The King's Speech

On Sunday, my parents and I went to see The King's Speech.  It was FABULOUS!!  Colin Firth will forever be one of my favorite actors, especially after his wonderful portrayal of Mr. Darcy in the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice and he does not disappoint as King George VI.  It is such a wonderful story of an unlikely friendship that enables the King to support his country at the critical dawn of World War II, and also the strength of a marriage and the unwavering encouragement and support of his wife.  Mom bought the official biography of the Queen Mother the next day and I can't wait to read it!

Hope you have a fabulous Wednesday!  I will be cheering on my Baylor Bears in the Texas Bowl tonight!!  Sic 'Em! :)

The King's Speech

On Sunday, my parents and I went to see The King's Speech.  It was FABULOUS!!  Colin Firth will forever be one of my favorite actors, especially after his wonderful portrayal of Mr. Darcy in the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice and he does not disappoint as King George VI.  It is such a wonderful story of an unlikely friendship that enables the King to support his country at the critical dawn of World War II, and also the strength of a marriage and the unwavering encouragement and support of his wife.  Mom bought the official biography of the Queen Mother the next day and I can't wait to read it!

Hope you have a fabulous Wednesday!  I will be cheering on my Baylor Bears in the Texas Bowl tonight!!  Sic 'Em! :)

Christmas Cookie Delivery!

A few weeks before Christmas, my Sunday school class met at our Directors' home and decorated sugar cookies to take to several elderly church members.

We divided into two groups and my group visited one lady in her home and another lady in an assisted living community.  It was such a delight to visit these precious women and hear about their families and life stories. 

These are a few pictures of our cookies.  We had so much fun putting our creative talents to work!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas celebration!  Mine has been filled with visits with family and friends.  I'll be sure to give a full report soon!! 

Christmas Cookie Delivery!

A few weeks before Christmas, my Sunday school class met at our Directors' home and decorated sugar cookies to take to several elderly church members.

We divided into two groups and my group visited one lady in her home and another lady in an assisted living community.  It was such a delight to visit these precious women and hear about their families and life stories. 

These are a few pictures of our cookies.  We had so much fun putting our creative talents to work!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas celebration!  Mine has been filled with visits with family and friends.  I'll be sure to give a full report soon!! 

Christmas Eve Gift

Isn't this adorable?!  It is a mirror compact that a dear friend gave me for Christmas and I thought it was too cute not to share! :)

I hope you all are enjoying a wonderful Christmas Eve in a snug warm place with family and friends nearby.  I love the anticipation of Christmas Eve and remember so many nights where sleep was more difficult to latch onto than a snowflake in 100 degree heat.  However, I would finally drift to dreamland and awake often before the fingers of dawn crept on the horizon, but even if I couldn't go back to sleep, I knew I was closer to discovering the gifts of the season under the tree than I had been the night before.  It is with this same anticipation that I pray we greet the Christ Child who is born to us in this season of joy.  May we celebrate Emmanuel, God with us, with the same wonder and awe as the shepherds beheld Him the night of His birth and the magi after their long journey.  Lord Jesus, renew in me the hope and wonder that You bring and empower me with Your Spirit to share that hope with others.  Thank you, Almighty God, for this season of Christmas and for being "God with us," the most wonderful treasure of all.  Christmas blessings to everyone!

Christmas Eve Gift

Isn't this adorable?!  It is a mirror compact that a dear friend gave me for Christmas and I thought it was too cute not to share! :)

I hope you all are enjoying a wonderful Christmas Eve in a snug warm place with family and friends nearby.  I love the anticipation of Christmas Eve and remember so many nights where sleep was more difficult to latch onto than a snowflake in 100 degree heat.  However, I would finally drift to dreamland and awake often before the fingers of dawn crept on the horizon, but even if I couldn't go back to sleep, I knew I was closer to discovering the gifts of the season under the tree than I had been the night before.  It is with this same anticipation that I pray we greet the Christ Child who is born to us in this season of joy.  May we celebrate Emmanuel, God with us, with the same wonder and awe as the shepherds beheld Him the night of His birth and the magi after their long journey.  Lord Jesus, renew in me the hope and wonder that You bring and empower me with Your Spirit to share that hope with others.  Thank you, Almighty God, for this season of Christmas and for being "God with us," the most wonderful treasure of all.  Christmas blessings to everyone!

