2008: New Year, New Beginnings!

Today was a great day and Russell and I both learned a lot! We went to church this morning and that we need to make resolutions of the heart! Accept responsibility, give thanks to God in everything-not just the good things. In Sunday School we discussed a lot about resolutions. Jason gave us truths to guide one another through the New Year! 1 God Loves You 2 God's presence is with you 3 Gods Word is the Bread of Life, 4 God wants to have conversation with you 5 God has work for you to do, and 6 Trust God in EVERYTHING! Russell and I have decided to make resolutions and we are determined to stick with them and not just let them slide. With God's help, He will show us how to have a blessed new year with NEW BEGINNINGS! After church, we went to Mazzio's with Laurie, Steve, and sweet little 2 year old Emily Paige! She is a DOLL! I just wanted to share about what we learned today.

Christmas Bows and Coffee Beans

On Tuesday night, Russell and I went to an event at the Christian Book Outlet in Rogers. It was called "Christmas Bows and Coffee Beans." They had free pastries (and a lot of them!) and different flavors of coffee too! The best part? They wrapped up to 10 gifts for each person! It helped us out a lot. Plus, it's a great ministry, too. We stopped at Starbucks for a treat afterwards!

The Light of Christmas

I have mentioned before that Russell and I have been visiting FBC Bentonville. We really do enjoy it. During the morning service today, the 2nd graders performed their version of the nativity story. The children looked just precious! Tonight's service was great also. It was a candle light service. The choir sang just beautifully. They sang things like Silent Night and All is Well. It was very worshipful too.

Josh Groban, Christmas Shopping, and SNOW!

This morning, Russell and I woke up extra early because it was the Saturday morning meeting for Wal Mart. A very talented and special guest was there: JOSH GROBAN!!! He has the most flawless voice. I don't understand how his voice can be that good! Ha! It was our first meeting to go to. I am sure Russell will go to more sometime. We had a lot of shopping to do and then we ate lunch at Olive Garden-YUM! We knew that Bentonville would get snow but didn't know how much. Around 1:30 it started to snow and by the time we got home, it was really coming down hard! We took pictures and as you can see, we were pretty excited because in Camden and Magnolia (where we are from), there's hardly ever snow...just ice. But we had a great Saturday.

A Visit from Mama

Tuesday, Russell and I found out that Mary and Russell Delezen were coming to Bentonville and they offered my mom a ride to our house! How sweet they are! She came on Wednesday and I was so excited because I didn't think she would have a chance to come. Daddy wanted to come but he had to work. We had soup and her wonderful grilled cheeses for dinner. We also watched Christmas Vacation! We laughed and laughed! Thursday, Mama and I went shopping and met Russell for lunch at Las Fajitas--yum! We also went to Laurie's house and visited with Russell and Mary, Laurie, and of course-Emily! She is soo cute! We went to Starbucks and it was great. Mama, Russell and Mary left this morning for Camden. We had a good time together.

A Christmas Pageant

This Monday, I traveled to Little Rock and stayed one night to visit Kelly, Eric, and Logan and Lauren. Logan and Lauren were in their school's Christmas Pageant on Tuesday afternoon. They didn't allow picture taking but we took some at Kelly's house by their pretty Christmas tree. Lauren took the picture of the paper white bulbs! I had to leave soon after the pageant because I knew rain was coming! It rained and rained on the way home! But it was worth it. I LOVE MY FAMILY!

Friday night, I didn't feel very good during the movie and Saturday I slept for 4 hours in the day (it's rare that I even took a nap!) I didn't go to church this morning because I still felt bad. Russell and I have been visiting FBC Bentonville for the past couple of months and we really enjoy it. We have been so busy with Thanksgiving, Branson, and me being sick that we have missed some Sundays! We're ready to go back! I do feel a little better. Tomorrow I plan to go to Little Rock to see Logan and Lauren's Christmas pageant. It will be good, I'm sure!

A December Date

Last night Russell and I ate dinner at home. We went to the Promenade and walked around. Plus, I got a couple of shirts from Coldwater Creek. They had a special where we got 30 percent off our purchase plus a FREE watch with 2 interchangable bands! How can you go wrong with that? Anyway, we decided to go to a late movie to see August Rush. That movie is officially a well worth it movie to watch! I absolutely loved it and I had chills throughout the whole thing! So go see it when you have a chance to!

Candy Canes

The Legend of the Candy Cane Look at the Candy Cane What do you see? Stripes that are red Like the blood shed for me White is for my Savior Who's sinless and pure! "J" is for Jesus, My Lord, that's for sure! Turn it around And a staff you will see Jesus my shepherd Was born for Me! Many years ago, a candy maker wanted to make a candy at Christmas time that would serve as a witness to his Christian faith. He wanted to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry and death of Jesus. He began with a stick of pure white hard candy; white to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus; hard to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church; firmness to represent the promise of God. The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. He thought it could also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd, with which he reached down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray. Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candymaker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received, by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life. Unfortunately, the candy became known as a candy cane - a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time. But the true meaning is still there for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

I Love Christmas!

Yes, I am really in the Christmas spirit! Yesterday, I made this wreath. My dad makes wreaths mostly every Christmas and my sister, Kelly does too. This is the first time I made one! I know my sister reads this so Kelly, what do you think? HA! Then I also put together garland and ornaments on the mantle with our stockings. Russell and I went to Dillards tonight and bought some Christmas gifts. We're not finished shopping yet!

Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly Falalalala!

