The New Lens

For Christmas I got a new lens! Adam's parents had given me a gift card to get PhotoShop but my camera has been acting up since the summer. Sometimes it couldn't focus to take a picture. In the last month it went from sometimes working to not working at all. My smart mom suggested that my father in law and I (He has the same camera.) run a little experiment and switch lens to see if that could be the problem. We did that yesterday and it was my lens and not the camera body! I was so relieved because lens are much more reasonable than a camera. So I used my gift card and got a 50mm fixed lens. It is a bit wider than mine so it lets in lots of light. Which makes taking inside pictures so much easier since I hate using a flash. I am so happy! I am in love. And can't wait to take some more pictures.

The Simply Wonderful Christmas

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! We spent our laughing and enjoying our families and of course the joy of the boys.We spent time with both sides of our family, at a beautiful Christmas Eve service, and here at home on Christmas morning. The memories of this Christmas will always be super special to me! Adam and I decided with Noah's first Christmas five years ago that we would try to keep things simple in hopes to focus on Jesus and the joy of His gift to us. We give him two presents form us, one a memory building presents(like last year's trip to the circus or this year's once a month game night). We hope that keep things a little more simple will help the attempts to spread kindness and celebrate Jesus shine. Noah's extreme love of presents and hoping gifts might have overshadowed his understanding of Christ's love and sacrifice again this year. But I hope that eventually he will get it. I know Jesus is speaking to me through Noah's joy. He is just so excited over a simple matchbox car. I hope he always finds the joy in simple things.

The Baking

Christmas means baking at our house and lots of it! I have two super helpers.

The Family Pictures

I am so thankful that my mom wanted a picture for her Christmas cards of her and dad and all five kids. And that Jenny is friends with a fabulous photographer that mom hired. Because the results are just adorable! Here are just a few from nicolerobertsonphotography.com She is great! And super easy going which is key to getting great shots of big families! I highly recommend checking her out! I am sure you will see many more of these images pop up on the blog.

The Neighborhood Santa

Oh Clear Creek, how I love thee. A couple of times I have mentioned how much my neighbors love holidays. (Click here to read and see more about it.) This year didn't disappoint. Our neighborhood is full of Christmas joy. I have never seen so many lights. (Two nights in a row we have seen Escalade Limos taking a lights tour here.) This year there have also been many nativity scenes and "Happy Birthday Jesus" presents. In fact Tuscaloosa News has a Christmas Lights Map that includes three houses from our neighborhood. We have so much Christmas Spirit that Santa comes to see it himself. Every weekend in December Santa comes and visits from 6-9. It is the sweetest and most selfless and joy filled act for these neighbors that do this! I love it. This year we thought Noah was over his fear of people dressed up.... but no. He did at least step foot on the porch and speak to Santa. It is a start. Miller wouldn't participate either. Regardless I will cherish the memory of our sweet neighborhood Santa!

The Zoolight Safari

It is no secret that I ADORE the zoo. I especially love it at Christmas when it is magically lit up with millions of lights. I was thrilled that Emily made it part of Xander's birthday party this year. As a girl I dreamed constantly of a family and all the traditions I would establish with them. So this night, walking through the zoo, under all the lights with my family (and about three thousand other people) I was thanking my Father for making all my dreams come true. I am so thankful for my husband and adorable boys and our parents and sisters and brother in laws and nephews and nieces. Sometimes I am simply taken aback by all the blessings I am so rich with. And this simple moment at the Zoo walking under the lights with my family was one of them.

I'm not sure these two are "all in" since they are in school or employed by the other school :)

The Little Nephew Turns Two

Happiest of birthdays last weekend to my sweet littlest nephew Xander! Aunt Banana loves you so very much! I think you are just stinking adorable and smart (Maybe you will get a 4.11 in college like your Mommy!)! I love watching you grow and play!

Xander at two. Family pictures taken before his party.

Xander and me at his 2nd birthday party! The theme was Xander Turns Two at the Zoo. It was so cute. Lots of stars and twinkling lights and zoo animals. The cupcakes and fun animal favors were Noah's favorites. Mine, besides the adorable birthday boy, was Miller taking his first steps right in the middle of the party. Of course he hasn't done it again. After the party we all headed to the Zoo for Zoolight Safari.

Xander and me at his first birthday party!

Xander and me on his birth day! My how time flies and what a sweet blessing my nephew and godson are to my life!

The Halls are Decked

They were decorated a few weeks ago. I thought I would post a little bit for my own memory purposes later on down the road. This year I didn't really have the time or energy to change much and without my Hobby Lobby for inspiration I was left a little unspirited. Most everything inside is reminiscent of last year. Outside changed a bit due to our wreaths finally biting the dust. (But I don't have an outside picture.) I spray painted two urns bright green and put in two little fake trees with sparkly red and green ball stems and topped with red bows. It probably looks better in your head right now than it does in real life! Our windows have big green wreaths with red sparkly bows and bright green polka dots and ornaments. Or front door has a fun red ribbon wreath. And Noah was quite insistent that we put lights up. So we wrapped our little tree in them. Outside is supposed to represent "Joy" with all the bright colors. I did the Advent trees again this year but have been less than consistent with the countdown which includes acts of random Christmas kindness. This area is supposed to represent "love".

The mantle is pretty and white and sparkly. I used all my stars here. I had the intention of painting/printing a quote about the Christmas Star and creating a canvas but...well somehow it already the 22nd. The mantle is supposed to be Peace.

