Congratulations!

Just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS to Ashley Rippy and Adam Nicholson! They're engaged to be married October 10, 2009! I'm so excited for them both, and can't wait to see their beautiful wedding! =.)

Christmas... =.)

It's been really hard to even get motivated to post over Christmas, but here's the rundown. We stayed pretty busy. We had dinner every night for 5 nights, straight! It got to where I got tired of eating! =.) It was a really great holiday, though. I just know that I am so blessed!

Marc and I went down to South Carolina to spend the weekend with his dad and stepmom December 19-21. We celebrated Christmas with all of Melinda's family, and then also our Christmas with them, Matt, Tammy, and Karleigh. I don't spend as much time with Karleigh as I do with Allie and Ava - they live in Hillsborough, and we just don't see them as much as we should. So, it was really fun spending time with her. She's just adorable! I love her curls!

This is Karleigh with Tammy and Logan is in the background.

***

And, on the way home, as always, we stopped by Concord Mills. It was crazy busy. But I just love outlet stores! =.) I can't pay full price for clothes! Especially when I know I can get them at a much lower price somewhere else. So, we finished up our Christmas shopping, then came on home.

***

As soon as we got home, I changed and went with Brock and Allie to the Christmas Cantata at Mars Hill Baptist Church. That's the church we grew up in, and our grandmothers still go there. So, we went and listened. For as long as I remember, when you walk out the door, some of the deacons are standing out on the steps, and you get a little brown paper bag filled with fruit, raisins, chewing gum, and a candy bar. They cover all the bases! So, we each got a bag, then went down stairs to the fellowship hall and ate some homemade goodies. I love that about Mars Hill. Number 1 - the food is always delicious! Number 2 - you know almost everyone there. That's the benefit of a small church. I haven't seen some of these people in 6 months or more, because that's when Marc and I transfered our membership to Crosslink. It was great seeing old friends. =.)

***

Tuesday, I enjoyed lunch with Tiffany and Kelli and we exchanged gifts. I love these girls! I'm blessed beyond belief to have friends like them! And I got a replacement shot glass for my Appalachian one I broke when we were moving! Thank you so much, Tiffany (and Kevin!!)! And I'm excited about my gift certificate to Aveda. Now, we just have to plan a date to go! =.)

***

Tuesday night, I went to dinner with my other girls. We went to Tupelo's and enjoyed half price wine, and a really good dinner. After that, we went to the Wooden Nickel and just hung out for a while. I had to go home early, as I had to work Christmas Eve.

***

On Christmas Eve, we had dinner at my grandma's and opened gifts there. We finished there around 8. Marc and I had to get home to finish wrapping all of our presents for Christmas, and then we opened our gifts to each other. We didn't want to be rushed on Christmas morning, and I think I like doing things on Christmas Eve, at least while it's just the two of us.

***

Then, on Christmas morning, we looked through our stockings to each other, then went over to Brock and Wendy's, and did gifts with them and Mama and Daddy. Then we went to Matt & Tammy's and exchanged gifts with them and Marc's mom and aunt, and just hung out for a little bit with them. Lunch was at my aunt's - with my mom's brother, sisters, mom, and families. We opened gifts after lunch, then we celebrated Lisa's birthday, she opened her gifts, then we ate birthday cake. Our next stop was at Marc's aunts' house, we did dinner there, then we did a "Dirty Santa" gift exchange. And finally, our last stop of the day was my grandpa's house. We exchanged gifts there, then we went home to wait for Lyman and Melinda to get there. They stayed with us Christmas night, and then went home the next morning. I went shopping with Mama for a little bit. This is our day in pictures:

Ava's First Christmas!

Brock, Wendy & Marc

Allie and I
Mama admiring her new picture

Danielle in her cute new apron and matching gloves

My beautiful Grandma

Allie admiring her new Barbie, horse, and stable set

Mama with her siblings

Brock, my grandpa, and Marc
***

The day after Christmas, we went to dinner in Mebane with all of my grandpa's family - his brothers and sisters and all of their families. We do these gag gifts from "Santa," and it's always a lot of fun. This year, Marc got a huge sombrero - it's gold with shiny gold thread - it's hilarious. Pictures of some of the other gifts follow:

Marc with his new hat

My Daddy with Ava

Brock in his new bra, some borrowed panties, and Marc's new hat

Papa with his new hat - looks warm! =.)

