Sunday, November 27, 2011

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Our living room smells like Christmas because...we got a fresh Christmas tree! Russell and I really wanted to get a fresh tree from an actual Christmas tree farm and just get the experience of it.  
 After Russell and I did a lot of research of farms nearby, we decided to go to Wilkinson Christmas Farms in Oklahoma.
 Fun decorations
 Virginia Pine trees...so pretty! There was lots to choose from!
 And here are the fraser firs that were already cut. I love the smell of the trees! So "Christmasy!"
 Here we are with the tree we chose! It was so cold but we had so much fun!
 They also served hot apple cider in this cute cabin!
 Such pretty scenery!
We definitely enjoyed our "Christmas tree shopping" experience and plan on coming back! It really put us in the Christmas spirit! Let the decorating begin!

Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot-yes a new branch bearing fruit from the old root. Isaiah 11:1

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Thanksgiving Recap

Wow, I cannot believe Thanksgiving is over and now Christmas is almost here! Russell and I had a great time with our family. Look at this turkey! It tasted just as good as it looks!
 We had a new addition this year for Thanksgiving dinner.....
 Meet Marcie, Lauren's new puppy! Isn't she cute? We all enjoyed holding and cuddling her!
 Russell carving the turkey
 My sweet nephew, Logan and I before the Thanksgiving feast! Ha!
 This is the brie en croute I made. It turned out well and tasted pretty good. I also made green bean bundles, which I call bundles of love! Ha!
 We all loved the sign Lauren made for Thursday!
 Sweet Russell and I...I just love him!
 Lauren and her Marcie
 Logan
 Pretty Kelly and me
 With our Mama
Later that night, we followed tradition and watched "Christmas Vacation" and laughed til we cried. So fun!
 Russell and I just adore our nephew and niece. On Friday morning, Logan and Lauren rode bikes and I walked. They fortunately kept riding around me while I kept up with them! ha! It was fun.
 Lauren and me. Lauren is wearing her adorable Christmas shirt we got her. It's supposed to be scented and I think it smells like gingerbread! :)

Later Friday we headed to Russell's parent's house.
 Aubrey, Phyllis and Connie
 Aubrey had been singing, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth". So cute!
 Lori and me...Lori is expecting her baby in a few weeks. We are so ready to meet Peyton!
Russell and Ricky after a huge meal!

We left this morning to come back home. Tomorrow consists of cleaning house and possibly decorating for Christmas! Christmas time is officially here, everyone! Let the season begin!

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving to y'all!
I must admit, this post will probably be long and transparent. I warn those of you who are in my family, you may cry, as I will probably cry typing this.
I am fully aware that I blog about Daddy a lot. I guess it is a way that I cope. Everyone who knows me knows that I am a talker and talk quite a bit! Ha! So I guess that's why I say so much on my blog. This is the real me and I am not going to change that. Ever. It's midnight on Thanksgiving. Russell and I are at my Mom's house, and I can't sleep. I was just thinking about how much I miss Daddy SO very much. I miss him every day of course, but holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas and even Easter are hard for me. Yes, I know it has been almost three years since he left this earth. But I will just say that I just hurt the same. 
 The first picture above is of Daddy carving the turkey years ago. He always made holidays a special occasion. He actually made every day special. He took time to enjoy what some people would say are the "little things", but I call them simple pleasures, like the moon and the stars, walking, Christmas lights, building fires, walking in the woods, etc. There are too many things to name. I am thankful for Jerry Jordan, whom I call Daddy. I will always be thankful for him. I am so thankful that God allowed him to be my Daddy. I am thankful that he and Mama took care of Kelly and I when we were babies, up til when we moved out of the house.
 I am thankful for the happiness he gave me. I am thankful for how much he spent time with me and showed me to always be open to discover new things-like a huge block of ice! HA! I am thankful that he showed me how to plant flowers and how to make a homemade wreath for Christmas. I am thankful, so thankful for not only the happiness, but the JOY he shared with me, Mama, and Kelly. There were so many laughs and smiles. I will be even more transparent to admit that sometimes when I look at some pictures of him, it still hurts. I love pictures of him of course, but I just miss him so much that it just hurts that much, if that makes any sense at all. It's a comfort, yet painful all at the same time.
 I am thankful that he made me feel special. The picture above is of Daddy and I. He gave me an award for learning how to ride my bike. He had it typed it up, notarized, and signed by him and his secretary at the car dealership! HA! It was a day I won't forget. I will never forget visiting him at his office. He was the best businessman I ever will know! He encouraged me to strive hard in whatever I do in life. Oh my gosh, I have to share this. When I was three years old, I remember I asked Daddy, "Where do people go when they die?" He then said, "Meredith, if someone has asked Jesus in their heart, then they go to heaven." I remember that like it was yesterday. I absolutely adore that memory.
 I am thankful for watching him be the best grandfather (JJ) to my nephew and niece. I will never forget the joy they always showed on their faces when they saw their JJ. He loved Logan and Lauren from the moment he layed eyes on them. What they may not know is that they gave him JOY almost as much as he gave them. Here goes another hard part to type, I am extremely grateful for him meeting and having Logan and Lauren, but I so wished that he would get to meet our children someday. However one of my friends told me that "he is already holding them in Heaven." I'd like to think of it that way, perhaps. But I know that Russell and I will tell our children ALL about their JJ and how wonderful he was and what precious memories we have and will always have of him.