Christmas Decor!

This year the Christmas season is passing by so quickly that I wanted to make sure and show you some of my Christmas decorations before it is over!  I had high hopes of getting my tree up and decorated, but life took over and it didn't happen.  Needless to say I hope that next year my home is even more festive!

The first item I will show you is not really a Christmas decoration, but it is a recent addition.  I have a little fireplace area that this adorable iron candelabra fits perfectly in!!  I just absolutely love it and will keep it up year round.  It was a birthday gift from my friend L!

 

Here is my mantle.  You will notice the fall pumpkins have been replaced in my apothecary jars with Christmas ornaments.  I also recently purchased the grapevine wreath at my friend A's church holiday market.  I love the cranberries!  The noel banner is one I purchased at last year's Junior League "Deck the Halls"  Holiday Market.  It has little bells that jingle!

A closeup of the banner.  The paper behind the letters is music!

A closeup of the frosted cranberries, pine boughs and pinecones on the wreath. 

I might keep this wreath up all winter!

Well, that sums up the decor for this year.  Hopefully, I will be better at planning next year and have my tree put up before or shortly after Thanksgiving.  I do love to sit in the living room with the lights twinkling and read or just ponder.  This season is definitely one of pondering and wonderment as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour!  May you and yours enjoy a glorious Christmas this year!

Christmas Decor!

This year the Christmas season is passing by so quickly that I wanted to make sure and show you some of my Christmas decorations before it is over!  I had high hopes of getting my tree up and decorated, but life took over and it didn't happen.  Needless to say I hope that next year my home is even more festive!

The first item I will show you is not really a Christmas decoration, but it is a recent addition.  I have a little fireplace area that this adorable iron candelabra fits perfectly in!!  I just absolutely love it and will keep it up year round.  It was a birthday gift from my friend L!

 

Here is my mantle.  You will notice the fall pumpkins have been replaced in my apothecary jars with Christmas ornaments.  I also recently purchased the grapevine wreath at my friend A's church holiday market.  I love the cranberries!  The noel banner is one I purchased at last year's Junior League "Deck the Halls"  Holiday Market.  It has little bells that jingle!

A closeup of the banner.  The paper behind the letters is music!

A closeup of the frosted cranberries, pine boughs and pinecones on the wreath. 

I might keep this wreath up all winter!

Well, that sums up the decor for this year.  Hopefully, I will be better at planning next year and have my tree put up before or shortly after Thanksgiving.  I do love to sit in the living room with the lights twinkling and read or just ponder.  This season is definitely one of pondering and wonderment as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour!  May you and yours enjoy a glorious Christmas this year!

Salado

A few weekends ago I helped with a sorority function in Salado.  Salado is a charming town just north of Austin and every year before Christmas, they have what they call "the stroll".  All of the shops stay open late on main street and the whole town seems to be covered in Christmas lights.  It is so beautiful!

One of the displays I noticed was the wooden cutouts of "The 12 Days of Christmas".  They were so cute.  Here is "A Partridge in a Pear Tree" and they went on and on from there.

Then, one of the churches had a living nativity.  So sweet.   

Beautiful stained glass

Here is the manger scene. 

Sorry these pictures are hard to see.  I forgot to turn off my flash!

After strolling up and down main street, we ate dinner at The Stagecoach Inn.

It was so yummy and what fun company!

Here is the entrance to the place where we had the function.  Isn't this wreath beautiful!!

Here are the sweet friends who helped with the event!  Thanks so much!  

Salado

A few weekends ago I helped with a sorority function in Salado.  Salado is a charming town just north of Austin and every year before Christmas, they have what they call "the stroll".  All of the shops stay open late on main street and the whole town seems to be covered in Christmas lights.  It is so beautiful!

One of the displays I noticed was the wooden cutouts of "The 12 Days of Christmas".  They were so cute.  Here is "A Partridge in a Pear Tree" and they went on and on from there.

Then, one of the churches had a living nativity.  So sweet.   

Beautiful stained glass

Here is the manger scene. 

Sorry these pictures are hard to see.  I forgot to turn off my flash!

