Happy New Year. After much thought my word for 2009 is "Live"!

Live life to the fullest.
Live my life the way God intended.
Live , Laugh and Love.
Just..........Live!

Christmas 2008

I almost forgot to post our official Christmas photo for 2008! I also wanted to wish all of my scrap friends a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I won't be posting anymore updates here until 2009! Have a great week everyone.

Christmas Wrap Up

My hubby is the bomb! Yes, I said it....I heart Pastor Marc (lol). I got to go shopping for gifts the day after Christmas (may have to make this a tradition). I have always wanted a Christmas Village and boy did I get my wish this year. I have been also eyeing some Christmas plates at Wally World for weeks...well the day after Christmas they were only $7.50 a box! Add in a few Christmas towels, and Christmas ornaments and I was a Happy lady. I can't wait tell next year to decorate (lol). And did I happen to mention that I received my very own star in the sky?

Day 25

Yes! I made it. Merry Christmas everyone! I had the best time counting down the days tell Christmas. I have every intention of putting this in an album, but on the off chance that never happens I at least have the days documented. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have.

Day 24
We went to NLP last night for the Christmas Eve Service. It was the first time I have ever attended an actual candlelight service. We sang traditional Christmas songs, watched a reenactment of the real Christmas story and listened to a short message of hope, and love. The best part for me was being able to sit with Marc and the girls during the service (something we don't usually get to do on Sundays since Marc is a pastor).

Day 23

Marc and I spent Tuesday night running around to get stuff to make gift baskets for our friends and family. Families with kids got big cans of popcorn with popcorn bowls or a family game. Adults got bath sets (with his and her shower gel, washcloth, lotion, aftershave, handsoap and a soap dispensor). Marc who came up with the idea even made special labels for the bath baskets. Add in a little shrink wrap and a bow and BAM......you have a great (not so expensive) gift.

Day 22

Nicki and I headed to church this morning to put the finishing touches on the gifts for our adopted family and to take pictures of the baskets that will go out to those in need. We have spent less on ourselves this year and have been focusing on giving to others.

Day 21

I had to share our tree at church. Don't you just love "Santa's" hat on the top?

Day 20

There was baking going on in my home yesterday and it wasn't me (of course if it had been it would be a miracle....lol). While we were out caroling with the youth at WABC yesterday Quisha was at home baking cookies. Of course the mess on the counters reminded me why I don't bake!

I had to share one of my nativity sets. This is the second one that Marc has purchased for me. The first one I received from Marc usually sits on the mantle, but this year I decided to do something different. Now I am trying to find a new place for it (hopefully before Christmas). Of course at the rate I am going that won't happen. I have decided that next year the decorating will begin early (maybe the weekend after Thanksgiving even)!

Day 19

This is the breakfast area in my kitchen (as you can see the Poinsettia is still with us. Of course that's because its not my plant...lol). The dishes are from a longtime friend. I only have a set of 4 but I noticed a similar set in WalMart last week so I hope to go and pick it up over the weekend. I can't believe I am still decorating after all of these weeks, but I am taking my time and it has helped to keep the stress levels down. Lots going on this weekend so I may not be able to update until Sunday night. So to keep you busy I am linking you up with some really great Christmas Home Tour Links. Enjoy, I have been having a ball visiting every ones home all dressed up for the Holidays.

Kimba's Open House Party

BooMama's Christmas Tour of Homes

Southern Hospitality Deck the Halls 2008

Hooked on Holiday House Tours

Day 18

Three of our four trees are up (now whether they are finished is another story. My poor white tree needs a few more ornaments). Yeah !!!!!! Now the clean up begins (Boo!!!!!). There are boxes everywhere! After uploading the pics I realized that we have a tree tradition. What are yours?

Day 17
Nicki and I had the best time today picking out gifts for the family our church has adopted. It has been so long since I shopped for little ones. The three little girls we are shopping for lost their mom a few weeks ago and their grandmother will now be taking care of them.

Saturday we are taking the children Christmas caroling at a Senior citizen center and then we are going back to church for a snack and will wrap the gifts for our family so that they can be delivered by Christmas.

Sunday after morning worship we will host our Christmas play and then afterwards we will have cookies and punch, exchange Christmas cards and take family photos. Its going to be a busy weekend (just like I like it...lol).

Note: The Christmas tree is up, but I have a few more things to add to it before I share photos.

Day 16


This morning the bears went up on the steps. Each year (with the exception of a few years here and there) since we moved into our home Marc has made a point of bringing me a new holiday bear (or cat, or moose, or penguin...lol). My collection has gotten so large that I started placing them on the steps a few years ago. The three little ones at the bottom of the steps are the latest to be added to the family. Next year I may have to disperse them throughout the house because the steps are now full!

