Getting Ready For Christmas...

12-7-2010

For some reason it's always been a tradition in my family's house that we don't decorate for Christmas until after Josiah's birthday, which is Dec. 6th. Without meaning to, Russell and I did the same thing for our first Christmas.

LOWE'S had nice trees for a good price. After checking out a few others we ended up getting the first tree I pointed out. Why is it usually like that? Only in Florida do you go tree shopping wearing sunglasses with a Tropical Smoothie shake. =D

It's been fun decorating for this season, but it's been hard too. My Christmas ornaments were the only thing from home that I hadn't touched, and somehow it seems like I've just cut the final cord linking me to home. All my stuff is here, all my stuff is out, and it's final----I really will never be a part of my family again. I miss everything familiar at this time of year: the same old ornaments we've put out for years, the sounds--talking, laughter, or singing---of someone other than myself in the house, Mom and Lydia's companionship in the kitchen, the aroma of baking cookies we made together, and the old Christmas tunes we've listened to every year since I can remember.

After I got through the initial dread, I realized it was very nice to see my Christmas things again.

This is the first year that I've been able to hang most of my balls, seeing as I never had my own Christmas tree before. I was surprised to find that in all the collecting I've done over the years, the color scheme of my ornaments is mainly maroon, red, pink, gold, and white. Perfect! Even my angel-topper matches!

And as I unpacked the ornaments, Russell got the tree ready outside on the porch...pretty, pretty!

And once I got decorated it looked even prettier...

12-9-2010

Russell was exhausted after getting home from work, so I decorated the tree by myself. One thing I'm still not used to is being alone so much, so it was still nice to have him with me...even if he was sleeping. =)

The Christmas Parade

12-4-2010

Our church entered the Christmas parade last Saturday. It was a lot of work and a lot of fun.

I love this time of year!

Everyone really outdid themselves putting this together.

JESUS is the only reason for the season. Jesus...God, who became frail, human flesh, appearing in the form of a helpless babe, in order to save Adam's race from sin, death, and hell.

JESUS.

I love Christmas lights! So pretty!

Russell and I were part of the gingerbread choir singing Christmas carols.

Clay played live on the piano. He did awesome, as always, and Russell was his faithful side-kick.

After the parade was over some of us went out to McDonald's for a late snack.

There I am outnumbered by guys (what's new?).

We had a lot of fun and hopefully the Lord used us to remind folks what Christmas is truly all about.

Fall Fellowship 2010

It's that wonderful, crisp, cool time of the year! How I love fall...pumpkins and leaves, etc! And it's actually finally beginning to feel like fall here in Florida! Thank God!

Last Saturday we had the annual Fall Fellowship at church. We were here for it last year, only Russell and I weren't married at that point. My mother-in-law, who is also the pastor's wife, had all of us ladies make a bunch of food because this year we invited another church to join us for the fun. I made chili, ziti, coleslaw, 20+ grilled cheese, and a cake. It was a lot of work, but I enjoyed it. I sure missed my mom's dishwasher when it came time to wash all the dishes I got dirty. =D

As you can see, I got a TON of dishes dirty. Once clean, they were stacked rather haphazardly. I joked with Russell, "Don't slam the front door or walk heavily when passing by, and PLEASE don't turn on the washing machine!!!" It feels like we are experiencing an earthquake the way that thing bounces around while its spinning out. =D

The day of the Fall Fellowship dawned bright and clear with perfect temperatures! Russell and I did our best to dress up as cowboys (the costume theme was cowboys and Indians). We were going to buy maroon plaid shirts so we could match, but decided it wasn't a necessity in our budget. (Yes, this is the first picture since it happened. I cut my hair...personally!)

Over 60 people showed up from Old Paths Baptist Church.

Everyone brought a ton of food! I organized a craft with the little girls at church, and together we made paper wreaths and a paper chain to decorate the fellowship hall for the festivities.

This is mine!

Starting out the day, we signed up for the various contests, etc. Russell signed us up---the Russell Maynard family---to have our family picture taken on the hay bales with pumpkins. I haven't gotten those pictures yet. I was also signed up for the chili contest, the baking contest, and the sewing/craft contest.

Last year Russell almost got his head whacked off while holding the log for whoever was chopping during the log-splitting contest. I held my breath and offered silent prayers as I watched my husband this year as he helped while Aaron hacked away at the log. He was fine, thank God, and even entered the contest, getting 3rd place!

This little girl's grandma made her costume. Isn't it cute?

And here are the kids in their costumes. I'm pretty sure Rylee, the little girl in front and all the way to the right, won first place as a cowgirl.

There is my mother-in-law and several of the other adults entered in the costume contest.

We sure have a beautiful church building!

I enjoyed holding one of the little babies in our church.

