The Spears' Family Blog!: November 2013

Thanksgiving and Thankfulness!

As I am sitting here at home updating the children's blog and spending quality time with the family we are so very blessed and have too many things to be thankful for! This time of year is so special and it is a time to reflect on what we are truly thankful for. I am so very thankful for my Awesome husband who is the best thing that has ever happen to me! I am also thankful for my precious children Grant and Madison! They keep me going with all their many activities, but I am thankful that I am able to let them do what they love! God has blessed us with great jobs and so that helps when the children want to take Taekwando, dance, etc... God has also blessed our family with Eric getting a new job close to home so he can spend more quality time with us during the week and get to attend some of the things that he has missed out on working and driving to Nashville everyday! God has also blessed me with Wonderful in-laws! I know sometimes you hear horror stories of in-laws, well I have nothing but love and gratitude for mine! They are here whenever I need them and all I have to do is ask and they come running! I am thankful I have a great job where I can be with my kids daily! I love teaching and love being able to see my kids daily! If I couldn't be a stay at home mom this is the next best thing!

I am also thankful for our great health! We have been very fortunate this year to have had a healthy year! I know tomorrow may be a different story so that is why you just need to thank God daily and pray continually and be thankful for all our many blessings!

I met a lady this year and she decided to take her thankfulness to the blog world. She is a 8-year survivor of mesothelioma – a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. When she was diagnosed, she had just given birth to her little girl and was told she had 15 months to live. Because she beat the odds and she is one of few long-term survivors, she now is on a mission to spread awareness of mesothelioma by sharing her personal story. She said she has been so lucky to meet some incredible bloggers who have helped her in my journey to spread awareness for mesothelioma. This November, she is asking bloggers to post about something that they are thankful for, along with sharing a little bit of her story with their readers.

Here is the link to her blog page where you can learn more about her story: mesothelioma.com/heather

I hope we all count our blessings daily and thank God continually that we have been given another day here on Earth! I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

November in Review!

Grant and Madison have both been taking Taekwando http://www.columbiataekwondo.com/ and have been loving it and going through their belts at the past testings. I have a few pictures to share from their last two testings!

This is when Grant was testing for his fourth stripe yellow belt!

This is the same testing, but Madison was testing for her Yellow belt!

Madison was exciting to be testing!

This was her very first testing!

They were all standing listening to Master Hicks tell them what to do!

Master Chris Hicks is an Awesome instructor! http://www.columbiataekwondo.com/

Grant has been going since last year and has been doing awesome under Master Hicks!

Madison got her Yellow Belt!!!

Grant received his 4th Stripe Yellow Belt!

I am so proud of them both! This testing was

actually back in September and since then they

have had another testing and I will add it next!

This is from their November testing.

They did a great job!

This is some of their friends they have enjoyed

getting to know in their taekwando.

Grant testing for his Green Belt!

Madison testing for her 4th stripe yellow belt!

Grant received his Green Belt!

Now it will be on to sparring!!!

I don't know if I am ready for this!

Madison received her 4th Stripe Yellow belt!

She is one step behind Grant! She won't be

sparring until she becomes a Green Belt!

Boys better watch out!!

Madison's 8th Birthday (September 19, 2013)

Madison's 8th Birthday!

Here are some pictures from her big day!

I took cupcakes to her class and of course

she had to have PINK icing!

She got McKenna (American Girl Doll) and

the Rainbow loom kit! She loved it all!

Madison and McKenna!

We celebrated supper at O'Charley's.

Madison loves O'Charley's and it was her pick!

Happy 8th Birthday Madison!

October month in Review!

So it has been a little while since I have updated my children's blog! With Grant and Madison and all their extracurricular activities... by the time I get home I just want to relax with the family and leave all computer related things off!

In October we had our annual Grandparent's Day program at school and Grant being in 6th grade they always lead the program. It was a great program and very sweet for all the grandparents in attendance. Here are some of the pictures from Grandparent's Day on October 4th, 2013.

Also in October we had the annual Octoberfest in Hohenwald. We of course did the car show and crafts! Here are some pictures from then.

We had a great time with the family and riding in the car!

In October at Columbia Academy, Grant was Super Student in his 6th Grade class. Each student gets to be a super student. During this time the parents have the opportunity to brag about their child and share all their accomplishments thus far! Grant wasn't surprised and was a little mad about that, but being a teacher at CA I needed to create his board and plan his day and wanted him involved so I spilled the beans and told him so he could help me! We provided lunch for his class in honor of his special day and created a board all about him! Danny and Carolyn was able to come and share this special day with him! Carolyn helped me the night before to create his board so it would be ready for his special day! I have some pictures to share.

They recognized Grant during our Chapel time at CA. They announced Grant as the super student and all the family got to come down while Mr. Hill read off all his accomplishments etc.
They then took a family photo of us all!

This was Grant's special board that Carolyn and I created for Grant that hung right by his classroom for all his classmates to enjoy. It hung in the hallway for about 2 weeks! He was proud!

Next we visited Lucky Lads farm with Grant and Madison and had a great time. It was the first time we have been there. Here is the link to Lucky Ladds Farm I have some pictures to share from our time there.