Boo Mama's Christmas Tour

Since this is my first year as a blogger naturally this is my first year to participate in "the tour" hosted by Boo Mama and boy am I excited! Now, let me warn you...I by no means live in a designer home showplace-I live with a small zoo (that includes 1 wild husband!) so lower your expectations, ignore any stray fur, and come on in!





When you first walk up to the front porch you will notice some really BIG and glittery ornaments hanging under the overhang. I think these are so fun and I really have no other place to display them, so I thought they made a nice addition to our "front porch ambience". Hey, that's what it's all about here in the South!





This year instead of a wreath I wanted to branch out a bit..I found this cool "grapeviney" container at Hobby Lobby for $10 and the flowers were half off at Stockdale's. I loved that they were unique looking and not just your run o' the mill poinsettia. How do you think it turned out?





As you make your way in the door you will come upon pretty much the only decorated area of the house, the living room. It is not a very big space and our furniture is a little overbearing in there so I try to keep things as minimal as I can because O' Christmas Tree lives in there!





The angel atop the tree has been in my family for years. She has the most beautiful porcelain face and pretty feather wings. Her gown is burgundy velvet so my color scheme tends to follow her attire! I have a lot of burgundy, gold, deep red, and green colors on the tree. I tend to lean more towards the "natural" look, meaning I load the tree up with a variety of "fake" pears, apples, grapes, and animals. Ironic huh?



Here are a few closeups of some of my favorite ornaments....








Now, don't laugh but I made these ornaments.....

I saw a similar idea on Kelly's blog and just changed it up a bit- I used the clear glass ornaments, took the shiny gift shred and put down inside the balls. Then I used glue to write our initials on the front, then I sprinkled the green glitter over the glue and looped ribbon through the top. They look a little Kindergarten-esque in the pictures, but I promise they look a little better in person!

These are just a few little accents on the side tables....the little tree was originally a Christmas Card holder but it didn't function very well in that capacity so I decided it was more decorative than functional. I love pine cones so I just put a few of those underneath the tree for a little decoration. Then, because I can't pass up anything glittery, I have a pretty deep burgundy poinsettia covered in glitter!

We have a modern style mirror that hangs above our couch and it just stuck out like a sore thumb! So, I found an old wreath I had and just hung it over the center of the mirror.

(I like this picture because you can see the reflection of the angel in the mirror)



Well, I hope you have enjoyed the tour as much as I enjoyed putting this together! Thanks so much for stopping by and.....



MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Finding Work is Hard Work!!

This is what I feel like lately! Between resumes, applications, and interviews I am BEAT. One company I am interested in has interviewed me 3 times and now I am working on getting the elaborate backgrund check they do completed. I have had to submit records I didn't even know I still had! I am thankful that there are opportunities out there for me, but GEEZ. I don't want to be the president, I just want a JOB! Also, if anyone hasn't noticed, it is Christmas time. I have barely done any shopping and there are only 13 shopping days left until Christmas!!! AHHHH!! I really wanted to get back to the true meaning of Christmas this year though, not worry about presents, and just enjoy time with the people I love. But, I also LOVE to buy things. Especially for other people. I don't buy gifts because I feel obligated to. I do it because I enjoy giving. I love seeing the look on someone's face when they get something they really wanted or needed. So, needless to say, I will probably be out on Christmas Eve like a maniac frantically searching for everything I need to get!

Getting To Know You-Christmas 2008 Version

I saw this on Amanda's blog and thought it would be interesting...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper! With lots of ribbon!
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. Pre-lit. In 3 convenient sections. Snap and go!
3. When do you put up the tree? I NEVER get it put up the day after Thanksgiving! Always too much to do! Ususally get it up the 1st or so of December...
4. When do you take the tree down? HAHA....sometime between January and March!
5. Do you like eggnog? NO
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Barbie dreamhouse that had an elevator!!
7. Hardest person to buy for? My husband. The man has everything. In our garage.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Mom
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I've gotten some pretty ugly sweaters in my day...
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I do alot on online and sometimes I pick things up at all times of the year and just put it back until Christmas.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Turkey and Dressing
16. Lights on the tree? clear lights only.
17. Favorite Christmas song? O' Holy Night (Celine Dion version is BEAUTIFUL) I cry every time I hear it!
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixon, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We have a beautiful porcelain faced angel that has been in our family for years.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Christmas Eve usually
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? RUDE people in stores and CRAZY people on the road.
23. What theme or color are you using? I use cranberry red and gold
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey and Dressing
25.What do you want for Christmas this year? A new job!

Now everyone else play along!!

Time To Be Thankful.

Even though I am losing my job soon I wanted to remind myself that there are still so many things in my life to be thankful for. Some are BIG and some are SMALL but they are all equally great things to cherish. In times of despair I think it's always good to realize what we do have and appreciate the life we have been given. So, here is my list of things I am thankful for (in no real order) just randomly thrown together.




