Monday, December 28, 2015

Christmas 2015

Christmas in pictures! I may post a follow up post when Aunt Amy shares some of her pictures but here's what I got from my camera! They aren't the greatest pictures because I couldn't figure out my lighting, so I just put the camera on auto and let it do it's thing! 

The whole house was up and at 'em by 6 am because that's what you do when Santa comes to visit! The kids were awesome though! They were 'locked' in the playroom until 7:15 so that the family could all get to the house and get dressed and ready. I hung out with these nuggets for a while before they were set loose on Christmas presents and it was SO cute! So much talk about if Santa came and what did he bring and how they all dreamed of him the night before! :) London gave her rendition of the Christmas story which was really accurate and super adorable! She kept saying, 'Then Mary borned baby Jesus...' and I loved it! 

Happy excitement because Santa DID come!! 
Christmas tootsies
Aunt Amy and Presley who is such a punkin! She has so much personality! Bless Presley's heart, London LOVED having her here and was on her like white on rice the whole time. I gave the 'give her some space' talk at least a dozen times! 

Santa is the best gift giver!
EASY BAKE OVEN!!! Exactly what she asked for!

SO MANY PRESENTS!



London was over the moon excited about the mustache wallet that she hand picked out for Lala. :) She bought it months ago and has been so pumped about Lala opening it! 
London was overcome with a spirit of generosity on Christmas Eve so we went to our favorite place to shop, the Citgo gas station, and loaded up on last minute goodies for the family. London spent the next hour and a half on the floor wrapping each gift. It was adorable seeing her crumpled little packages under the tree! She put so much love into each of those presents! 


Santa brought Caden an X-Box but failed to give him the Minecraft game that he wanted. Luckily his Mom and Dad were on it and had the game under the tree for him. He opened his game and screamed, 'Nice come back, Mom and Dad!'
Good save parents! :)


I'm wearing broken reindeer antlers but it's hard to tell in this pic! Certificate for adventures for me and the guys in my life! 
There's a better picture of this later on, but Charley has been looking through mom's jewelry recently so mom gifted Char a piece that she's had for years. It's a precious gold ring with a heart on it that has CR engraved on the top of it. Mom's boyfriend, Charlie Rhea, gave her the ring when they were teenagers.... crazy kids in love! It was really sweet and Charley loved it! 
Bibles!
Lizzy's dance school warm ups
Amy's husband, Ryan, opening his annual hunting trip with Mr. Brett and the guys!
Barry's new hammock! Fun!


Charley's recruiting her little sister with t-shirts and mini cow bells! 
Night vision glasses
Charley found an old school project that she did in 2nd grade that was a biography of her Granddad. She gave it to him and he loved it! I haven't read it yet but am dying to see it!


The surgeon passing on his skills. 
Random christmasy picture
Tux in the rain on this hot Christmas day
Mistletoe smooches! 
Like a crazy person, I asked for a bathroom scale for Christmas. I was sad I actually got it but then mom told me it was Papa's scale so now I love it! I love all reminders of my precious granddad so I'm happy to have something of his! I miss him! He always grinned the whole way through Christmas. I miss pictures of him sitting in the living room, happily watching the festivities! 
Barry built Caden his very own rifle! 
Bar none, two of the most precious people on the planet. They are so kind and encouraging. I just adore being around the Brett's because you feel so washed in love after visiting with them! 
London's favorite gift was a dog that had a belly full of puppies that you could store in a pouch in her stomach. We laughed about the questions that will eventually come... how are babies born??... but for now, we are content with believing they come from a velcro pouch in your midsection! She hasn't put this dog down since she got it! 
The ring!



Mistake picture that I thought turned out pretty cool!


We are so lucky that our families blend so well! The Brett's (and Sherrer's) are such lovable people and it's delightful to be around them! I know they won't always be able to make the trip to Birmingham for Christmas, but I am thankful for these last few years of us all being together! It's been great fun! I'm thankful for a generous brother and sister who open up their house without a moments hesitation.

Thankful for good cooks who bring food to the table to share in old traditions and to create new ones. Thankful for Santa who worked hard to make dreams come true for our little boy and little girls!

