Happy New Year!

2010 came and went just about as fast as it does on a spedometer! It flew by! Last year Elianna was just a new baby who was finally sleeping through the night. This year she is a one year old who decided last night that sleeping through the night is no fun. Last year I left the youth group New Year's Eve party a little early but stayed up until midnight. This year I am in Florida and am contemplating going to bed at 9:3o pm.

I don't do resolutions mainly because I don't keep them. Therefore if I don't make them, I don't have to worry about not keeping them. There are many things though that I would like to do better next year - have more courage to do things for God, be a more loving Godly wife, a gentler time-spending mother, an encourager, a better listener, and get more organized. I was also thinking this morning about a verse for the new year, but while I flipped through the Psalms a phrase kept catching my eye "His steadfast love endures forever". No matter what this new year brings I can rest assured that God loves me in the midst of the best of circumstances AND in the middle of a rough and tough situation.

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!"

Advent Calendar (December 22-23, 2010)

Days 22-23 - Family Time

Because we moved our travel day up, our Advent Calendar got a little mixed up and a little undone. However, it was well worth it to watch Elianna interact with her cousins. C and K, my sister's kids, were so good with her! They made sure to tell her exactly what was going on and how to do things all the while making sure she didn't fall or catapult off the stairs.

We were also able to spend some time with Chris' mom and sister.

Advent Calendar (December 21, 2010)

Day 21 - Travel to Papa and Grammy's House

Originally this day was scheduled for Day 23 and then it moved up to Day 22 and slowly it found itself residing in Day 21. After we got home from NYC, we were exhausted and I still had to pack so we could leave bright and early the next morning. The plan was to drive the 19+ hours straight to Florida. We were going to keep Elianna awake during the day so she could sleep the last many many hours and arrive in a semi-good mood. Oh boy how plans change! Elianna is teething which results in a less than happy little girl. This combined with 2 parents exhausted from normal Christmas activities and an enjoyable day spent in NYC the day before .... well, you can imagine what gear we were working in.

I went upstairs to pack and Chris went downstairs to map out the route we were taking. After a bit, he called up and asked me to come downstairs. Mumbling a bit internally from being taken away from the packing, I headed downstairs to not so happily check out the route he had chosen for us to drive those many many hours. However, he won the Husband of the Year Award when he told me he had found tickets through Southwest for $99 and what did I think. What did I think?!? I didn't even have to think. Faster than Rudolph can get the sleigh packed, I was on that computer booking those tickets. I must grumble a little at Southwest though. When looking at the tickets, they were $99 each way. Since I was staying in Florida longer than Chris, we had to book the tickets separately. Chris' tickets - bought no problem. When I went back onto Southwest to buy my tickets, they upped the price on me! Can you believe it?! I wasn't brilliant enough at the time to hop onto another computer and buy them because I was panicking! There was no way Chris was flying and Elianna and I were not going to be with him! So technically Chris is the only one who got a good deal on a ticket.

May I just say that I am super duper thankful that we flew instead of driving! After much last minute planning combined with frantic packing, it was decided that we would fly into New Orleans and Chris' mom would pick us up and drive us back over to Pensacola.

Elianna did well on the flights down. I suppose she is getting used to it by now. We did have a bit of a melt down around nap time, but that is to be expected when you are awakened at 4:30 am to drive to the airport.

Advent Calendar (December 20, 2010)

Day 19 - New York City

The City at Christmas is like no other! The lights, the bustle, the crazy people ... it's all such a part of a New York City Christmas. Well, the crazy people are there all year round as is the lights and the bustle, but there is just something different at Christmas time.

We met up with some good friends - some we haven't seen in 6 years and some we had just seen at Thanksgiving. Chris and I drove up and took the subway in and met everyone in Toys R Us in Times Square. Talk about a busy place! After blocking checkout traffic for awhile, we moved on to eat dinner at Maxi's. Chris and I had eaten the cheesecake there several times but couldn't vouch for the food. The food is good but not nearly as good as their cheesecake. Which by the way they were out of most all of the good ones. After dinner and much talking, we headed over to the M&M store across the street. We then wandered down to the Champ store where the entire store sang Happy Birthday to Morgan who turned 16 that day. She was a good sport about it. Get it? A good sport at Champs? At least I make myself laugh!

