Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

So from our family to yours, we hope that you had a beyond blessed Christmas! We let Chip decorate the Christmas tree this year ...
which meant every ornament except about 7 that I put up were on the bottom 2 feet of the tree.
It was the prettiest Christmas tree EVER! He had a blast doing it and was so proud of it. We had to have a looooong discussion about not taking the ornaments on and off but it worked out.
He did great!!!
We made the whole season with no ornaments broken and no gifts unwrapped prematurely. The tree began to fill up with gifts as the days went by and he loved just sitting there looking at them.
Tony and Chip made a quick trip to meet Gaga in Crestview to swap the last gifts as well as to grab a quick lunch and that was fun for the boys! We spent Christmas Eve in Georgia with Gaggy, Aunt Lisa, Uncle Dan, Aunt MA, Uncle Danny, Aunt Ann, Shawn, Trey, Day, Faith and Hope. OH YEAH, and us, Hoppie and Papa. Chip had an absolute blast while there. The best part was that he got to dig in the dirt and jump in the hole he dug, kick it, throw it, and do everything with it that a boy is supposed to do. We opened presents, ate a delicious lunch and then came on home to get ready for Christmas day. Christmas day came and all Chip wanted was to be able to play with the 'map' that Gaggy bought him for Christmas. So we decided that we would chose to drink coffee and spend time in the floor with Chip playing with his trains and his map.
That went on until Hoppie and Papa came over and then the fun began. We opened presents, ate lunch, got to "go to church" with Howard and Dana over LiveStream and played with Thomas the train until all our hearts were content.
Chip refused a nap but did sit still for about 40 minutes to watch a new "Beggie Tales" (translation - VeggieTales) and when the credits began to roll, so did he! :) at 7:30, though, the wheels began to fall off when i made him sit still to hopefully watch Dr. Seuss's Grinch, then went to bed to read the Bible and i was going to let him snuggle in the bed with us for a little bit when he popped up and said "I go get my bed, mama!" well, that did it for us! It was bedtime for us all and the day ended around 8:30 - WHEW!!!!!

things were really crazy so i'm posting the few pictures before and after that we got. Enjoy what few there are. Hope that you all had a great Christmas! We sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and left it at that - besides, that IS what Christmas is - the birth of Christ! :-)

Carol-Van

So today we went with 10 other people, that's right, there were 13 total, caroling. It was a beautiful time spent with friends and spreading a Christmas cheer that can only be seen through the eyes of those who we were singing to! It was an experience that goes beyond any description I can give. I wished we had either taken a picture or gotten someone to take pictures of us all in synch pulling in and out of all the houses, driveways, neighborhoods, etc. we looked like a mob! It was awesome!

Christmas is just around the corner and the celebration of the birth of our Savior is beginning. BUT, Christmas doesn't end with the birth of Jesus, but it ends on Calvary at the death of the King of Kings. Remember in your travels, gifts, eating, time with family and friends and everywhere else you go and in everything else you do this season that God loves you so much! Being the mother of a boy and only imagining how Mary felt when she gave birth to her son knowing that she would only lose him is humbling beyond anything else. Mary did you know........ Merry Christmas! <+>< the Sharps

oh the reminders...

So today has been a day of reminders. Reminders that I am not in control, reminders that the Lord has us in situations and circumstances for a reason, reminders that the love of God surpasses the world, and reminders that we are to love God unconditionally and that we are to uphold Him as king of our lives. I am in a place in my life that I find myself looking to God daily for strength and purpose. I find myself asking "what about NOW Lord" about the same questions that i have been asking for over a year now. I live moment to moment and day to day knowing that God's plans are beyond any plans that I could have dreamed up. His plans display the ultimate purpose in our lives. By living through His will and staying connected to the Holy Spirit's guidance on my life, the Lord's will will prevail! Glory to God in the highest for He is the name above all names! Merry Christmas and stay the course!

Thanksgiving 2011

So this Thanksgiving was spent in Mobile with the Sharp family. What a house full of fun that was! 8 grandchildren, 8 children and their spouses, and 2 parents = FULL HOUSE!!!
There were fights over toys,
compliments about the great food,
hunting stories, and lots of lounging and catching up.
Two of my sisters-in-law took pictures throughout the weekend
and i thought i would share them with you all. What a blast we had and what great memories we have to be able to remember Thanksgiving 2011 with!
We have so much to be thankful for and I was reminded each and every moment how grateful I am for what the Lord has blessed me with! I have a beautiful family,
a home that is filled with laughter and love,
and a God that created the universe that loves me unconditionally!

I don't find it ironic that Thanksgiving comes immediately before we celebrate His birth. We are to enter his gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with praise...... and Thanksgiving enters us right into His birth with literal Thanksgiving! What a beautiful reminder of what He did for us on Calvary. Happy Thanksgiving to all!