Christmas

It's the most Wonderful Time of the Year! Oh how I LOVE Christmas...I love everything about it and literally look forward to it all year long. It is just such a magical time to me. 

~Christmas Decorations~

The way homes look, inside and out, are so special at Christmas. I love driving down the streets and seeing all the lights and trees lit up inside the windows. I love love love smelling the fresh cut tree inside the house and sitting by it in the evenings all lit up with all the memorable ornaments on it. This year has been very different for us. Since we are still living at Mom and Dad's, I don't get to decorate my own place this year, have my own tree with my own ornaments, and put our own lights on our house. So it's been a change for me but I am so grateful to be in Tennessee surrounded by all our family at Christmas. We did get Emma a tree for her room and decorated it with a few of her own ornaments and she loves it. Mom and I picked out tree and decorated it together which was nice because we haven't done that since before I got married. Will helped my dad put the lights on the house and Emma loved as we pulled out all the decorations for inside the house. She even helped place them all! 

~Christmas Traditions~

It's been hard for Will and I to form our own family traditions since we've been married because we have always been traveling at Christmas and then this year our situation is still kinda different but there are some traditions that no matter what the circumstances, will always be Christmas to me. I am in love with the Rockefeller Christmas tree. I never miss the special each year on tv when the tree is lit up for the first time and I am determined to stand at the foot of that tree one day! I also love all the other Christmas specials that come on tv, Rudolph, Frosty, the Grinch, Charlie Brown, etc. And Emma has become quite fond of them this year too! Her favorite is Frosty. She has me play the song on my phone and wants it to repeat over and over, which it does for as long as I will let her listen to it! It is precious. There are numerous Christmas movies that we always watch and then of course the Christmas baking...Mom and I used to bake so many delicious Christmas treats and I know this year will be no different. One of my very favorite things we do at Christmas is go to my Aunt's house for a Christmas appetizer dinner and games. We always have the best time and the food is incredible! On Christmas Eve, my family usually goes to see a movie, a special dinner at Chop House, touring the millions of lights at Bristol Motor Speedway, then home to read the Christmas Story from the Bible. Christmas Day, we wake up and give each other our gifts. My Mom cooks a breakfast casserole and then Christmas night we go to my Grandma's house for dinner. We will also go to my Mamaw's for a Christmas meal at some point during the season when all the family can get together. 

~Christmas Through a Child's Eyes~

I never thought I could love Christmas any more than I do but this year my love for it has grown as I am seeing Christmas as a child again. Watching Emma discover the joys of Christmas has been the neatest experience. She is definitely my child because she seems to love it all as much as I do. To hear her say Christmas just melts my heart, it is so stinking cute! Whenever we drive by a house with lights, she points and says, "It's Christmas Mommy! There it is!" She is fascinated with all the decorations and I love to see her eyes light up as she takes it all in. I'm not so sure how sitting on Santa's lap will go this year, last year he was not a hit, but we'll see. We are going to take her tonight :)

~The True Meaning of Christmas~

While there are so many things about Christmas that I love, the thing I love most is that for one day, though we should celebrate it each and every day, we get to completely rejoice in the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The world has definitely made Christmas to be something where Jesus could be completely forgotten but I think Christmas is a celebration. It is a celebration in the fact that because a baby was born, led a sinful life, and died on a cross for my sins, I will one day spend eternity in Heaven. When we set up the nativity, Emma helped me put out each piece, putting baby Jesus out last. I hope that I can teach her what Christmas is really about. While it's fun to show her all the Christmas lights and decorations, to let her listen to Frosty the Snowman over and over, to take her to see Santa Clause, to wrap up gifts, to bake Christmas goodies, I hope that I can teach her that it is all simply a celebration leading up to the greatest birthday we celebrate all year long! 

 

Thanksgiving

Psalm 95:2

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

1 Chronicles 16:34

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!

There are so many things in life that I am thankful for. I could never even begin to mention all the things God has greatly blessed me with. I love Thanksgiving because I am reminded of how truly blessed I am. I am thankful for these things everyday but especially on this day of Thanksgiving...

I Am Thankful For...

Life and Salvation - assurance that I will spend eternity in heaven 

Mercy and Grace - forgiveness that I am so underserving of

Will - my very best friend and the love of my life, we have a fantastic relationship and a great marriage

Emma - a love I never knew could exist that grows stronger each and everyday

Annie - I know she's just a dog but she is a huge part of my life and brings me such happiness

Food - I never have to worry where my next meal is coming from

Shelter - I have a warm bed to sleep in every night

Transportation - I can get myself safely and efficiently from here to there 

Income - Will and I are both blessed with jobs that provide for our family 

Health - my family faces each day without health complications

Freedom - I can live each day freely in our great country, freedom sacrificially given 

Parents - I am so blessed with the most wonderful mom and dad that show me continuous love

Siblings - my two brothers and my sister I love with all my heart and love the relationships we have

Grandparents -  always been, always will be a huge part of my life, whether here on earth or in heaven

Great Aunt and Uncle - these two people are such a significant part of my life and I'm crazy about them

Friendship - I have amazing friendships that until a few years ago I never knew could exist

Family - I am greatly blessed with numerous family members that I love dearly
Church Family - Boone Trail Baptist Church has welcomed us with loving arms and we are so glad to call BTBC our church home
Tennessee - so incredibly thankful to be back in this beautiful state, to be back home

While life is filled with many ups and downs, we have so many things to give thanksgiving for, not just today but with every breath we take. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 

In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

~Happy Thanksgiving~

Cruise Time!

