It's almost here!

Everybody ready???

It's almost here...I just about can't wait any longer! I am worse than the children.

Get your gifts wrapped, pack the car (don't forget my present...hehe).
...start the hot chocolate percolatin'...

get your 'celebratin' clothes on!

It's Jesus' Birthday!
This calls for a HUGE celebration!
Can't wait to hear how you make it special at your house...we've already started!

Mixed Bag

Whew...what a mixed bag of happenings today. The snow storm came as predicted...absolutely beautiful. Then, a huge tree fell across our yard, broke our fence down! Oh, well, fences come and fences go - we are all fine! That's the most important thing. The power had gone at about 2 a.m., so we loaded up at 9 a.m. and headed to my in-laws. It took us 40 minutes to make a typical 8 minute ride out of our side road due to downed trees/power lines. It was obvious that our neighbors had been out for hours cutting trees in the night - such a mess. We had too drive a maze on the road to dodge them. Mike started calling checking on our many of our elderly church members/those who may need assistance and checking in early today.

Once we arrived at families, we shared a much appreciated, warm, biscuits-n-gravy breakfast and nice, cozy nap. Then, the kids, granny and papaw along w/ daddy, built an awesome snowman and had a great snowball fight!

Now, we are praying for the folks working for the power companies, many of whom are friends, those that have lost power and those in need...that we will be aware of needs and meet them as we are able.

...and we are thankful for the beautiful white snow and our family that helped us during our time of need as well!

Tried to upload pics without success...will add later! Everyone stay warm:)

So is mine.

It was a messy life...

born in a stable, placed in a manger...it was dirty, unkempt, unorganized;

He left His parents and caused sheer pandamonium/panic when they couldn't find Him;

He was often surrounded by crowds/bombarded, yet often alone;

He was...passionate;
...misunderstood;
...angry;

...loving;

...honest;

...accused;
...kind;
...rejected;
...lied about;
...man-handled;
...persecuted - at times by those who claimed to know Him/understand Him/love Him,

...and so much more.
It was a messy life...Christ's life was a messy life.
He lived it out perfectly - but it was messy -
all over the map.

So is mine.

Christmas Parade '09

We have had a very "Christmas-y" day today...and what a joy! It started with Christmas play dress rehearsal at our church, then on to Paintsville for Abby to participate in her very first parade, the Christmas parade with her dance school, Pointe of Joy Performing Arts. We had a great time and she really enjoyed the dance performance they did in front of the courthouse steps at the end...it was her favorite part...(although she could have done without the fire truck that followed behind us and honked his horn/ran his siren the whole time during the parade -hehehe.). The snow made it so pretty tonight and really settled for me the Christmas season has begun...
Abby really enjoys taking ballet, tap and jazz. She is getting very excited about her first Christmas performance on December 21...A JOYful Christmas!

Merry Christmas...

Pre-parade pose in her pretty snow-princess ballet costume.

Such a sweetie...

Halfway during the parade, the troupe took a break to warm up...

So serious during her performance...she never missed a beat!

Performing at the courthouse steps to the company opening number of the Christmas show.

Daddy, Isaac, and Jonah had a fun time cheering on their little Snow Princess!