Thanksgiving Thoughts

November has already been a very busy month! We celebrated Tyler's birthday of course, and Great- Grandma Kandray's birthday too. That was such a special day for me. Last weekend we got to attend the wedding reception of Chris and Melissa Glynn and it was SO much fun. We were positively giddy to be out without the kids- not that we don't adore and love our kids to bits but we needed a break and what better way to get a break than at a romantic reception with free alcohol?!?! :) Gary doesn't drink but I think in spite of his ribbing he finds it quite humorous when I do. he calls me "his lush" which I slightly take offense too because i'm really NOT at all but I know he means it in good humor... I don't want to get ahead of Melissa on posting pictures (it WAS her big day after all) so i'll wait till she has some up here or in facebook before I share mine... or till I get permission from her. :) Sunday we made a quick trip to Mansfield to visit Crossroads because the director of worship from Saddleback Church in California was there leading Crossroads' worship team and it was incredible. That church will always feel like home to us. We walked in the door and Lori Biddle was there and she always has a way of making us feel missed and valued which means so much to us both. We saw so many people who hugged us and asked us how we were and it really meant a lot. If you were one of those people and you are reading this- thank you. I wish we'd have been able to stay longer and visit with more people (and been able to give more advance notice!!) but it was such a blessing to be back. We got to see Ben and Amy and their foster boys who just melted my heart. I"m thankful beyond words to have gotten to meet them. I feel like i knew them already since i've been praying for them so much but to actually get to see and talk to them and hold the baby and feed him just meant to much. Thank you Ben and Amy for making time to see us and share your lives with us. You guys are such an inspiration and blessing to us I can't even begin to describe. We drove by MCS and saw the new addition and I cried. If we still lived there I'd be looking into sending him there... i might even be volunteering there right now and maybe watching some of my friend's kids in the area... it's just so strange to have some of your heart there. We have bits of our hearts all over the nation... California, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, north Carolina, Arizona, Georgia, Florida, all over ohio and pennsylvania... even England and Cambodia!!! I'm sure i've missed someone... I share this because I wanted to take time today to thank you all for the blessings you are and the lessons you teach us. We are who we are today because of each person who has impacted our lives. I know sometimes I feel invisible adn I think everyone goes through those times. This Thanksgiving (or whenever you read this and even if you don't) I pray you know that you have touched my life and I"m thankful for you by name. Also know you are in my prayers. We're so very blessed! I lastly wanted to thank each and every one of you for your prayers over the past 3 years for our house in Mansfield. We still own it, and still owe on it but we've been blessed with Gary's job(s) to be able to "afford" it and while sacrificing is never easy, i think it's been a character building and marriage building experience. We've gotten the privilege of sacrificing in obedience to Christ and in that we've drawn closer together and to Him. We've also had the privilege of seeing the house bless a family who has cared for it even when they've not paid rent. I'm happy to share that they are caught up and current on rent as of this month. The blessing of those renters has allowed us to pay some extra towards the principle of the house this year as well as purchase and pay off our van. We hope to continue to pay off the house and don't think we don't appreciate how far God has brought us in our short time financially. To finally be in a place where all the sacrificing has led us to not living paycheck to paycheck (as long as rent is current!) is something we are daily thankful to the Lord for. To our friends who look to a time when they can say the same, know i"m praying for you and know that it will be worth it someday!!! We know that we are only a few months away from being back where we were so we do our best to stay diligent and even though we screw up ( A LOT- can you say fast food?!?!) we thankful. Lastly, thank you to all of you who have listened to me vent and complain and whine about the sacrifices. We wish you and yours a happy thanksgiving and though it's full of sacrifice, may you find something in YOUR life to be thankful for that God has brought you through!

We had a small get together yesterday for family to celebrate Tyler's birthday.  He had a wonderful time.  Today we had church in the morning but after nap today we took him to Chuck-E-Cheese's and he loved it!  We also went to Toys R Us to get him his free birthday club balloon and cash in his $3 off gift card.  Three matchbox cars for free!   He said it was a very special birthday trip and we know he had a wonderful time.

Enjoy a few photos...

at the end of the party playing with the track Uncle Joshua and Papa built.  He got several new trains and a couple new pieces for his existing track.  He also got an expansion pack which isn't even opened yet!!

At the party with his cake- it split down the middle when I lifted it off the stove and brought it to the table.   :(

He still loved it.

Tyler this morning with his birthday balloon.  He's really four...

Happy

FOURTH

 Birthday

 Tyler! 

We love you!!

OCTOBER!?!!? I can't believe it's already over?! When did it even begin? This month was full of fun times for the Bush family. As always. :) We celebrated Gary's birthday and had fun trick or treating. We also spent some time with grandparents and went to the Algonquin mill festival. We tried to play outside often and had friends over when we could. We're still learning and growing and changing every day! We're again having struggles with our renters. We thought we had a company interested in purchasing the house but they didn't. They wanted to do a deal that left us liable and was very risky on our end and we said no. We'd rather own the house and know we're taking responsibility for the loan we purchased and pay it off than to risk someone taking it for a time and then getting it back! Our goal is financial freedom, not waiting around to see if the company really paid each payment like they "promised". Our renters are taking great care of the house but are behind on utilities and paying rent and we're very frustrated. Again. Pray that they either get their finances in order or leave quietly... an eviction hassle is not what we asked for for Christmas! :) Both of Gary's jobs are going well and he enjoys them. The stress is there (like how do you fix a 6 building school district worth of computers and networks with a 0$ budget?) but it's a good challenge for him and he's made a lot of great relationships. Speaking of relationships we've had many friends in the recent past go through some MAJOR stuff! We want you to know we're praying for you!! Foster care, adoptions, ttc, pregnancy, marital and significant other "stress" (to put it lightly!), job loss, miscarriage, births, deaths, surgery, housing and financial strain... our loved ones have been through it all and our prayers are with you! We miss those of you who are far away so very much! We're homesick for all of you! Enjoy a few painstakingly chosen pictures from October... Gary and I in "our booth" Geneva College Homecoming 08 The kids for Halloween were a fireman and an OSU cheerleader. Happy Birthday Gary! We love you!! Reece's Blizzard Cake- YUM!! At Texas Roadhouse- B-day Lunch We got him an OSU pillow and matching blanket. Jackie, Connie, Caryn and I at Homecoming Our family in front of Old Main- Geneva College Our Family at the Algonquin Mill Festival Playing in the leaves Jack-O-Lanterns from Milk Jugs Chocolate chip pancakes... Another Algonquin Mill pic. Tyler was obsessed with this train! Our Angel Babies...