Thanksgiving!!

For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. Genesis 18:19

My family (minus Chloe, she was throwing a fit) 

We were anticipating everyone's arrivals, Sadie was on this pillar with binoculars... Yes we get that anxious!! I was right there with her, waiting for my brother to show up! 

 Finally arriving Jim my older brother, he is so special, kind, funny, smart, just a gem!

 Johnny my little brother, with Jim. Johnny the youngest, is such a great brother, always dependable, gives great advise, and has one of the most funny sense of humor, you'd be surprised how hilarious he is.

 My Dad and Johnny, love them so much

 Jenny the oldest of us kids, and Rachel my sis-n law, and Johnny

And the guest of honor Baby Luke!!! Coming in March!!! I'm sure my sis got sick of me touching her belly, I couldn't help myself! This is nothing compared to how it's going to be once he's out of the womb, just warning you both! 

 Our first of many meals together! My friend said, "It seems like all your family does is eat!!!" Yes this is true, a huge part of our family is the meals, my momma was the type that always cooked three meals, and catered to our every need! So it was nice this year to let her relax, John, Jim, and I all pitched in with the cooking, and Rachel and Jenny were super with clean-up! Their going to get mad I posted this picture but this is soo real!

I can't explain, but I will try, just how much my family means to me, EVERYTHING!!

Rachel and Jenny help out so much with the girls, playing with them, baths, dressing, brushing teeth, feeding, I start to feel a little guilty. But then I realize that they aren't around the girls daily, so it's their pleasure to spend so much time with them. (Rachel and Sadie playing Barbies)

John and I married when I was 16 years old, so I'm used to running my house a certain way, and back in the day, I used to stress when a lot of people came to visit, cleaning like crazy not enjoying them! But let me tell you God has changed me so much that I can now relax, laugh, and most of all enjoy it all! I realize how blessed I am to have a family like mine! Where God is the center, the joy, love and peace we feel is nothing that this world can give!

 I did sit this outing to Malibu out, to stay and get caught up with laundry, also I helped John with the cooking, John started two days before prepping the food which was so amazing!
My dad took my camera to get shots, we try to go to the hill at least once, hiking up and down, then of course my thick skinned brother Jim, jumps in the Pacific Ocean, he's crazy it's soo cold it literally stings my feet!

 My amazing Daddy

 The Bu, soo gourgeous

 My mother in-law makes the Best White Russian Pies, she has lovingly passed down her recipe to John who makes them every year, they are the biggest hit! Two is never enough!!!

 I feel like our dinning table is pretty big, but when my whole family is here it's wayyyy tooo small!!! So little girls had their own table!

 One of the "creator" of us all! Momma

 My lovely sis-n law, she is a blessing to our family, God him self hand picked her, for Johnny! They are sooo in love, and expecting their first baby! God is so good, Johnny waited patiently for her, prayed for her, and God provided....

 Here we are my dad set up this photo shoot, he wanted a picture of all his kids, we took many, none of us could cooperate! I adore all my siblings, they are my life, we laugh, love, and enjoy each other so much. I told John this morning it almost hurts, how much I love them! I wish they lived next door, (yes next door, not with me)!!

 Call us crazy, but we participated in Black Friday!!! We woke at 3:00 and hit it hard, along with thousands of other "crazy's"!! It was fun, and honestly so worth it, so many great deals!!

 Hanna and Sage

 Ok yes Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Johnny and Rachel, are two beautiful humans! Baby Luke is going to be something!!

We had a whole new meaning of Thanksgiving this year, Johnny and Rachel left yesterday afternoon, but we got a call about an hour into their trip, they got rear-ended! The car got smashed, bad! So my parents were off to help them, Rachel is 6 months pregnant, she was taken to the hospital by ambulance, Thank God, baby Luke, and momma were fine! Johnny and Rachel woke sore, but nothing major! We are all so thankful! Here is the car! It's declared totaled 

 All of us Hess girls are born shoppers, we can go all day, and night! But I do have a limit, so I have to sit many excursions out! Which John appreciates!

 Rachel and her "baby" Coco

Today we took the girls to sit on Santa's lap, then to the beach, Lynda took her three, and my oldest two to the beach. We went to meet them, but got their late, they were packed up ready to leave, but turned around for round two!! We had a blast the weather was soo great.
Here are my two little sweety's

Here is my surfer girl Sage

 Horses on the beach =bliss

 Sadie and Grace

 My brother Jim with no wet suit!!

 So handsome

 Jim

 I had the girls race each other, of course they "all" won

 And the best husband in the world, wiping off my sandy feet

Ok that's it, hope you enjoyed, I'm savoring every last moment before they all trickle home. God bless you, Shirley