My shocking gas station experience

I had an experience that was so unique (at least for me) I felt it was worth sharing. I leave work on Sunday and decide it is about time to fill the tank with gas. So as I am close to the Ashland on ramp I decided to stop by the Shell station there even though they were a little higher than Medford it was more convenient. I have filled up many times before here however up until now I have stooped at the island closest to the road. For whatever reason I pull into the island closest to the building and ask the attendant to fill it up as I go inside to get a cup of coffee. When I get to the counter the attendant tells my the total is $34.63 (sound a little high since gas has gone down but maybe I added wrong in my head. After paying I thank the outside attendant and get in my car. One last double check, as it does not sit quite right with me, to the price on the pump. $3.06 per gallon wait a minute the sign on the road says $2.06 so I ask the attendant. $3.06 per gallon? HE explains to me I pulled into the full service island where they wash you windows and stuff but that I could talk to the cashier. Obviously people have had problems like this before because all I had to do was mention the price and he refunded the difference.

$1.00 per gallon for full service I think still quite appalled as I drive away. Oh yea the window is still very dirty. -Jacob

Austin is 11!

Last Saturday our oldest celebrated his 11th birthday. People are always saying not to blink because they grow up so fast, and it is so true. The past 11 years have flown by.
Austin is a great kid! He is very happy and easy going. He is also very helpful and his younger siblings adore him. He is a very generous person. When he has something (a special treat or candy)he likes to divide it up to make sure everyone gets some, and with the $25.00 he was given for his birthday he decided to use it to buy either Bibles and tracks or a lantern for missionaries in India.
We love you Austin and we are so proud of you! It is amazing to see what the Lord is doing in you! May He continue to bless you and use you for His glory! -Dad & Mom

Here are some pictures from Austin's Birthday party on Nov. 29th.

Our Thanksgiving Weekend

Jacob had 4 days off for Thanksgiving this year; which was really cool since he usually only gets Thanksgiving day off. On Thanksgiving morning we started the day with breakfast, and then immediately started rushing around trying to get the house straightened up for that evening when our guests would arrive. Including us there were 12 adults and 8 children.
Everyone brought food, but my job was to cook the turkey (at least one of them, we were having two to make sure there would be enough, and for leftovers). Jacob bought the biggest turkey he could find (24lbs.) a week ahead of time. I put it straight in the fridge, but on Thanksgiving morning it was still pretty frozen so I put it in a sink full of cold water thinking it would be fine by that afternoon when I needed to cook it. Well at one o'clock when I went to get it ready it was still quite frozen. I decided it was no big deal, I have cooked a partially frozen turkey before so I got it ready to put in the pan. That is when I discovered it was too big to fit with its wings tucked under so I had to leave them sticking up. Oh well so the wings get a little dark no big deal. I put it the oven at 400 degrees for about 1 hour so it was nicely browned on the top and then pulled it out so I could put the lid on and cook it at a lower temperature until it was done. Well... when I tried to put the lid on, it would not close. By this point I am starting to freak out. Jacob tells me not to worry about it and that every thing will be OK. I try covering the out side edge of the lid with tin foil and hope that will help keep the turkey from drying out. About an hour later I check on the turkey again and baste it and decide that the tin foil is too hot and hard to deal with so I discard it and hope for the best. At four o'clock the turkey is not as close to being done as I had hoped it would be at this point so I am still freaking out hoping it will be done at five when everyone is supposed to be here ready to eat. Well for the first time ever everyone shows up early and I am still waiting for my turkey to finish cooking. I am really embarrassed, but I try not to show it. Finally at 5:00 my meat thermometer says it is done Yeah! So after a few last minute things we are ready to eat at 5;15, only 15 min. late! Also I don't think anyone noticed (except Jacob) that I was totally stressing out over it. But now I've told them (whoops)







On Friday morning Jacob woke up at 4:45 and headed off to start our Christmas shopping while the kids and I stayed home sleeping. He made it to four different stores before coming back to pick us up around 7:30. We made it to four more before the 6 hour sales ended. So now most of our Christmas shopping is done! After coming back home and relaxing for a few hours we went out again with my little sister Edie to Costco to get Austin's birthday cake for the next day. Then we went to Pizza Hut for dinner so the kids could get their free pizzas from the Book It Program.

Saturday was Austin's 11th birthday! For breakfast Jacob and I make him breakfast pizza, and then it was time to start cleaning the house again for his birthday party that evening. This time there are 12 adults and 14 children coming for dinner. For dinner we have burritos, nachos, and tostadas.

Sunday morning we went to church and our pastor makes a comment about people stressing out over burnt turkeys; Jacob elbows me in the side. Then we came back home and spent the rest of the day relaxing! It was a very busy weekend but we all had a lot of fun!