Christmas 2010

Well, how was everyone's Christmas? Our family had an amazing day then it started to snow and they all ran like the wind. Mother was just sure she was going to have to stay with us if she didn't get home this very second and that wouldn't be so bad except we don't go to bed at 6:00 and don't have two electric blankets in every room. Oh, by the way, D got me an electric blanket for Christmas and the two of us are extremely happy together. In fact, he calls my name every night when I get home and we don't leave each other's company until I absolutely have to. And then I have separation issues.

Christmas morning every one of my family members was under my roof and nothing makes me happier. I served them homemade cinnamon rolls and yes, I did make them myself. And they had yeast in them which is important to note because in the past, I have sworn off any recipe that had yeast in it. I admit, it was pure fear - fear of not rising or fear of rising so much that the batter would take over the whole kitchen. (I think I saw that in a really bad movie once). I conquered my fear and made the best cinnamon rolls in history, my history anyway. Then we opened presents and ate again. We do love to eat in this family. Oh and I got two cookbooks and recipe software for Christmas!! (Actually I got three cookbooks for Christmas because I treated myself to Christy Jordan's cookbook, "Southern Plate" because I got one for E and hey, I needed one too after all). Anyway, I simply cannot wait to get cooking. Yay!!

We braved the snow Christmas evening and went to the movies. We saw "The Tourist" and I liked it alot. We had seen "True Grit" earlier in the week and I liked it even more. Yes, it is a western with lots of saloons, hangins', shootin' and the such but for a girl who watched "Gunsmoke" and "Bonanza" every time they came on tv as a child, I am very accustomed to a good western. I thought Jeff Bridges did a great job (okay, he's no John Wayne but who is?) and the girl who plays Mattie is awesome. All in all, both of these movies were worth the money we paid and I don't say that too often.

By Sunday, my electric blanket and I were warming up to each other and by the end of the day, we had totally cemented our relationship. We didn't leave each other all day. G had gotten me John Grisham's new book for Christmas, "The Confession" and I read it all in one day. And it was no easy read since it deals directly with the death penalty and someone who is facing it. But like most of John Gresham's books, once you start them, you just can't stop. And then, since I was totally in the reading mood, I moved on to the book I had gotten D for Christmas, George Bush's "Decision Points." Well, it's like reading a suspense novel so I can hardly put it down. I have total respect for this man and his presidency especially after reading his accounts of 9/11 and the struggles he faced not only as president but as a man.

Because we have been snowed in (i.e. there is snow on the ground), I thought I would rent us a few movies. NetFlix just couldn't get them to us fast enough so I went to the movie rental store and got three movies. I watched "Eat, Love, Pray" with Julia Roberts last night. Interesting movie. I hadn't read the book so I wasn't sure what to expect. Let me just say, I thought the scenery of Italy, India and Bali was the best part. You didn't know you were going to get a movie review post today, did you? It's so rare that we see a movie that's not at least a year out from the box office and then they are pretty much forgotten.
Thinking about "Eat, Love, Pray" - there is FREE download on Beth Moore's website (lproof.org) of her Living Proof Live teaching called "Eat, Pray, Love" except this is based on the book of Jeremiah. It will only take you a few minutes to download to your computer. I have only listened to the first one but it was powerful. Much better than the movie. :)

So, if you're thinking all I've done since Christmas is read books and watch movies, you're pretty much right. I have managed to squeeze in working in the office; going to the WindowShop for a total redo of the whole store (after Christmas sale wiped everything out) and a long, wonderful breakfast meeting with a good friend this morning.
Tonight, my boy and some of his buddies have their first paying gig at The Monkey Barrel downtown. I haven't actually seen G play in a band since he played in the Praise Band at church in high school. I know he has because I've seen him toting those drums in and out of our house a jillion times. So I'm excited to actually see him play. I think I am going to have to have a nap before we go because apparently if you play at somewhere like The Monkey Barrel, the bands don't start playing until 10:00. Really? That's getting pretty close to my bed time but you better believe, I will miss my curfew with my electric blanket for my boy.

This is what our house looked like the day after Christmas.

Just a few pictures from Christmas. My family started hollering at me to use my big, beautiful, fancy camera that takes amazing pictures after I pulled out my little pocketsize Nikon. So most of my pictures are on that camera. But to tell you the absolute truth, I have no earthly idea how to load those pictures off of that big camera to this blog. It is my goal in 2011 to learn that skill.

D got a new shirt and tie from my momma (I picked it out while she supervised).

For some reason, G said this nutcracker reminded him of me (well, why do you think I get nutcrackers for you? because someday when I'm dead and gone and you are looking at your nutcracker collection hopefully it will remind you of me :)) This nutcracker is wearing black and white houndstooth with lots of rhinestone bling. And why in the world would that remind him of me?

The first weekend of December, E and N were at a pre-SEC championship concert in Buckhead. They had parked E's car in a parking garage and soon realized that someone had broken into it and stolen both of their briefcases, laptops included. In N's briefcase was a leather portfolio that he used regularly. We had given it to him for either his birthday or Christmas a couple of years earlier. So, he got a deja vu gift from us - another leather portfolio. I don't know what upset E more - losing her laptop or her Coach pocketbook (thankfully it was empty).

I'm sure you noticed that one skill I have learned in the past couple of days is the changing of my blog background. E had typically done this for me in the past but I was playing around with things the other night and figured it out for myself. (Actually the blog background website had very specific instructions and sometimes I can follow instructions . . . sometimes) So what do you think? Now that I know what I know, I'll be mixing it up for 2011. Speaking of 2011, what your goals? I have goals not resolutions. I'll be sharing mine soon.