After strolling up and down main street, we ate dinner at The Stagecoach Inn.

It was so yummy and what fun company!

Here is the entrance to the place where we had the function.  Isn't this wreath beautiful!!

Here are the sweet friends who helped with the event!  Thanks so much!  

Dallas Christmas Party

My friend L hosts a very fun Christmas party every year.  We always have the best time and I look forward to it each holiday season.  This year my friend E and I drove up to Dallas for the festivities.  Here are a few pics from the fun!

One of the L's beautifully decorated trees.  I love all the colors!

Me, E, & L

E is trying to type on my iPad.  That little keyboard is kinda tricky!!

I forgot to get pictures of all the food and the guests mingling. 

L had quite the wonderful assortment of delectable delights for us to feast on, including these amazing gingerbread cookies, the traditional yummy queso, and many other delicious treats! 

The next morning we headed to Rusty Taco for breakfast!!

Yummy!! :)

Then, to one of my favorite places in the whole world!!

I just love the pecan Santa and reindeer that fly overhead at Northpark.

Here we are before a little retail fun!

What a fun weekend, girls!!

Dallas Christmas Party

My friend L hosts a very fun Christmas party every year.  We always have the best time and I look forward to it each holiday season.  This year my friend E and I drove up to Dallas for the festivities.  Here are a few pics from the fun!

One of the L's beautifully decorated trees.  I love all the colors!

Me, E, & L

E is trying to type on my iPad.  That little keyboard is kinda tricky!!

I forgot to get pictures of all the food and the guests mingling. 

L had quite the wonderful assortment of delectable delights for us to feast on, including these amazing gingerbread cookies, the traditional yummy queso, and many other delicious treats! 

The next morning we headed to Rusty Taco for breakfast!!

Yummy!! :)

Then, to one of my favorite places in the whole world!!

I just love the pecan Santa and reindeer that fly overhead at Northpark.

Here we are before a little retail fun!

What a fun weekend, girls!!

Thanksgiving!

Yes, I know, it has been almost a month since Thanksgiving, but I thought as long as I post about Thanksgiving before Christmas, then it will be ok! :)

I drove to my parents' Tuesday night via big D.  I needed to do a little Christmas shopping at my favorite mall in the world -- Northpark!  After stops at Nordstrom and Anthropologie, my friend L and I at dinner at La Duni -- so yummy!!  We even splurged and got dessert!  We had so much to catch up on that I think we were there for almost 2 hours!!!  With my leisurely pace, Edwin and Megan almost beat me to our parents' house -- and they were coming from Nebraska!! :) 

Here I am with my precious sister-in-law and brother, Megan and Edwin, before Thanksgiving lunch.  We had such a fun time!  Wednesday, we went to lunch at a fun sandwich place on the square and looked around a great home decor shop.  We spent a lot of time relaxing, which was so nice.  I also did a little reading for class...

Thursday, we got ready for a wonderful Thanksgiving meal prepared by my mom and grandmother.

After watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, of course!

Here is the table all decorated.  So beautiful!  Muvie did the flowers. :)

Pecan Pie!

Muvie's mincemeat :)

Muvie with the grandkids

Mom with Megan and Edwin

Megan and me

Yummy dressing -- one of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes!!

Sweet potatoes

Cheesy mashed potatoes -- a new recipe that was incredible!!

Mom's delish homemade cranberry sauce

Mom and me :)

Mom and Megan

The yummy food!

Grandmommy with Edwin, Megan and Dad

Muvie working on some knitting.

I just love these terracotta turkeys!

Wow, this picture almost makes me want to cry...I have so much to be thankful for!!

I love them all so much!!!

And what a great view I had for Thanksgiving!! :)

That night, we went to my dad's cousin and his wife's house for dinner.

She had two kinds of delicious soups and yummy sandwiches and of course, fabulous desserts!!  It was so much fun to get to visit with everyone!

Since this blog is like my scrapbook, here are some fun family pics I was able to take!

It was such a blessing to see you all!!  What a Thanksgiving treat! :)

Oh, and I can't forget the most amazing thing we have recently found out about to be thankful for is Edwin and Megan are expecting!!  Little B is expected to make his or her debut in late May/early June!! 

I am so thrilled and overjoyed to be an aunt!! :)