Welcome! Nuestra Casa Es Su Casa ...Our house is your house

A glimpse into the life of Daniel and Jaynee Lockwood and their 12 precious blessings. Thank you for visiting; we pray that what we share here may always bring glory to our wonderful God and Saviour. May you praise the Lord with us for the great things He has done and continues to do as we serve Him sharing the gospel here in the little town of Cuidad Insurgentes, BCS Mexico. He alone is good and faithful!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Lots and Lots of Pictures :)

We just had the most wonderful Thanksgiving! Everyday is full of countless blessing, but the Lord just especially gave me such a special day yesterday and I am still just thanking Him for it.
For one, I am so thankful that all bleeding has stopped. I'm feeling our little one move around more and more and the doctor said I can be up a bit now which enabled me to spend the day in the front of the house with the family and eat together at the table. Thank you so much for praying for little baby and I. Daniel will be taking me down to the hospital in La Paz (the capitol) to see the doctor there next week.
Wednesday night, Daniel and I were visiting together after the children had gone to sleep and I was telling him I am always a bit homesick during Thanksgiving and after such a difficult week, I wasn't sure if I was looking forward to it or not.
But the Lord was so good to sprinkle the day with so many blessings from start to finish that it was just one of my favorite Thanksgivings ever. Since we were not planning on doing school yesterday, I told the children they could sleep in a bit. Daniel and I decided to sleep in a bit too; I awoke around 6:30 am and heard some little feet walking around, but the house was quiet so I stayed in bed and rested. I was suddenly awaken again, shortly after 7 am by a line of 10 neatly dressed children, coffee in tow, telling us good morning and that the breakfast table was set and chores were done. Abigail brought in Eliseo's bottle as Rebekah changed him and brought him to me to hold. I was blessed to tears!
While we were up north, my mom, who bought us all the yummy Thanksgiving food to bring back here, also bought the children a big bag of cereal for a treat Thanksgiving morning. Normally, I always make a special breakfast that day (sweet rolls and hot cocoa or something), but I was so thankful as I was unable to cook yesterday, everyone had a special treat for breakfast anyways.


As soon as breakfast, family Bible time, and clean up chores were done, the children set to work on making our delicious feast. The younger ones played in the play room, the girls pulled out all the food to start working and the older boys alternated between helping cook and entertain the younger ones.

With Christmas music playing, the voices of happy children singing and working together, a Daddy who planned on being home the ENTIRE day, and the table set, I just thanked the Lord so much for blessing me so much more than I deserve.

My mom and dad sent us home with name cards to put at each place in which they had written each of us notes telling us why they were thankful for us. We read them outloud as we began our meal and even with our family so far away, we felt so close knowing we were in their hearts.
I don't think the girls had ever rolled out a pie crust on their own. Rebekah looked a bit worried, but I thought they were the most beautiful pies I had ever set eyes on. And considsering how much pie we have left over, I would say they tasted pretty good too!
They brought over Nehemiah to help crush the walnuts...he did great and it kept him busy for at least 15 minutes :)

With the food all prepared and the turkey baking in the over, they began to clean up the kitchen.
Daddy read to the little ones before their nap...Oh, I just love that man!
And my big helpers even cleaned up the toys from the little ones play time.
Happy first Thanksgiving my sweetest littlest man!
While the younger ones napped, the older ones did our annual Thanksgiving tradition of making turkeys from apples, raisins, and marshmallows.




Before we knew it, the turkey was done, the house smelled soooo good, and everyone gathered around to watch Daddy carve the turkey.
And we all gathered around the table to thank the Lord for his goodness, abundant blessings, and mercy toward us.
I just love these children soooo much!!
Timothy reading the place card Grandpa and Grandma gave him.

Josiah was shocked at how much bigger a turkey leg is than a chicken leg :)Again, after supper, everyone pitched in and cleaned up....Many hands make light work!
Did I tell you how much I love this man? :)
Then, my camera ran out of batteries, but we had so much more fun. We all went to the family room and shared what we were especially thankful for this year. I just love hearing what the children say.
I then lay down to rest with Eliseo and Daniel went outside to work while the children played with some friends from the neighborhood who had arrived. We took over some dinner plates to our neighbors too and shared with them why we were having a special day.
Soon it was getting dark and while the children took their baths, Daniel got down our Christmas decorations. As soon as bath time was over, everyone helped decorate the house as we spend the next month especially remembering God's wonderful gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ our Savior!
With the most of the children now snug in their beds, Daniel and I sipped hot cocoa together as I felt little Lockwood #12 kicking me. :)
Ps. 23:6 Surley goodness and mecry shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I hope you all too had a wonderful Thanksgiving. The Lord is so good and faithful!

