Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

This Christmas Prayer was in our Candlelight Service last night and I loved it:

A Christmas Prayer

Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

by Robert Louis Stevenson

Christmas in Dixie

We made it safely and (almost too) smoothly to Birmingham and are ready for Christmas in Dixie with my family! I'm so glad to be home and out of the snow and ice! I hope your travels go as smooth as ours have.

Happy Christmas Eve Y'all! ;)

Fun in the snow...

We've been having way too much fun in the snow:

We got about 6 inches last night

Snow ball fights


Walked to the park that is a couple blocks away from our house!

Went sledding = pure Joy!





Emily, our neighbor, with 'The Boys' - Steve and Wilson

Drew took Steve sledding

Now, lets just pray it stops snowing by Tuesday so that we can make it to the airport!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Guess who gets a SNOW DAY today... I do I do!!!

I don't think our cars are going anywhere..
(although Garrett did hitch a ride into work with his Dad)

Maybe I'll snuggle up on the couch and watch one these:


or make some more of these:


or catch up on wrapping Christmas presents with these:


Decisions, decisions....

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Burr, check out that 5 day forecast... at least it's going to be sunny!

SNOW!!

This is what we woke up to this morning!



And this:

All Time Favorite Christmas Song

This is my all time favorite Christmas song. It is Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas is YOU and it brings joy to my life. Secretly, I listen to her Merry Christmas album year round.

More Videos

What is your all time favorite Christmas song?

Fun Project

I've been feeling super-crafty this Christmas season so I decided to take on a fun project - garland for the front door. Enter Martha Stewart. When I came across this picture it totally inspired me to make real garland for our door out of fresh cut evergreen branches. Luckily we have TONS of evergreen trees here in the Pacific Northwest, so all I had to do was walk around to the back of my office building with a pair of scissors and buy some floral wire. I pretty much winged it from there. A couple of hours and some scratched up hands later and we have Christmas at the front door.

My inspiration - Isn't it lovely!

The finished product

Garrett and his brother Trevor put up lights on the outside of the house this week and I just loved how they turned out! Thanks Trevor for all your help!

Hardworking fellas posing for me

Seriously, how cute is our little gingerbread house?!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas around the Kelly household!

So cozy!

Our cute Christmas Tree!

My Favorite decoration this year! (my camera does not do it justice)

Santa and Stockings!

Pretty Place settings!

We decided to nix garland over the matle because it was too busy, so we used it here instead!

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear"
-Buddy the ELF

An Engagement at the Finish Line

Kjell and Elise, two of Garrett's best buddies from his days spent as a Lifeguard on Hilton Head Island, SC, came into town on Thanksgiving to run the Seattle Half Marathon with Garrett. Well about a week before they flew out Kjell called us and told us he had a surprise up his sleeve for Elise, he was going to pop the question at the finish line.

On race day, I was in charge of the ring and being at the finish line to meet Kjell. Kjell had to finish before Elise with enough time to find me and the ring!!! Keep in mind that there are tens of thousands of people everywhere. Luckilly, Garrett and Kjell ran the race together and Garrett spotted me right after they crossed the finish line. Now, all three of us watched and waited for Elise at the finish line. About ten minutes later we spotted her and Kjell got down on his knee with a sign that said "Bubby Marry Me" (Bubby is their nickname for each other, so cute)!! Her response was "YES BUBBY!" And Garrett and I got it all on video and took tons of pictures!

It was such an exhilarating feeling - I can't imagine how they felt after running 13 miles! Garrett and I felt so honored to be involved in their engagement and are so very happy for them! And now we have an excuse to go to Hilton Head next fall!!

Garrett, Kjell and Elise before the race

Where the proposal went down

Congratulations Kjell and Elise on starting the marathon of your life!!!
(I know I'm cheesy and proud to be)

Strength

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Whatever is set before you this week, be reminded that your God-given job, friends, family, personal drive and motivation are all integral to your success. Tap into them and do all that God has set before you. However don't forget your ultimate source of strength. Allow God to be your strength and press into Him as you embark on the next phase of your journey.

I really needed this last week, but I'll take it today. I get The Daily Verse emails and they are such encouragement each and every morning.

We got our tree!

Every year we buy our Christmas tree from the Boy Scout troop that Garrett was in when he was little. It's so fun to see the kids working so hard, helping people pick out their trees. This year we bought the first one we saw!

Now we're off to decorate and watch ELF!

Turkey Day Wrap-Up

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at the Kelly's house. It was so much fun spending time with everybody - especially Darren and Jackie (G's Aunt and Uncle) whom we don't get to see very often. Every year they bring their special Cranberry Cocktail which is always a hit! Gregg made the best mashed potatoes I think I have ever eaten. The turkey was delicious as was the pie. We played Mexican Train and Left Right Center. All in all, we ate tons of yummy food, played lots of fun games and made many wonderful memories! Enjoy these pictures, taken by Jackie and her amazing camera!

Darren preparing his special drink..

Cranberry Cocktail, So pretty!

Sandy made the cutest name cards!

Yummy pies!

Mike and Sandy - the wonderful hosts with the most!

Melis and I enjoying our Cranberry Cocktails!

Me and Garrett


Carving the Turkey!

Me and Paige listening to some Miley!



Josie playing barista - she makes the best lattes! ;)

Three happy brothers - Trevor, Todd and Garrett!



The Kelly Fam!

The whole Turkey Day Crew! What fun!

Bad blogger...

Sorry for being such a bad blogger this week, I have been extremely busy with work (hello 12 hour workday yesterday & today) and we have had guests in town. But I have SO many fun things to blog about:

• Thanksgiving
• An engagement
• The Seattle half marathon
• Decorating for Christmas - which we haven't even started yet because we've been so busy.. sigh
  

But please stay tuned!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hope you have a wonderful day filled with family and lots of yummy FOOD!

I will praise the name of God with a song,

and will magnify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

DAY SEVEN

I am thankful for:

Family.

I am thankful for every single one of them. I am thankful for their never ending love and support. I know you don't get to pick your family, but I sure am glad I was blessed with BOTH of mine!