1. Starbucks hot chocolate

2. Being with my family

3. Warm Pie w/ice cream

4. Turkey & Dressing

5. Deviled Eggs

(I think I focus a little too much on FOOD!)

6. My wonderful husband

7. My work family

8. Having extra blankets on COLD nights

9. My precious furbabies

10. Friendships that have lasted a lifetime

11. Mulled cider candles

12. Getting to squeeze and hug everyone's babies

13. Shopping for Christmas gifts

14. Being ABLE to shop for Christmas gifts

15. Purell Hand Sanitizer

16. A warm home

17. Bic ReAction Ball Point Pens (in BLUE)

18. Watching the Wizard of Oz on TV

19. Pretty Sweaters

20. FREEDOM

Love Letter

I don't know where to begin in writing this. I want this to serve as concrete proof of how much I loved you. Before we even met. I have dreamt of you so many times I feel like you are real. There are no words to describe the way I feel about you. I love you so much I will understand if I never get to see you. I know God has a plan. I may not understand it now, but I will. Someday. This is such a crazy and stressful time in my life but, all I can think about is what it would be like to have you here. With me. I know you are there. I can see your face. I can hear your laugh. I just can't touch you. You are the biggest dream I have ever had. I have never wanted anything more in this life. I hope that one day I can tell you all this in person. Face to face. I want to whisper it in your ear or write it in a note when you go away somewhere. I want you to meet us. I want you to know the most wonderful man on earth. You would probably call him Dad. He would be so thrilled to hold you and play with you. He would tell you all kinds of stories and teach you so many things. The biggest thing he would share with you though is his heart. He would live and breathe for you. We know you are resting in the palm of His hand. But, He has to give you to us. We want you here. We pray for you. We always will. We hope He chooses us to be your parents. Until the day that we get to kiss your sweet face just know this; there are no two people in the world that will ever love you as much as we do. We know that the pain we feel now will soon be met with sheer delight. Until then....

Love,

Mom & Dad

As of yet,

We've not met,

But I'm here,

Waiting,

Always,

For You.

Blessings for Kelly

As part of Kelly's Bloggy Baby Shower, hosted on Jenna's blog, I thought I would share what a blessing Kelly has been to me during my struggle with infertility. I stumbled upon Kelly's blog totally by accident one day while looking for a recipe. I began reading her posts and I felt like I could have written some of them myself. But there was a difference, she had a different way of looking at things than I had at the time. There were times that I just wanted to give up, I was ANGRY at God, and I just couldn't understand why MY prayers weren't being answered. Could He not hear me? Was I not obedient enough? Why was this happening to ME? But, I soon learned that it wasn't just me. Here was Kelly, an obedient servant of God, still waiting. But she always remained FAITHFUL. I felt so ridiculous thinking the things I was thinking when here was a beautiful, loving, (as close to perfect as you can get without it being sickening) Ha! woman who deserved this as much, if not more, than I did. But she wasn't complaining. She was willing to wait in His time. Then, a few posts later there was the news.....I'M PREGNANT! I wanted to jump up and down with joy! All of her patience had paid off. She now had a sweet little miracle to look forward to, and, so did I. She renewed in me the faith I had lost. It was in that moment that I felt like I received a miracle too. I let the Lord back into my life. I was ready to TRUST in HIM. Kelly gave me that gift. How can you ever thank someone enough for that??? I wrote to Kelly and explained my story to her. It was like writing to an old friend that had been such an inspiration in your life. Then, in her reply she thanked me! What? I have never encountered someone as sweet as Kelly. She is so blessed and she is always thankful for the blessings she receives. Most importantly though, she deserves it ALL. I know Kelly is so ready to see her dream realized in the eyes of her sweet baby girl, and although I can't give any real parenting "advice", I can tell you this Kelly, teach Harper to love the Lord the way you have. Let her know just how wanted and dreamt of she was. If she turns out to be 1/10 the woman you are then you have done your job well. She will soon know just how blessed SHE is to have YOU as her Mama. Congratulations Kelly! I cannot wait for you to get to hold your sweet angel in your arms.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14

Bad News.

After almost six years with my employer I got the news today that more than likely, in early February, I along with several thousands other people will be unemployed. This has been on our horizon for some time now but it was just something that none of us wanted to really believe. Those of us here at our facility are more family than co-workers. We have always worked well together and have come to know each other very well over the years. Not only is this an uncertain financial issue for our family, but I know there are so many others that this will impact in such a negative way. Please pray for all of us as we are forced out into a scary job market, with so little jobs to go around. I know our company is just one of many that have been affected by the economy and I am sure we won't be the last. This is such a trying time in our country and I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to do a job I loved with people I loved for so many years.