Okay... THIS is the Whole Story: Thanksgiving 2013

 We already know how much we have to be thankful for this year.  God took care of all our needs both for right now and the future by providing a new job and a new place to raise our family.  The kids are healthy and strong, and other than the utter exhaustion we feel at 8 p.m. every night, so are we.  We're even thankful for the little things...

 ...Like the last two wonderful years we've spent in sunny Vero Beach.  I took the kids to the Splash Pad on what ended up being Craig's last day of work.

 We're so, so thankful for TOTS, the Mom's Day Out program that teaches the kids vital social skills that Mommy struggles to teach them at home, and then sends them home with lots of cute crafts to decorate the house.

We're also so very thankful for the house that God provided for us to rent during our stay here.  It keeps coming back to me as we start the final cleaning for our move-out date in just two weeks and communicating with our landlords (who have been great, as always).  I looked for a house to rent in Lexington on my laptop as Craig finished his dissertation.  Things did not look good.  We selected the Citrus Springs neighborhood, but were passed over as a potential renter because we had a cat.  Then, this house suddenly came available, and it was in a slightly better location and in better condition.  The neighborhood has been all we wanted it to be: quiet, friendly, kid-centered, and dark at night so little ones can sleep.  We've enjoyed feeding the ducks, walking, swimming, and running in the open field.  We're praying for the next tenants to come, that their physical needs are met by this house and that the many strong Christian families and local churches can awaken them to any spiritual needs they may have.

We're also so very thankful to God for providing for us in ways we didn't even know we needed.  One week before Thanksgiving, Craig was informed that his term with USDA had officially ended in October and he was to clear out his desk. 

Say what?

It all goes back to the federal shutdown.  Craig's paperwork for yearly renewal went to the regional office in mid-September.  Since nobody was working in early October, the papers didn't get signed and forwarded to Washington for final approval.  This apparently happened to many USDA employees with term contracts up for renewal.  After the government shutdown ended, someone realized the error and decided the solution was to just let them all go.  We are so amazed at God's timing in this situation.  He heard our urgent prayers about a job by next April, and answered them early because he knew the real timeline. 

I titled this post The Whole Story again, ironically this time.  The point is, we NEVER know the whole story.  God does. 

 Another blessing in this situation is that Craig was done with his old job by Thanksgiving and fully able to enjoy a visit from family.

 The girls enjoyed their third Thanksgiving.

 Devon enjoyed lots of attention from the big boy cousins.

We were glad to squeeze in some family pictures afterwards.

 Craig used his camera to get a picture of Uncle Sven, Aunt Laura, and the cousins: Daniel, Jeremy, Jed, John, Stella, Elsa, and baby Annaliese.  Our family picture was taken a few days later by Kristin Schultz, our talented friend.

But that is another post entirely.....