I have always loved Thanksgiving, but I’ve been really, really looking forward to it this year. Why? Because last year, Thanksgiving 2007, I started a new Horlbeck family tradition. Here’s what it is:

The Thankful Box.

I have two small boxes sitting on my kitchen table. One with a pen and a stack of index cards (cut in half) inside. The other box is empty. Any time we were thankful for something or someone we wrote it down and popped it into the other box. We also extended this to our friends and family. When they come to visit we remind them to fill out a card with something they’re thankful for and add it to our thankful box.

You should see how full the (once empty) box is getting! We are SOOO excited to open up our Thankful Box around the table this year. We’re going to pass the cards out and take turns reading all the things we and our friends have been blessed with. I took a sneak peek at a few of them yesterday and it’s amazing how many things I forgot happened! I guess that means I really am losing my mind, haha.

But really, this will be a record of God’s faithfulness to us. We’ve found even on a bad day there’s always something to be thankful for. Sometimes, our worst day has been when it’s most important to write down what we’re thankful for. It really helps us keep an eternal perspective, especially after this crazy, stressful, worrisome year.

I think I’m going to start a scrapbook where I’ll keep all of our thankful cards grouped according to year, like one big altar where we look back and see how God has provided for us. We have experienced God’s goodness in amazing ways this year. We are thrilled to open our box and reflect on His faithfulness, kindness, and mercy towards us, and remember how He is bringing us through this storm with His strength and power. Glory to Jesus on Thanksgiving Day!

Lamentations 3:22-25 (NLT)

22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
23 Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!”
25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him,
to those who search for him.

Faith never knows where it is being led,
But it knows and loves the One who is leading.

I will praise the Lord at all times.

I will constantly speak his praises.

I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart.

Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.  He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.  In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.  Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!

Calamity will surely overtake the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Psalm 34, New Living Translation

A friend sent me this link and it brought so much encouragement to me on a day when I really needed it. As I considered me and Mark’s relationship with Sam, I was reminded what a wonderful thing it is that I have an awesome heavenly Father who loves me so much it is difficult to fathom. I think I just needed to be reminded of these scriptures and truths presented here. Perhaps you are going through a storm too? You’ll want to watch this video. (Click on “Play 001 Rain Film” when you open the page).

I’m casting my cares aside
I’m leaving my past behind
I’m setting my heart and mind on You, Jesus

I’m reaching my hand to Your’s
Believing there’s so much more
Knowing that all you have in store for me is good, is good

Today is the day You have made
I will rejoice and be glad in it
Today is the day You have made
I will rejoice and be glad in it
And I won’t worry about tomorrow
I’m trusting in what You say
Today is the day

I’m putting my fears aside
I’m leaving my doubts behind
I’m giving my hopes and dreams to You, Jesus

I’m reaching my hand to Your’s
Believing there’s so much more
Knowing that all you have in store for me is good, is good

Today is the day You have made
I will rejoice and be glad in it
Today is the day You have made
I will rejoice and be glad in it
And I won’t worry about tomorrow
I’m trusting in what You say
Today is the day

I will stand upon Your truth
(I will stand upon Your truth)
And all my days I’ll live for You
(And all my days I’ll live for You)

Today is the day You have made
I will rejoice and be glad in it
Today is the day You have made
I will rejoice and be glad in it
And I won’t worry about tomorrow
I’m giving You my fears and sorrows
Where You lead me I will follow
I’m trusting in what You say
Today is the day

Lincoln Brewster, “Today Is The Day”

I’m a scripting function, short and stout
Here is my handler, here is my out
When a method calls me, hear me shout
“Strip those slashes and print without!”

Credit goes to Scott for his amazing creativity.

After looking long and hard for what seems like forever, I’ve finally found the recipe for peanut butter balls my mom made my brother and I when we were little. You know, one of those “great activity for children plus tastes really good too” things. I ate them then like I do now… nibbling a tiny bit at a time to make it last forever! We would sometimes add raisins to them too! I just had to share:

Peanut Butter Balls

1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
3/4 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup raw honey

Mix well and roll into 1 inch balls. Place on waxed paper-lined pan and refrigerate at least one hour before serving. Store covered for up to one month- if there are any left!

Last night Mark and I were on our way to Toys R Us to do some birthday shopping for Samuel. I asked Mark, “Do you remember the Green Machine?” Oh yeah, the souped-up big wheel of the 80s. We had hours of fun with that one…

Well imagine my surprise when we saw that Huffy still makes this sweet ride! The fun levers to pull that turn the back wheels, the low-rider seat, the big front wheel (which is now a rubber tire instead of a plastic wheel, awesome). You can get some serious spin-outs on this thing. It’s a little too big for Sam yet, but maybe in the future he can be a green machiner.

Just check out this link and watch these kids in action!