Christmas

This Christmas was so good! Josh came on Christmas Eve night and we all enjoyed a great evening just spending time together as a family. It was sooo nice! We also watched "Despicable Me", LOL. If you haven't seen it, you have too! Its really cute! Christmas morning we all slept in and lounged around before opening up gifts. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast of monkey bread and started getting ready for the events of the day. The Majors came over and again we feasted sumptuously....big surprise there right?! We wanted to have less dessert than we had for Thanksgiving, but for some reason more and more desserts were added to our list so we ended up with quite a few. Oh well, better to have to much than not enough. ;o) Right after I sat down and started eating, Selena says from the kitchen, "The Rawls are here!!!" A family from Oak Harbor surprised us on Christmas day, boy, they really got us! We were all so surprised and had a wonderful time of fellowship with them!

Praise the Lord for sending His Son for us! Jesus Christ...the true "Reason for the Season."

Josh taking off with the Monkey Bread....

We played this fun "Hedbanz" Game....we look like dorks but its really fun! 

We even got the "Parents" to play!

We all thought this was very fitting for Chris :o)

Lilly really took to Isaiah, they were budies for the weekend

~The Girls~

Crocheting

Ok I just have to add this......Kali has this crocheting pattern on line that she is working on. (It's on another tab on the laptop while I am on it) Anyways, she asked me what was on Row 2, so I read it to her.....whoa! It was so confusing reading it out loud!! I have trouble already, good grief, crocheting patterns are like a foreign language. "Double crochet, turn left, triple crochet then do a double hand stand, do a push up while doing a double crochet then go right...." lol

Just for fun, here is the one she has.....

Row 1: Double crochet in 4th chain from hook, *double crochet in next chain, 2 double crochet in next chain; repeat from * across.

Row 2: Chain 3, turn, double crochet in same space, *double crochet in next 2 double crochet, 2 double crochet in next double crochet; repeat from * across.

Row 3: Chain 3, turn, double crochet in same space, *double crochet in next 3 double crochet, 2 double crochet in next double crochet; repeat from * across.

Row 4: Chain 3, turn, double crochet in same space, *double crochet in next 4 double crochet, 2 double crochet in next double crochet; repeat from * across

 
I dare you.....read it out loud! At least for a good laugh.....

Christmas is almost here!

I love this time of the year, especially since we have snow on the ground! Its looking like it will be a white Christmas for us, hurray!

Everyone is running around stores trying to find the "perfect" gift for so and so. Today I had to go to Walmart, wow......you feel like sometimes you have to crawl over five different people to get to the thing you need! It was sooo busy! I was on my lunch break so I was planning on taking it easy and just roaming around after getting the things I need. Well....that didn't happen, I roamed for a couple minutes and was like "Ok, this is crazy!" I am happy to report that I don't have to go to Walmart any more before Christmas, hurray!!

Something that really bothers me is when people say "Happy Holidays" or "Merry X-mas". ARRG! I realize that some places you work don't allow you to say "Merry Christmas" because they don't want to "offend" anyone. Seriously, for people who may say them, do they not realize they are taking "Christ", the whole reason we have Christmas, out of it? I know some people are aware of it, but I also know that others do it and don't even think about it. I don't mean to sound harsh or anything, it just frustrates me......

Side Note: I found out tonight that Alyssa and her family are coming next week!!!! Hurray!!!

If I don't post anything before Christmas.....everyone have a wonderful Christmas!!!

My evening.....

Wrapping presents......

Enjoying a Eggnog Chai Latte......

Listening to Handel's Messiah.........

Feeling a little bit jealous that the Singles in Oak Harbor are getting to enjoy a live concert of Handel's Messiah tonight.......

-Post Edit-

I did have a picture of my Aunt's Christmas present on here, although I just found out that she does indeed read my blog from time to time. Soo...I guess you all will just have to wait to see the picture of it until after Christmas, don't want to spoil the surprise!

Struggles....

This week has been a hard week at work. Not because of difficult customer's, but there are some things going on with the company that is affecting our store. Thus, causing difficult and frustrating situations in the workplace. Not really with MY co-workers but just frustration with the higher up authorities and the fact that we have no bearing in decisions that are being made, about us! Needless to say, Sarah and I have shed a few frustrating tears this week. Which brings me to the Bible Study tonight......

My dad gave the Bible Study on the Israelites and how they kept complaining when they were being led through the desert. They would complain about not having food and water, even though right under there noses God was doing AMAZING miracles that they didn't care to take real notice of. It made me think of how God will lead us into a desert, but why would He lead us all this way then just let us die?! God leads us into different directions in our lives and its for a reason. Why would He lead us in that direction and say "Ok, well I'm going to take off, hope it works out for ya!" Nope, God is going to be there to help and strengthen when the road gets tough because that is what He wants for us. Just like He promised to care for the Israelites in the desert, He will care for us in our deserts too......

