God Thing!

Today I did a little running around to wrap up (no pun intended) my last little bit of Christmas shopping that I needed to do...and it feels great to be done and not have to think any more about running here or there! Part of my day included taking Brinkley to get a bath and I decided to leave Collier with Mom and Dad while I did that. During the cold months I take her to a pet store that has a self-serve bathing center. Its great because all of the mess is left there and I can go in and out and bath her myself and not have to pay an arm and a leg to have a clean pup! The pet store is right next to a publix and I had made a grocery list for the week before I left home. Brinkley clean...check.headed to the grocery....check....BUT..... NO LIST. I couldn't find it anywhere and I am on a time frame because I need to get back to get Collier so mom and dad could leave to go to a Christmas party (oh and btw Justin is of course out of town) . I decided to take a gamble with my brain!!!!!Here we go...as I'm walking into the grocery with no list and I just ask God..."please give me the memory and the knowledge to remember what I need for this week, I need you Lord to help me. I can not do this with out you" Off I went and it all started coming to me. Guess what, got home and the grocery list was on the coffee table and I only forgot ONE thing! Praise the Lord for He is good. Believe me, my memory is awful I can hardly remember what day it is or what I'm supposed to do next with out a list and so to remember my grocery list was an absolute miracle and its just a God thing! I know it is all so silly and you would think that I was about to do brain surgery....but just getting through my tasks for the day (which grocery shopping was) is hard work. More praises to God, I received a job offer this week and I am so excited. I'm going to be working for a company called Jackson-Key Practice Solutions, they are a reseller for AllScripts My Way (which is a Electronic Medical Records/Practice Management software for Physicians). I start after the 1st of January and I am thrilled. God guided me through this entire situation, the interview process - which is so troubling at time. He have me a peace each step of the way and he faithfully opened and closed all of the right doors. I'm so very thankful and can't wait to get started. I am a little nervous but still excited. These past several weeks that I've been home have been so sweet to have this precious time with Collier and I couldn't have been happier. I am thankful for the time and so it will be hard to not be with him all day starting in January, but I know that I'll adjust back with God's help!

I am looking forward to enjoying this wonderful week of Christmas and just being with my family! I am so grateful for our families! Baby Jesus arrived in such a simple stable and it is a simple reminder that it doesn't have to be much but instead who you are blessed to be with! I wish for you and your family a sweet and simple time spent over this Christmas time.

Ho Ho Ho

It is funny how you have a situation in your head and then when it actually occurs it is completely different! Well, yesterday we went to visit Santa. I love Santa and think that he is magical! Collier had just gotten up from his nap and he had a full belly so what better time to go and see Santa than when you're well rested with a full belly! I imagined that Collier would feel the same way and that he would coo at Santa and play with Santa's beard or with the fur on his coat. UMMM, not so much! We sat him in Santa's lap and he didn't even respond. No smile, no expression, no magical excitement! He didn't cry but didn't act excited either! Mom and I, of course, were cracking up at his blank look of boredom! Oh well, not what I had pictured in my silly head, but we did capture the moment and have it for our memory book.

Collier is trying so hard to crawl but has not yet been successful! We don't have any carpet/rugs in our den and therefore he doesn't have anything to get traction on. He'll get to his knee's and then his legs slide out from under him. He wants to move so bad, but hasn't put it all together quite yet. Which is fine with me by the way. I love this stage. He is so sweet and I love to hear him "talking" or jabbering it is such a sweet sound. He is so sweet and is back to sleeping normal and through the night. I am really thankful for that too!

It amazes me how fast time is passing by. It makes me sad that this season is going by so fast, I am still not finished with my shopping and preparing, although I am close! We're looking forward to celebrating Christ birth with Collier for the first time! Merry Christmas!

Birthday and More

Happy Birthday to my Hubby! Today is Justin's birthday and we love birthday's around here. Justin is such a great husband and a fabulous dad. It is so sweet to watch him with Collier and how they interact, it really is priceless and brings a sweet joy to my heart. He is a great provider for us and takes such good care of us. He is full of laughter and humor - enough to make my stomach hurt from laughing so hard. He is also very tender hearted and loving. I couldn't ask for anything more. I am thankful to have him. I had my heart set on him from a very early age and thankfully God's plan unfolded just right to make my dreams and wishes come true. Happy Birthday Just! I love you more than you know!

I wanted to also share a few pictures of our Christmas decorations. Justin and I both really love this time of year. We love the beautiful lights that line the street and all of the fun decorations. I know that Justin really loves having Christmas village up and his favorite is to sit with just the Christmas lights on and enjoy the glow that they give. Our other favorite is to watch Christmas movies and most specifically is Christmas Vacation....we watched it 4 nights in a row over the weekend. I finally said that I needed a break for a few days from Christmas Vacation. I'm sure we'll watch it again soon. I think that Justin can quote the entire movie. I love the Grinch and have enjoyed Elf in the past few years. We also don't miss the clay-mation of Rudolph and Frosty!

Oh Christmas Fun

I got all of my Christmas village up and displayed (which is always a great big task) and almost have my mantel like I like it. The mantel is a topic of controversy this year! If you were around last year, you would have learned that I am married to a Christmas Elf and he likes Christmas village on the mantel! So, when I put my Nativity scene on the mantel this year he wasn't exactly thrilled..... BUT I love it!! We'll see if he accepts this change!!

We got our tree yesterday and I was so excited! But according to my Christmas Elf we must wait one day before lighting and decorating so that the tree will "fall". So, lighting and decorating in front of a roaring and beautiful fire is our plans for the night. Justin is building the fire right now and I'm boiling water for my yummy hot chocolate. Collier is just waking up from an afternoon nap! We have a fun night in store. I'll be sure to share pictures soon! Hope that your night is Merry and Bright!

Reflections

Looking back at a wonderful and fun Thanksgiving week. We spent some time at the lake and some time in Dothan. We were able to visit and stuff our faces with our families and it couldn't have been better. I love family, and enjoy gathering as a family and picking up where we left off with those that we don't get to see as often as we would like.

I'm spending tomorrow decorating for Christmas. I love this season! I love decorating for Christmas! I love picking out a Christmas tree and lighting it with my precious husband! I love all of the beautiful lights that sparkle up and down the streets! I love Christmas sugar cookies! I love receiving Christmas cards! I love that Collier will get to experience this Christmas! I love that God sent His Son to give us eternal life!