'Tis the Season...

Maybe it's just me but every year at this time when I see a certain company come out with these cups I know that the holiday season is in full swing. Starbucks red cups are among some of my favorite holiday items and I can't wait to fill one of these guys with my favorite beverage, a white chocolate mocha. What is your favorite drink to put in the red cup?

Christmas Get to Know Me

Kristin tagged everyone who reads her blog to participate in this Christmas Get to Know Me. Join in and play along.

1.Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper. I love to wrap and unwrap presents.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial with pre-lit white lights. I'd love to have a real one but I don't want to spend the Christmas season with a stuffy nose.

3. When do you put up the tree? As soon as I can get some time. Hopefully, we'll get it done this weekend.

4. When do you take the tree down? January 6.

5. Do you like eggnog? Not at all!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? There were so many! My parents went crazy at Christmas. I really had a lot of fun with my Little Tikes kitchen, though.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My mother. She has everything already.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Will. He loves anything I get him.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Sad to say we don't! I want one, though.

10. Worst Christmas gift you've ever received? I really can't think of one...

11. Favorite Christmas Movie? White Christmas or Meet Me In St. Louis. (Not really a Christmas movie but it works.)

12. When do you start shopping for Christmas? This year we started around Halloween. Usually it's right after Thanksgiving.

13 . Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope.

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom's standing rib roast!

15. Lights on the tree? I can go either way. The tree at my parents house has colored lights and they look gorgeous with our brass ornaments that MawMaw and Poppie have given us every year of our life. But I love the classic look of white lights.

16. Favorite Christmas song? The Holly and the Ivy

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We go home to Charlotte to see my family. When I was a kid and living at home we never went anywhere.

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? No...

19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning.

20. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?People who don't like Christmas.

21. Favorite ornament theme or color? My brass ones from MawMaw and Poppie.

22. What do you want for Christmas this year? I really don't know. A new lens for my camera maybe...

I tag YOU to play along...go ahead...get to it!

Words to live by...

Howdy to all my blogging friends. I missed you all so much. I'm sorry I haven't kept you all up to date lately. That was not very nice of me. But I'm back now and so ready to provide some updates for you. However, I just don't know where to start. Nothing feels quite right. The reason for that is because this past week was one of the hardest ones I've ever had to experience. It was bitter sweet and not bitter sweet in the cliche' way we think of but in a real, there is no better way to describe it sense.

My Poppie (my mom's dad) was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago and on Saturday, November 22 at 3am he went home to be with Jesus. We all knew it was coming and we were all ready for it. None more than my Poppie, though. He couldn't wait to go home and see his parents again.

Oh, how I miss him. I knew I would but I never imagined it would be as hard as it has been.

Will and I got the call from my mom on Saturday morning and left Florida Sunday morning heading straight to my grandparents house. We had the funeral this past Tuesday and the eulogy was given by Rev. Ross Blackburn who could not have said anything more perfect than what he said. Every word he spoke was right on. Every thing I was feeling, Ross gave words to it.

Out of all the things that Ross said, though, one thing keeps resonating in my head more than any other. He was repeating something that Poppie had once said to another church member who was really in a tough spot at that time. Poppie said to him "At the times when we feel like everything is going wrong for us, that is when we should commit more so than ever to pray for others." Those words have been stuck in my head more than anything. And that is what I encourage you all to do. I admit it's a hard thing to do but I can't even begin to imagine what will come of this.