Well, I am off to go finish a Christmas present for my Aunt. Pictures to come soon!

100th post!!

I feel like I'm at the Oscar's or something...."I want to thank my fans for all their support without you I wouldn't have a reason to keep writing, my family for always being supportive of my blog even though sometimes it results in me being somewhat of a computer hog at times ;o)......"

I decided to go ahead and do the "100 things about me" post. Some of these things you may know about me and others might be a shocker :o). Since it is so long I will try to keep it as lively and interesting as possible so I don't lose you at 25....ok here goes!

1. I am the youngest child in my family
2. Sometimes I talk to other drivers on the road, asking them what in the world are they doing!? For some reason talking to them out loud helps.... :o)
3. I had braces for 2 years of my life
4. At the SAME time I had braces I also wore glasses....can you say, "WAY too much metal going on?!" Yikes! No...I will not post pictures....
5. I'm a little bit of a clean freak
6. I have been to the Czech Republic
7. I got saved when I was 10
8. I like dogs, just not their hair that ends up everywhere
9. I don't like cats, the only exception to that rule is when they are kittens, they are cute at the small stage
10. I finished HS 6 months before I was scheduled to graduate
11. My favorite way to eat cupcakes is to cut it in half horizontally, flip the icing side down on the cupcake and eat it like a sandwhich...perfect!
12. I am an ardent lover of Jane Austin movies
13. Love kids....
14. Very much dislike spiders and bats
15. A good book, and sitting by the fire is what I call relaxing
16. My cell phone goes with me everywhere
17. I love any occasion where you have to "dress up"
18. Recees peanut butter cups are my favorite candy
19. I have been to Costa Rica
20. I really like veggie chips
21. I wear contacts
22. Don't mind doing laundry
23. Enjoy cooking/baking
24. Very much family oriented
25. My dream car, at the present, is a chevy traverse :)
26. I love going outdoors, hiking, fishing, hunting, long walks....just getting out in nature and enjoying the beauty our Creator has made
27. Play the piano
28. Rather would live out in the country than in a big city
29. My real hair color is dark brown
30. Just kidding!!! I go all naturrral
31. I have never had a broken bone
32. One of my pet peeves is someone interupting me when I am talking
33. I love, love, love all the four seasons. Usually by the end of one I am super excited about the next one coming up
34. I like nice, big, spacious houses
35. I don't like to clean big houses, is that a contradiction?
36. I think when I get married, eventually, I will definitely be content with a small house
37. I have had stitches before
38. I'm almost convinced that I don't want a pet when I have my own house
39. I love Christmas music playing in the stores while you're Christmas shopping
40. Yes, I love dried mangoes....
41. When I used to take a whole apple for lunch, I would put it in a plastic bag to keep it from getting dirty, especially when I had a library book in the same pocket as the apple
42. Does that mean I'm germaphobic?
43. I sunburn way to easily...fair skin
44. Use hand sanitizer after leaving the thrift store, hey, who knows what was on all those things I touched?!
45. Love classic musicals
46. There is something else I want to tell you, but then I would have to kill you, so let's skip that one.... :o)
47. I have something called Raynaud's disease, which means that whenever I get really cold my fingers will turn white....I mean whiter than what they normally are
48. I have never been pulled over while driving
49. I have been in the car with people who have been pulled over....no names...hehe
50. I have been to Washington D.C.
51. I eat pizza with a fork, most of the time
52. It is very common in my house for me to be singing some song out loud
53. I have many friends
54. Yet, only a handful of close friends
55. I used to be in the choir at BBC, that goes well with #52
56. Never have had a ride on a snow mobile
57. Been snowboarding before, was mostly on the ground doing face boarding :o)
58. I don't like to leave the house without having at least foundation on
59. Once I was driving down the highway with my emergency break on (but didn't know it was) and couldn't figure out why my car was shaking.....true story
60. I have caught a fish before
61. When I was younger I used to pretend I was a gymnist
62. Both of my parents are one of 7 children, so I have A LOT of extended family
63. I cannot drive a stick shift, well I havn't been taught that is
64. I have a super cool blog, did you all know about it?!
65. At one of my previous jobs I used to make Lavender Wreaths for the shop
66. Cranberry Sierra Mist and White Fudge Covered Oreos are some of my favorite "seasonal" treats
67. I think it would be fun to at least try to ride on a motorcycle
68. I am seriously considering sky diving
69. I have been white water rafting
70. "The hills are alive with the sound of muuuuuusic" :o)
71. I have been to a "Handel's Messiah" Concert before....one word....AWESOME!
72. I think this list is too long
73. I miss the "Singles" group at our church
74. I didn't pierce my ears until I was a teenager.....well, not counting the time when I was 6 and they got infected
75. I'm a chap-stickaholic
76. I used to have a third eye....another story for another post...if you all want to hear the story that is
77. I have never had caviar, and don't wish to
78. Sometimes I get creeped out when dogs sit like humans
79. I really enjoy going four wheeling
80. Once while fishing I hooked my brother's shirt with the hook
81. Not long after that, I cast my fishing pole in the water
82. I used to be a member at the gym......notice the word "used"
83. Love teryaki flavored meats
84. Oh, which makes me think of  P.F. Chang's.....oh how I miss thee....
85. Love coffee
86. I can get competitive at games, namely Sorry Card Revenge
87. My favorite accessory in the winter is a cute scarf
88. Started learning the guitar, haven't played in a while
89. Enjoy singing specials for church
90. Always had the smallest room in our house among the kids, but now I have the biggest
91. Did I tell you all I got a queen size bed?!
92. I drive a GMC Jimmy
93. Tea has grown on me over the years and now I really enjoy it
94. Making up songs is my forte
95. I have blue eyes
96. Monk and Pysch are my favorite tv shows, so funny....thank you Shannon and netflix....
97. I've been on a "virtual" trip to Texas
98. Planning on going on a real life trip to Texas this year
99. Sometimes I laugh so hard that I cry
100. I have been paintballing