***

Okay - that was Friday, so on Saturday, we did dinner with my other grandma's family - her nieces and nephews and family from her brothers and sisters. It's been awhile since we've seen everyone.

***

I feel like our Christmas was completely family-filled, and I loved it. However, I feel like I need some more time off to recouperate! I am still a little tired of eating! =.) Now, looking forward to the new year, and more eating!

***

I hope your Christmas was merry, and that you are blessed with all things in the new year!





"I have told you these things, so that in my you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

And the Christmas Festivities begin...

On Saturday, Marc, Brock, Allie, and I went to my grandma's house to bake Christmas cookies. Marc, Brock, and I started doing this about 3 years ago, and it's become another tradition.

See, my grandmother makes the best Christmas cookies ever. They're homemade sugar cookies with icing on top. Since she has arthritis, and it's been getting a bit worse each year, it's hard for her to roll out the dough, and cut them out, etc. And since we all love the cookies so much, we told her we would help her make them so she could still give them out.

Brock and I are the oldest grandkids...the next oldest is 7 years younger than me. She came over to help watch Allie this year, and Allie was so funny! Allie wanted to help so badly (I really think she just wanted to get icing on her fingers so she could lick it off). So, my grandma broke out the sprinkles, and they made buttons for the snowmen and the gingerbread men. Anyways, here are some pictures of Brock, Marc, and me working in her kitchen.


On Sunday, we had a family reunion to go to. We have one twice a year, and it's with my great grandmother's family. It's all of her brothers and sisters, and all of their kids, and their kid's kids, etc. This year, there were only about 70 people there, but they're getting older. It's good to see these people...it makes me wonder - how many other families still know their families from 4 generations prior? Do you know yours? I only know it on my dad's side of the family. Growing up with the family I have, I hope my kids know as much of their family as possible...as far back as they can. They won't appreciate it when they're young, and I realize that, but they will once they're older, and they'll cherish the time they spent with those loved ones. =.)

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." Proverbs 31:10-12

Newlywed Stilettos Giveaway

As I was reading through my favorite blogs, I came across Mrs. Stilettos, and she's hosting a giveaway. Just go here and comment, and you'll be entered. You can also check out my comment, under Marc and Brittany. Enjoy!

My Favorite Addiction

Okay. Most everyone who knows me knows that this is my biggest addiction:


This one is empty because it was my breakfast this morning. =.) I absolutely LOVE a Mountain Dew. My favorite is from a can. They just taste better. Those who are addicts like me, you know what I'm talking about. =.)

In November, our pastor at Crosslink Community Church, Pastor Ken, as I'll call him, challenged everyone to fast for 40 days. The purpose of the fast:

1. Pray for the people in your wallet (the 3 people you have written down in your wallet that you've listed as needing prayer that God will come into their lives and convict them, and that Jesus will find them wherever they are).


2. Pray for the DreamBIG initiative that's going on (We're currently meeting in the auditorium of a middle school because the church is only 2, almost 3, years old, and we don't have a physical building to call our church, yet. DreamBIG is our fund to begin searching for land to build on).

So, any time we thought about what we were fasting, it was supposed to be a reminder to pray for the two items above, as well as anything else you felt needed prayer.

Marc and I were talking after this service about what we were going to fast, and I told him I'd fast chocolate. That would be hard for me, but not impossible. I love chocolate, so it would be a sacrifice for me. He said that if I really wanted to fast, then I should give up Mt. Dew for 40 days. Let me tell you, I thought he was crazy, because I didn't really think I could do it. But I thought about it and I prayed about it, and I decided that if I were going to do this, and really give up something that I consider a daily part of my life, then Mt. Dew would be the thing that would be the biggest sacrifice for me. So, I did.

I made a countdown in my planner from 40 all the way to Mt. Dew Day! And that day, was on Saturday, December 6th. On Saturday morning, I woke up - we had a 2 liter Mt. Dew in the fridge, but it had been open for over a week, and to be honest, I did not want my first sip of Mt. Dew in 40 days to be that of a flat 2 liter. That would have just been a disappointment. I needed gas, so I drove to Andy's after getting my fake tree out of Mama & Daddy's storage building at their house, and purchased 2 refreshingly cold cans of Mountain Dew. I waited until I got back home, popped the top of that much awaited for drink, turned it up, and had my first sip in 40 days.

And ya know what, it didn't taste nearly as great as it was supposed to! I don't know if my taste buds have changed, but every swallow of Mt. Dew since Saturday - they just haven't tasted the way I expected. Don't get me wrong...it was good...but not as good as I wanted it to be. =.) So, I do believe that my newest 'addiction' in the world of soft drinks is: Sprite. At least it's caffeine free. =.)

