Christmas in our home 2012

I just took these pictures recently.  Our trees are still out and our home still feels like Christmas.  The past couple of years, for one reason or another, I've been slack in decorating ... so I'm in no rush to take it all down.  I didn't put out as much as I have in the past - just a few things here and there.  And we only put up two trees.  (I have had three at times.)

I told Chris, that next year I've got to have a plan together and get started in advance, since we'll have a six-month old baby at Christmastime. :)  Not quite sure how I'm going to get a head start, though.  Honestly, I do not like decorating before Thanksgiving, because I don't want to rush that holiday (I usual do fall/Thanksgiving decor too).  But, seriously, I do hope to work on gifts earlier in the year, start Christmas cards in the fall, and do some baking that can be frozen in the early weeks of November.  I want us to be able to enjoy the holidays and not feel so rushed; especially since our baby will be here.

Here are our two trees this year.  We did some remodeling and rearranging of furniture during the year; so it was a little difficult to decide where to put our trees.  Next year, I hope to give it a little more thought.  I do not care for them in the corners.

I displayed all of our photo Christmas cards in the kitchen.  I have hung them on our cabinet doors at the secretary area the past couple of years and I really enjoy looking at them throughout the season.

 This is the mantel in our living room.  I couldn't find Chris' stocking - so the short plain beige one had to do.

 And lastly, most importantly, and my favorite decoration - the nativity.  I displayed this on the coffee table in the living room this year and loved looking at it more often; especially in the evening by the light of the Christmas tree.  

Christmas 2013 will be here before we know it,

but may we keep the true meaning of Christmas alive in our hearts January through November.

"Don't Save It All For Christmas Day .... give a little love EVERY day!"

Merry Christmas

Christmas always makes us think of the things most important in life. 

First and foremost, we celebrate Christ’s birth and the precious gift given to all who believe and receive.  We are reminded that our family and friends are some of our greatest gifts as well. 

 

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas filled with love, joy, and peace.  And I pray those hurting, grieving, suffering with sickness, discouraged, or lonely felt His presence near in an extra-special way.

December 2011

**Although, I wasn't blogging this month, I do want to include pictures from this month just for memory's sake. Here are pictures and a few thoughts from that month.

 

Adventurous fishing trip in the mountains, complete with boiled peanuts and reading material for me.  Oh, and no fish caught!  But we did have a good time together.

 The first bloom on our camellia bush

 Christmas at the SC State House - Jury Duty session Dec. 2011

 Beautiful roses from my sweetheart.

 How can Thumpy be comfortable?

 A little bowling fun!

 Chris had to buy this little magic trick worm for Laurel for Christmas.

Did I mention they were buy one get one free? ... so he has one too!

 Aubrey styling in her glasses.

 Ran into family at Wal-Mart after a Christmas family dinner.  Imagine that. 

 Our 2011 Christmas tree.  Which took a tumble in the middle of the night once and broke two of our special ornaments.  :(

 Me and mine at the Gaither Homecoming in Atlanta New Year's Eve.

 Happy 2012!!!

a fantastic, awesome, not bad, very good day

It Thursday, December 30th.

Roughly 7:45 PM.
We arrived in the Wendy's parking lot.
And H and A jumped out of their family's car and into ours.
Straight to the bowling alley we went.
It was going to be a
fantastic, awesome, not bad, very good day.
We bowled two games.
H bowled a strike.
And A .. well, just look at him.He is quick.
We snacked on soda, nachos, and fruit snacks.After bowling, we headed home to open Christmas presents.
I could tell it was going to be a
fantastic, awesome, not bad, very good day.Chris and A played the Playstation a little while.
H and I played a competitive game of Connect Four.
Next up was some puppy love and play time.Thumpy loved all the extra attention this dog-loving kiddos gave.
Then Chris and A wanted to play the Connect Four game.And H and I decided on pedicures
compliments of one another.
Then, I knew it was going to be a
fantastic, awesome, not bad, very good day.At around 1 AM, it was time for another snack.
Popcorn, Cheez-Its, Cookies, Doughnuts, milk
Whatever we wanted from the pantry.
My, my, this was definitely going to be a
fantastic, awesome, not bad, very good day.And on we went to play some exciting games of Pizza Party.
Lastly, we put our drawing and quick-thinking skills to test
with a mad game of Pictionary.
I just knew this was absolutely going to be a
fantastic, awesome, not bad, very good day.
Next up was bedtime. After all, it was 2:30 AM
We spread out our blankets.
And all slept together.
Me, H, A, Thumpy, and Chris.
Most certainly, it was a
fantastic, awesome, not bad, very good day.
I don't think I'll be moving to Australia.
H and A wouldn't live close by then.

story designed similar to
Alexander and the Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Christmas beauties

I love seeing little girls in Christmas dresses.