I am so thankful for Daddy and Mama and Kelly. I am so thankful for Eric and Logan and Lauren. I am obviously thankful and so blessed to have Russell, the love of my life. I am so thankful for all my family members and friends. To family and friends that have always been there for me, especially in this trying time, THANK YOU! I am thankful for you as well! Some of you who are reading this may wonder, why is she typing this blog for everyone in cyberspace to see? Well, I will be honest. I don't really think of it that way. I actually use this blog as an online journal with lots of pictures, and also I pray this blog is used to help someone and encourage someone in some way. I just used this post as a way to vent, as I said before. I have to remember the Bible verse that says "God is our refuge and strength. Help in time of trouble"... We all should be reminded of that verse more often. Losing a loved one, especially a Daddy that you were close to, is hard. There's no way around it not being hard. It just is. However, like I mentioned and will say again, I am EXTREMELY THANKFUL for everything Daddy taught me and everything in between! I will always love Daddy. Thank you, Lord, for my Daddy.

The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out. Proverbs 10:9

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Busy November!

Happy early Thanksgiving, y'all! Oh my goodness, this time of year just gets busier and busier, right? Russell and I have been extra busy this month. Here's a little recap.
A couple of weeks ago, we filled our shoebox (or plastic box) for a little boy. We really love participating in Operation Christmas Child every single year and look forward to shopping for children every year! 
 Here are the toys and things we picked out together. Yes, I realize we went a little overboard, but we realize that most of the children who receive these shoe boxes do not even have a toothbrush or toothpaste, or even socks to wear. We just had to get these goodies for him!
 Even Belle enjoyed helping!
 Russell knew just how to fit the items in the box. He was such a pro! Ha! There really was a technique to this!
 Our letter we typed up for him!
 Stickers to decorate the box!

Saturday, Bentonville Square held a special lighting of Christmas lights. We decided to go. Here is the community Christmas tree...so pretty!

 It was so windy outside! We got a picture together anyway!
 The ice rink was open Saturday too. It was too warm to stay open so we didn't get to ice skate! I have only ice skated twice in my life, but I was going to drag Russell on the rink anyway. Maybe next time! HA!
 Beautiful lights on the square!
For the kiddos: go to Lawrence Plaza to drop off your letters to Santa! :) Drop it off in the Gingerbread House!

Can y'all believe it's almost Thanksgiving? WOW! I hope y'all have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving! XOXO!

I will praise the name of God with song, and shall magnify Him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Babes in Toyland

It seems that Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before we know it! Of course, in NWA, Walmart sponsors Bentonville Toyland every year at the downtown square. Amy, Leighann, and I met up and walked around the square and Russell and Tony met us there later.
 Leighann looking at the sign!
 The Little People mascots were there! HA!
 Leighann and Amy say hi to him!
 Dora the Explorer came for a visit too!
 And we even got to meet Barbie! HA! I got such a kick out of this because I ADORED playing with Barbies when I was little. We had to get a picture! :)
 I had to get this picture for Logan. He loves Legos! They are very hard to put together!
 The Talberts
 Leighann loves Rapunzel!
 Me and Russell
All children love the fountain! We had a lot of fun. The rest of the year will be busy from here on out! I'm so ready for it!

For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see. Psalm 36:9