Our tree this year is a Douglas Fir. It was nice and fluffy. And Adam and I couldn't remember why we always pick Frasiers over Douglas. But I think it is because Douglas Firs don't seem to last as long. Doug (we name our trees every year. And we are creative.) is looking a little crispy. Doug is sporting all silver ornaments with red berry sprigs and glitter words like Noel, Faith, Joy, Peace and Hope. The boys made so many adorable ornaments at school this year that I think next year I am going to lobby for a fancy tree and a special ornament tree. And Noah wants a little pink tree in his room like Brooke. We will see about that. That is the 411 on the Christmas decorations. I will just say that I really miss Hobby Lobby and their prices. I am thankful they will be reopening soon!

The Blessed Moments

I am feeling very blessed this Christmas season. God gave us His son. As a gift. To bring us home to Him. And it just blows me away. So many sweet moments in the past few weeks. Watching my two little ones enjoy the season, take awe in the lights on display, shouting "Happy Birthday Jesus" when he sees them, discovering what our Elf has done,reading the Christmas story again and again, getting excited about parties and celebrating Jesus, it is all so new and precious. It is all about love. Christ is love. In the flesh. Sunday Noah and the Preschool department sang some Christmas Carols. It was so beautiful to watch these little ones growing so big. Many of them I have been praying for since they were in their mother's wombs and now how they are on stage singing praises to baby Jesus. I was filled with love as I watched.I was

overwhelmed. This weekend we took the boys to a living nativity where you ride through on a hayride. They read the Christmas story as you sit on hay bleachers. I sat there warm and cozy, Noah in my lap and breathing in the smell of hay, listening to how my Savior came down, born to save. Me. To save me. I watched Noah and Miller listening and watching rapt with attention. And I was overwhelmed. Today was Adam's first day at his new job. He beat us home. He had all the lights on and the oven pre heating.

The boys were so overjoyed and excited to get to play an extra hour with Daddy. Watching them I was filled with love and thankfulness. On the radio this morning I heard the retelling of a story that stuck with me all day. A mom was attending her son's grade school "Holiday" program. She was surprised to learn her son's class was singing a song called "Christmas Love", since the school had taken great pains to say "Holiday". As they sung each line (C is for....) a child flipped the letter. The little girl holding the M was holding it upside down. Students in the audience snickered and teachers frantically tried to signal her to fix it. She was blissfully unaware. When the last letter was turned the mom was taken aback by the message. The signs now read Christ Was Love. What a message. It is the message God is sending my heart this year , all year long. I hope it is the message my life sings. I hope is the lessons my boys learn from me.

When I feel overwhelmed by the baking, gift wrapping, Christmas picture taking, card mailing, Elf mischief making, running around, parties and exhaustion, I remember Christ is love. And we celebrate that. Not just in December but all year. Oh how He loves us.

The Last Sunday

One of the best things about Adam's new job (and there are many, like half off tuition for us. I am dreaming of a specialist degree and half off! ) is that he will be here on Sundays. Adam thinks I have not full appreciated what working Sundays has done for our family. But I have. I understand that it gives a flex day to take off during the week that has really come in handy for times when we had sick little ones. It also has given him Daddy Son Days with both boys. That quality time is irreplaceable. And my heart loves him even more for not taking the boys to daycare on Fridays and loving on them. I can't say there wouldn't have been days that I would have dropped them off with kisses and ran errands or cleaned or done laundry or napped. Sundays have given me several hours of me time. Hours in the bath. Time to blog or cruise the Internet. Time to paint my nails. Or just to be quiet. Quiet and alone. That has been well used time for recharging. But for almost five years this Sunday editor position has meant late nights and tired Monday mornings. It has meant shorter weekend trips. Saying no to Sunday afternoon engagements. During the school year it has meant a day and a half weekends as a family. Well tonight I am enjoying me last Sunday night alone. I took a long bath with a glass of wine. I picked up the house. Did a little craft. Listened to Pandora and dreamed on Pinterest. It has been nice Sunday night. But I won't miss you. I'd take time with Adam anytime over you.

The Hope

This picture has nothing to do with the post. But I think he is so cute!

Last week was the first week of Advent and at Calvary we lit the Candle of Hope. Christ is our hope. And He brings hope to all mankind. And I sat in my pew just utterly grateful for the hope He has given me. And to see that hope fulfilled.

The day before Thanksgiving we were packing up the boys and the dog for Thanksgiving in Birmingham when Adam got a phone call that I will never forget. He was offered a job as the University of Alabama College of Engineering Spokesman. This job, which he accepted and starts in a week, is an answer to so many of our prayers. Not only does it provide us with more time as a family with more consistent hours (8-5 M-F instead of M-Th 9- to somewhere between 6 and 8 and Sundays 2-11pm) but it also gives us more financial security. It is something I have been hoping for. For a long time. I am so thankful to have an answer to this hope for a new job and the great things it will mean for our family.

On the flip side it would be dishonest if I said I was a 100% thrilled. I am an Auburn grad. I grew up in Birmingham and both set of parents are there not to mention countless high school and college friends that I am dying to get back to there. I have been living my life here the past several years as if it was temporary. A little respite. Our new opportunity was just around the corner and we would leave Tuscaloosa with good memories and a few good friends. But God had something different in mind. I am so very thankful He is in control and He knows what the rest of my story is. Not only that but that He uses me to tell His story. It now includes Tuscaloosa as my city. My city. In all its crimson and houndstooth glory. Time to embrace it. (But not wear it) Time to put down some roots. To act as if I am here for good and not guard my heart against losing friendships because they will be temporary. Also it is time to stop taking my older friendships for granted by thinking well one day I will be closer. Because I probably won't and since I miss these friends and value them dearly I need to figure out how to make the distance work.

I am hoping this Advent season to be open to what God has for here, in my city. I hope He uses me and my family in ways I can't imagine. And I am thankful, oh so thankful for hope fufilled.