It reminds me of the thrill
of wearing a new dress at Christmas when I was a young girl.
Actually, I still enjoy wearing new clothes.

Christmas day I took a few pictures
of my 2 'nieces' in their Christmas attire.
Little, A, posed so sweetly for the camera.
Flashing her contagious grin.
Holding a teddy bear.
In her new little red rocker from Ol' Pa and Gigi.
Check out those sparkling baby blue eyes.

Big sister, on the other hand, didn't want her picture taken.They are both beautiful, none the less.

random favorite pics of Christmastime 2010

Cutie pie A
The awesome staff I work with. At our Christmas party.
Little Miss O-baby at United Way's Christmas Dinner.
She is "winking." So adorable
Mom opening her Ipod.
I had wrapped it inside of a quilt inside of huge box. :)
Me and some of my favorite people! I LOVE this bunch!!
What a beautiful gift!! :))Monkey See. Monkey Do.

Me and my 'sistas' dining on Mexican
Cheyenne & Audrey (nieces) at Chris' parents' Christmas

Daddy in Christmas

Anyone who has lost a close loved one knows that the holidays are tough. When all the family gets together, there's always a reminder of someone missing around the table. And although, we've spent many years without Daddy, this year was no exception. I had my 'moments' of missing him.

Side note before the story: My dad loved nature and animals. And he had studied up on hawks and would teach us 'lessons' about them -- the different kinds, their hunting abilities, etc. He loved to 'spot' them on the hunt and determine what kind it was. To this day, when we see a hawk it reminds us of Daddy.

And this Christmas I had two reminders. Christmas Eve has always been the day that my immediate family celebrated Christmas ... so my thoughts were on Daddy. As a child we opened our gifts Christmas Eve morning because we are at my Granny's Christmas morning. This Christmas Eve I was driving to mom's and I saw a hawk perched on a power line waiting on lunch. Then later that day, Chris and I were headed to another dinner and atop an old dead tree, I spotted another hawk. I mentioned to Chris that it was the second hawk I had seen on Christmas Eve.

To most it would have just been a typical hawk spotting ...
But to me it wasn't coincidence, typical, or random.
To me it was ... Daddy in my Christmas this year

more Christmas decor & stuff

Our living room mantle.
I love my nativity set given to me from my in-laws.
The "Merry Christmas" frame is cross-stitch work from my aunt J.Our mantle in the den.

Ornament from Ashley (or Leigh). I can't remember.
From elementary school ageOrnament from our honeymoon.Jesus is truly the best gift.
Wisemen brought fine, expensive gifts to Jesus.
But, Jesus is THE GIFT ... no gift can top that!

A new 'tea towel' :)

A special piece of art given to me from a friend,
who recently went on a mission trip to Uganda.

The manger scene hand-painted by a lady there.

Ornaments hanging from the light fixture in the kitchen.

Christmas cards -- a favorite part of ChristmasI can hardly believe Christmas is over
and it's time to pack all of this away.
I love the feeling of Christmas.
And I do not want it to end.
All the family, the love,
the sweetness of Jesus coming as babe to this world ...
I'm gonna try hard not to 'pack-up' the 'spirit of Christmas.'
Reminds me of the song "Don't Save It All For Christmas Day."

Christmas Trees 2010

These were our trees this year.

Small cutesy tree in our kitchen:I took the picture without a flash so that the lights would show up.
You can't tell - but it's decorated with wooden red beads,
green bows, and ornaments that look like sugar cookies.
I love the big-bulb old-fashion lights!

Artificial tree in our living room:This is decorated with mostly music-themed ornaments.
(music notes, instruments, and angels)
I love the music ribbon and the new topper I used this year.

Real 'giant-of-a-tree' in our foyer:We got this tree on a special, Saturday excursion.
Chris had been working a lot
and we set aside a day to be together.
We ate breakfast at the Dillard House and picked out this beauty.
And we were "tickled pink" to find this tree
at a tree farm for the steal of $25!
And it is (or was) over 9 feet tall!
We had to trim it a little.
I love the "sentimental-ness" of this tree.
Many special ornaments adorn this tree.
The bear in the chair is from our first Christmas.
"2000" is on his paw. :)