...crazy weekend...

Thursday night was the start of the craziness that is Christmas at Tallowood.  Being on staff at a large church, December is jam packed with parties, ornament exchanges, lunches, special music concerts, the list goes on.  Don't get me wrong, it's all really fun, just exhausting! So, last Thursday night was the Ministry Staff Christmas party.  All the ministers & spouses gather together for dinner at one of the ministers' house.  It was super yummy and fun! I love getting out of the walls of the church for a night to just hang out and enjoy eachother's company!

Then, Friday morning I was up early to head down to Corpus.  If you live in Texas, you may recall that the weather was horrific on Friday morning.  I had heard it wasn't supposed to snow til after noon, so I thought I could beat it out of town.  I got on the road a few mins before 8:00, feeling ok about the drive ahead of me.  I had heard on the news that it was already snowing, but I thought if I could just get South of Houston, then I'd be home free....oh how wrong I was! It did stop snowing when I left the Houston area, but about 30 mins later the flurries returned.  They got heavier and heavier.  The grass on the median was covered, I was only going about 35-40 mph...ugh, slow going.  I wasn't tooo concerned til my car read 32 degrees and the roads started getting slushy!!! Yikes! Yes, I was talking to the Lord through all of this.  It took me 3 hours to get to Victoria, which it usually only takes 1.5 hours.  Finally things let up and I got to Corpus some 5 hours later...no, I don't ever plan to drive through a small snow storm again!

I spent Friday at a little Craft Bazaar at a lady's house, showing my sisters' necklaces.  I also got to go see some of my favorite girls in a homeschool play.  Then I met my parents for my favorite meal in CC!  After dinner, my sister Kristy & her 3 kids had driven in, so we all met at the house. 

Saturday, we woke up and my mom made pancakes because that is mine & Ashlyn's fave and it was for both of our birthdays.  We both got a few gifts and then my sister went back to the Bazaar, while my mom & I hung out with her kids! Man, I love those kids!  I also went back to the Bazaar and got to hang out with some old friends. I was supposed to leave town late afternoon, but instead decided that I would just wake up early and drive back Sunday morning in time for church.  Worst. decision. I've made in a looooong time!

I ended up not going to bed til almost 1:00am, and couldn't fall asleep.  The last time I remember looking at the clock was 2:30, when I had to get up at 4:30, that's right, I got 2 hours of sleep and then had to wake up and drive over 3 hours back to Houston.  The drive back was almost as bad as the 5 hour drive there! I was so tired that I felt sick to my stomache...you know the feeling?  I had to stop every hour just to wake myself up and move around, which is not my norm, I usually hate stopping, but this time it wasn't an option!  I could barely keep my eyes open.  I didn't get to take a nap til about 2pm that afternoon, and even after that nap, I woke up with a headache and was still sick feeling...ugh.  I nursed myself on Sprite, crackers and soup.  Thankfully after a good night's sleep I woke up on Monday, my birthday!!! feeling human again!

Next post: birthday festivities!

Random thought/fact of the day: I only have Blake & Bradley left to shop for in my family!!!! Best shape I've ever been in for gifts for my family! Woohoo!

try and stop me!

That's right, I'm posting today, even though nablopomo is over!

I just wanted to share with you that I actually got my tree up!  As I was decorating I realized that I've started a few Christmas decorting collecitons:

• nativity scenes - also nativity ornaments
• ladybug ornaments
• anything with the word "Joy" on it (especially ornaments) - it's my middle name incase you didn't know

I am glad that I put out my Christmas decor - what little I have.  I just have such a small apartment that I don't have a lot of tables or book shelves to put stuff on.  So I'm limited to what all I can put out.

I also had 2 fun finds one, an Amy Grant Greatest Christmas Hist CD that either someone gave me or I bought on sale last year.  It was still in the shrink wrap! Perfect to listen to while decorting! The other fun find was some ornaments that I had gotten on sale after Christmas.  I have an ornament exchange next week that I hadn't purchased an ornament for yet, so now I have a really great ornament that I'm excited to take to the exchange!

Joyous Advent!

THE END

el fin

done deal

no mas

last post

completed

30 in 30

Nov is over

as is nablopomo

I did it, it was rough at times, but I made it through.

Random thought/fact of the day: I still haven't gotten out my Christmas decorations...and I'm beginning to wonder if I'm going to.  If it doesn't happen tomorrow, then it's not going to...it's just so hard to be motivated to do it when I'm literally the only one who will see it or appreciate it...we'll see...

...Advent...