21 comments:

  1. What a great day!! Thanks for sharing it with us. You take it easy whenever possible, Jaynee. :) I'm praying for you.


    Leah in Alaska

    ReplyDelete
  2. sounds wonderful!!! I loved reading about your day and looking at your pictures. You have a wonderful bunch of young men and women there!! you've done such a good job with them but most of all I appreciate that you are thankful!!! Must not be easy to stay positive being on bedrest and all! God bless you!!
    Come by my blog sometime if you ever have a minute!
    Have a great day!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. sounds like a most wonderful day.
    continued prayers for you and your little #12.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a beautiful Thanksgiving! It brings me nearly to tears to see what wonderful children you have and how God is continuously working among you all for His glory. PTL that Baby #12 continues to do well! Looking forward to the next update.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a beautiful, beautiful family you have!!! You truly are blessed. I loved the pictures; thank you for sharing them with us.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Love,
    Rachel

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a truly wonderful and blessed thanksgiving day! Thank you for sharing it with us!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh, Jaynee, what a dear sweet one you are! I felt like I was there! And oh, all those booster seats lined up on the table! How incredibly rich you are!

    What a testimony to their upbringing: those dear, cheerfully hard working babes of yours!

    I'm praying for #12. Having had placenta problems with my Lauren, I understand how difficult it can be to trust and not worry. I'm sorry to say that at that point in my life, my faith was so weak. But He was, and always is so faithful----and you are such an example to me in that area!

    I"m sorry you get homesick. We're 1,000 miles away from all of our family, and I know it can make your heart just ache. But how good of the Lord to give you so much family that you can take with you wherever you go!

    In Him,
    Kim

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dear Jaynee,
    I just read this quote on another blog and wanted to share it with you. It made me think of the comment I just left for you.

    "The woman's task is not easy--no task worth doing is easy--but in doing it, and when she has done it, there shall come to her the highest and holiest joy known to mankind; and having done it, she shall have the reward prophesied in Scripture; for her husband and her children, yes, and all people who realize that her work lies at the foundation of all national happiness and greatness, shall rise up and call her blessed." Theodore Roosevelt, March 13, 1905

    Love, Amy

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jaynee~ It looks like you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm so glad you're feeling better and everyone seems to be healthy :-) Hurray! I love all the pictures. The girls and I sat together and looked at them all. It makes us feel as though we're right there with you all. Sure wish we could visit~
    We're praying for you and little lockwood #12 :-)

    Hugs~ Cinnamon

    ReplyDelete
  10. It looked like a wonderful day!! What a great blessing to have so many willing helpers! : )
    I am glad to hear baby #12 is kicking up a storm.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am new to your blog...I hope you don't mind me reading! Your post brought tears to my eyes. Your family is beautiful! You are so blessed! The place cards your family made for you was such a wonderul and special touch! That was so sweet!

    Praying for you and your baby! God is good all the time!

    Merry Christmas!
    Krystal in TX
    I don't think you can click on my name to get to my blog so I'll leave it for a few days just so you know I am legit!
    www.holtsrus.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your children are so beautiful! What willing, cheerful helpers! I'm so glad your little one is kicking and growing.

    Just a quick note - we have missionaries in our church here in the Pacific Northwest that have been sent FROM the Free Methodist church in Mexico to start a church here - for Latino's living here. Our church is supporting them in their ministry and when it gets going our building will be used for their church as well. They are wonderful people so filled with God's grace - it is a blessing to help them in their work.

    ReplyDelete
  13. What is that marshmallowy dish the kids are making?! Could you shre it!
    I moved my blog
    http://homesteadblogger.com/mylife

    ReplyDelete
  14. Tereza,
    That is our sweet potato dish :) We put sweet potatos, butter, brown sugar, pineapple, and crushed walnuts into the dish and then top it all with marshmallows and bake. Yum! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed your Thanksgiving. It was so sweet of your family to not only send the food so you could have a normal Thanksgiving, but also the name cards with special notes. I know that helped make the day special.

    I'm so glad that you and Little Lockwood #12 are doing well. I continue to pray for a smooth pregnancy for you both.

    Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow you have such a neat family, as I looked over your pictures I could not help but notice...THAT IS THE CLEANEST HOME LIKE EVER!!!!!!!! Wow I can't wait for the Lord to bless me with loads of kids so I can keep a neat home like you!lol!

    Thanks for blessing us with your adventures following the Lord

    Latte

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh, Jaynee your children are beautiful! Beka in this picture looks just like Leah :) We will pray for your baby to arrive safely.

    Love in Christ,
    Sandra Butler

    ReplyDelete
  18. So glad you had a nice Thanks Giving! What a blessing :o)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Jaynee, can you say Samonilia??? Well, I bet you can spell it better than me. ;o) Heeheee...I never wanted to touch a dead turkey when I was a kid. My neices and nephews are too cool sometimes. ;o) Oh, and my card on Thanksgiving said that I'm the favorite.

    ReplyDelete

We always LOVE hearing from you! We enjoy getting to know our readers as well. Feel free to email us or comment here and introduce yourself if you haven't already. Have a wonderful day in the Lord! He is so good and faithful!