Happy Thanksgiving!!

Enough said!!

Our First Christmas (Excerpt)

Christmas was great. Family all gathered together with big meals to eat and gifts to exchange. Chad and I spent Christmas Eve visiting our families and then had Christmas day all to ourselves, which is exactly what I wanted. We took advantage of our first and last Christmas alone. Next year we'll have a little six month old! We slept in and whatched movies and I ended up taking a long, well needed nap (the week before Christmas wore me out) and we had a nice supper and it was all great and cozy. Gosh I love quality time with my husband!

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Merry Christmas

To everyone! Hopefuly all of your last minute shopping is done and you are contently staring at wrapped gifts just waiting to be handed out - I'm not, but I hope you are! (well I'm done shopping, I'm just not done wrapping.) Hopefully you're staying warm and loved. Hopefully you're dreaming sweet dreams of sugar plums and nutcrackers :) Hopefully you're all happy and healthy and most importantly with people who love you! And even if your not any of those things, remember the holiday is about a perfect man who came to this earth just so he could die to save you, so you are loved by someone, even though you can't see Him!

Merry Christmas!!

Valentines Flowers

Here are the promised pictures of my flowers:

This is the original picture, minus the watermark. I added that later. I think they should make a camera that will add your own personal watermark to the pictures!

This is one I fiddled around with on Gimp. I haven't figured out if I like it or not. I like the detail, the shadows, and the sharpness (clarity) of the picture, but it's a bit washed out. It lacks the luster of the original. What do y'all think?

Isn't this flower cool? I love it! I also like the rich color of the surrounding flowers... Look at the yellow flower to the left and the carnation behind and to the right, beautiful no?

See the purple flower to the left? I love that flower! I got a picture of it, but my Gimp acted up before I could edit it. I like the yellow flower too. I adore yellow flowers. Sunflowers are my favorite! Superman always finds bouquets with yellow flowers in them. Isn't he the best?

This picture was a bit blurry, so I chose a b&w setting that was more white than black - almost Sepia toned and then ran the National Geographic script on it to sharpen it and highlight the shadows.

Rewind to Tuesday.

This past Tuesday, as you all know, Riah came to my house! As she said, we exchanged gifts and she gave me....:
"Wildflower Bride" by Mary Connealy!!!! I am so excited about this book. It's next on my reading list! :)
Riah also gave me a key-chain that is like a solar panel so my name flashes on it!
AND last but not least: A beautiful scarf and gloves to match (I have worn both everyday so far!) - needless to say that we both had a great time!
Thanks, Riah, for a wonderful Tuesday!
Merry Christmas again!

Merry Christmas - we had a visit from the Grinch...

I got to work today and was told that the store was robbed yesterday!!! Some thief (we call him Grinch) came through the roof and cut open the safe - all of the money was stolen but no one was there when it happened - praise God!

On to other news: I was at my grandma's house yesterday and Bee's boyfriend went with us. He was given a list of things to do since he is 6 feett 4 inches! haha.
On the way to her house (she lives about 2 hours away) I started reading "Sharpshooter in Petticoats" by Mary Connealy! I was instantly captured and had a hard time putting it down! (no surprise there!) I have been waiting to find out what Mandy's horrid husband would do next (or what she would do to him!) and now I am finding out!! :)

Merry Christmas to you all, and I hope this Christmas is one of the best!
Love,

I can’t wait to dig in!

I am soooooooo thrilled! Guess what?

Oh wait… maybe I should back up.

Lyssa and I exchanged our gifts today. We choose the Tuesday (Tuesday because we go to South Carolina for raw milk every other Tues. and her house is on the way) closest to whatever holiday we’re celebrating and give our gifts that day. So today was the day. We had great fun sitting in the middle on the living room floor directing each other as to which gift to open first and which to save for last – yeah we’re bossy that way. Between laughing at each other, talking to mom and T. Lynn, and pushing various dogs out of the way, we opened our presents. Guess what I got?

Books!!! Yes, books. The most wonderful things created. The bestest things ever (well, she gave me something better, but I’ll save that for last).

She got me: “Saint” by Ted Dekker, “Showdown” by Ted Dekker, “Sinner” by Ted Dekker and “Kiss” by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy.  Can you tell I like Ted Dekker’s books? I’m a recent fan. Lyssa converts me all the time, First Cathy Marie Hake, then Tamera Alexander, then Hillsongs, then Mary Connealy, now Ted Dekker! Whatever am I going to do with her? I can’t afford to like so many authors and bands (not that she has converted me to more than one band – but I already liked Mercy Me, Casting Crowns, Tenth Avenue North and Robert Pierre).