Today being the first day of Advent, I've been thinking about the concept of Advent.  If I'm being honest, I don't think I've ever really thought much about the purpose of Advent.  Yeah, yeah, I've known that Advent is the season in which we prepare for the coming of our King to the Earth for the first time over 2,000 years ago.  This is a huge deal.  The biggest deal.  So yeah, we need to prepare our hearts to fully celebrate and embrace this momentous occasion.

So, this year, I'm going to make a personal effort to really participate in this Advent season.  Yes, I want to look forward to Christmas, but I also want to experience the preparation to get there.  I love Christmas, I think most people do, but this year I hope to experience it in a new and fresh way.  You know how we always say Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas.  Well, I'm going to start saying "Joyous Advent."

Side note: I'm also really excited because I'm already mostly done with my Christmas shopping and am super excited about most of the presents I'm giving.  It occured to me that God must have been even moreso excited about giving us the gift of His Son.  So this year as you give gifts, I hope that you can be excited and can remember what a precious gift that baby boy, God in human form, was to each and every person.

So, Joyous Advent!

Oh, and here's a picture my sister took on Thanksgiving Day.  Man, I really need a camera!

Random thought/fact of the day: I'm speaking in chapel tomorrow at my soon to be alma mater, SWBTS, Houston campus.  It's not a big deal, but if you think about it, shoot up a prayer for me!

THANKFUL

I know this post is late, but I wanted to still be able to document it:

My gracious Heavenly Father.  You know, at different time in our life I think we appreciate different characteristics of God.  Of course I am thankful for His unending love, His saving grace and His hand of protection in my life, but this year, at this point in my life, I am learning to appreciate His faithfulness to me, personally, each day.  My God has been with me each step of my life, guiding me, preparing a way for me, and He will continue to be faithful as He shows me each day what He has for me and how He wants to use me to bring honor and praise to His name!

Ofcourse I am thankful for an amazing family.  Don't get me wrong, we're not perfect, but I wouldn't trade them for the world.  My parents are always supportive, my sisters are always available and the kiddos are always good for a laugh.  I love love love spending time with them all and am so grateful that we all live within just a few hours drive of eachother.

I am thankful for an amazing church family, a wonderful place to serve.  It's amazing that I've been there almost 5 years now.  It's a place I feel at home, a place I feel invested.  I am ever grateful for how much I have learned in these first 5 years of ministry. 

Of course I am thankful for dear friends in my life.  I am thankful for those friends that I share life with day in and day out.  Those friends that walk through stuff with me.  Friends that I call when I'm stressed or excited or sad or confused.  Friends that I laugh with and yes, sometimes even cry with.  I am thankful for friends I share ministry with, a great group of Jr. Staffers.  I am thankful for old friends that know me.  Friends that make an effort to keep in touch. 

I know this all sounds generic, but it's very true in my life! I'm also thankful to God for all of the provisions in my life.  He has given me a job that I love, a safe place to live, a new car to drive and food each day. 

My gracious heavenly Father is so abundantly generous to me. 

Random thought/fact of the day: I'm so excited, I've already gotten 2 birthday presents!!! A fun new blingged out belt for the rodeo, and seasons 9 & 10 of Friends (a collection I've always wanted, but never started)! Fun times!

Black Friday

Yup, I was up at 4:30 this morning to get Black Friday deals. What was worth getting up that early for? Oh, nothing in particular. My sister got some good deals and I picked up a few things, but nothing major. I was able to cross my dad off the list, so that's good!

Sorry for the quick post. Nablopomo is killing me, but I can't quit now, right?

Random thought/fact if the day: I tried sweet potato pie for the first time today. It was good, but not life changing, or anything like that.


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Unexpected Thanksgiving Day

We knew my sister, Kelly, wouldn't be at Thanksgiving this year. Which was a hit to our menu considering she helps with a good portion of the cooking. So when my mom woke up sick this morning, we were down 2 of our primary chefs! So, for the first time, I was given some major responsibilities in the cooking. Now, before you start judging me for not helping, let me remind you I have 3 sisters, a mom and a bro-in-law that all help, and really, that's almost too many chefs in one kitchen. Plus, I also it is kind of unspoken that I entertain the kiddos while all of this cooking is taking place. But today I:

Peeled potatoes
Made 2 out of 3 layers for Strawberry Pretzle Salad
Prepared the Asparagus
Baked the rolls
Set the table - this I do normally help with

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We did! Even though my mom was down for the count, which she is feeling much better now.

Random thought/fact of the day: I have THE best nieces & nephews in the world. Soooo sorry I didn't get any pics with my phone today to share.