3 Days til Christmas...and counting

It's finally here!! Almost... Braden and Kendall aren't driving us crazy too bad right now, but they are definitely excited that Santa will deliver their presents in 2 more nights!! We got a small taste of Christmas time this last weekend with a trip Saturday to Ashville for the Moody family Christmas. And then on Sunday with a trip to my Grandmother's for the Reese/Cosby family Christmas. We are far from finished too. We still have Christmas Eve at my parents and then next Saturday we will make a trip to the Tennessee state line to see my Grandpa Reese. THEN, we'll probably drive out to Blountsville on Sunday and see Mamaw Moody. Wow, I'm tired just thinking about it!! Tomorrow Lara (my sister-in-law) and I will make one last trip into shopping land and pick up the last minute stuff, then I'm DONE!


Here's a couple of pics from our trip to pick out a Christmas tree 3 weeks ago.





MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Dec. 22nd-You don't pay back your parents. You can't. The debt you owe them gets collected by your children, who hand it down in turn. It's a sort of entailment. -Lois McMaster Bujold

Patiently awaiting Santa Claus...

I remember so clearly when I was little that the month of December seemed to just crawl by so slowly. As a kid, I spent day after day analyzing my Christmas list and then finally I got to see Santa. After weeks of prioritizing my list, I would wait in a long line and when it was my turn to climb up on his lap he would ask, "What do you want for Christmas?". Right about then I would draw a blank and randomly name off something that I wasn't sure I had even written down on my list. Inevitably, my mother would inform me that it was okay and St. Nick would have no problem remembering everything I wanted from my carefully written list.

Apparently my son has absolutely none of the same misgivings that his mother had in years past. We always go see Santa Claus at Brookwood Mall. On our way to the mall I carefully rehearsed with Brady what he should say and do once he saw Santa. We got there around 1 p.m. and Braden & I walked right up to the lady that was taking money for the pictures...NO LINE!! How exciting!! While I was busy paying attention to the absence of a line, Braden was awestruck watching Santa. Now we would see how he felt about sitting on a virtual strangers lap and telling him what presents he wants. Santa waved him forward, and he takes about 4 steps and stops. So I had to lightly push him forward. Finally, he climbs into Santa's lap and quickly his apprehension is gone. He looks at Santa (paying no attention to the lady calling his name trying to get a picture) and says, "I want Thomas the bridge". This has been the one constant thing he has asked for the last 2 months. Needless to say, Santa will be bringing Brady that toy this year. So, I'm happy to say that Brady's Santa Claus experience this year was a good one. And we are all now patiently awaiting Santa's visit to our home.

Dec. 14th-And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch of their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.- Luke 2:8-11

THANKS-giving Holiday

As far as holidays go this year was the same in many ways, and different in others. It was the same because of the hectic schedule, the large amount of food we consumed and the hours we spent in the car traveling to our family gatherings. It was different because the kids were a year older (and the parents, ugh) and instead of going to my maternal grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving, we went to the Swafford get together. This was the first time ever that I’ve been to my dad’s side of the family for Thanksgiving.

We had our lunch Thursday at my Aunt Kim’s house in Clay on Pine Mtn. Her house is huge and gorgeous (and for sale, I wish we could buy it) with plenty of room for the kids to run around and play. Friday I did a little bit of shopping with Jaclyn while Josh went to a doctor’s appointment, and that afternoon I spent with my Grandmother Chris. Finally the festivities came to an end with lunch at the Moody’s in Remlap on Pine Mtn. on Saturday.

Of course, this is a great time to catch up with the family that you love, and also a wonderful time to start planning for Christmas gatherings. First and foremost it should be a day of THANKS! Obviously. So I’ve made a list of a handful of things that Josh and I are thankful for this year…
Our happy, healthy kids
A supportive, loving family
Caring, fun friends
A roof over our heads
Reliable cars (even if I wouldn’t mind another new one)
Still having our jobs (although some days we’re not always so thankful for that)
Central HVAC!
Christmas bonuses that insure we won’t have to charge any presents on our credit card
Vacation days that mean we won’t have to work ½ of December!!

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY…
Our Lord above that has given us all of these blessings!!

If the Lord is feeling generous enough to bless me with one of these I’d be most appreciative…

Dec. 2nd-Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.