It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Twas the day before Christmas...

We had nothing to do, so my sisters and I 

went outside and had some fun in the snow!

Being blessed with sisters is such a wonderful thing!

We may not always get along, but one thing I always can count on is that my 

sisters have my back!

Through the good times and bad,

my sisters are the ones I can always rely on.

 "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you..."

This holiday season, I am taking advantage of the extra time with my siblings...

for truly it is the most wonderful time of the year!

Merry Christmas, God bless us everyone!

Wedding Preview

I had the amazing opportunity to do my first wedding shoot for my family's best friends.
 My family and the Hughes have been friends ever since I can remember.
Almost all of my childhood memories, include their two children - Tabitha and Josh.
This past Tuesday, Joshua married a lovely young lady, and I was able to share a part in their happiness

 

Pure Randomness in Pictures

These are a few of my favorite things :::

 #1...The Christmas Story

#2...Holiday Baking

#3...Simply Orange Juice {with lots of pulp}

#4...Finding the perfect gift 

for all those special people in my life

#5...Lean Cuisine Flatbread Melts

#6...Coffee to start and end the day {and get me through}

Go Tell

Go, tell it on the mountain,

Over the hills and everywhere

Go, tell it on the mountain,

That Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching

o’er silent flocks by night,

Behold, throughout the heavens

There shone a holy light

The shepherds feared and trembled,

When lo! above the earth,

Rang out the angels chorus

That hailed our Savior's birth.

Down in a lowly manger

The humble Christ was born

And God sent us salvation

That blessed Christmas morn.

Go, tell it on the mountain,

Over the hills and everywhere

Go, tell it on the mountain,

That Jesus Christ is born.

Christmas Lights

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, 

and behold, 

everything is softer and more beautiful.

Norman Vincent Peale

{Linking up with Mary to participate in Mosaic Monday!}

O Christmas Tree!

Setting up the tree...

a family event that makes way for the holiday season!

 Turn up the Christmas music,

Pull out the ornaments,

And make some fun filled memories!

Mom hands us each an ornament one at a time,

and we put them on the tree...

Our tree in the foyer is the traditional red and green colors...

However, our Dr. Seuss Tree (as we like to call it)...

is decorated with pink, teal, silver, and purple ornaments!

Christmas tradition::  Dad putting up the topper!

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Winter Solstice

We got our first real snow yesterday, and it just made it feel like winter...

I awoke and just knew that there was snow blanketing the ground outside.  

Not only could I could feel it, 

but my room had a glow that only comes from a fresh snowfall.  

I ran to my bedroom window, threw open the blinds, 

and there it was.  

So white, clean, and glistening...

Winter, I welcome thee with outstretched arms!

{View more mosaics over at the Dear Little Red House}

Thanksgiving Recap

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone, and what a great one it was!  The day started off with our church's annual Thanksgiving testimony service.  Every year I come away feeling so very blessed to be part of the greatest church in the world, and this year I felt like I could say with the Psalmist, "my cup runneth over."

Unlike Thanksgivings of past, this year we spent the day with just our family.  It was very low key, but those of you who know my mother will rest assured that the table was perfect and the food divine even if it was "just us!"  I hope you all had as blessed of a holiday as I did;  truly this is the most wonderful time of the year!

Expression by Nicole

I enjoy designing jewelry through beading.  I was first introduced to this hobby by my good friend EJ, who has moved out of state to teach in a Christian Academy.  I always enjoyed receiving gifts from her, because I could usually expect to get a new piece of jewelry and it was even more special because she had designed it!  When I was able to visit her this last spring, she taught me the basics to beading, and I have become addicted ever since.

I like to bead necklaces, bracelets, keychains, bookmarks, and earrings in my spare time.  Not only has it become something I thoroughly enjoy doing; it is also a great avenue for gifts!

And...that is why I decided to open an Etsy store to sell my stockpile of gifts...:)

On November 30th, I will be actually having an in home party to present my designs.  I am offering those who attend 20% off any of my online pieces.  So...for those of you who cannot attend, I would like to extend the same discount to you good until December 1st.

Please feel free to browse my shop and email me with any questions.  

I also do custom orders if you do not see a color or style of beading that you prefer.

I hope you can find something that matches your style, or that of a friend's!

A Thanksgiving Treat

This delicious Oyster Cracker Snack is a must have for my family at the holidays!

It combines the tang of lemon pepper seasoning with the sweetness of ranch to get
a taste sensation-try to eat just one!

Ingredients:

2 bags of oyster crackers

1 cup of oil

1/4 t. of lemon pepper seasoning

1 pkg. of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing

Combine all ingredients together.

Place on baking sheet place in the oven at 250 degrees for 20 minutes.

You can be enjoying this savory snack in less than 1/2 hour!
Bon Apetit!

Crossroads

This past week at my church, we held our annual teen conference-Empowered Youth. Oh how well I remember those days! :) So many good memories and great decisions made...

This year I was scheduled to work in nursery during that midweek service that ends the teen conference. I was extremely disappointed. So...what did I do?

I got a sub to take my spot in nursery so that I could once again feel like a teenager listening to Pastor Damron's corny jokes and get to hear wonderful preaching geared towards youth!

As I sat in the service I couldn't help but remember my friends and I, along with the several other churches' youth groups that used to gather some 6-12 years ago. I thought of the several I ended up going to Baptist college with and then I thought of the many who never made it to high school graduation; classmates who had come to the Crossroads in their life and chosen not to follow Christ. I looked out into the many faces of teenagers and I was filled with a burden for the teens of my church. So many of them at the same Crossroads that I was at when I was their age.

I was reminded of a song we used to sing with the bus kids I picked up on the Gary route:::

I met Jesus at the crossroads,

Where the two ways meet.

Satan too, was standing there,

And he said "Come this way,

There's lots and lots of pleasures,

I will give to you today."

But I said, "No!!

There's Jesus here,

Just see what He offers me...

Down here my sins forgiven,

Up there a home in heaven.

Praise God,

That's the way for me!"

Choosing Christ over the pleasures of sin for a season, is a decision I know I will never regret; a decision that I pray the teens of FBA will make as well.