We spent all day yesterday putting up the outdoor decorations. The girls even pitched in when they came home. I was going to have TJ put the swags on the windows upstairs this morning but that would require him getting on the roof. Unfortunately it started to rain today and the temps went from the mid 50's down to the 30's. We are almost done.......Marc just needs to put up the ice cycle lights and replace a bulb on one of the reindeer. Poor fellows tail end won't light up (lol)!

Day 15

There are lights up outside and I'm too tired to post another thought!

Day 14

As I have said before my favorite thing at Christmas time is spending it with family and friends. Tonight we spent time with some really great friends. Friends is not one of those words that I take lightly. Di and Rob have been there with us through thick and thin. When Marc was in the hospital last year they were there. At one point I thought we would have to make Robbie leave his bedside. We have taken vacations together, and we meet from time to time on Sunday afternoons for icecream or dinner. Tonight we went to see a play at NLP. The church is set up with loads of Christmas trees, and other decorations throughout the church building. After the play we went and picked out our favorite trees and took pictures. Marc and I took our Christmas photo but you will have to wait until Christmas Day to see it.

Day 13

The theme this year inside is green, white and gold (at least in the familyroom. The kitchen will be blue and the diningroom will be green and red). We pulled in all of the containers (this is the part I hate the most). Unfortunately we didn't get to put everything up. One I stayed in bed later this morning then I planned. Then Quisha called and said to get ready to go to the Mall and Michael's (which was a good thing because I was able to pick up the white poinsettia garland). By the time we got home Marc was working on a few church things (including his prep for tomorrows sermon). He did stop long enough to pull everything out of the storage area out back, so over the next few days I can put everything up (hopefully before the weekend). The tree will be the first thing I tackle plus I want to add a wreath over the mirror in the familyroom. Anyone have suggestions for how to attach this? I don't think the suction cups will work.

After this we have two additional trees left to put up (in the kitchen and diningroom). I know a lot of people do all of their decorating within one day but I am actually enjoying the process (and with the exception of one time today, I'm not stressing).

Day 12

I have been on the run all day. Probably a good thing because the walls were starting to close in after yesterday. Marc and I attended a friends retirement from the Navy this afternoon and then tonight Nicki and I went to see an interactive play about the town of Bethlehem with the youth from our church. All day I have been wearing my favorite socks (they remind me of Dr. Seuss...lol). Marc looked down at my feet this morning and asked me what I was wearing on my feet. I told him....socks! He said I know that, but do they have to be that bright? I'm sorry but it was cold (as a mug) outside today. Our weather has been wacky. Tomorrow its not suppose to get any warmer then 30 degrees! At the rate we are going I might actually get snow for Christmas. Right now I have my feet propped up, but I am going to bed soon because my husband promised me we were going to put up the rest of the decorations. I'm going to be ready even if its as cold as the north pole in the morning!

Day 11

Today has been a rough day (and it didn't start out that way). Not worth going into details, but sometimes the strain of the holidays can cause a meltdown. It didn't help that we were under a tornado watch and for the first time that I can remember since living here they actually named the area in which we live. Thankfully my family was all together at the time, but for a few minutes it got pretty scary. Of course my family thinks I'm crazy and that I over exaggerate stuff, but after living in Kansas I just don't take these things lightly.

As I said the day didn't start out that way. I woke up this morning feeling great and even fixed myself breakfast, washed a load of dishes and straightened up a bit. There is something about winter weather that puts me in a cooking mood. Some of my favorite dishes are broccoli and cheese soup, meatloaf and mash potatoes and fried potatoes and bacon (oh, and waffles...lol). Of course when it rains the only thing you want to do is curl up in bed with a blanket, a good book and a hot cup of tea!

Day 10


I caught Marc at the last minute as he was preparing to go to Wednesday night service ( he is probably the last person in the world who still irons his clothes on a regular basis). I did ask about Christmas decorations and he said, yes I should probably do that before Christmas actually arrives (duh.....you think?). All jokes aside he is a busy man and he drove 10 hours back to back for two days this week for his job. Has service tonight and a busy weekend ahead so I can't complain. And if he says we will get them up this weekend....well we will. He is a man of his word (even if it takes him a minute). What's not to love? And he irons his own clothing!

The best part about the holidays for me is spending it with my family. As much as I like to complain about the fact that they are all still home, I can't imagine not having them home for Christmas (even the "boys" in my life who never seem to be available to take a picture).

Day 9

Its slowly coming together (of course it would be a lot faster if my dear hubby pulled the rest of the decorations out of the storage shed). And it would look a lot nicer if he removed the plywood from a project yet undone, or the box filled with giveaway items for a local charity that has been there since early fall. But since life is suppose to simple, I'm not going to complain (she says with a smile on her face)! After all, this time last year we didn't have time for decorations or much else! We were to busy praying for Marc's health and wellness. Like I said....this will be a stress free holiday. Maybe if I wrote it down 2o times on a blackboard it would set in (lol).

