Tis the Season

I wish I could say that it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but 80 degree weather just isn't cutting it this holiday season!

While Brent and I will miss seeing family members this holiday season, we feel very blessed and fortunate to just stay at home. It has been a busy year since August with my job and being a student at the same time. Both of these will end for a two week break come this Friday and I will be so happy to just lie around the house with PJs on, drinking hot chocolate, watching movies, and putting puzzles together! It will truly be a chance to refresh.

We will be seeing some family though! A couple trips to Melbourne to visit my mom's side, and of course my dad's family is already here in Orlando!

Because I suffer from severe claustrophobia, my Christmas shopping was already completed before Thanksgiving, wrapped, and under the tree. This keeps me out of the holiday madness. We will have to post some pictures of the tree later!

Last night was one of our first Christmas parties of the holiday season. Our Sunday School class gathered at Jim and Margo's house for a dressy celebration:










We, of course had tons of homemade food, and played the white elephant gift exchange. We ended the night with two of our couples making an announcement that they were pregnant! That makes 8 women in our group at this time! I am praying that God will bless Brent and I in his perfect timing so that we may make that same announcement soon!

Other things that we have already done or will do this holiday season: Trans Siberian Orchestra, Dinner Group Christmas Party, Work Parties, Small Group Christmas Dinner, and well, there's a few other things on the list that can't be said just yet ;)

Merry Christmas!

A Time to be Thankful

One of the first things I was thankful for this Thanksgiving was the fact my parents came to Florida to help us celebrate in Melbourne like they do every year. Its harder for them now that my brother and I live in different states and David has one up on me now that he has a "little one". I sweetly reminded my parents that they would be with David's family for Christmas this year and that seemed to convince them to come (sorry David :) )

Our Thanksgiving isn't like most others' Thanksgivings. I can't remember the last time I actually sat around a table inside to carve the turkey and each family member list something for which they are thankful. However, I would not trade my celebration for any other.

We had 40+ people this year in Melbourne, Florida, each of us bringing a dish (mine was green bean casserole). We made a buffet table in Aunt Brenda's covered patio, loaded up our plates and sat outside at tables that had been set up on the back lawn (40 acres worth maybe?).

My great Uncle Ralph and my beautiful parents.

My mom's parents: Grandma and Grandpa

After we ate dinner, people played horseshoes and shot off a potato gun into the woods of my Aunt Brenda and Uncle Ron's property. After most of the extended family had left, it was time to head next door to my grandparents' house to play some bluegrass. My mom talked me into bringing my guitar this year even though I'm not that experienced. Uncle Butch (our ringleader) and the others graciously let me join. Most of them just play by ear, so I just tried to catch on. After a good run of "Rolling in my Sweet Baby's Arms" "Will the Circle be Unbroken" "9 lb. Hammer" and a good many others, it was time to head back to Orlando.

With me, our circle was made up of 3 generations!

The "choir"

Our family has so much to be thankful for, but that night, I was most thankful for Brent driving home so that I could relax!