On Friday, Will and I are leaving to go on a trip that we have wanted to go on for years. We are celebrating our 5th anniversary with a cruise to the Bahamas and Key West, Florida. I am SO excited because aside from our honeymoon, we have never done anything like this. But this will also be the first time we have left Emma and my heart is breaking. I know that we are going to have a blast and we without a doubt need the time together but oh my goodness I am going to miss her!

So (with tears as we leave I'm sure), we are leaving Friday morning and driving to Port Canaveral, FL, unless we decide to stop before then. 

Our ship takes off Saturday at 4:00pm. We are both a little apprehensive simply because we are first time cruisers but I'm sure that will fade quickly. 

Sunday morning at 9:00am we arrive in Freeport, Bahamas and will be there til 5:00pm. Our plan is to simply explore the city and maybe hang out on the beach! 

Monday, we arrive in Nassau, Bahamas at 7:00am and will be til 3:00pm. I am really hoping to be able to see the Atlantis hotel and then whatever else seems interesting :)

Tuesday, we will dock in Key West, FL at 12:00pm. I am probably looking most forward to seeing Key West. I have wanted to go here for quite some time and really have no agenda other then seeing what the city has to offer! 

And then Wednesday we spend a day at sea traveling back to Port Canaveral. A fun day of relaxing on the ship! 

We dock Thursday morning and then a long drive back to our precious baby!!

Coca~Cola

My brother just showed me the neatest thing he found online. You may have seen it but we hadn't and thought it was really cool. Coca Cola Freestyle has these new vending machines that have 100+ drink options that you create. It's blended up right there fresh when you make your choice. They are then using the most popular creations and making them actual drink flavors! Pretty neat...the only downfall is these vending machines are only located in certain places. For all my Texas friends...you have lots of choices!
Some of the options...

Cherry Vanilla Coke, Orange Coke, Raspberry Coke


Strawberry Sprite, Peach Sprite, Grape Sprite, Cherry Sprite, Vanilla Sprite, Orange Sprite,    Raspberry Sprite

There are a ton more flavors, these are just a few! Next time I am near one of these I will definitely be creating myself a drink flavor!!

~Two~

Two years old....I remember when Emma was born, and I would sit holding her, staring into her precious innocent face for hours. It was one of my favorite things to do. I remember wondering what she would be like when she grew up, how she would talk, what her personality would be like...I remember thinking of the word two and how far away that seemed from her as a newborn baby. And here we are...she's 2.

I had a difficult time when Emma turned one. I am so sentimental and emotional! But there was just something about 2 that is so much harder!! It's like the baby in her is just gone. And in saying this, I love everyday I spend with her and I love the little girl has grown to be so it's not that I'm not completely enjoying the stage we are in now, it has just flown by way too fast. I had a semi breakdown the night before her birthday. Will and I laid in bed and just reminisced on her life. And while my tears flowed, I realized how thankful and blessed we are to have a beautiful, happy, smart, healthy little girl. She is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me and I am crazy in love with her.

I look at her now and I can still feel how I felt the moment they placed her in my arms after a scary and long two days of getting her into this world. It almost takes my breath away. There are no words to describe meeting the child for the first time that has grown inside of you for nine months. Instant unconditional indescribable love. I hope as she continues to grow, I will never forget this moment.

And as I'm sitting her now writing this post, she comes up to me, puts both hands on my cheeks and gives me the biggest kiss! It doesn't get much better than that! Happy Birthday my sweet Emma!

Halloween!

Halloween! Halloween! Trick or Treat!! 

This is the song from Emma's Dora Halloween movie. She loved this movie and I'm so glad we got it for her because all October she's been watching it and learning all about trick or treating. So when it came time for Halloween, she was all ready and excited to put on her costume and head out! And not that I'm partial or anything, but I think she was the cutest little ducky I've seen!!

When I was little, I remembering getting in and out of the car, making our Halloween rounds to all our friends and family so we could show off our costumes. And of course, the tradition lived on this year! It was so nice to be back home so everyone could see Emma all dressed up. We had such a great evening, even though after it all was over, Mommy was exhausted! 

Fall Fun!

After living away from the mountains and the fall colors for four years, we are SO glad to be in the midst of all the fall beauty and are thoroughly enjoying it! We are fortunate to live right in the Smokey Mountains because everywhere you look, the bright colors are all around. Here are some pics of what we've been up to this fall!

Apple Festival in Erwin, TN. Emma had a great time riding the train, picking out pumpkins, and getting a blow up Dora! We also all enjoyed home-made donuts. Yum!

I am so glad I have a baby girl to dress in adorable outfits and dressing her in holiday attire is my favorite!  Not to mention her little UT cheerleader dress!

We have enjoyed so much being so close to Dollywood and getting to take Emma there to enjoy all the fun! Dollywood puts on a beautiful Harvest Festival and Emma loved seeing all the pumpkins! We are really looking forward to the four million Christmas lights Dollywood puts up in the next couple weeks!

On October 21st, we went to Mount Mitchell in North Carolina , the place that Will proposed to me on this day 6 years ago. It was so great to get to go back and re-live that moment.  The mountains were absolutely breathtaking from on top of the observation deck and although Emma had no clue the significance, we loved having her there with us!

On our drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, we took Emma's two year pictures.  She had a blast playing in the leaves which made for fantastic pics. It was a very emotional moment for me to watch my baby having so much fun in one the most beautiful settings in the world knowing how much she has grown up and how much I utterly adore her! She is full of personality and Will and I are so incredibly blessed to have her in our lives!