Niece TIME!!

Since I was off from work this week, my niece, Kaydence,came back with us on Sunday and stayed until New Year's Eve. It was so much fun to spend time with just her because usually I have to share my time between her and her brother. We did lots of fun things and I spoiled her. We went to the movies, had a play date with some friends of mine, went to Chic-Fil-A, put on make up, and played and played. I even introduced her to the movie Sleeping Beauty. She loved it and wanted to bring it back home with her. I think I might have to get it for her birthday. (Sshh!) I can't wait til she can come visit again and I am already planning all the fun things we can do next time - the zoo, the pool, etc.

She wanted pancakes for dinner and so she got pancakes!! She helped Jason flip the pancakes - she's actually really good!!

She colored a Snow White picture for me. Lucye loved Kaydence by the way and pretty much followed her wherever she went. So cute.

At the movies to see the Princess and the Frog. What a cute movie! She got excited because they talked about gumbo in the movie and she had had it a couple of days before when Uncle Jason cooked it for the family.

Making cookies!! I may or may not have let her lick the beaters when we were through with them =).

We made princess jewelry!!

I was so sad to say good-bye to her on Thursday although I do enjoy my quiet time now =). Can't wait til next time!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I can not believe that it is already 2010! I feel like it was yesterday that we were ringing in the year 2000 with its Y2K scare and all. People keep telling me that is what happens when you get older - that time seems to go by so much more quickly - and I think they may be right. Except I don't want to get older =). Oh well.

Jason and I rang in the New Year with some friends of ours. It was very low key but was so much fun. We played Balderdash and ate a whole bunch of yummy food. Jason had a hard time staying up until midnight but he did - probably because I kept bugging him =) I had to have my New Year's kiss.=) Later that day, we had New Year's lunch with Jason's aunt and uncle. We had the traditional food of pork, cabbage, and black eyed peas so we can have health, wealth, and prosperity (if you believe in that kind of stuff =P) Does anybody else have the traditional meal? I'm thinking that it must be a southern thing because I have a friend that grew up in the north and had never heard of this tradition.

I haven't decided if I am going to make New Year's resolution this year. Last year, I made resolutions and to motivate me I wrote a list, printed it out and placed it on my refrigerator. Well....I didn't keep any of my resolutions last year even though I saw them every time I went in to the kitchen. I don't know if I can take that kind of disappointment again. Maybe I can just make a resolution that I will have a great 2010! That shouldn't be too hard, right?? Did anyone else make resolutions for the New Year? Or do you think that they are silly?

Here's to a very happy and wonderful 2010!

Christmas in Amarillo

Jason and I spent Christmas in Amarillo this year and I could not have been more excited! I was so ready to see my family and to see my hometown. I secretly (ok maybe not so secretly) miss Amarillo a lot and couldn't wait to go visit. I had been hoping for the past month that I would get snow for a Christmas present since they had snow the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Well - I definitely got snow for Christmas! It snowed in Amarillo and all the way down to Dallas. Jason and I had to drive in horrible road conditions to get to Amarillo but we made it safe and sound. It took us TEN hours to get there when it usually takes about six. There were times when we couldn't see the road in front of us and it took two hours to go 50 miles. But it was definitely worth it. I enjoyed seeing the snow even though it took us forever to get to our destination. Since I wasn't driving I decided to take a few pictures to mark our crazy drive:

Enjoying the drive before it got too bad...

Can you see the road??! Don't worry - neither could we!

My passenger side window....yikes!

After the never ending drive - we made it to my parent's house and hung out until we opened our Christmas presents. In our family, we open our presents from each other on Christmas Eve and then open our stockings and gifts from "Santa" on Christmas morning. I love opening presents but I get more joy out of watching other people open the presents we got them. The kids are especially great because their whole face lights up as they open their gifts. It's absolutely precious. The whole opening presents thing goes by so quickly and before you know it - its over and your buried underneath a pile of wrapping paper =)

Kaydence opening her gift from me and Uncle Jason - a Barbie guitar!

Blake opening our present to him - hot wheels and race center!

Kaydence and her Christmas pajamas - a tradition in my family - I still get pajamas every year

Jason pretending to be surprised by the gift I got him - he somehow figured it out - punk

The puzzle my parents got the kids - that puzzle was put together a lot that weekend

Ready for the stage!

Christmas morning I started getting phone calls at 7 in the AM at my hotel from my nephew asking when we were coming over so they could open presents because Santa had been there. We got there an hour later and several phone calls later ( I don't know if its a good thing that the kids have figured out how to use the cell phone without adult help - haha) and spent more times opening gifts and stockings.

A karoke machine!! We had good times with that!

The rest of the weekend was spent eating and spending time with the family at the house. It was so great to spend time with them and I wish that they lived closer. We had a wonderful Christmas!

