Merry Christmas!

When Bennett first noticed the Christmas decorations at the end of November he was so excited! "Mommy, look! Christmas!" he yelled. Corey and I try to use each opportunity we can to remind them of the true meaning of Christmas, so I asked him if he knew why we celebrate Christmas. He said, "Because we like it!" Well, we do like it, but if that is the only reason you celebrate Christmas, the the hope and joy you experience throughout this season will end in an instant once the presents are all open and the family is all gone...Christmas, I reminded him, is when we celebrate Jesus' birth! And then he asked me a precious and thought provoking question..."Will Jesus be at the party?" And so I ask, as you celebrate Christmas, will Jesus be at your party?

Our family wants to wish you all a very merry Christmas, but most of all we pray that this Christmas you will know Christ in all His fullness...the peace, joy, love and hope that He alone can give! God bless you all!

Cain's Christmas Open House

This was the third year for our Christmas Open House...each year at Christmas, Corey, the boys and I do this as our Christmas gift to our church family. When I was a child my family used to do this when we lived in Kentucky...I remember enjoying it so much, so when Corey became the pastor here, we decided to start that tradition. It is so wonderful to have our church family in our home to celebrate Jesus and his birth! We have such a great time making all the goodies and snacks in hopes that in some way we can show our church just how special they are to us and how grateful we are that God has placed us here! We had the best turnout yet this year...around 75 people! It's also fun that some of our family comes for the big event and is able to spend time with our church. After the open house, we had our Christmas cantata at church...it was so worshipful! What an incredible day! We are truly blessed! Here are a few pics of the boys helping make sugar cookies, Bennett mashing the candy canes for the peppermint bark, and a few before and during the party (it got busy and I didn't take many pictures during).

Christmas at Joyland

Caleb had his Christmas program at Joyland Friday. He and the other children did a great job! Caleb got to be a reindeer. We sat in the balcony so that I would be able to get good video, so I don't have any pictures during the program. After the program there was a reception for everyone. I was able to get a picture of Caleb with all five of his precious teachers! They do such a wonderful job!

The Boys' Christmas Play

Each year at our church they have a Christmas play that the children perform. They have done this same play for over 20 years...it is a very simple but sweet presentation of the Christmas story. Itwas really sweet to see the boys up there together! Caleb got to be a shepherd and Bennett was an angel...

Fun with Friends!

Tuesday evening we had the blessing of hosting a party for some of our playgroup friends...just the parents! We had a great time and really enjoyed being able to just talk and visit without interruption. God has been so good in giving us Fred and Jennifer as automatic friends when we moved here, but in addition he has blessed me with this great group of girls, too! A few the girls couldn't be there...we missed you and we'll have to do it again soon! This picture didn't turn out great, but if you knew the trouble we went through to take it, you'd understand why I'm posting it anyhow!

Sounds of Christmas

This weekend I had the blessing of performing in the Sounds of Christmas cantata at West Jackson Baptist Church in Jackson. I consider West Jackson my "home church" and love being able to go back and play in the orchestra each year. Saturday night, Corey, the boys and our sweet friends, the Hutsons and the Presseys were able to come, and tonight, Jennifer and her boys rode with me to give me some company (well and maybe to see her family, too)...thank you! This year was extra special because I was able to play with my "little" brother! (Who by the way I am very proud of...he made 1st chair trombone in All-West this weekend!) One of my favorite songs this year was "The Last Noel." It showed how all the different things about the Christmas story remind us of the time when Christ will come again...it was such a beautiful, powerful song! As I am always reminded through this Christmas program, our purpose is to point people to the true meaning of Christmas and the Savior whom we celebrate. What an amazing God who would come to Earth to dwell among us...Emmanuel, God with Us!Bennett is into making silly faces for pictures now, and I think Caleb was too tired to smile ;)

Party in Princeton

Corey's mom's side of the family lives mostly around the Princeton, KY area, so that is where we gather each year to celebrate Christmas with our extended family. Last weekend we headed there for a fun night with family. We started off by going to the parade and then headed back to enjoy dinner together. Afterward, Santa Claus (played by Corey's cousin Bruce) arrived bearing gifts for all the children! It was so exciting!!! Our boys, never afraid to start a conversation, immediately began dialoguing with Santa! The boys received walkie-talkies and have had a blast with them! Then the adults took turns playing Dirty Santa, where you choose gifts and can steal (I like to say trade ;) them! It was such a fun evening...one of Corey's cousins has twin baby girls. As I've mentioned before, Caleb LOVES babies! Here was a cute sequence of pictures of him playing with Mia! It looks like she was hurting him, but he kept sticking his face up there for her to grab and laughed about it! He'll do anything to make a baby smile!

We're Finished!!!

After a couple of months of hard work, we are finally finished with the hardwood! Corey has done an amazing job cutting and measuring each board (I've just been an assistant ;) We are still working on getting our home back in order, but hopefully it will all be in place by next week!
Here are the pictures!!!

BEFORE...
and AFTER...

Don't Give Up on Us!

We have not disappeared...I know I haven't blogged in a while, but we have been trying to finish up our hardwood floors in the middle of Thanksgiving. Needless to say, things have been a little crazy around here. We only have a little molding left to finish and then I should be back to blogging as usual (very long with lots of pictures). Pictures of the completed floors will be coming soon, too!