Merry Mail

Speaking of Christmas cards.... I'm in search of a super cute {but super easy} DIY Christmas card holder.

Here are some lovelies via Pinterest.

 This Merry Mail lovely is available on Etsy- but I think it could be a fun DIY.

 Love the lights :)

 One of my favorites! Love the tree and the cute mouse traps :)

While it's not fancy, it's practical and pretty!

Thinking I could do this on our pantry door.

Christmas Card Love

I love opening my mailbox and seeing those colorful envelopes containing precious Christmas cards from family and friends. I am ashamed to say that since being on my own, last year was the first year I did not send out cards. Time just snuck up on me and I didn't get them mailed out in time.

Alas, fear not because this year I am not missing the mailing deadline! I've already ordered our cards and cannot wait to sit by the fire, watch Christmas movies, and address our cards.

It's always so hard to choose a card design because there are only 189,366,896,147 cute designs out there.

While browsing, I stumbled across these lovelies from Minted, Shutterfly, and TinyPrints. I've ordered from all three of these shops before and have always had great results.

As for which design I fell in love with most..... well, you'll just have to wait until they've been mailed before I post on here :)

Merry and Bright from Minted

Aglow from Minted

Hap-Happiest Time from Minted

Foiled Bracket from Shutterly

Fun Fresh Christmas from Shutterfly

Christmas Shine from TinyPrints

At This Moment

At this moment, my sweet girl is at school doing fun Thanksgiving art. My husband is at work.

And I'm at home. Alone.

This is such a rarity- it almost feels unnatural to be home alone!

I'm enjoying my day off by sipping hot cocoa, listening to Christmas music, and putting up a few decorations. I cannot wait for my little one to get home and help put ornaments on the tree. Love moments like those with my best girl!

I had planned to decorate Saturday because I NEVER decorate before Thanksgiving. This year, though, I am crossing over to the dark side and decorating before we've eaten turkey.

Happy Monday!

 

Thanksgivnig Break

Today is the first day of nine glorious days off. I am so excited about spending some much needed time with friends and family.

Today my sweet man and I are off to Starkville to cheer on the Bulldogs. Hail State!

Monday is 'Mommy's Day'. I'm looking forward to some time to myself, a little pampering, and then seeing The Nutcracker Suite ballet that night. A few of the girls from MG's dance studio will be performing in the ballet- exciting!

Wednesday will be spent with my two favorite KK's - aka Chickadee and her sweet baby girl.

Thursday we are hosting Thanksgiving dinner at our home and we are so excited about cooking a yummy, GLUTEN FREE, Thanksgiving dinner!

Friday, of course, will be spent shopping. Nannie J and I are planning to spend Black Friday together hunting for good deals, and enjoying a day out and about together.

Saturday will be filled with hot cocoa and Christmas music as the little one and I deck the halls for the holidays.

Sunday, my teammate Terry and I will be sharing our mission trip stories with our church congregation.


And in between all of this, there will be many moments of snuggling with my best girl, watching princess movies, and relaxing in PJ's by the fire.

Happy Thanksgiving Break, Lovelies!

Fall Family Photos

I needed a good family picture for our Christmas cards so I hit up my sweet friend- and amazing photographer. She snapped a few shots in our neighborhood Sunday after church. It was the perfect Fall afternoon! I have way more than just a great Christmas card photo, I have some fantastic family photos! I cannot wait to get these in and hang them on our walls :)

Be on the look out for one of these in your mailbox this Christmas!

 

Ten Years

On this night, ten {short} years ago I was immersed into the new life waters of baptism. I had made a decision to follow Christ and my baptism was a public display of my inward decision.

Ten years and every day the journey with Jesus brings so much newness, love, forgiveness, and hope.

Ten years ago I never could have dreamed where Jesus would lead me.

Into the most intimate relationship with the perfect Man who died for me.

Into depths of forgiveness that finally helped heal past hurts.

Even onto foreign soil to tell others of This Man....the Son of God.

In ten years He has never once left my side.

He is the true picture of faithfulness. I pray that as I daily sit at His feet, He will continue to mold and shape me... until all that's left is His image and glory reflected in my life.

I look forward to seeing where He will lead me tomorrow...next month...in ten years...when I'm living my last days.

And if I thought living this life with Him couldn't be any sweeter, I've yet to see Him face to face.

When I reach heaven, His face will be the first I look for. And I, for one, cannot wait to run to Him.

Making A List, Checking It Twice

This weekend I finally started marking things off our Christmas list. I was able to shop for all the sweet little ones in our life. I even managed to get all of Mary Grace's items bought and wrapped. Well, I wrapped what could be wrapped, anyway. The items that need assembling will be tackled later, and we'll just add bows to them- easy!

The only item we did not get this weekend was number 4, the small jumper. We're still debating on whether to get this now or save it for her birthday {when the weather will be warmer and she can enjoy it more}.

Number 12 was an awesome find. Little Miss loves trains- not sure where this has come from, but it's her latest obsession. When I stumbled upon this cute VTech train set, it was a must. I cannot wait to see her open this gift!

The only person left to actually 'shop' for is my sweet husband. The remaining items on my list must be ordered online and shipped to friends/family.

All this shopping and wrapping is putting me in the holiday spirit! I am counting down the days until I can put up decorations and start playing Christmas music!

Christmas List 2014 by bsjames on Polyvore

Power Wheels Lil Quad Ride On Minnie Mouse Power Wheels (Fisher-Price) / 123 JUMP 48-inch Round Bouncer with Game / Radio Flyer Classic Pink Dual Deck Tricycle Radio Flyer / Vtech Go! Go! Smart Wheels Train Station Playset Vtech / Fisher-Price Cheerin' Minnie Mouse Fisher-Price / Minnie's Bowdazzling Vanity Just Play / Little Live Pets Butterfly House Glamour Wing Moose Toys / Minnie Mouse Toddler Helmet Bell Sports / Sleeping Beauty Diamond Edition DVD Walt Disney Video / Little Live Pets Bird Cage Beauty Bella Moose Toys / Minnie's Rockin' Guitar Just Play / Alice in Wonderland Special Un-Anniversary Edition DVD Walt Disney... / The Very Hungry Caterpillar Bath Book Squirty Gift Set Kids Preferred / Babies R Us Tub Time Bubble Maker Babies R Us / Happy Feet/Happy Feet Two Double Feature DVD Warner Home Video / You Me 12-18 inch Doll Stroller White with Butterfly Print Toys R Us / You Me Doll Playard Multicolored Paisley Butterfly Print Toys R Us / LeapFrog My Own LeapTop Violet / LeapFrog Alphapup Pink LeapFrog