And Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas Now...

It has been too long, ladies! It has been a week since I've blogged... and the only reason is just cause I have been beyond busy. In the last week I have worked 4 performances for the chorus kids, had dinner with my 3 besties, worked my last day at my job, had Christmas in Cypress with my family, and drove to New Orleans... which is where I am NOW! I am here with Grant to celebrate Christmas with his family. I just wanted to drop in since it has been so long! ALSO, sweet Erica tagged me. :) How fun is that!? (That's 2 tags in 2 posts.... clearly I don't have time to sit and write something legit!) So here goes...

8 TV Shows I Watch:

1) The Office

2) American Idol

3) The Bachelor (don't judge me)

4) Grey's Anatomy

5) Without a Trace

6) Friends

7) Jon & Kate Plus 8

8) Chuck

8 Favorite Restaurants:

1) Olive Garden

2) Johnny Carino's

3) Del Pueblo

4) China Inn Cafe (holla, Lindsee!)

5) Grand Luxe Cafe

6) Panera

7) The Cabin in Sorrento, Louisiana

8) Chick-fil-A

8 Things that Happened to Me Today:

1) I woke up as sneezy as can be

2) I ate a McDonald's hashbrown

3) I drove to New Orleans (or I rode next to Grant while he drove!)

4) I ate Dairy Queen ice cream... nothing like Christmas in the south!

5) I cleaned up dog vomit

6) I took a nap in the car

7) I hugged Grant's parents

8) I sang "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in the car while Grant was in Cabela's. Nice.

8 Things I Look Forward To:

1) Christmas morning... TOMORROW!

2) meeting baby Dean

3) meeting Chase & Ronda's twins (However, Grant is absolutely convinced they are triplets)

4) Buying our first home

5) Our anniversary trip to San Antonio next week

6) Starting my new job

7) Having babies someday

8) Katie & Mo moving to Houston next month

8 Things I Wish For:

1) For God to send me something/someone that is basically a Laundry Fairy

2) To learn quickly and do well at my next job

3) To not have health complications or problems when we decide to have kids

4) That our parents will continue to be as healthy as they are

5) That we would win the $250 million power ball lottery game :)

6) That I could be tan

7) Legs that didn't grow hair

8) That you all have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I tag, Cristina, Claire, Emily, Laura, and Stephanie G!

Love ya'll,

White is Better than Orange-ish Brown

I've been tagged!

My dear friend Laura tagged me to do this picture thingy.... here were my instructions:

1. Go to the 4th folder in your computer where you store your pictures.

2. Pick the 4th picture in that folder.

3. Explain the picture.

4. Tag 4 people to do the same!

FUN! :)

There are many things to explain about the above photo. Allow me to begin.

*It was taken in early June 2006.

*Jaclyn had come in town from South Carolina (where she was currently living) to meet our little twin nieces for the very first time. I don't think the twins were more than a week old here. We were SO happy to finally be aunts!

*I'm pretty sure Juliet is the one I am holding, and Aunt Jaclyn is holding Scarlett.

*Let's talk about the obvious elephant in the room here: WHY IS JEN SO TAN? Well, it's called desperation. You see, I was engaged at this time, and knew that in a few short months I would be dressed all in white. White washes me out. I tried tanning beds. I tried tanning creams. Nothing ever looked normal. Finally, in a last effort, I decided to try going to an expensive day spa and have some stranger spray tan me.

Yes. A woman I had never met before was going to airbrush me into tan-ness. I just KNEW it was going to work. I didn't care that it cost more than you wanna know...... I just wanted to see if THIS was going to be my solution to my lifelong problem of Casper skin.

Well, it did indeed make me tan. But can we all agree that I just look plain WEIRD?! I am orange. And she didn't even spray tan me super dark, but for me, that is just alot. I mean, I suddenly realized that I needed to just love what God gave me. Nicole Kidman is pale. Maybe I can be like her.

I love that picture though. I think Jaclyn looks gorgeous. And I love knowing that at the time this picture was taken, Jaclyn was not yet pregnant and had no idea what a precious joy her sweet Grace Parker was going to be.

I love seeing the twins so small....and knowing I'll see them this weekend, just as talkative as can be! Precious!!

Okay, I tag... Joanna, Erica, Nat, and Kelli

Have fun!

Christmas Tour!

Last year I spent hours upon hours at work looking through everyone's pictures at BooMama's Christmas Tour of Homes. I knew that I just had to be a part of this year's tour. And then I realized that I need to throw a disclaimer out there before you start flipping through pictures:

1. WE LIVE IN A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT. With 700 sq. ft, there just aren't that many

"halls" to "deck". So please forgive the lack of material I have for this post.

2. We are newlyweds. Sort of. December 30 will be our 2 year anniversary. Is 2 years still a newlywed? If not, do I need to change my blog name? Anyways, we don't have alot of Christmas stuff collected as of yet. But we are growing, slowly! I DO own a nativity scene that I LOVE but for the life of me I cannot find it in storage. My apologies.

So, without further delay, I present to you.......

THE FRONT DOOR. It is a black front door. And the wreath is from Lowe's, purchased way back in 2007. It fell off the door last week and Grant just put it in the hall closet and I thought someone stole our wreath. I was very relieved when I learned that my dear husband was just too lazy to rehang the darn thing!And, here is the O Tannenbaum. The blessed tree. It is a real tree, and I do love the smell. Our ornaments are nothing sentimental or special. They just go with my burgundy and gold theme... I love my star on top. Grant always helps with that part!

