Christmas 2010 Recap

Christmas was so fun this year.  It was such a wonderful time to be with precious family and friends and reflect on the true meaning of the season.  Here are some pictures from this sweet time!

My parents' beautiful tree.  One of my favorite things to do when I am home is get a book and sit in the living room with the Christmas tree. 

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care. :)  Mom and mine are on the left and Daddy and Muvie's are on the right.  My stocking is the Santa one on the far left and Muvie made it.  Mom's is her's from childhood and her Aunt Katherine made it.  It is so special to have these stockings crafted by loving hands.

Holiday M&Ms :)

Special ornaments

An olive wood nativity scene that Mom bought on her trip to the Holy Land

Mom's collection of nutcrackers

Christmas morning Mom made the fabulous McKay House french toast.  Yummy!!  After breakfast, we opened our stockings and what wonderful treats from St. Nick we found!  Then we got ready for lunch.

We were so thrilled to be invited to Christmas dinner at my Auntie Di and Keen's house.  Everything was delicious and it was so fun to be together!

Will, the expert carver

Beautiful Auntie Di working her magic in the kitchen!

Cousin pic with sweet Brinley the maltipoo :)

Auntie Di's gorgeous tree

The "kids'" table

Sweet nativity

I love this Santa.

Three Magi

Another beautiful nativity

The "grown-up" table :)

I love the ceramic trees and nutcracker accents.

Beautiful Mom in a winter wonderland

Grandmommy and Auntie Di's Baylor tree

Muvie

Keen

Travis and Me

Lauren and Anna

The "grown up" table

Cool picture that Will took :)

Brinley!

I am very brave putting this pic, but I'm just being totally honest because it is my dessert plate!  I just struggle so much with big decisions like dessert, so I end up getting a little bit of everything!! :)

Mom's yummy red velvet cake

When we went back home, we opened our gifts Christmas night.

We sure found a lot of goodies under the tree!! Thank you so much Santa and my sweet family for all the wonderful treats.  It is always a blessing to be with you, especially at this special time of year!

Christmas 2010 Recap

Christmas was so fun this year.  It was such a wonderful time to be with precious family and friends and reflect on the true meaning of the season.  Here are some pictures from this sweet time!

My parents' beautiful tree.  One of my favorite things to do when I am home is get a book and sit in the living room with the Christmas tree. 

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care. :)  Mom and mine are on the left and Daddy and Muvie's are on the right.  My stocking is the Santa one on the far left and Muvie made it.  Mom's is her's from childhood and her Aunt Katherine made it.  It is so special to have these stockings crafted by loving hands.

Holiday M&Ms :)

Special ornaments

An olive wood nativity scene that Mom bought on her trip to the Holy Land

Mom's collection of nutcrackers

Christmas morning Mom made the fabulous McKay House french toast.  Yummy!!  After breakfast, we opened our stockings and what wonderful treats from St. Nick we found!  Then we got ready for lunch.

We were so thrilled to be invited to Christmas dinner at my Auntie Di and Keen's house.  Everything was delicious and it was so fun to be together!

Will, the expert carver

Beautiful Auntie Di working her magic in the kitchen!

Cousin pic with sweet Brinley the maltipoo :)

Auntie Di's gorgeous tree

The "kids'" table

Sweet nativity

I love this Santa.

Three Magi

Another beautiful nativity

The "grown-up" table :)

I love the ceramic trees and nutcracker accents.

Beautiful Mom in a winter wonderland

Grandmommy and Auntie Di's Baylor tree

Muvie

Keen

Travis and Me

Lauren and Anna

The "grown up" table

Cool picture that Will took :)

Brinley!

I am very brave putting this pic, but I'm just being totally honest because it is my dessert plate!  I just struggle so much with big decisions like dessert, so I end up getting a little bit of everything!! :)

Mom's yummy red velvet cake

When we went back home, we opened our gifts Christmas night.

We sure found a lot of goodies under the tree!! Thank you so much Santa and my sweet family for all the wonderful treats.  It is always a blessing to be with you, especially at this special time of year!

Happy New Year!

I hope you all are enjoying a wonderful New Year's Day and celebrating this opportunity for a fresh year ahead.  I just love the way the calendar works with changes in seasons and a new year every January 1st.  New Year's Day is a time of resolutions and I admit I have been considering what my own might be, so here are a few of the items I resolve for 2011 (Hopefully writing them down will keep me accountable!):
1. Participate in the 2011 Siesta Scripture Memory Team .  Beth Moore's Living Proof Ministries blog organizes this opportunity.  Please click on the link to go to her blog if you would like to find out more and how you can participate, too.  I think it sounds like a wonderful way to memorize 24 verses over the course of the year and Scripture memory is definitely something I need to do more of.  On the 1st and 15th of each month, you post the verse you plan to memorize in the comment section of her blog.  I thought I would try to post my verses each 1st and 15th on my blog, too.  Here is the verse I've chosen for January 1st:

"You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart" Psalm 51:6 NRSV

I pray that this year I will seek God's wisdom and truth in all circumstances.

2.  Be present.  I hope to live more in the moment and experience my life for the gift that it is without worrying over the past or the future. 

3.  Participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5k on April 30th.  I hope to train so I can run/jog the whole thing!

4.  I also will try to be a more consistent blogger in 2011!  I am so thankful for this forum in which to record my day to day happenings and hope to find time to pause several times a week to share my latest adventures. :)

5.  Finally, I hope to declutter and streamline my life, beginning with my apartment. :) I'm feeling an extended session of shredding before me!

I know all of these goals are not measurable, but I hope to gain some steps toward them by this time next year!  May you all have a blessed 2011!! 

Happy New Year!

I hope you all are enjoying a wonderful New Year's Day and celebrating this opportunity for a fresh year ahead.  I just love the way the calendar works with changes in seasons and a new year every January 1st.  New Year's Day is a time of resolutions and I admit I have been considering what my own might be, so here are a few of the items I resolve for 2011 (Hopefully writing them down will keep me accountable!):
1. Participate in the 2011 Siesta Scripture Memory Team .  Beth Moore's Living Proof Ministries blog organizes this opportunity.  Please click on the link to go to her blog if you would like to find out more and how you can participate, too.  I think it sounds like a wonderful way to memorize 24 verses over the course of the year and Scripture memory is definitely something I need to do more of.  On the 1st and 15th of each month, you post the verse you plan to memorize in the comment section of her blog.  I thought I would try to post my verses each 1st and 15th on my blog, too.  Here is the verse I've chosen for January 1st:

"You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart" Psalm 51:6 NRSV

I pray that this year I will seek God's wisdom and truth in all circumstances.

2.  Be present.  I hope to live more in the moment and experience my life for the gift that it is without worrying over the past or the future. 

3.  Participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5k on April 30th.  I hope to train so I can run/jog the whole thing!

4.  I also will try to be a more consistent blogger in 2011!  I am so thankful for this forum in which to record my day to day happenings and hope to find time to pause several times a week to share my latest adventures. :)

5.  Finally, I hope to declutter and streamline my life, beginning with my apartment. :) I'm feeling an extended session of shredding before me!

I know all of these goals are not measurable, but I hope to gain some steps toward them by this time next year!  May you all have a blessed 2011!! 

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! :)