Oh! I almost forgot! We also cha-cha-chaed our way over to the Charmin bathrooms. May I just say it is not as exciting and dramatic in their new facilities. However, I still appreciate the opportunity to use clean restrooms which is an obvious rarity in NYC.

Advent Calendar (December 19, 2010)

Day 19 - Christmas Bread

Advent Wreath (Matthew 1:18-24)

This year for our Christmas bread we decided to try Panettone which is Italian Christmas bread that comes in funny little boxes. It contains candied oranges, raisins and other nuts. Chris enjoyed the bread so I was kind enough to let him have however much of it he wanted - it had a strong fruity taste I wasn't fond of.


This was also the weekend of our church's Christmas muscial drama ("The Shepherd's King") so our weekend was jammed packed full!

Advent Calendar (December 18, 2010)

Day 18 - Make Cinnamon Rolls for Neighbors

How does about 100 cinnamon rolls sound? Right now? Really good! No... not all for me ... but maybe most! Since we were pretty much cookied out from eating 25 different kinds of cookies, Chris made cinnamon rolls for all of our neighbors. We made The Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls and may I just throw in here a great big YUMMY! Her cinnamon rolls are delicious! *Click here for the recipe* Thankfully, there was 1 extra pan for us to devour eat.

Advent Calendar (December 17, 2010)

Day 17 - Alert! Alert!

You have deviated from your Advent Calendar!

Friday both Chris and I deviated from the Advent Calendar. The plan was to work helping to set up for the Food Pantry and to watch "The Grinch." However, Chris ended up having to work at the Christmas Lightshow while I went to my friend Wendy's house to enjoy Girl's Night. I'm not sure about Chris, but I certainly enjoyed myself! There are normally 6 of us that get together but we decided we would add 1 more to the mix. That made it Wendy, Kelly, Karan, Cheri, Stacy, Kelly and me - plus add in 2 babies. We all (well almost all) brought an appetizer and a dessert. Since I apparently had nothing else to do (cough cough - yeah right!), I made Spanakopita and Baklava. Both are Greek foods made with phyllo dough and deliciousness! Spanakopita is spinach and feta cheese wrapped in phyllo dough while Baklava is phyllo dough with nuts doused with honey and sugar. My mouth is salivating! We wrapped up our party earlier than normal at a resounding 12 am and believe me that is very early for a Girl's Night!

Let me tell you how thankful I am for such great friends! We talk, laugh, act goofy, laugh some more and share each other's burdens. They are the best!

Elianna put her hat on sideways - she looks like such a punk kid in this picture!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Advent Calendar (December 16, 2010)

Day 16 - Deliver Cookies

We took some time to take some cookies to different people this year. The first was to Ann V. who has recently broken her leg. She enjoyed the company - especially Elianna. The second was to Loretta S. who was not home. However, since she was out shopping we simply gave them to her sister-in-law who had answered the door. She was astonished that a pastor would come by and give them cookies because "a priest would never do that." Hopefully, a small gesture like delivering cookies will be an opportunity for her to want to know more about Christ. Several others were not home and we didn't want to leave the cookies on the front step - maybe another time.

Advent Calendar (December 15, 2010)

Day 15 - Christmas Puzzle

The Christmas puzzle is now complete! There is one small problem though - a piece of the snowman's mouth (right in the middle of the puzzle) is missing. I have a deep dark feeling that a 4-footed animal with black fuzzy hair ate it for a snack and if I went and dug through small brown piles in the back yard I would find it. No matter how bad I want that puzzle to be complete and beautiful, there will be no digging to find it. End of conversation. Merry Christmas!

Oh Boy!

I am terribly behind on posting our Advent Calendar activities. Now that we are officially on vacation (WAHOO!), hopefully there will be time to get a little caught up.