Here is Russell putting the star on our tree. This blanket is for the Christmas Tree skirt. My aunt Nancy gave us this ornament last year because Russell proposed to me in December 2006. Here is our 1st Christmas tree! Then here are just some ornaments in a compote. More pictures will come later!

Weekend In Branson

Russell and I went to Branson Missouri for the weekend. Here are a few pictures from our trip. Branson is so great at Christmas! We went to the Festival of Lights. We stayed at Gazeboo Inn. It is a cute place. We also went to the Titanic Museum. It was so interesting and fun too. See this picture of us in the HUGE rocking chair? HA! Dixie Stampede was great too! I love my wonderful husband.

Family, Food, Football--Thanksgiving!

I honestly dont know how to organize these pictures on here! Thanksgiving was great! We stayed at Jackie and Ricky's in Magnolia. Wednesday night we arrived in South Arkansas and were so tired from the drive! Thursday we woke up and watched the Macy's Parade and had Thanksgiving with Russell's family. It was good, of course! Thursday night, we went to Camden and visited with my sister, brother-in-law and of course--my favorite kids I absolutely LOVE to spoil: my nephew and niece, Logan and Lauren! Russell and I had a fun activity planned for them. We made turkeys made out of candy and also lil cornucopias too! They did a great job! I am so thankful for so much! God is so good! The rest of the weekend we relaxed and watched that Razorback game! GO RAZORBACKS! Now Russell and I are home! And I wish these pictures were more organized!

Operation Christmas Child

Every November, I participate in a very special project from Samaritan's Purse called Operation Christmas Child. It is so very special to my heart. What you do is fill a shoe box with small toys, hard candy or coloring books, ect. for a little girl or a little boy. Then you can wrap it and give the box to participants who take care of transporting it. I never have found out where my shoe box went, but I trust that the children who recieved them, felt so very happy. Last year, Russell helped me fill a shoe box for a little girl. Tonight, we are going to Wal Mart to pick out things for this year's shoe box. I cannot help it, but even when I am at Wal Mart picking out toys, socks, etc. I start to tear up and almost cry because I know that precious child will be SO grateful for it and it's not very much to us but it means a lot to them! Russell and I will get a lot out of it this year, I'm sure!

Haley's Engaged!

On October 30th, my best friend Haley Joslin got engaged! She is the sweetest person. Keith Smith asked her to marry him. They were both in our wedding and so special to Russell and I. Keith and Haley are such a great couple! Congratulations!

Logan's Birthday

Eight years ago, my brother-in-law, Eric, called our house at 4 in the morning. He said that Kelly, my sister was going into labor! We didn't know whether it was going to be a boy or a girl until when Logan was born. But Logan is growing up. It just seems like yesterday that I held that sweet baby Logan in my arms. I am a proud aunt. I just can't believe he's eight years old today! This picture was taken before the rehearsal for Russell and my wedding. Russell is a proud uncle, too!

Amy

Today was a great day. I talked to my parents after they just got back from Canada. They had a great time. Also, I met my best friend, Amy Talbert for lunch at Las Fajitas. It was really good. We always have enjoyed talking on the phone, going out to eat together, and going out with our husbands. This is an older picture taken in April of 2006. It's her husband, Tony, Amy, me, and my sweet husband, Russell. We are blessed because we live close to them! Russell and I are going to Camden/Magnolia for the weekend.

Too Cute!

I tried to find a picture but will keep trying to find one!


Jack O’ Lantern Poem
I am a Jack O’ Lantern My lights will shine so bright For I’m a Christian pumpkin My symbols tell what’s right My nose is like the cross On which our Savior died To set us free from sin We need no longer hide My mouth is like a fish The whole wide world to show That Christians live in this house And love their Savior so! The story starts at ChristmasMy eyes are like the starThat shone on Baby JesusAnd wise men saw from farMy color, it is orangeJust like the big bright sunThat rose on Easter DayAlong with God’s own SonAnd so on HalloweenLet’s set our pumpkins outAnd tell the trick or treatersWhat God’s love is all about!

Clean, Clean, Clean!

As I mentioned earlier, my parents are coming this weekend. I have been cleaning ALL DAY!!! That's okay though, because we are going to have a great time together. Russell and I are going to get Gusano's Pizza tonight for dinner and watch a movie, I think it's going to be Evan Almighty. Mama and Daddy won't be here until 12 tonight. Ill be back on here later!

Fall Pictures!

For now, I havent figured out how to rotate pictures! This is the centerpiece I made yesterday. My parents are coming to visit this weekend. I can't wait to see them. It's my mama's birthday on Saturday and we're going to celebrate it! Mama and Daddy are going on a vacation to Canada soon. I hope they have a blast. I'll blog later!

Happy Fall!

Today was a great day! This is my first blog ever by the way..ha! My husband, Russell and I have been married for a little over a month now and married life has been great! God has blessed us! This morning, Laurie and sweet little Emily came to see me and the apartment today. We got a chance to visit and it was fun. Also, I went to lunch with one of my best friends, Amy Talbert. We always have fun talking! I also went to the store (always crazy!). I have been in the Fall mood lately! I have been trying to decorate the apartment. Today, Russell helped me decorate a "centerpiece" for our table. I will have to put a pic up later. But I got 3 different sizes of clear containers. In the large one, I put fake leaves and berries, another has caramels and berries and in another, candy corn! Anyway, it is cute, i have to say. It is gradually getting cooler here in NWA!