Family, Friends, Fun, and Fellowship

This Christmas season was full. I have so enjoyed the time I have had to be with my family.
Every year it starts with the weekend before Christmas day...all my Mom's side of the family gather together to eat, visit and open gifts together. It is a tradition my Mom's mom started and my Mom and her 3 sisters have continued even without Granny. It is one of the traditions I love most during Christmas. They rotate whose house it will be at and this year it was in Austin.


This is Baby Stella. She was born in July (on my Grandmother's Birthday to be exact...really neat story behind that day). She weighed 1 lb 14 oz. She is truly a miracle baby...and oh so precious. She now weighs 12 lbs. What a big girly!



This is Cameron getting to read the story of Christ's birth before we open gifts. Every year we let a different cousin read. This year my Cam (10 years old) got to read it...Wow! I remember when I was not even big enough to read it and now my baby boy is big enough : ) That is my mom's sister sitting beside him, Aunt Kathie.



My cousin's son Nicholas also read from the bible with Cameron:



I totally enjoy my family during these times. I wish we could so get together more than just once a year, but when we do I cherish the memories we are making.

Then on to Christmas at home. You never know what the year will hold...who is going where, when, how long...so here was the plan this year.

Christmas Eve...Jayson's Mom's house for some more family fun:





There's lots more pictures...but those are some highlights. We went to our church Christmas Eve night to do a candlelight service. I feel so blessed to have a family that honors the true meaning of Christmas. The best gift of all...Jesus!

Now on to Christmas day...we got up early (of course) to open the gifts. The kids had a blast. Then we drove to Tyler to serve food for the salvation army. Then we went to my Mom's house for lunch and gifts.





Can I just say that when you wake up that early...drive 45 minutes and back then fill your belly with my Mom's good food...you get a little sleepy. Notice in the sleeping Jayson picture is White Christmas on the t.v...I love that movie.



This was a year with a couple of firsts...it was the first year we did the candlelight service at church...it was the first year we served food at the salvation army...I know it will not be the last year for these things.

I am so thankful and blessed this holiday season. I am looking forward to this next year. I know that God has some mighty things planned for us and I am eager to listen and obey!

I hope you all feel the warmth of His love!

Bitter Sweet Soccer Day : )

This past Saturday was the last tournament for our soccer season with Kiki. This was her first year to do soccer and she really loved it! Her team earned two trophies and a medal over the season. Today was the tournament of Champions! We drove 1.5 hours to Plano. We had to be there for an 8 o'clock, 12 o'clock, and 4 o'clock game. This means we had to wake up way to early to get there in enough time to find it and have time to warm-up then we had to waste a lot of time between games. We ended up losing all three of our games, but the girls worked really hard.

Here are the two trophies they won this year:




She had a really great time but she was really upset that they lost (which she usually is). I thought it was that they lost three games in one day, she was tired from getting up and spending so much time out, that she had just played her third game for the day, and that she may be a little hungry. So I tried to tell her all the things I thoght would make her feel better, but then she told me it was a lot to do with not getting to see her team mates again this year. She has such a big heart and every one of those girls on her team mean a lot to her. She will miss seeing them three times a week.

So now your wondering what the Bitter Sweet mess was about. Well, it is bitter that my baby girl won't get to see the girls she always looks forward to seeing every week, but it is sweet for me because I will not have to deal with practices and games every week. At least for a few months : ) ! SWEET!

One more fun thing before I leave you, while we were wasting all that time we decided to go to Barnes and Noble. Every one wanted a book and I made an executive decision to not buy a book for each of them today because I know the book fair is in town at Cameron's school this week, which means we will be getting plenty of books soon. So we agreed on a craft to do as group. I bought a book called Capsters to do with them. I knew I would have my two darlings, my nephew, and our favorite friend of Kiki's ever (also our neighbor). So the plan was set in motion. Tonight was Cici's for dinner and Capsters for craft.

Here are some pictures of our capster fun time:









So after a long day of play, fun, and fellowship with family and friends I am reminded of how truly blessed we are to have each other and to have Christ. I know He is uplifted when we get together to love on each other.