Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Tributes and more....

Well...

Yesterday was my birthday which happen to be on Jason's day off, which was wonderful. We had a great time hanging out:)!



My whole life growing up I shared my birthday with my precious grandfather, who is no longer with us. However, we both looked forward to our family birthday celebrations in honor of us on our special day. I miss him always, but every year on my birthday I usually spend several minutes in prayer and thought about all our wonderful memories and God's faithfulness in Grandpa's life. My Aunt Vicki passed along a pic so that I could share with you all a pics of this man full of love and excitment for family. I know we will all be blessed by seeing this Grandpa's smiling face below. I miss and love you Grandpa! I am excited for the day I will see you again:)




Yesterday was also my nephew, Josiah Andrew's, 2 month birthday which is a big deal at this age!! We love him so much. He is adorable, the center of attention, and growing so fast! I miss him bunches and can not wait to spend a lot of time with him around Christmas.




TODAY THOUGH...
IS MY DAD'S BIRTHDAY!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA BEAR, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

As you can tell we have had the privelege of sharing our birthdays as well normally. My dad is an incredible man, with a servant's heart thru and thru. Our family is lucky to have him. We love you dad.

Pic of Dad and I, but another pic of Dad follows, Happy Bday, I guess?:)



I also am supposed to post the 4th picture in my picture album on my computer, so it is below.....

The men of our family, surfing!! Fun fourth pic:)





I now tag Mary Beth, Wendi Holmes, Bethany Freede, and whomever else would post a pic!! LOL!!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Weight Lifted....

Yesterday was a GREAT DAY!!

1. I finished my last assignment for school until January! Hallelujah. This past course, I found myself very burned out.

2. Work has calmed down. There will still be things to do and take care of, but it has slowed. I needed the break, at least for a few days:)

3. I got my haircut:) I was needing color, shaping, etc.. I had been getting my hair done by a friend for awhile, but she is about to stop working because she is pregnant:), so I went back to Caroline, my lady all through college. It was great to see her and catch up and we decided to...... CUT BANGS! I really like them so far. They are different, but a nice change.

Anyways, I had been really stressed and tired. I felt truly WEARY possibly for one of the only times, if not the first in my life. So, when all that took place yesterday, I felt on top of the world!

Jason and I are excited to have time together, where we neither one are traveling separately, at least until late on Christmas day.

The hustle and bustle of this Christmas season, never ceases to amaze me, I mean I am in Abilene, TX. Granted there are not a ton of stores to shop, but every evening and weekend day--- the traffic is nuts!! I will not get on a soap box about it, but just had to throw it out there.

Well I am off for now to relax, a lovely concept, and then grocery shop, so I can begin cooking every evening again. The next couple weeks are going to be BLISS!!

God Bless!

Recommendation: If you have not read or heard about Rick Warren's, The Purpose of Christmas, they are selling cheap at Wal-mart. Neat!

Thanksgiving Pics...

So here are all the Thanksgiving pics from the above post. Yes, I realize they are a bit tardy!




Josiah and his Great Grandma:)


Thanksgiving Table


Josiah and I after bath time!
He loves his bath time and knows how to chilax!!


Josiah meeting Uncle JJ for 1st time. He LOVED him!!


Josiah and I talking and playing



3 pics of Josiah's football onsie for his 1st football game, adorable!!





Fam on Sunday before everyone started heading out (I was given no warning of pics, grr...)




Friday, December 5, 2008

Thanksgiving and more.....

Hello World!

I am sitting here in a rocking chair, next to my lit Christmas tree, in a warm cozy house, drinking my coffee after Jason and I's wonderful workout this morning. WHAT A LIFE:) The coziness and lack of feeling rushed is something I cherish, especially when it is 26 degrees outside.

The Holidays make me happy. I love Christmas. I love the hub bub around Christmas, the decorations, the music, the family and friend gatherings, the Christmas smells, the automatic Joy that the season brings, and most of all the MEANING OF CHRISTMAS!!

However, before I rave on too much about Christmas I must tell you all about Thanksgiving. It was WONDERFUL. My family (mom, dad, jamie, jay, & josiah) came to us this year. It was Jason and I's first Thanksgiving to host. I loved having them in my home, setting up a table here, and the closeness of the days they spent here. Jason and I still live in a two bedroom duplex, so it was close quarters, which made it all the more fun and memorable. As for hosting, it definately does take preperation, but thanks to my selfless mother, she helped with much of the food preparation before they ever got here, so not all of it was on my shoulders. Jason fried a turkey and MMMM, DELICOUS! In west texas many would say, "finger lcikin' good":)!

I miss family time dearly, so it was medicine to my soul. And that precious baby boy Josiah, need I say more. I was priveleged to spend many hours holding him while he slept, chaning diapers, bathing him, and staying up night shifts with him, which I would not trade for anything in the world. He is absolutely perfect, an ANGEL! YaYa and Papa Bear might say I was a Josiah hoarder, but that is fine by me:).

Anyways, the girls went into the computer room and watched movies on the computer while the men hogged the big screen for football watching! I would have enjoyed that as well, but wanted to spend time with mom and sipper.

On Friday, we went to Seymour to celebrate my grandmother's 90th birthday party. She is unbelievable. I don't know if I have ever shared with you all about this healthy and vibrant woman. She lives on the farm that my Grandpa built with his own hands by herself now that he has passed. She still gets on their riding lawn mower and mows their land, can you believe that? Anyways, she showed up to her party in HIGH HEELS, hot pink nail polish, a lavendar skirt suit, and as SPUNKY AS I CAN REMEMBER. I pray that when I am older I can be as healthy, full of life, and passionate about actively living the time I have left as she is. She is our only living grandparent at this point, so her getting to meet Josiah was a very neat thing for Jamie and Jay, as well as me. I cherished that moment, in case I am not blessed with a similar one.

Anyways, it was a great celebration and party with a lot of family. Jason was able to come out after work and meet the rest of my dad's side of the family that he had not met. We proceeded to play movie charades and he stole the show:)! I married a fun and funny man!

Finally, Saturday we went to the ACU Football Playoff game. It was so fun, but heartbreaking. They had an excellent season and lost in the National Quarter Final game. However, Josiah had a special outfit on for the day and was adorable. His first football game in a football onsie that had football feet.

Anyways Jason and I were sad to see the family go, but we had an eventful and fun week.

For me season is officially over. I now am able to focus on my last few school assignments before a long break, get ready for christmas, and take care of many things that had been put on the back burner. I won't bore you with all the details though.

If you are still reading this, what great friends, if it is family-- well you should be:) JK!!

Love you all, have a blessed Holiday Season. Let us not forget what Christmas is truly all about! We serve a gracious God, who displayed His unfathomable love and mercy through the precious gift of His son, our Savior!

Pics to come, probably later this afternoon!