Sharin' da luv

Saran and Margo (Bayer co-workers) made Christmas very special this year! I was so glad we could be a "home away from home"- a little southern grace- for these girls. Saran's family is in West Africa and Margo is from upstate New York.

My new toy!

What a great surprise! Jimmy bought me a kayak for Christmas. I'm looking forward to many great adventures in my new boat, and Lindsey helped me get it started (she was the only one willing- what a trooper)! We took the banana for a test drive in Lake Reedy. I could hardly wait to get it in the water.

Christmas- Just the two of us.

"We got a real grinner here..."
Jimmy was super excited (as you can tell) to get this softball bat for Christmas. Another gift I was thrilled to give.

A little Vanna White pose with my new gun case- looks more like a toolbox for a truck, doesn't it?! I bet you're thinking, "Wow, this chick has a really big gun!" Yeah, I'm a redneck, what can I say ;)

Christmas at Mom's

Christmas night we got together at Mom's for a delcious traditional prime rib supper!!! Yummy! The kids kept busy with tetherball and other Christmas toys. The best part was surprising mom with her new KitchenAid standing mixer! Tis better to give than to receive!

Merry Christmas!

Tuesday evening we celebrated Christmas and Austin's Birthday at Papa Hurst's; Christmas Eve- Dubose get-together at Aunt Cat's; and Christmas Day lunch at Papa's. Wow, this family really keeps me moving and on my toes! We kept Jesus the center and had a great time visiting with each other.

Elf Yourself- The Hursts

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Losing your life, over and over again...Try it, it's great!

I've never really been good at change...don't know many people who are. I am learning, though, that life is characterized by seasons, and very few things or people in your life are constant. I've been working in a seasonal job position for a couple of months now and as my time with the company is coming to an end, I'm torn between being excited about the extra time I will have for my family and to do the things I love and leaving the people, surroundings, and daily duties that have filled my calendar in the past 8 weeks. Detecting a bit of internal struggle, I asked myself tonight, "Self, what is so hard to part with?". Comfort, routine, sense of being needed... all things that keep the focus on me. Jesus spoke the difficult words, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." May I never hang on so tightly to something in this life that I'm unwilling to be shaken up and rearranged for the glory of the Lord.