The best present is a picture of me and her framed in an antique-y picture frame (is antique-y a word?). She is such the little sneak. I asked her to take pictures of me for Superman as a Christmas gift because he constantly tells me that I need to give him a picture of me. I didn’t have any good recent ones because I don’t like pictures of me and anyway I’m usually on the other side of the camera. Well she took the pictures and like we always do when we’re taking pictures (of anything), we took some of us together – at her suggestion. Little did I know that I was being trick into posing for my own Christmas gift. Its beautiful too, Lys is a talented photographer!

Now all I have left to do is dig in. I’m finishing “Wrangler in Petticoats” (which is very good – 5 stars) by Mary Connealy, then I’m gonna read “Head in the Clouds” by Karen Witemeyer, after that I’ll read my Ted Dekker books! Yay, I needed new reading material – I’ve nearly exhausted all of mine.

Your content,

Happy Christmas Mood.

'Tis true, 'tis true... I am in a small Christmas mood.
Tonight at work I was asked to redo the Christmas table at the front of the store. My boss said to, and I quote: "be creative - make it look good, but be as creative as you'd like!" and then... "I am releasing you to be creative anywhere in the store. Enjoy!" He is awesome!
So, I created a nice, organized, yet creative table of Christmas things. I am very pleased with the way it turned out! AND as I did that I was humming along with an instrumental Christmas song!
Oyvey! Now if only I would be motivated to do some Christmas shopping.....

I am starting my Christmas list with this:

I want one -

Mommy, may I get one?

Pleeeaaaasssseeeeee?!

I'll feed it, and wash it, and take care of it, and call it's name George.

Okay, so maybe not George, but I will take care of it and name a it with a good name.

It won't bother you.

I will see to it that it stays with me at all times.

You won't even know it's there!

Ain't he cute?!

A Thought.

I am pondering an idea that hit me today - no it didn't hurt. haha.
My idea is this:
Me making Thanksgiving/Christmas cards and having then available for download for everyone. You can make special requests for the design and if I can meet that request, then I will do so. But I would take a few pictures that would fit into the category, and then make it into a card!
I'm not sure how I would set it up, and I would need to do some research on it...
This is still in the idea process, but it's definitely worth thinking about. I would love feedback from everyone. Thanks!

July 4th!

Happy independence day, y'all! Over 200 years ago we declared our independence from England! woot woot. haha.
I should be sleeping right now, however my neighbors are still shooting off fireworks. I normally wouldn't mind staying up this late, but tomorrow is when camp starts again! It is the 12 and up week so it shouldn't be too hard. lol.
:) 'Night,

A Very Merry Christmas!

Hey Ya'll! (I know it should be spelled "y'all" but I like it better as "ya'll")
I hope everyone had a blessed and wonderful Christmas! I know that mine was great!
I can't post very much right now. Have lots to do! But I figured I could take a moment to post a little something!
On Christmas morning, after presents were opened, my mom read Luke 2 (the Christmas Story). It was awesome. We all had a cup of coffee, and then mom and I made a new breakfast recipe from "The Pioneer Woman Cooks" cookbook! Bee got it for me! It was very yummy! :)
I then proceeded to take almost 500 pictures with my new Nikon D90 camera!! WOOHOOO! I have pics I'll show ya later!
God is so good!
Merry Christmas a day late!!!

Merry Christmas Eve! :)

Merry Christmas Eve!!! I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas so far! It is very exciting around here.
But before we fully enter into Christmas let's remember the true meaning...

Luke 1:26-45

Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.” 38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

Luke 2
Christ Born of Mary

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Glory in the Highest 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “ Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Blessings and Merry Christmas!

Winter!!!

Good morning!
It is a beautiful day for the first day of Winter!!!
Today and tomorrow I am helping at a Christmas horse camp! The camp isn't really for horses....we use them....but it's for the kids. I am actually about to leave my house. I won't be home until after dark. Same for tomorrow! We had week long camps through Summer. No doubt that the two day (three days actually... I'm just helping for the first two days) camp will be easier!

I just looked out of my window and saw that Jack Frost visited! there is a bunch of frost on everything outside! So purty!

Well I gotta be going!

Happy first day of Winter!