Day 8
Mondays are downtime days for me. Especially now that Marc is a pastor. Our weekends are pretty full and we are up early on Sunday mornings. So on Mondays I sleep in late, stay in my pj's and vegetate. Even then I am usually updating the church web, or emailing or doing research on church ministries. Today I couldn't get myself together, so I have been even less productive then usual. Originally I thought I would pull out some more decorations but when the house is quiet I become easily distracted. I did straighten out the swag that was crooked and put some garland around my banister. I thought I would have the stockings up, but I have misplaced them somewhere in the house. But since my motto for this year is not to stress, I'm not going to stress.

Day 7

We came home Sunday night to this........apparently the wind did not like the fact that we decided to start putting up decorations. Three of the bows on the porch were completely destroyed (good thing the only cost a $1.00).

My poor sways were askew and one had even fallen down. Thank goodness Marc strapped down the new trees the day before (even though I thought it looked tacky I was glad he had done it).

Day 6
Today Nicki, Quisha and I hit the streets early to pick up the last of the Christmas decorations on my wish list for 08. Each year we add something new to the pile. Today it was white poinsettia's, plus additional garland and bows for out front porch. On my wish list for a long time has been the lighted Christmas trees you see above. I picked up this box of two during Black Friday (I'm still thinking about going back and getting the 8 ft one). A few years ago Marc brought me the lighted reindeer, but I kept saying they were missing something to graze around. This year they won't be sitting out there all alone.

After we finished shopping we came home and put up the garland, and swags (minus the ones up top, because Marc and TJ will be tasked with that job! Originally I was just going to do the center windows, but it looked unfinished. So we headed back to the store again (Nicki was not happy, especially since this morning we seemed to run into some of the rudest people around. What happened to the Christmas spirit? At one point we got shoved around so much it felt like a playback to our one and only trip to Universal Studios). Unfortunately its dark now so the rest of the outdoor lights will have to wait until Monday (we have a full day tomorrow so I know I will not get to it then). If I can get Marc to pull out the rest of the outdoor lights this week we should be done by next Saturday. Yah!!!!!!!!! This will make a record for us. We are never this ahead of the game (lol).

Day 5
Today was suppose to be the day we started pulling out the decorations. Instead we went car shopping for a run around car for us and Nicki. Marc got tired of paying for a rental car ( it has been a month since the accident). This way we can take our time finding our "dream car" and when we do Nicki will have a reliable car for school. Right now with the exception of the wreath on the front door the only other sign of Christmas around here is one lone swag on the bay window in my scraproom. Here is hoping tomorrow will be a more productive day.

Day 4
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The sad part is that I still have the decorations from last year in my diningroom! We have been so busy this year that we never got around to storing them with the rest of the decorations. The good thing about that is that I will get a early start on some of my decorating which never happens. Now to find that can of snow that I brought on black Friday so I can get this party started. I have not been this excited about Christmas in a long time. Somehow when you let go of being perfect life just gets a little easier.

Day 3: Countdown to Christmas

I love lighting candles. Especially during the holidays. Its something about the glow of a candle and the scent that says Christmas (that and some holiday music). Each year I stock up when AC Moore holds its 6 for $10 sale. This year I was late getting there and missed the special sale, but Marc and I couldn't leave without a few of our favorite scents (Lily of the Valley, Rasberry, Apple Cinnamon ) and this year we even picked up several jars of Refreshing Spa by accident. I didn't realize until we got home that Marc and I had picked up the same one (lol).

When I think of wintertime and Christmas I picture a warm fire, the smell of apples and lots of lights. Call me crazy but I love the crisp cold air, the smoky smell from my neighbors chimneys and the sound of pine needles and pine cones under my feet. All that is missing is a little snow.

25 Days To Christmas

Day 1: I spent the entire day in my pajamas. After the installation celebration this weekend the only thing I wanted to do was vegetate. I think Marc and I are still overwhelmed by the love and affection we received from family and friends. I can't imagine not having David and Cheryl at the services. It was the icing on the cake.

Day 2: Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. Quisha brought home a poinsettia plant (God help that poor plant since I seem to kill anything green that comes into the house). This time last year Marc was in the hospital and Christmas was the last thing on our minds. This year there will be less presents but plenty of Christmas decorations up (we went a little crazy at Michael's during Black Friday) and now our windows outside will be draped in garland, a little fake snow and red bows (including the mailbox). I feel like a kid in the candy store (lol)!

The Installation

The Installation is over and now the real work begins. We had the best time. The highlight of the weekend was having our Pastor from Kansas who licensed Marc nearly 16 years ago come and surprise Marc for that weekend.