Christmas 2012

Bob, Brooks, Brady, Papa, Me, Grammy, Gregg,Chris,Scott & Mat

Christmas was wonderful this year.  Brady came home from Tech for a few days, then traveled to Houston to see Preston and his family for a few days.  She made it home in time to celebrate Christmas Eve with the family.  We decided to eat out on Christmas Eve this year.  We had a wonderful dinner at La gondola followed by a wonderful church service.  Pastor Marc delivered a thoughtful sermon including a
message about "Not sweating the small stuff."

Christmas morning I cooked the annual Christmas breakfast ~ Breakfast Enchiladas.  The family came over along with our neighbors, The Petrous.  Mom, Nancy and I had a few laughs going through my Christmas cards ~ another tradition!

We spent Christmas afternoon at Grammy and Papa's.  More presents to unwrap!  During the unwrapping, it started to SNOW!  Very pretty and perfect timing!  We made it home around 7:00 and
fell into bed shortly after that.

Thank you for the gift of FAMILY!  Thank you also for the wonderful church service where we welcomed your son ~ our Saviour.  I am forever grateful for the amazing, grace-filled life I live.

 

Prepare Ye the Way

 

This is the second week of advent.  Pastor Marc gave us three

 tips for preparing for Christmas. 

Step 1 - Look at What you can be ~ not what you can get.  Life is not about stuff or money.  Like Pastor Marc said, you never see an armored car following a hearse.  Figure out what your gift is and share it.

Step 2 - Reflect ~ spend time in quiet reflection during advent, slow down!

Step 3 - Keep Christ in Christmas!  Happy Holidays does not reflect the true meaning of the season.  It's all about Jesus' birth.  Focus on that!

 

Help me to follow these 3 steps during advent.  Help me to remember what the season is all about.  And please help me pass this along to my children.

18 and going strong!

Tagged by Mom

     My baby turned 18 last week!  There are times when I think that he's growing up too fast and then there are times I think it is not fast enough!  We took the basketball team to Smashburger the night before his birthday for a team/birthday dinner.  They had so much fun and they were so fun to watch and interact with.  I snuck up to the school on his birthday and "tagged" his car.  He immediately recognized my hand writing and called to "thank" me.  He also asked for car wash money!

     The night of his birth, I checked into the hospital at midnight for an induction first thing in the morning.  They showed us to the room.  I put on the lovely hospital gown and Bob and I settled in for the night.  The minute Bob turned off the light, my water broke!  The nurse on duty was not very happy and there was no more sleeping for me.  After be induced at 6 in the morning, Brooks arrived at around 9:30 that morning.   The epidural they gave me only worked on one side of my body.  Nothing on one side and labor pains on the other.  How does that happen?

Brooks was a very easy baby.  Though he has given up a few curve balls along the way, this easy going spirit has followed him through his life. 

       Thank you for the gift of this beautiful baby boy.
  Please follow him through his life and help protect him
with your Grace. 

Help him to make good choices and bless his loving spirit.

Brooks on his 1st birthday!