Happy Thanksgiving!

Our family traveled to Jackson, TN to celebrate Thanksgiving with my side of the family. This Thanksgiving was the first in many, many years – about 15 – that all of my siblings and I have been together for this holiday. My sister, Amanda, flew out from San Diego with her husband and daughter Taegan. My brother, Matt, drove over from Searcy, AR with his roommate. And my dad joined us from Orlinda, TN. It was great to have everyone together to share a meal and make new memories. The highlight for me was watching the cousins play together. They all got along great! Here are some pics to enjoy. I hope your Thanksgiving was a great one too!!

 

Happy Autumn!

Around the Ries household, we are very thankful for the change in weather!  This past week has been full of “perfect” days to spend outside.  The only downside has been the numerous mosquitos from the previous week’s rain.  However, it’s easy to remember that they don’t carry malaria and then I’m happy again.

Yesterday, we visited Gentry’s Farm, a working farm established in 1849, near our home for a fun fall afternoon.  They had chickens, ducks, a turkey and goats to observe behind pens.  It sorta reminded us of Togo, but not really.  We also walked through a corn maze and took a hayride.  Here are some pictures from our adventure!  Just for fun, check out last year’s

Pumpkin Patch pictures and compare the boys’ heights!

The Ries Family

Isaac: How Tall this Fall?

Graham: How Tall this Fall?

Owen: How Tall this Fall?

Graham is lost in the corn maze!

The boys start their search for the perfect pumpkin.

At Gentry's Farm, there is a huge patch where you can pick your own pumpkin!

Friends, House & Van

I have been wanting to post pics of our new home and van for awhile now.  I finally got around to taking the pictures today!  I know that many of you won’t be able to visit us in person.  So, I hope this helps you visualize where we are spending our days. Here’s our little section of the townhouse row.

Here’s our van that we bought last summer.  We love it!  It’s been a great vehicle for our family.  We recently bought a second “commuter” car too.  However, Bryan is using it right now…no picture.

 

I’ve been privledged to spend time with some of my college friends this weekend!  Janel Steed, Kristin Winters, Angela Clifford and I enjoyed chatting and eating lunch together at Kristin’s home today.  We had a lot to catch up on….children, husbands, families, jobs, churches, etc!  These are dear, dear friends and I’m so blessed to have them in my life.

Here are a few of our kiddos.  It was fun to see them play together.

Hanging On

One of the chief observations I hear from former missionaries is that American life is so fast-paced. I am going to join the chorus of voices and agree! American life is fast-paced and I love it!

On Saturday, our family drove to Jackson so I could attend Jenny’s baby shower. We came home Saturday evening! I am so thankful that we live close enough now to make a day trip.

Sunday, we visited another congregation and enjoyed lunch with our good friends the Cliffords.

Today, school is back in session. I have meetings with both Isaac and Graham’s teachers this week to discuss how their transition is going. I feel a little bit nervous about it.  

Isaac is auditioning for the school musical this afternoon. I am so proud of his bravery!

I finally finished the chore/family night charts for the boys. So, there’s a little more structure to our daily lives. They are very excited that we have reestablished our family nights…game, movie, book and devo nights. I still need to get my act together with the weekly menu.

This week we should find out more about our job situations. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

Full on Five

Owen turned 5 today! In the midst of this crazy week of packing, we celebrated his special day with a trip to Chuck E. Cheese’s. He’s been dreaming of this day for several months. I think it was all that he had hoped for.  He especially enjoyed the “gold medal” that he received for being the birthday boy. Here are some pics from the bash.

Chuck and Owen

Time for cake!!!

Dad, Owen & Mom...our five year old!

Owen and Stone

Graham and Stone

 

Sanderson and Ries Families

Inspiration

This year I’ve found inspiration to be a better version of myself in my children.  During the long hours together on our two week break I’ve noticed some unique qualities each of my boys possess that I’d like to cultivate in my life too.  I’ve always believed that God placed each of them in my life to teach me valuable lessons – especially about love – loving myself, others and Him more.  I’ve been made aware many times of my weaknesses through my inability to parent them perfectly as they deserve as children of God.  