Russell was one of the judges for the baking contest. With me not being able to eat sugar, Russell is used to basically having a sugar-free diet, so he had a splitting headache after consuming all those sweets. My poor boy! He told me he never wants to be a judge for the baking contest ever again. He sure changed his tune quickly! =D

Can you guess which cake is mine???

I entered this banana split cake into the contest and won 1st place for how it was decorated. I was told I would have won 2nd place for how it tasted, only they wouldn't give one cake two ribbons.

A dear friend sent me this seashell pattern as a wedding gift, and I recently finished making it and then framed it to enter into the craft contest. It won 1st place! Thank you, Naomi! It's beautiful!

My prizes! Thanks be to God, who gave me the ability and strength! If it wasn't for His grace, which allows me to awaken and get out of bed every morning and breathe His air in my lungs, I could never accomplish anything.

After all the contests were over, many games of volleyball had been played, and much fellowship was made, we closed off the night with a singing around the bonfire. It was a wonderful day!!!

The Living Room

Except for the coffee table and piano, this was generally the "mission house-look" before Russell and I got married. All those black trunks are full of my belongings.

Then we bought new couches and, after paying on them for a couple months, we were ready to move them in! Even being very sick, I was super excited to say goodbye to those horrid, blue-green clunkers! =D Aaron attempted to get a suntan as Russell drove the couches away. =D

And there are our new suede couches! Certainly an improvement...but it gets better!

Last week I rearranged the living room so it's cozier--not just an area you have to walk through to get to the back hall.

Walking out of the kitchen...

This keyboard was Clay's church piano for a while. When the boys in the home spilled milk on it someone gave the church a new piano. We got the old one fixed and now I used it to practice on...sometimes. It seems like I'm always busy with something in the house. I keep meaning to sit down and read a book Russell bought me but I never seem to have the time. I don't know what it is about this place--I guess it's the sand--but I feel like I am constantly cleaning. I clean our church twice a week, and I've figured out that I generally tend to give my own house a thorough cleaning twice a week as well. That means 4 out of 7 days I am cleaning and then there is cooking, baking, the never-ending laundry and shopping, not to mention the church-related events that come up once a week or so.

That is a cinnamon broom. It smells heavenly!

This is the view as you come down the hallway...

I dried these roses from bouquets Russell has bought me and, once thoroughly dried, placed them in a vase. Now I have flowers in the house all the time and they never wilt! If you noticed the flowers on the coffee table, those are also dried. They were leftover fillers from my wedding bouquet.

This is the view when walking in the front door...

We bought the braided heart rug on our honeymoon.

I love having the living room set up this way. It is so much nicer!

There are my little pink crocs! I love those things! Because it is so sandy here almost all my shoes have ended up either filthy or ruined, but when my crocs get dirty I just take a sponge and soapy water to them and they are good as new. What a blessing! I never used to go barefoot. Now I do all the time. Socks have almost become foreign. =D

The wall behind the couch is still quite bare. I have some picture frames to hang, but I need to print off pictures for them and our printer isn't working yet. I'd like to get some hooks so I can hang my purse or our jackets (when we need them) by the door. I'd also like to get a big rug to put in the sitting area of the living room, but I haven't found anything yet. I came across this small store in town called "A Little Bit of Country," and it's one of those places that tests my ability to NOT be covetous. =D I used to think I would have a hard time knowing how to decorate my home and I used to worry about it. My only problem at this point is knowing when to STOP. =D

I am so happy I bought that little throw quilt. The colors liven up the whole room.

Just last Wednesday we bought and assembled this bookshelf. It is so nice to see all my friends (my books) again! I missed all my pretty, delicate figurines and homey nick-nacks.

My dad's aunt cross-stitched Russell's and my names and our wedding date and framed it as a wedding gift. The colors she chose could not have matched the living room any better. I love it! The Willow Tree figurine was an engagement present from my Grandma and Opa. I always wished to have that figurine, and now I do! The Yankee Candle--Vanilla Cupcake--is the first Russell ever gave me. I doubt if I'll ever burn it. Mom and Dad gave me the pretty lady figurine for one of my birthdays years ago.

Russell just recently bought me the baskets from Joann's. We got two for the price of one. I love those deals! Once I got the books on the shelf I was so happy to have those baskets as fillers. I think it also gives the whole bookshelf a country look.

Along with collecting bears and tins, I seem to have started a small collection of shoes as well.

The grandmother of one of the former boys in the home made this quilt for me as a wedding gift. I love how she embroidered my full name all along the edge and added tulips. I will treasure it always!

The Lord has given me some beautiful things to call my own. He has given me a cozy little house and a wonderful husband. I am so very blessed! Thank You, Lord Jesus!