Advent Calendar (December 14, 2010)

Day 14 - Staff Christmas Party

The pastoral and school staff got together for our annual Christmas party last night. This year we went to Carrabba's. Chris had the Sirloin and Crab Cake platter while I gobbled up their "Forever Braised" Beef Short ribs. We opted to indulge in dessert rather than wasting our stomach space and money time on an appetizer. Chris had Tiramisu (one of his all time favorite desserts) and I ordered the Cinnamon Apple Crostata. Sadly I was so full from dinner I only ate probably 1/4 of my yummy dessert.

2 phones at once? Oh boy are we in trouble when she gets older.

Checking out the dishwasher

Advent Calendar (December 13, 2010)

Day 13 - Christmas Shopping for Haiti

Our friend, Dave, is going to be in Haiti for Christmas again this year. We usually send soccer balls, shoes and fun toys along with him but instead this year we decided to go a different route. We bought a pot, pan and wooden utensils for a family. We are excited to be able to be a part of Christmas in Haiti even if from afar.

We are also participating in the gift giving for the children who come to the church's food pantry. It is so true that it is more fun to give than receive. We are so thankful we are able to give to others.

Advent Calendar (December 12, 2010)

Day 12 - Egg Nog

Advent Wreath (Luke 1:26-38)

Christmas Puzzle

Advent Calendar (December 11, 2010)

Day 11 - Journey #4

(McCarter Theatre - "A Christmas Carol")

This year our church had a theme of "The Journey". Throughout the course of the year we have taken different "journeys." Last night we went and watched "A Christmas Carol" at a theater in Princeton. Chris and I went several years ago and watched this production and enjoyed it so much. The production is so classy and they do a wonderful wonderful job! To watch a bit of what we saw last night click here. What did you think? Awesome, huh?

And since I've been mentioning food so often ... we went to dinner before hand. There, now I feel more complete throwing food into my post ... food fight!!!

Advent Calendar (December 10, 2010)

Day 10 - Angel Ministry

"A Christmas Story"

People who are having a Christmas party, can invite "angels" (teens from our church) to come share the Christmas story. The unique part is that as the angels tell the story it is from their (the angels) point of view. For example: They talk about how they went and told Mary that she was to be the mother of Jesus. I love it not only because it is unique but because the script doesn't stop at just the nativity - it goes on to the cross and gives a Gospel message. At the end we give the kids gifts which this year consists of a bouncy ball, silly bands, stickers, a balloon and candy.

Last night we took Elianna with us although she ended up running around the one house with a little boy named EJ. We had 2 visits and in at least the last house, I know there were many children who did not know Christ. Prayerfully, the hosts of the party will now have many opportunities to share the Gospel with them.

I don't have as many pictures because Chris took some pictures with another camera. Maybe I will post some later.

When we came home, my Chris made yummy buttery, cinnamon & nutmeg popcorn to eat while we watched "A Christmas Story." He watched the whole thing but I was a little tired from making 3 different kinds of cookies yesterday. Yes, you read that right - 3. Saturday, we are going to take them to some elderly people in our church.

Right now Harley's chair cushion is on the floor due to space issues because of the Christmas tree. Elianna has since decided that it is the perfect play mat.

She also spends alot of time playing with her purses on the stairs. I don't know if you can see it good or not, but the bridge between her nose is all black and blue. Her and Harley collided heads Friday.

Advent Calendar (December 9, 2010)

Day 9 - Couples Christmas Party

After indulging ourselves with chicken parmesan, pasta, roast beef, potatoes, and green beans ... oh and lets not forget the canoli's ... we played games inspired by the game show Minute to Win It. In other words, they were crazy games done in 1 minute. They involved jingle bells, charades, Christmas cards and puzzles. We had a great time with friends and, of course, the food was delicious. Weird how I always talk about delicious food. But really, it was delicious.

Sorry to Kelly for my being in the way.

Advent Calendar (December 8, 2010)

Day 8 - Christmas Puzzle

We actually didn't end up working on the puzzle because I wasn't feeling well. However, we did work on it Monday night after Monday Night Football and we have also been known to put in a piece or two as we are walking past. Last night we had a teen text and ask if we were working on the puzzle. He wanted to come help us. That just makes me laugh so much. I guess I just didn't figure teens being interested in a puzzle. Every year though, we have one or two that take an interest in helping us.

Most of what is left is snow, trees and sky - all the hard part.