Book Review

A book review right before Christmas before I get a new set of books to read!

Death by Suburb

Rating: 8.5

This book I read for a girls bible study I attend on Monday nights. The book is about how the suburbs can make you miss the deeper life of Christ because of all the things we tend to pursue while living in the suburbs. It illustrates 10 different "toxins" that tend to be in suburb life and then provides the spiritual "practice" to counteract the toxin. For example: The toxin: I need to get more done in less time and the practice: Falling in love with a day. I really enjoyed this book and it revealed to me some things that I have allowed the culture that I live in to rob me of greater joy in Christ.

I gave it an 8.5 because the author likes to tell stories and go off on bunny trails that sometimes can make me lose track of what the point was or what I was actually reading so I have to retrace my steps. So if that kind of stuff frustrates you - this may not be the book for you. =)

Happy Reading!

Amanda and Clif's Wedding!

This weekend we witnessed a glorious event - Amanda and Clif finally getting hitched! Yay! We are so excited to watch and pray for them as they start this journey together. Amanda was so beautiful in her dress and it was such a beautiful ceremony. I especially liked it when Clif came out to address the audience before the ceremony begin and talked about Christ and the grace we can have in Him and that he (Clif) would love to talk to anyone that night that wanted to know about that grace. Bonus: I got to see so many of my Hardin-Simmons friends that I don't get to see very often. It was like a mini reunion. That made my entire month!

The kiss!!

Cutting the cake!

*Funny story with this picture: We were about to smile for the picture and the little flower girl saw the camera and stepped right in front of us and posed. She apparently knows that she is cute and that cameras are obviously for her whether she knows the people or not. So precious!*

The crew with the beautiful bride (and the groom in the background)

My love and me

I was really sad that I didn't get pictures with everybody there. It was so good to see them! Erin, Jana, Shea, Leslie, Kendall, Tessa, Sarah, Crystal and Tommy and anyone else I might have forgotten - I had a blast seeing you guys and wish I could see you more often. Love you!!

Christmas Songs

I love Christmas music!!! I secretly start listening to Christmas music in October to the annoyance of my husband who swears that Christmas music should not be listened to until December 1st =). It puts me in the best mood. There's just something about cold weather and Christmas music that just stirs something in my soul and reminds me why we celebrate this season. It makes me fall in love with Jesus more.

I have collected different Christmas songs over the years and definitely have my favorites. But I have so many favorites that I have to divide them into several categories.

Traditional religious

O Holy Night

This has to be one of my favorite songs of all time. I can't help but cry when I hear this song. It is such a beautiful song of Jesus coming to save me from my sin. To think of that night before Jesus came when the world lay in sin and we had no hope and we were dead and then Jesus came on that night two thousand some years ago to save the world and I no longer am dead but alive in Him. I get excited just writing about it. Love this song!

Traditional non-religious

Silver Bells

When I hear this song, I think of the days before we had cars and people had to walk around and there were sleighs and lots of snow. It's just fun.

Non-traditional religious

I Believe by Natalie Grant

Oh my gosh do I love this song! This is another one that stirs my soul and makes me so thankful that Jesus came to save me. I'll give you some of the verses to this song and then highly recommend that you youtube this song. It gives me chills.

Two thousand years
Still the story lives on
God's gift to us Sent to earth Wrapped in flesh
His only son
His only son
And the heartbeat of heaven
Confounded our wisdom
But it's still the simple truth
That sets me free

And I believe
Precious child How can it be that God's great plan
For his story Would send you to
The lonely tree
That you would come
For one like me

Non Traditional non religious

Christmas Time by Michael W. Smith

This is a great song. I think the beginning of it would be a great song to walk down the aisle if you got married at Christmas. It's just a great song.

Choir Religious

Hallelujah Chorus by Handel

So good!!! I love that everyone stands up for the chorus of this song. All the parts together are so pretty and I love the King of Kings and Lord and Lords part.

Choir Non religious

Carol of the bells

This one is just fun and all the parts again are so good and make the song what it is. I like the crescendo parts and it gets really loud and fast.

I have other favorite songs but these are the ones that are on the top of the list. I'm sure I will add to it as the years continue. I'll be sad when Christmas is over and I will have to wait another 10 months to listen to them again.

What is your favorite Christmas song?

Dear Unknown Lady

I understand that your conversation is important and carrying a phone around and having a conversation in public is the norm now, but it is NOT OKAY for you to talk while you are in the public restroom doing your business. I promise you no one and I repeat NO ONE wants to hear what you are doing on the other side of the phone. They also don't want to hear strangers doing their business either. Plus, it kind of makes other people uncomfortable (me) knowing that you are on the phone and people can hear ...well you know....it's bad enough there are other people in the restroom. So please from now on keep your conversations on the other side of the bathroom door. People will thank you.

Yours Truly,

A Concerned Public Citizen