"For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does." Psalm 33:4

Christmas Decorating... =.D

I am so excited to finally have my Christmas decorations up. It's tradition to put them up the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving, but Marc and I didn't get to it last weekend. So, my deal with Marc was we could either go get a real tree Friday night (so I could decorate on Saturday), or I was going to put up a fake tree.

Here's the thing - Marc has always had a real tree, and I've always had a fake tree. I so believe that a fake tree is just really so much easier. No needles to pick up, no tree trunks to water, no having to turn the tree off when we're not home, etc. He says he likes the way the real trees smell, and he doesn't mind the "hassle" of a real tree.

So, back to Friday night. We went over to Brock and Wendy's for dinner, and Brock & Marc ended up watching some Motocross/4-wheeler show that Brock had DVR'd. When we left, I was all prepared to go get the tree, and Marc said he was just too tired, and he hadn't had a shower since work, and he didn't want to go get one.

That means, on Saturday, while Marc was out riding one of these:

all day with Brock, Justin, and Dougie south of Charlotte, I stayed home and put up this:

And this:

Now, all I need to do is get a candle so Marc can at least have the scent of a real Christmas tree around (which I hate, by the way, but I will sacrifice because he has).

And this was taken at my aunt's on Sunday while we wer celebrating my Grandma's 66th birthday! =.)

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21

Thanksgiving Weekend

So, our holiday really started on Wednesday, when Marc's dad and stepmom came up from South Carolina to stay with us. We had a wonderful time hanging out with them and with Matt, Tammy, and Karleigh. Part of Melinda's (Marc's stepmom) Christmas present is a picture collage of all of us, so I had my Mama come over to take a picture for the center of the collage, and here it is:

I think it came out pretty well. I'm satisfied with it. =.)

Matt and Tammy had to leave early because they had to get Karleigh to bed. She was just too cute! She absolutely loved the dogs. She would go up to their doggie gate and wanted to touch them, but she didn't want them to lick her, so she'd pull her hand out when came close. Karleigh would follow everyone around, and she was just so much fun! It was really great having everyone over!

After they left, the rest of us stayed up until after 1 a.m. playing spades. Melinda and I won the first game, then we let Lyman and Marc win the second game. =.)

Thanksgiving morning was spent with Lyman & Melinda. Then we went to Marc's mom's family for a quick lunch, then finished up with dessert at my Mama's family. Then, all the ladies gathered 'round the sales papers to plot out our strategy. =.)

On Friday, we started shopping around 5-5:30 at Wal-Mart. Then, Mama went with me to Best Buy. They had a great deal on a dishwasher, and Marc's dad let us know that the pump on ours was done. However, the dishwasher is 20 years old, so it was definitely time for a new one. It's silver and pretty and quieter than the old one, so I'm happy. Then, we went to Kohl's, Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Target, Chick-fil-A for a yummy lunch, PacSun, Charlotte Russe, Bath & Body Works, CompUSA, Sears, BACK to Wal-Mart, and finally home! I was so tired when I got home, that I was just lazy! This is the back of my Explorer filled with my purchases! And yes, that is my dishwasher purchase in there. It fit perfectly!

Yay for Shopping on Black Friday!

On Saturday, Brock, Wendy, Allie, Ava, Marc and I all went and had a "family portrait" done for Mama's Christmas present. Here are the ones we picked and liked best. They were cropped better for the prints we purchased, but you get the idea.

This is the one for Mama

This is Brock and his family:

This is Allie - acting innocent =.)


This is baby Ava - She's just too cute!

And last, Marc and me:

It looks so much like an engagement picture to me, but oh, well. It's the only 'professional' picture we've taken since our wedding.

I really think she's gonna love it! =.) I'm excited to give it to her (I don't really want to wait until Christmas, but I will). =.)

Sunday, we did lunch at my paternal grandmother's house to celebrate Wendy's birthday. It was great getting to spend time with cousins, and of course to see Allie & Ava. I just LOVE those girls! =.)

Needless to say, I don't feel like I really got a "vacation" over Thanksgiving. I dreaded going into work on Monday, but that's life.

If you could please pray for Alex's friends and family. I mentioned him last week, and I know that some of his friends are just taking it really hard. His funeral is Thursday night, and I just know that prayer works.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4