Thanksgiving Thursday

Instead of doing my normal "list" of things that I'm thankful for, I will just share with you one HUGE thing that I am praising God for!

Sarah was asking me today at work was salvation was again. I explained it to her again and then she proceded to tell me about last night (or early this morning). Without going into all the details of our whole converstaion.....its sounds like Sarah GOT SAVED in the wee hours of the morning today!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!! She is already experiencing the peace of the Lord, she is all smiles when we talk about it and is so excited!! She said after she was praying that she was telling her fiance about it and he was like "I think you got saved....". (A little side note here, I have not talked to her fiance about salvation.....so obviously she is telling him about our Bible studies...which is GREAT!!) Anyways, she said she was asking him if he thought she should call me....haha....at 3 or 4 am!! I guess he told her that he probably thought I was asleep, but just the fact that she wanted to call me at that early hour is so exciting!! We have already talked about going into the next lesson in the E-Life Studies which is talking about the assurance of salvation and she is really excited to do that one! It looks like Saturday is the desired day for that Bible Study. I'm hoping to get her to come out to church now too, she has been wanting to come and just never made it yet. With all that the Lord is doing in her life, hopefully now she finally makes that desire turn into action!

I am SO thankful that it was NOT by my own power that Sarah got saved. It was all by the Lord Jesus Christ that He convicted her of her sin and showed her the need for Him. I am so excited to see how God is going to work in her life AND in her families lives! (If I havn't mentioned it before....she has 3 precious little kids ranging from almost 5 years old to 7 months.) Hopefully we will see her fiance get saved, even through the changes he will be seeing in her life and the things she is telling him. Hey, who knows, we could have another wedding and baptism's before we know it! God is really working in the people over here and I am so glad He is seeing me fit to be a part of it! Praise the Lord!!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree.....

This is our Christmas Tree this year, I like to call it our "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree", but a much larger version. Its large but very sparse in the branches, which is fine, just not what I'm used to having! It looks very "Christmas-y" and fills up the room quite nicely.

When we were decorating the tree tonight I figured out something. "I" get the ornament, find a place on the tree, and stick it there. DONE. "Kali" gets the ornament, looks at the tree for a little bit, finds a spot, makes sure that within 10 ft of that spot doesn't have any ornament even silmilar to the one she is putting on, THEN if its safe....puts it on the tree. hehe I was teasing her about that! I'm not saying that its a bad thing, its good because she helps all the ornaments be all spread out and makes it look nice. I have to say.....its fun to tease your siblings :o)

Backgrounds....

For some reason, I am having a really hard time settling on a background for Christmas. I find one that I like, then I apply it to my blog and am not a fan of it. I will try to stick it out for a couple days then decid to change it. So, if you are a frequent flyer :o), hang on with me because its going to be a bumpy and confusing ride. Come on with me as I try out different backgrounds......

One Wedding & Two Baptisms

Dennis and Lindsey, the couple that I have mentioned a few times here before, got married AND baptized today!! It was so great seeing a couple following the Lord in these ways. It was an all around great day in the Lord's house and look forward to many more like this!

                                         Kali and I made the cake :o)

Mr and Mrs B, their baby Caroline, and Chris

After the cake and punch we went to an Inn where we used their pool to do the baptizing.....it was nice and warm which is so much better than having to use the river.....*teeth chattering*

Its so exciting to see two people following the Lord in TWO areas of there lives in the same day! Praise the Lord! We are all looking forward to how God is going to work in their lives in the coming days.....