Here is another shot of the tree.... with the entry way in the background.

I have been wrapping some presents today! I got alot done. That big green one is one of the gifts I got for my twin nieces, Scarlett and Juliet. It is a board game. I feel comfortable saying that here, because, well, they are 2 years old and can't read blogs. Or words in general. And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care.... okay, well, we don't have a chimney. Or a mantle. We have a bar! My darling sister Jaclyn donated these fleur-de-lis stocking hangers to me and I adore them. I have lots of fleur-de-lis in my home and these were just perfect! The stocking are from Bed Bath & Beyond. (BY THE WAY, if you haven't been to the close out sales at Linens 'n Things.... GO! There is some CHEAP stuff, girls!!) Bookshelf. The only "Christmas-y" thing on here is this really pretty Waterford penguin ornament. Close-up of Mr. Penguin. He was a gift from Grant's madre. Grant has a thing for Penguins. It's weird....Behind the penguin is our wedding invitation, framed and matted. It was a birthday present from mi madre. Our dining room table, aka breakfast table.


A long time family friend gave me this beautiful Mary, Joseph, & Jesus as a wedding gift. I LOVE it. I keep it up year round. Typically it is on my shelf, but it becomes the focal point at Christmas time!

This is not related to the Christmas season in any way, shape, or form, but I just love this painted urn. I got it at TJ Maxx. It was originally $40.00 and I got it for $9.00. LOVE IT!!


Giving my Linds a little love! Don't you just love her plates?! I DO!

My kitchen stove. I made jambalaya with sausage for dinner tonight....

And last, but not least, I attempted to make some Christmas cookies tonight. They are sugar cookies. They are supposed to be in the shape of stars and Christmas trees. Clearly, that is exactly what they turned out to be. I am so proud. :)

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Converge

Last night I got to go hear Beth teach. To say I needed it is an understatement.

I don't think she could've talked about something more necessary for all of us to hear.

She taught about dissapointment. She talked about when you get to the point that you're about to give up on prayer. She talked about how so many of us are praying and praying and praying and asking God, "WHEN, God?! WHEN!?"

I saw so many tears in that room. So many dissapointed hearts. She was talking to all of us. One of the most convicting things she brought to my attention is that we can sometimes use dissapointment as a stronghold. Oh, how true it is. Just like worry, or fear, or pessimism, dissapointment can also be a stronghold.

My friends, I'm gonna pass a good word on to you that my dear teacher taught me last night. HE HEARS YOUR PRAYERS. And, more importantly, the moment that you pray, an answer is given. You may not hear or know the answer right away, but His answer is given immediately. He is beyond wise and He loves us more than we could ever begin to understand. He hears your prayer. And, more importantly, He knows what is best for you and He will answer that prayer in the way He knows is best.

I was so blessed to be in that room last night under her teaching... AND to hear our Travis sing. That boy can sing me a song. Good night, he can sing!! It was all I could do not to punch the air with my fist at all those dramatic high notes! :) It just so happened that Lindsee and I had tickets just 6 seats away from each other on the same row! Jaclyn and my mom and I enjoyed making funny faces at Linds and her gang throughout the worship time!

Thank You Lord for blessing us last night and for leading Beth to teach on that very subject and that very scripture. It was much needed.

Love you, friends...

Two Weeks Notice

That's right... yesterday afternoon I gave a two-weeks notice of my resignation here at the office.
The Lord has placed a new job in my path... it is at a law firm which is what I am used to and the offer is much higher than I am currently making. I've accepted the position and my last day at work will be December 23.

Part of me is a bit stressed... it is just a very busy time of year and throwing in a new job, not to mention training of the person who will be filling my position. But I am also very excited to work in a new environment!

Other than that craziness, things are going pretty well. I bought 4 more Christmas presents online yesterday, so I feel like I've made a dent in my Christmas shopping list. I got to have dinner with Lindsee, Claire, and sweet pregnant Emily last night. I am all about chips and queso. All about it.

Anyways, I just wanted to update ya'll on my job situation. Praise the Lord for this new opportunity. Please pray for a smooth transition!

Hustle Bustle

First of all, thank you all for your sweet comments regarding my non-pregnant belly. The only thing I can think of is that I had just eaten lunch, and a heavy one at that, and I was slouching a bit. I wasn't practicing very lady like posture!! Still though, women should know better than to say something like that. Crazy!

Grant and I spent the weekend in New Orleans to celebrate the upcoming arrival of our twin nieces/nephews/niece&nephew. There was a baby shower for Ronda this weekend and I am just tickled pink/blue/pink&blue. :) Babies babies everywhere! We had such a nice weekend there. Grant was able to golf twice and fish once so he is a happy camper!

Things are just beyond busy. Christmas time often brings some freak out moments for me. I am usually pulled in many different directions and expected to be in many places at one time, and this Christmas season is no exception. I am frantic but trying to remember to find a peace and calm in this hectic hustle and bustle!! I keep reminding myself to keep in mind why we have Christmas in the first place. Somehow, the fact that I have purchased 10 gifts and still have about 15 more to go is a bit stressful and still on the forefront of my mind!

For now, I am going to go finish washing dishes, folding laundry, and putting away the suitcases from our trip.

Love you, friends!

For the Love

Yesterday, I was in an elevator and a woman asked me when my BABY IS DUE.

I turned to her and said "I'm sorry?"

"When is your baby due?" she asked again, smiling.

"In 2 to 4 years" I replied, not smiling.