Giving Credit

So, I have to brag on my very loving, sweet husband. A few weeks ago he was given a silly piece of paper with the heading "One Christmas, 12 Days." This paper has on it a list of 12 days and beside each day is something he had to do for me. I just wanted to say thank you to Matt for doing little things to make me feel special and loved. Love ya babe.


The list reads...

Day One- When you talk to your wife on the phone today, talk as if you are still trying to
win her over. Flirt and listen.
Day Two- Before today is over, ask your wife to tell you about her favorite Christmas memory.
Day Three- Ask her if you had and elf for an entire day, what would you ask him to do? Then
do at least one thing on her elf list.
Day Four- Try not to say one negative thing to your wife today. Posture yourself to say yes to
her instead of no. Tell her one thing you love about her.
Day Five- The time when couples come back together at the end of the day is when most
arguments occur. When you reconnect tonight. Hug her tight for 3o sec.
Day Six- Do whatever it takes to make your wife laugh at least once today
Day Seven- Give your wife an hour or so by herself.
Day Eight- With your wife in earshot, tell someone something you love about her.
Day Nine- Tell your wife on thing you love about someone in her extended family.
Day Ten-Buy your wife a Christmas card and leave it on her pillow.
Day Eleven- Bring your wife a very small gift, candy, or flower.
Day Twelve-Make sure you lovingly look at and touch your wife at least a dozen times today.

All of our Christmas Adventures

Every year Matt's family gets together on Christmas Eve. We usually meet at an aunt's home where everyone brings something to eat. All of his uncles, aunts, and cousins come together and celebrate. There is probably thirty of us total, and the spread of food is PLENTIFUL! His side is pretty good about getting together throughout the year, but there is some family we only see once a year. It is fun to catch up with everyone and see how all of the kids have grown.

Once the night comes to an end, we rush home and wait for Santa.
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I can't believe that Christmas is here already. It seems like only yesterday we were at the beach. I was really looking forward to Christmas this year, because I knew that Ella would really understand what was going on. And without disappointment she was so excited. We have our elf:Relish, with us, and she would wake up every morning looking for where he had landed. On Christmas morning she came running into our room and shouted, "did Santa eat his cookies?" It was really fun to come down the stairs and check out what Santa had left for her to play with. This year, Santa brought her a swing and highchair for her babies, along with other small toys, books, and movies. Of course Wren is still a little small, but I think next year she will be so fun to watch.

After presents and breakfast, we headed over to my parents house. There we opened more presents, played games, and spent time with my grandparents, parents, aunt, and my brother and sister. At the end of the night we headed home with full bellies, tired girls, and a trunk full of presents.

We always have to have a fun one.

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A week later we spent Christmas with my Dad's side of the family. Everyone came over to our house where we ate hot chili with apple pie for dessert. The girls and James got even more presents, and I am beginning to wonder where I am going to put everything. Maybe there is room in the bath tub. (only kidding)



I am so happy to have spent so much time with our families this Christmas.
God has truly blessed us.

Thankful.

Thank you Lord for these.

An Afternoon of Christmas Baking

When Matt was a kid his mom and aunts would get together and bake loads of cookies and candy for everyone to eat. For reasons I know you wouldn't understand, Matt and his cousins loved this tradition and encouraged them to start back up after several years off.

So, we met over at cousins Jeremy and Katie's home to begin or baking extravaganza. We made glazed cakes, orange balls, and sugar coated graham crackers. We smothered Carmel, pretzels and nuts with chocolate. Not to mention the bags and bags of cookies and candies that were brought before we even started.

All I have to say is we will need new pants for Christmas.

Here are the girls at work...

Laura filling jars with ingredients for "Friendship Soup"

Aunt Sandra making orange blossoms

Ella helping lay out the next baking project.

The two of us dipping pretzels in chocolate.

Ella helping Nina finish the goodies.

Cousin Julia melting butter and sugar.

Yum! They were hard to resist.

The baking crew (minus Julia).

I have to say, this is such a loving, great group of woman. I am glad to be apart of the family and their traditions.

Life Group Christmas Party

Our Life Group (Sunday School Class) had our annual Christmas party this past Sunday. I decided to set up a photo booth to help capture the quirky, crazy couples that make up our class. Here are the images that were so cleverly created.

Over the River and Through the Woods....

