2015 Recap

2015 is coming to an end. I can't believe it. Every year flies by faster than the previous year. Craziness! I am ready for 2016. New beginnings as always! Here's the traditional year in review for 2015.

January

 Jackson visited Crystal Bridges museum for the first time this month. He also went to two birthday parties. Busy boy! KK also came to visit this month. Too fun!

February

 Look at this sweet boy's cheeks! We celebrated Jackson's first Valentine's Day with hundreds of hugs and kisses. :) XOXO!

March

 Happy Spring! We celebrated Springtime in the daffodils, went to South Arkansas to visit family, and more.

April

 We celebrated Jackson Randolph's 1st birthday!!! He had a Poky Little Puppy party complete with birthday cake, ice cream, strawberry shortcake, and chocolate custard. :)

 Oh, how precious. Jackson loves smiling for sure!

May

 We had several walks with the wagon. It's one of our favorite things. :)

June

 We took advantage of Russell's weekends off and went on a couple of road trips. This was taken in Eureka Springs. Oh so fun!

July

 Jackson's first train ride! We got to spend time with family on this fun adventure. We love his little conductor hat. :)

August

 I started my own business, "Baked with Love" selling homemade cinnamon rolls.

 Also, friends and family surprised me on my 30th birthday with an 80's theme party. So special!!!

September

 Russell and I celebrated our 8 year wedding anniversary at one of our favorite places downtown.

 I also got to go to a Kelly Clarkson concert with my sister, Kelly, Whitney, and more friends. We had a blast!

October

 Jackson's first haircut. He did great and was so well behaved the whole time. My handsome boy.

 Met Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, for the.......fourth time. No lie. I would meet her again and again if I could. She's the sweetest!!

November

 It was a busy month. Jackson and I went to the library for the first time and had such fun. His favorite part were the puzzles.

 Thanksgiving with family...Russell took this picture. We loved fall so much!

December

 We went to Journey to Bethlehem with Amy, Tony, and Leighann. It truly was wonderful.

Christmas 2015

Jackson is now 20 months old and learning new things every day. Time flies. We say is often, but time truly does fly. Wow!! Here's to a blessed 2016!

Happy New Year!

 

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Be filled with Joy!

Oh my word, y'all. Christmas is just DAYS away. Can you believe it? I have been running way behind on blogging again....surprise, surprise. Here's a few "holiday highlights" from some this season.

 Mama and  got to go to the Point of Grace and Selah concert together back before Thanksgiving and loved it so much! It was such a great time of worship and also brought back memories from POG circa 1995! :)

 My fave...Point of Grace. We also met POG and Selah afterwards. They were so sweet!

 Kelly and Lauren got to come to NWA to see the Bentonville Lighting of the Square. It was so fun and special. And what a COLD night!

 Jackson Randolph discovering Christmas lights.

 Lauren and me!

 Staying warm on the square.

 Me and my sweet baby boy!

 Christmas tree at Lawrence Plaza

All together in front of the pretty tree. Oh, what FUN!

 Earlier this month, Russell and I went to his work party. It was so nice and good to catch up with some of his coworkers and friends.

Tony, Amy, Russell and me

 We try to take an annual pic like this every year because I am so glad Russell and Tony work together. I have mentioned this before but Amy is my best friend and she and Russell are cousins. :)  

 Later that same week, we went to a wonderful live nativity. There were hundreds, maybe even over a thousand people there. There was entertainment first, then the "journey to Bethlehem" live nativity.

 Fun entertainment!

 It truly was inspiring and amazing. What a tearjerker it was, as it truly brought what Mary, Joseph, and Jesus went through and experienced as they made the journey to Bethlehem, and after they had baby Jesus. It was great! I definitely cried tears of joy and gratefulness. This journey was so authentic. It truly felt like we were on our way to Bethlehem with live animals and it's free!

 They also offered hot chocolate or cider and cookies after the journey.

Russell, Jackson, me, Tony, Amy, and Leighann. What fun we had!

 Glory to God in the HIGHEST!

Here are a few random "Christmas happies."

Christmas Tree Spode, musical Santa, and my Joy candle from Bath and Body Works. A few of my favorite things.... :)

 I made cinnamon ornaments for the first time. They were SO easy and did not disappoint! I will make these again for sue! They sure smell good on our tree! :)

It has been so wonderful attending women's bible study every Tuesday this Fall.  I went to our Christmas Luncheon a couple of weeks ago, and it was fabulous. Look at this pretty decoration on our table! Thanks to sweet Carole!

It has also been a blessing to sing with the 4W praise team every few weeks as well. I got to know sweet Nicole and Whitney these past few months. They are so fun and talented!! 

Russell and I took Jackson to the square and 5 and 10 store. Oh, it was so sweet watching him sit in the sleigh. We took a similar picture last year. My heart! :)

Joy to the World!

Jackson is so excited about Christmas! He adores his reindeer, Rudolph. 

Looking in the window with Daddy!

We couldn't let the night go by without looking at the nativity. Oh, so wonderful to see every time. 

Jackson was also enthused by the ice skating rink! :)

 

So that's part 1 of  "blog catch up." We are counting down the days til December 25th!

 

 

When they saw the star, they were filled with JOY! Matthew 2:10

Christmas Card Carousel 2015

Merry Christmas to all of you and welcome to my little blog of special moments!

I have loved participating in Faith's Christmas Card Carousel for the past several years and always love seeing everyone's Christmas cards.

Here is our family card this year:

 JOY!

This little boy on the front of the card is our wonderful, precious son, Jackson. This will be his second Christmas. He gives us so much JOY each and every day. I thought Jackson's big smile said it all. :)

I did a bible study by Margaret Feinberg about joy a few months ago and it truly spoke to my heart.

JOY! Joy to the world, the Lord has come! :) I am so thankful that Jesus Christ lives in me. THAT gives me JOY! I can go on and on about it. ;)

Here's the back of our card. Russell, me and Jackson. This definitely makes my heart swell with delight. Our family hopes you have a JOYOUS and Merry Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by! Take time to find JOY in the little things, too. :) Love y'all!

The JOY of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

Thankful for November

November has been so fun so far. Jackson loves being busy with anything. We tried "chocolate pudding art" the other day and he enjoyed it.

 I let him "paint" on a paper plate as well as the tray from his highchair. He wasn't quite sure what to do at first. It was cute though. :)

 I posted this on Instagram the other day and  just had to share it with y'all. I went to our local neighborhood market and saw this hilarious cardboard display of Ree Drummond. I honestly had to do a double take...you know, just to make sure she wasn't making a surprise appearance. HAHA!

 We were excited to take Jackson to Toyland again this year. It was pretty chilly out, so we bundled him up with his hat and pullover. :)

 He enjoyed looking at all the new toys out this year.

 Russell loved showing Jackson the Mega Bloks toys.

 Me with my sweet boy.

 Last Saturday, I helped host a baby shower for my precious, sweet friend, Hannah.

Elizabeth, Rhyanne, Mandy, Hannah, Adrienne, me, Lisa, and Carolyn. Love these girls lots!

 We cannot wait to meet "sweet baby Phillip" soon!

 I made the punch. It was quite fun to make!

 Jackson even got to try a cupcake from the baby shower. He definitely approved of the taste. Delicious!

Here is our big boy in his fire truck pajamas. He was so excited that the Hogs WON on Saturday! WOO PIG SOOIE!!

We are getting closer to Thanksgiving, everyone! Who's excited? I am more excited to see family! Have a blessed day, y'all!

 

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you a the one who is over all things. 1 Chronicles 29:11