Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas 2011

I can't remember the last time I've just lounged around and have done absolutely nothing (all day)!!  It's been nice, but I've been trying to push the guilty thoughts of doing nothing out of my mind.  I justify it by telling myself this is the only day I'll do this over the holidays.  Yep, now that I'm a working Mom, all my free time during any holiday is getting projects done!  I have a few in mind.  Cleaning out our basement is top on my list.  I'm going to start tackling that first thing in the morning because I have a basketball game to go to tomorrow afternoon.  Before coming home, I guess I'll stop by the school and pick up the 48 research papers I need to grade!  Yeah, I'm not feeling guilty anymore... 

With our crazy schedule, Christmas was upon me before I realized it.  We got out of school at lunch, on Wednesday, so I headed to the mall to do all of my Christmas shopping!  I love buying gifts for my girls because they are always so grateful!  BTW, I don't wrap presents anymore...bags are the way to go, and Marie Callender is now one of my best friends!  It makes the holidays a lot less stressful!

Here's a look at how we celebrate Christmas:

We usually have supper (for my side of the family), at the ranch, on the eve of Christmas Eve.  It's pretty casual, and we always end up roasting marshmallows by a campfire.

On Christmas Eve, we head over to my mom and dad's around 4:00.  My mom reads a Christmas story every year before we begin opening gifts.  The book she reads is about the nativity and it has ornaments in it.  The kids take turns placing the ornaments on the tree.  After the story, we open gifts.  My brother is usually Santa...passing out the gifts one at a time.  It's a lot more meaningful this way, and it makes it last longer.  I love Christmas Eve with my family. I always look around at their faces and feel so blessed.  They are all such good people!

Mom...aka...The Fun Maker!


Picture perfect...


Mom, reading the story, and my youngest - with my hubby in the background.



The best sister in the entire world with our new little dog - Chico.


Trying to find the perfect place for the ornament.

My brother and his youngest.


My beautiful girls.


Amy (sis-in-law), Mom, Amber, and me


Okay, so we usually try to destroy all ants at the ranch!
Apparently, we have to go online and order ants for this farm!
Oh well, that's what she wanted!

After we have open our gifts, our extended family arrives a little later.  We usually start out with Meme's famous spinach dip and chips.  Once the bowl is sat down on the bar, it's like my family turns into a school of pirhannas!  The dip is devoured in a matter of minutes! This year we ate turkey, dressing, and the trimmings. My mom always makes a chocolate cake and we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.  Then the kids open their presents, and Meme is always Mrs. Claus.  For the last few years, the rest of us have had a gift exchange.  It's fun and we don't have to buy as many gifts!! 

Mrs. Claus and Brianna (my cousin)


Gift exchange...
"Put it down and GET THE iTUNEs CARD!"
(Me, giving Mark last minute gift advice)
Those words came out of my mouth a little more dramatic than I intended! ha!


Somebody's being funny.  I wonder what or who they are laughing at?
It could be anything/anyone.  My family is always laughing.  I love it!

After our extended family went home, the rest of us sat around the fire, in the living room, and visited until it was hard to stay awake.  Eventually, Mark, the girls and I headed to the ranch.

I was excited about spending the whole day with Mark and the girls on Christmas day.  On Christmas morning, everyone started out drinking frozen hot chocolate while opening gifts.  We also open our gifts one at a time.  I'm Mrs. Claus at our house.  The girls loved their gifts.  A few of their favorites... 

                                                    
          
   Can you say excited?!          A new Bible and cover were         Jeans long enough for long legs!
   Our tech savvy girl loved       #1 on her list...sweet girl.      
    it!!

After opening our gifts, the girls and I went to the kitchen and made a big country breakfast...biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon, sausage, and strawberries.

Cutting up strawberries


Whipping up the eggs


 Christmas breakfast...

          
Watching Seven Days in Utopia...such a good movie!

All in all, it was a nice, relaxing Christmas with my family.  I'm looking forward to a wonderful new year with them!  I thank the Lord that I have such a wonderful family and that we had such a good Christmas.  I give Him the glory!  I'll end with one of my favorite quotes, "Jesus is the reason for the season!" 

BTW, we'll be celebrating Christmas with Mark's family on New Year's Eve.  I'm looking forward to it!

Saturday, April 30, 2011

In Love...

I've been reading a book called Crazy Love (Overwhelmed By A Relentless God) by Francis Chan.  It's a great book that really makes you think about your relationship with Christ.  As I was reading this morning, it was talking about what great lengths we take when we are madly in love with someone..."you'll drive for hours to be together, even if it's only for a short while, you don't mind staying up late to talk, you're willing to spend a small fortune for the one you care about, he/she is the only one you can think about, and when you're apart from one another it's painful and miserable..."  Lots of us have probably shared this experience with at least one person in our life.  But, as the chapter goes on, a question is posed:  Are you in love with God?
         The critical question for our generation -- and for every generation -- is this:  If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever say, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there.?  -John Piper

Wow! Aha moment here!  How many of us would say, "You know, I think I'd be okay with that." And how many of us could never be satisfied in a heaven without Christ?  If we are as deeply in love with God as we should be we know we could never live in a heaven without God!

Earthly relationships can only grow when we are committed to developing a relationship.  It's the same way with God.  If we aren't committed to building a relationship with Him, it's not going to happen.  Lots of times we need His help in building a relationship.  All we have to do is call out to Him and He will help us.  I love what James wrote "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you (4:8). 

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