiday off two years back to back. So, with my freedom of working from home, we packed up and headed north! We arrived late Wednesday night. Thursday morning, we woke up with anticipation as the weather forcast had called for SNOW overnight. Don's first reaction was to open the blinds and sure enough - SNOW! It continued to snow for the remainder of the morning. It was a great welcome home from "mother nature".



I had turkey duty, since Mom was working that day. This only being my second one to stick in the oven in the history of my life, I was a little nervous, but all went well.




My Audience


Godiva's Thanksgiving Dinner - Licking our nephew, Braden, until his hair was wet!


The next day Don and I awoke at 4:30 a.m. to get to the stores for the great deals. We normally are able to get all our Christmas shopping done in one day and get great deals in the process! It has become our little Christmas shopping tradition and we look forward to it each year! We didn't do as well this year as we normally do, but we still did quite well. We headed home for a small nap before the excitement of heading to my first Pistons game at the Palace of Auburn Hills. That was a lot of fun. I guess, the crowd was a little lame (this came from the experts who have been to many games - Mom & Dad), but we still enjoyed being there.






Pre-game Warm-Up



Erika - Anticipating the big game!



Mom, Dad, and Sean (watching the game)



Final Score! - Michelle and Greg were there too, we just didn't catch a photo of them for some reason!


A few weeks before our trip to MI, we received an invitation to my brother's 30th birthday party. It ended up being on the same weekend we would be in Michigan. Since it was only a three hour drive to be there at this monumental occasion (which I still can't believe he's that old), we drove over to my side of the state to have some time with my family as well. We ended up surprising Shane & Patty - there were many factors that could have clued them into our arrival, but they were VERY shocked to see us there - as well as many members of my family! It was a lot of fun! It was a 70's theme and we dressed up as best we could with a quick trip to the local Goodwill!


My Jan Brady look!



Don's Saturday Night Fever Look!



The guest of honor - no, I don't mean Elvis. Shane (the big 3 - 0) and his beautiful wife, Patty!


We made it back home late on Monday night, exhausted, but still kicking! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

New Page Element - Baby Beat

This post is mainly for our family members who are miles upon miles away and unable to be around for the developments of our new Little Baby Hines. My last appointment was November 8th and my midwife told me I could bring in something to record the baby's heartbeat, since she knows our family is all in Michigan. So, the only one we had was a small microcassette recorder. So the sound is a little bad, but it still captures the new little life that God has created. I'm not even half way through with this experience, but even to this point I am amazed at our God's great design and that we have the awesome privilege of seeing it first hand. I am reminded that it is all of God's work and not man's! I also liken this to our call as Christians to be witnesses. It is not what we say that saves men, that is God's doing. We are just great recipients of His grace and we are allowed to be a part of the process that God has planned to call men to Himself. What a great and glorious God we serve!!

The link to the right will hopefully open up and reveal the little recording I made. Enjoy family and good buddies! May I also add that this would have not been possible except for the help of TJ's MP3 player that was able to change my recording from cassette to digital. May it also be known that his MP3 player surpasses my ipod with its unique recording ability! Thanks TJ!

(Also, if you are having struggles opening this, I am a little techy challenged . . . but I did my best. Please let us know, so we can hopefully correct the problem! Thanks!)