Happy Wednesday!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

I have a few minutes before all of our Christmas eve festivities begin, so I was sitting here staring at our Christmas tree, visually taking in all of the beauty. I have a formally "decorated" tree in our living room but the family room tree is just that, the family tree. When I look at our Christmas tree, is nothing but a trip down our family memory lane. I have collected ornaments from every location we have visited on our family vacations. I have every ornament my children ever made. I have many that were precious gifts from special people. I love each and every one.
And then I do the unexpected maybe. I saved E's Christmas doll from when she was a little girl and put it on the tree every year.And G's angel he made in elementary school. His name written in his own handwriting.

Special photos. G "loves" this one. Check out those beads. :)

E's senior picture.

Both of these were gifts from a precious friend. And the true reason we celebrate.

This just makes my heart happy!

The Love Bug. My favorite movie when I was growing up. Love that Herbie.


This ornament is so cool. Mickey's silhouette from our surprise Disney vacation in the fall of 2009.
Oh, and the one behind it is one from mine and E's craft party this year. I wrote JandJ on it.

From one of my trips to NYC when we saw the Radio City Music Hall's Rockettes Christmas Spectacular.

And finally, a photo of my mom and dad taken in the late 70s. Oh my heart.

Merry Christmas Eve 2010!

It's Friday but it's not Food Friday, it is Christmas Eve Friday! Isn't that exciting? and how did that happen, by the way? Doesn't time just go by WAY too fast?

I'm gonna have to be honest with you, I have been in a little funk lately. Don't ask me why. Does a woman have to have a reason? No faster than you can say hormones may be the reason for this. I don't know. But I do know that there is no better way to get a girl out of her self-absorbed funk and smacked back into her reality than to begin counting my blessings. And in my case, hearing about some folks who have some real concerns - like spending Christmas in the hospital because of some very severe injuries; or like having very, very sick children; or like missing their fiance because he is serving in Afghanistan; or like wondering where their rebellious young adult child is spending Christmas. Oh, heavenly day. All this not too depress you, only a reminder to this sometimes too-wrapped-up-in-her-own self girlfriend, that you know what? I.Am.Beyond.Blessed. Beyond. And even if I were in my own personal wilderness, I am still blessed. Because I have a Father who so loved this world that He gave His one and only Son so that I will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).

And because of that, we should all have a very Merry Christmas. I hope you do.

The Weather Outside is Frightful

Why yes, the weather is a little on the frightful; no, not that bad, maybe just a little on the nervous. The wind is blustery (I have always wanted to use that word. It's one that seems only the meteorologist have right to but hey, I can assume the identity on this blog) and there is some precipitation in the air. I'm supposed to go up in the mountains tomorrow to Unicoi State Park to meet with their site manager about a wedding we have there soon. But believe you me, if it's snowing, I'm not going. No need for unnecessary travel, I always say.

Okay, so what's new? D and I had dinner at Roosters Friday night and it was awesome. I love that place - the chicken quesadillas were to die for. After that, we went to see"Nuncrackers" at the Holly Theatre in Dahlonega. Honestly, the best part of that whole trip, other than those chicken quesadillas, was the walk around the Square. It is gorgeous, I tell you. Love that place. Oh wait, there was something else that was amazing - the milk chocolate turtles that we got at Paul Thomas Chocolates on the Square. Somehow, I had totally missed this little chocolate shop on the Square before but I won't miss it again. Those turtles - think manna from heaven.

Yesterday I spent all day, ALL day in the kitchen cooking up baked goodies as a gift for our Handbell Choir. Here is what was the on the menu:
Graham Cracker Bark
Cream Cheese Fingers
Orange Tea Cakes
Peanut Butter Fudge
Pecan Pie Squares and
Drum Roll please . . . . I have created my own cookie. I know. Who knew? I'm calling it "Crevolyn's Christmas Cookie." I know not that original of a title (unless you consider my name which in it's own right makes it original) but I'll be doggone if this cookie wasn't pretty darn good. Especially, for something I created my own self. I'll share this recipe pretty soon. Trying to decide if I should get some sort of patent on it or something. D says they don't patent cookies - I think they should.

Today . . . Well, can I just say our church service this morning was beyond incredible. I tell you, if you didn't feel the Spirit of Jesus this morning in that Sanctuary, you must have slept through the entire thing. The handbells :), the choir, the solos, the orchestra but most of the all, the sermon . . . awesome. Tom spoke on Joy, having the joy of Jesus. He brought it to the table, I tell you. So good.

I'm sitting here for just a few minutes before I've got to get right back out in the cold and head over to the Limestone store for the joy of some children's voices. The Enota Elementary Show Choir (65 voices!) is sharing a special performance right in our store this afternoon. My good friend, Sheila, is their very talented director and I wouldn't miss it for the world. After that, D and I are headed out to do some shopping for our Secret Santa family. While I won't go into much detail here, trust me when I say, I am so burdened for this family. Alot of folks have alot of troubles. Maybe we can relieve just a few of their worries for a little while. That is my prayer.

By the way, because I know y'all have been on the edge of your seats about this, we still have no Christmas cards or picture to go in it. What is wrong with me? Not sure this is going to happen this year and if it doesn't, it's not the end of the world. Just the first time in 25 years that we haven't sent a Christmas card. Can I live with that? Hmm.

Have a good Sunday!