Thanksgiving 2018

Thanksgiving fell on November 22nd this year.  Our family ventured down to Gunnison the day before to help Grandma get ready for the big day. Then twenty-eight of us chowed down on turkey, stuffing and the likes.  Our entire family was able to come as well as Mom's friend, Mary, and Cousin Carly, her husband and three kids.  I took zero pictures of the happenings of the day, but luckily, I was able to get some off of facebook that Amber had posted.

The younger kids' table.  Why is it that when a feast is offered, all they want is a roll?

Left side front to back:  Sadie, Gavin, Laynie, Baylie

Right side front to back: Brett, Carly, Rachel, Andy, Rosie

After we ate, we broke up into 4 teams and played some competitive games... because Sorensens are competitive.  

Poop the Potato (We raced to carry the potatoes between our legs and pooped them into a bucket.)

Turkey Draw (Mother won this game by drawing a turkey on a paper plate positioned on her head.)

Stuff the Turkey (Carl definitely has the biggest mouth, but everyone knew that already)

Turkey Hunt (The kids tried to shoot a very beautiful turkey with a nerf gun.)

Tyler - barely holding it in!

Landon stuffing Carl's mouth with marshmallows.

Tanner shooting... me.

After the games, Amber had brought crafts for the kids and ladies.  We may have interrupted the craft to run down to the old stone wall and take some family pictures.

Tyler's family

Brian's Family

Carly

Bridger

Then we resumed our craftiness.

We headed back home that evening.  It was a jam-packed day of good food, family and fun.

Black Friday:  The day after Thanksgiving, we had to do a wee bit of shopping - mostly for our chickens!  We also put up a chicken pen for our ladies this day.  Bought a nice big pen off of fb marketplace for a great deal.  Now no more chicky poop in my back yard.  The following day, Saturday, we went to see Wreck it Ralph 2 at the theatre.  It was a lovely Thanksgiving holiday.  I'm sad to see it end.

It was a TREE-mendous effort, but worth it in the end.

I had a feeling we needed to put up our tree earlier than usual this year.  In hide sight, it was a good thing I did - because it took 4 different tries!

First try:  I had bought a beautiful, full tree off of fb marketplace.  When we put it up, we realized that it was too big for the space we had.  We took it back down and sold it on fb marketplace for what we bought it for.

Second try:  We put up our old Christmas tree.  It fit just right, but 1/2 of the lights had burned out!

Third try:  I went to the store to buy some lights.  Decided to splurge and get the LED kind - because they're supposed to be highly economical.  Brought the lights home, wrapped them around the tree and we were all blinded by their brightness.  Apparently there are different kinds of LED lights.  I bought the "Ultra Bright, You Need Sunglasses To Look at Me" kind.  Oops.

Third try was the charm - or so we thought:  In the exchange at Walmart, I opted to go with what I was familiar with:  the ever so common, but beautiful, gold fairy lights.  I draped the tree with lights and ribbon with plans to have the kids help decorate it once Matt got home from work.  BUT... I ended up going to the ER that night instead!

Fourth and Final try:  the next day, we were all home and well enough to place the ornaments on the tree.  The kids were so excited to FINALLY decorate it with the ornaments they've collected over the years.

There sure is something special about a Christmas tree lighting one's home.  I love the cozy, warm feeling it brings along with how it is a symbol of Christ and his undying life and love that He gives to us daily.

Laynie smiling once we got the lights and ribbon on.

A trip to the ER was not what we planned.  I had swelling in my legs and pain in my muscles.  Doctors needed to rule out blood clots.  After a Venous Doppler Ultrasound, it was found that there were no blood clots, but lymphedema instead.  Compression socks have made it bearable.

Laynie made a paper ornament for the tree this year and was pretty proud of it.

Gavin holding up one of his ornaments.

Each year, we have the kids make at least one ornament for the tree.  I found Lego Santa ornament kits at the store.  The kids loved putting them together.

Placing the star atop the tree.  Gavin insisted it's still his turn.  Laynie was okay with Gavin doing it, so why not, right?

Matt's New Job

I feel like we've been through lots of BIG trials of our faith in the past 4 years - having a cleft baby, having to pier our home then sell it, miscarriages and cancer.  But through it all, I've never doubted that God is Good.  He knows us.  He loves us.  He wants us to grow and become like Him.  He gives us earthly experiences to grow and draw closer to Him.  He also blesses us in our efforts to "just keep swimming" even when we aren't too sure of where we are going.  One such blessing came in the form of a job change.

It has been one of Matt's career goals to become a product manager.  On November 3rd, that goal became a reality.  Before then, Matt had to go through a rigorous hiring process.  27 people applied for the job.  At least 4 (that Matt knows of) were granted interviews, and after a few weeks of wondering (and worrying), they offered Matt the job!  He was elated!  He will now manage some products for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  They are: 1) the Media Library app, 2) General Conference page on lds.org, 3) The Mormon Channel (soon to be renamed), and 4) set top boxes (which are like Roku boxes, but filled with church media instead of movies.)

Matt saying goodbye to the NOB (North Office Bldg) where he spent the last 4 years of his life.  He will now be across the street in the Church Office Bldg.