Thankful to our gracious God for filling our family with people who are committed to relationships with the Lord. The most precious gift is watching as our children are washed over with heart felt words of adoration to our Father for the blessings He's given to us and the sacrifice He made for us. Beautiful words that are being spoken over the future leaders of their own families. May the truth of these prayers take root in their hearts and grow these little people into Oaks of Righteousness for His glory.

Merry Christmas to all of our friends! I'm praying 2016 is a year full of joy and fun for you all! Thank you for spending a sporadic year of blogging with me! :) I love you past the counting!

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Christmas Eve 2015

Oh come let us adore him!

' For unto us a child is given...' Isaiah 9:6

'Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!' 2 Corinthians 9:25

'He will be called Emmanuel, God with us.' Isaiah 7:14

The thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices!

'He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.' 

'I bring you good tidings of great joy that is for ALL people! For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, he is Christ the Lord!' Luke 2:11

JOY to the world, the Lord has come! 

I can usually only whisper out a few words of Silent Night, Holy Night before I choke up and sit quiet during our Christmas Eve candle light service.  
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. 
What a beautiful season to celebrate the HOPE of the World! 



Our church always puts on a tremendously creative Christmas service and this year was no different. The sets were incredibly beautiful. And the music turns your heart like a roller coaster the whole time! 
Here was my favorite piece (Video- click into the blog to watch if it doesn't pull up!)

12 Days of Christmas Music Special - A Highands Christmas 2015 from Church of the Highlands on Vimeo.






Brother horsing around with the rugrats!

Reading the Night Before Christmas before they tucked in for bed! Sweet Caden was SO excited for Santa to come and was intent on going to bed so Santa would hurry up! Barry said 'The End' and Caden flopped right into bed, covered his head and was lights out! :)

Christmas morning pictures coming up next!

Friday, December 4, 2015

Winter Beach

Momma rest is hard to come by. The opportunity presents itself frequently, but the variables involved don't often allow you to shed all concern and let yourself restore. When the kiddo is with a friend, you're certain that everything is fine but your mind stays in motion wondering if she is behaving and being a sweet girl. When she's with her dad, I know she's happy but I always miss her footsteps and snuggles so badly. But when she's with me, and we are with my momma, I don't have a care in the world and I'm able to get into a catatonic state of relaxation. 

Momma's are just the very best. 

A few weekends ago, we got an invitation to join Mom and Dad at the beach and we jumped on it. And long story short, it was exactly what we needed. 
A very happy Boopster.
"The most powerful way to teach a daughter how to enjoy life is to let her see her mother do the same." -Meg Meeker
Treasure hunts and walks on the beach.


A very happy Londie Lu Lu Lane


Adding a halo to her sand angel
An unidentified washed up fish. Any guesses? 
This is as far as Dad made it to the beach but he and Archie came to the balcony to wave their hellos to us! 
Catatonic Rest. 



Beach Babe Soul Sisters!


London took this picture and I think it turned out great! My goodness, I love my sweet momma. She knows how to fill my tank the best. I know I'll look back and be forever grateful for these cherished memories of walking the beach, holding her hand, and chatting the days away.
Putting these same memories in place for the smallest one as well! :) 
Surfer Dude
Every proud and happy feeling you can feel. I love the spirit in her! She is endlessly fun!


When mom is on hardcore rest mode, you bury yo' self at the beach!




I saw the sky changing colors one afternoon so Lu and I walked down to the beach to see if we could see the sun set. It was so beautiful. Then it got MORE beautiful. Then it got even MORE BEAUTIFULER!! :) 
It was like God heard us ohh and ahh over how glorious it was and he kept turning the volume knob up to show us what he could make! We were both screaming 'MOM, LOOK!' and 'BABY, LOOK!!'
Just about nothing does my soul more good than watching a sunset. It thrills me and leaves me all tingly and excited afterwards!




Dad wanted to take us all to eat beignets before we headed home on Sunday. London has never had them before so it was fun to laugh at people accidentally shooting powder sugar everywhere!   

It was a fabulous weekend. I love winter beach. I love my parents. I love the beach and the God who created it all. What a beautiful thing to stand before the waves and the sky that reach as far as the eye can see and know your own smallness. What a satisfying feeling to be humbled before his beauty and know that not a detail is ever missed. In beauty and gentleness, He's seen to all of it. 
Thank you for this well spent life, mom and dad.