Granny's is a place that I hold a million fond, childhood memories of. My brother and I spent childhood summers here when we would visit my Dad. Here we played for hours in the woods with my cousins, helped shuck and shell corn and peas, and spent time with great-grandmothers, Uncles and Aunts, and of course Granny. Over the years, this place has seen countless changes, but I love bringing my husband and now my girls to this place I love so much.



For the past eight years, we have made Copeland, Alabama our Thanksgiving get-a-away. Granny can always be found in the kitchen. I swear, I think I gain 30lbs each time we go. She will make full on country breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

In between all the meals we find ourselves outside enjoying in the clean country air and playing games.

I caught Matt picking up pecans

My Dad actually grew up on this farm, and tells great stories about what happened here.

This is the first time my Dad has been able to come for Thanksgiving since we have been coming, and it was so much fun to have him there.

After dinner, we decided to have a bonfire.

My Aunt Rhonda gave the girls early Christmas presents. They are so spoiled.

Finally, the nights end with hours and hours spent at the kitchen table playing games. It is an unspoken rule, that when dinner is over everyone finds their seat to play whatever game is up for play.

Overall, this Thanksgiving was great. Good food, good fun, and great family moments made into more memories.

A Friends Wedding

I met my friend Jennifer in the 7th grade, and over the years, we have become so close that I consider her a sister. Last year Jennifer left for Texas to attend school there, and only being there a short time, she met her future husband. When I heard the news, I was so excited for her, and I couldn't wait for the wedding.

So, finally the weekend came, and Matt and I took a short trip to Ft. Worth Texas to see my best friend get married. We arrived Thursday afternoon, with nothing planned except to hang out with friends. Matt hung out with Will and his brothers, and I was able to go Jen's bachelorette party and bridal luncheon. Then Friday and Saturday we went to the rehearsal dinner, and of course the wedding.

Jen looked so beautiful.

And they both looked so happy.

Another plus to the wedding was that we got to see another friend who I went to high school with who also live in Texas. Bethany and her husband Caleb. The last time we were Texas was for their wedding.

Overall, the trip was so much fun. I got to spent time with one of my favorite people, and I got to be apart of a special part of her life. Congratulations Jennifer and Will!

Love Notes

To my beloved wife on our 7th anniversary.

Our love truly represents that of the passage from I Corinthians 13:4-7. Since I was a boy, I prayed that God would send a Godly woman to me to be my wife. I think I was praying this before I even liked girls. Well, on my 26th birthday, I married that woman. You are the most perfect wife, lover, mother, companion, friend, helper a man could ever ask for. I love you so much. Before you, I was just a guy, but now, you make me a man. Thank you for supporting me in all that I do.

I love you

Matt

To Matt,

I don't know how I got so lucky as to find such a great man to marry me. You are my best friend, and you make me feel so loved every day. You are honest, patient, and you work so hard to take care of our family. God has truly blessed us and the family we are making. Seven years down, one hundred more to come. Happy Anniversary.

Love,

Elizabeth

Costume Night

Each month at Awana there is a special night of dressing up. Some times it is tacky night, some times crazy hat night. Well this year on crazy hair night Matt bought a mullet wig for his look. We ended up playing with the wig and putting it on Ella. Well, we could not stop laughing. Ella looked so funny in the wig that we thought for Halloween she would go as Joe Dirt from the movie Joe Dirt. Now I know that most little girls go as Cinderella or some other Disney princess, but I am a weird mother, and I like to be a little different and maybe a little creative.



Okay, so this month is costume night so the whole family had to get dressed up for church. Our family is the all American Joe Dirt family. What won't we do to support our Awana program.

Sunday Afternoon

Sunday afternoons are the best. It really is the most restful time of the week for our family. If the weather is nice, we will try and find some where outside. A peaceful place where we can spend time as a family. Today we decided to try Kennesaw Mtn. The colors were so vibrant, and a good reminder of why fall is my favorite season.



Over the years, Matt and I have become masters at taking self portraits. We have it down to an art, and our girls think we are so crazy as we run back and forth from the camera to being in the
photo.

This moment is my favorite. I think it captures the kind of daddy Matt is. He loves being outdoors and he loves his girls. I hope they cherish their time with him and in the place he loves most.

At the end of our walk I feel like God has given us a glimpse of His love. He allows us to walk in His amazing, colorful creation, with little blessings at our side. Matt and I always talk about how we feel most connected with our God when we can rest in these places. I only pray that our girls will learn to find peace in this way.

God you are so good, and you have given us so much.

Psalms 139:1-14

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.