But, this is a little bit different…it’s not about the challenges they present that have caused me to grow.  It’s the positive qualities they seemingly effortlessly possess as people made in God’s image.  Here are my character goals for 2009, inspired by Isaac, Graham and Owen.

• Self-Control: We stopped at Chili’s last night on our way home from Tennessee.  We had a coupon for a free Chocolate Molten Cake.  This dessert was incredible: warm chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate shell sauce. My oldest, Isaac very calmly said that he didn’t want any because he was full.  Full?  I haven’t let that little word stop me from enjoying a few bites of cake in a very long time!  Isaac is also into fitness in general, he loves to run and reads nutrition labels for fun. It’s my goal that I can be more purposeful in what I choose to do with/to my body.
• Acceptance : My middle child, Graham, loves everyone.  He has an uncanny ability to make friends with young and old alike.  I desire to be more open to new relationships like him.  An example?  During our visit at my sister’s Graham spent long stretches of time building Thomas train tracks for his 2 year old cousin.  
• Joie de Vivre: The youngest of the bunch, Owen has boundless energy and love of life.  (Of course, he still has major mood swings, but that’s for another post!)  He wants to be where the excitement is happening.  On our trip he practiced a baseball pop-up slide on a slick floor until he had perfected it.  Never mind the leg bruises that went along with it. I want to be more like him and take risks this year and enjoy doing it!!

It’s my prayer that you don’t have to look far to find qualities that you want to emulate in your life.  You might find it in the most unlikely places!!!

Christmas Cookies

Today, we carried out our annual holiday tradition of decorating Christmas cookies.  (Back in Togo, we did this with the Reeves family…We missed you!!)  I worked on the baking side of things while the boys occupied themselves and then we all decorated together.  I took the short-cut of store bought frosting and I wish I hadn’t.  It just doesn’t taste very good.  But, maybe that will help me stay away from eating too many of them.  I asked Bryan to take some snapshots of our activities.  Here are the results…

We are at the beginning of decorating...

 

Yummy!!

Tasty!

Delicious!

 

Brotherly Love

 

This how I felt after the mixing, cutting, baking and decorating was all done! Bryan is sweetly trying to lift my spirits.

Our handiwork…nice batch don’t you think?

The Ranch

 

Bryan’s grandparents live on a 900 acre ranch in Lampasas, TX.  We have enjoyed walking the land each day that we’ve been here.  Here are some photos of our hike along the dry creek bed yesterday.

 

Isaac and Graham

 

Hiking

 

 

A little bit of creek water left!

 

Me and the boys

Malaria On My Mind

I’ve suffered from malaria, my husband has too.  Two of my children have had the disease numerous times. The other child only twice.  Each time a family member was stricken with the parasite, a mild panic would set in….can I get the medicine to them in time?  Thankfully, the answer was yes.  I had access to the latest and best antimalarial drugs.  To me, the drug’s cost was a non-issue- a low price to pay for a cure.  However, I was exception in the country where I lived.  Many, many, of my friends and acquaintances have suffered from the disease so many times that it effects their abilities to work thus their ability to earn a living to support their families.  In the villages that Bryan worked he would often bring home report of babies dying from the disease.  We helped many people with medicines and information, but it was not enough to stop this monster of a disease.  

I read an enlightening article yesterday in National Geographic about malaria that I want to share with you.  It answered a lot of questions that I’ve had over the years about the disease.  Of course, it’s a very long article! But, I believe well worth your time and energy to read it.  Stamp out malaria!!!!

National Geographic Malaria Article July 2007

PILAT : Day 7

Today we had the privilege of sharing lunch with our former DAR leaders, George and Connie Blake.  I feel more encouraged and hopeful about what our life could look like here in Colorado after spending time in conversation with them.

Right after class, we are taking the boys to see High School Musical 3.  The boys and I are really excited about seeing it on the big screen.  However, I can’t say the same thing about Bryan.   He’s being a good sport though and coming along.

We only have a few more days here in Colorado.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers.