Oops! Where has the time gone?!?! Christmas is almost here!!!

Well, it has been over a month since I have posted anything on my blog! I can't believe it! The time is just flying by! It amazes me that December is already 2 weeks in! My parents and grandparents are coming in next weekend to celebrate Christmas. Lucas and I won't be making the trek back to Texas this year, unfortunately because we are traveling to Brazil in January and don't have enough vacation... Welcome to the real world!!!! It will be great to celebrate Christmas with the family, but I am said that this is the first Christmas in my life that I am not going to get to spend with my Aunt and Uncle and cousin, Melissa. It just won't be the same without them! The fam is arriving Thursday, December 18th and will stay through the weekend. I am hoping that we will get to travel up to Nashville to go to the Gaylord Opryland and see the ice sculptures, and maybe visit with my Aunt and Uncle Kenneth and Glenda. Christmas soapbox: Christmas is my favorite time of the year. So many people see this time of the year as a time of stress, but I just can't imagine that! This is the time for family and friends, fun and food, love and joy, relaxation and fellowship. I think that the key to making Christmas the most memorable time of the year is remembering what the season is truly about. Maybe if everyone would just take the time to focus on the TRUE meaning of Christmas, rather than all the money that we "have" to spend, all of the gifts that we "have" to buy, and all of the food that we "have" to prepare, and just remember that this is a season for CELEBRATION. Just think where we would be without the love of Christ today, and just give thanks. I challenge everyone not to get caught up in the commercialism of Christmas this year, and truly make a celebration of the birth of Jesus. Maybe we can all take the tradition of one of my friends and sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus this year. Is that not enough reason to celebrate and put the worries of the world behind us!?

You are my freedom Jesus you’re the reason I’m kneeling again at Your throne Where would I be without You Here in my life? ~Love that song! :-) Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!!!!!

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Jen

Kris and Natalie's Wedding

Our good friends Kris and Natalie got Married on November 22, 2008! What a beautiful wedding it was! I have more pictures to add, but I'll get to that eventually!

Danielle with Carter. He was really enjoying the clear plastic cup.

Can you see me?

Chocolate and Peaunt Butter cake. So good.

Cutting the groom's cake! It was YUMMO! :-)

Cutting the Bride's cake. It was quite tasty too!

And the Bride and Groom are leaving! Don't they both look so happy!

Love this picture!

Everyone is saying goodbye!

Lincoln being a great big brother and helping Carter walk around.

Carter is getting close to walking!

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Jen

Grammy and Papa's Visit!

Grammy and Papa came to visit us in November! Almost a month ago now! Wow how time flies! It was so good to have them here! They had not been to Huntsville since we moved here, almost two years ago now! (Can you believe that we have lived here that long?!)

We had a great time with them. They came on Friday afternoon and we went to Casa Blanca (one of the best Mexican restaurants in town in my opinion... but boy do I miss Texas Mexican food...) Of course it was FREEZING when they were here, and it rained most of the time they were here, so we didn't get to go see as many things as I had hoped that we would... but the trees were still beautiful, although we had had a storm come through, so some of the leaves were beginning to fall.

We took them up to Monte Sano Mountain and enjoyed the view. We played several games while they were here also, and they came to our church with us! We have been so truly blessed with our church. I don't think that I could have made it here with out it!

Me and Grammy on top of Monte Sano

Grammy, Papa, and me looking out over Huntsville

Cute little cabin on the mountain! - Look at all of those leaves!

Cool tree up on the mountain with a beautiful view! I LOVE the fall.

On Sunday afternoon my Aunt and Uncle, from Nashville came down to have lunch with us! Lucas made his WONDERFUL white sauce (that's right ladies, I have the best husband in the world!) We visited with them for most of the afternoon, then played games in the evening with Grammy and Papa once Kenneth and Glenda left.

On Monday, we went to Rainbow Mountain to see some more pretty places, and to let Hailey run around a little. It was really nice, and I'm glad that the weather let up enough for us to enjoy nature a little.

Lucas posing :-)

Hailey crawled through a tunnel!

Grammy and Papa

Beautiful view

Lucas meditating on the rock! How did that rock get like that anyways!

Hailey trying to get to some type of live animal, I'm sure.

Love this picture. You can see the storm coming in. It was cold and about to get colder!

On the way back!

Pretty yellow flower I saw as we were walking along the trail.

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Jen

Ladies Retreat

Well, it's been a few weeks since this, but I just now got around to getting the pictures off of my phone. And since they're from my phone, they're not all that wonderful, but it was a beautiful place and it was a wonderful, relaxing time away!

Beautiful!

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Jen

Fall is HERE!!!!!

The trees are beautiful, and we are in the peak of the fall season, so Lucas and I went up on the mountain (Monte Sano) to go biking and took several pictures!

Beautiful!

The street leaving our house - the colors are just gorgeous!

A pretty tree in the historic part of Huntsville

Driving into Monte Sano State Park

GORGEOUS view from the top of Monte Sano

Lucas posing with all of the beautiful trees!

Self-Portrait - with all of the pretty trees behind us

Taking a quick break from biking to enjoy the view!

Looking at all the pretty trees!

Since it gets dark here by 5:00, we didn't have much time, but I was glad that we endured the cold to get to see some pretty sights!

A beautiful tree we saw coming down the mountain - I made Lucas turn around so I could get a good picture of it! Breathtaking!

On the way down the mountain! What a pretty sunset! End to a great day in nature!

Parents Visit - Hiking!!!!!!

When my parents were here, we decided to go to the Land Trust in Huntsville to do some hiking. It was a really pretty day, and we wanted to get to do something with Hailey! We had been to the Land Trust before, but went on a different trail this time. We were going to see Three Caves. You never know what you're going to find on these things, but we were pleasantly surprised when we actually got to "Three Caves." It was very interesting and beautiful! We took lots of pictures, so here you go!

Hailey is anxiously awaiting getting to the park. She is DEFINITELY an adventure dog!

Mom and Dad - Aren't the cute, and don't the look SO relaxed? I wish I was retired!

Hailey is ready to go! This is about the only time during the hike that she had the leash on. I'm glad that she isn't a dog that likes to run away!

One of the first really cool places that we came too. I am sure that in the Spring that this is beautiful and that there is a waterfall here.

Picture Time - Lucas and I

Mom and Dad

Lucas at the bottom of the cliff

Hailey looking over the edge to see where "daddy" is!

A view of Lucas at the bottom of the cliff and Hailey at the top

Lucas climbing back up

Lucas being crazy and hanging from the tree - scared me to death! It was a lot higher than it looks in the pictures!

Dad and Hailey checking on the "sinkhole"

Hailey likes to climb trees! :-)

Ok, in actuality, I don't think she was too thrilled that I put her up there, but it's a cute picture!

Dad likes to climb trees too!

Glad it wasn't too high off the ground! He fell off shortly after this! Ha! Love the face!

Mom and Dad climbed to the top of the rock.

Hailey and I taking a short break! We had been going awhile and her little legs were getting tired.

Me and Dad in front of the GIANT (obviously partially manmade) cave - My face says it all - Dad went to check out the sign and it says do not enter, beware of falling rocks!

Me and Dad taking a closer look

Lucas and I in front of Three Caves

Mom and Dad standing at the top of the cliff above the three caves - if you're wondering why there is a rail, it is because it was really high and steep... But amazing!

Random pretty flowers that I saw along the way!

Cool Picture - It was a beautiful hike!

Hailey carried this stick around for a LONG time - which is funny because she does not normally find much interest in sticks. Balls are definitely her favorite toy!