yesteryear

looking back at 2012, these were some of my favorite things...

puppies, babies, nephews, weddings (especially my own), family time, best friends, cousin love, honeymooning, parentals, birthdays.  2012 was a good year.  :)

weekend plans

this weekend is going to be slam full of goodness!  tonight, a trip to atlanta with my girls until saturday.  although, i am going to miss my husband.  this will be the first time since we got married that i've been away from him overnight.  i have to admit, i'm a little sad to think about not getting to cuddle him for 2 days (yeah, i know...someone call the wambulance), BUT...i definitely know that i'm going to have a blast!

sunday, church with my family, where i'll get to hear my daddy and sissy sing together for the first time in a long time!  i love it when they sing.  it makes my heart happy.

then, an afternoon with my dad's extended family!  white elephant gift exchange, babies galore, yummy food, and lots of laughs to be had and love to share!

finally, monday and tuesday will be spent with my family and tyler's.  i think that's why this is my favorite time of year.  thanksgiving and christmas are the best holidays because it's filled with family time, and i just can't get enough!

so, obviously, i won't be blogging for the rest of the week.  i'm unplugging so that i can enjoy my vacation and Christmas with my family and friends.

 

[notice the lack of christmas presents up there under my tree. as of last night, there are now 7 wrapped gifts. yay us! this picture was actually taken before i was even finished decorating it. :)]

7 DAYS

i am not believing that it's only 7 days until christmas right now!  ahhh!  must.wrap.presents!!!  i also have to go to the grocery store.  and i have to pack.  and i have a million other things i need to do.  but, i so want to just slow down and enjoy this time.  i really want to soak up every single minute with my family during the holidays.  after all, isn't that what it's about?  it's not about the presents and the pretty lights.  it's about Jesus.  a time to remember and be grateful to Him for coming to this world that is so full of sin, so that we can spend eternity in such an amazing place as Heaven.  love.  family.  laughter.  peace.  joy.  i love this time of year.  and i hate that i've gotten so caught up in the hustle and bustle that it has become.  from now on, i'm going to do better.

i'm going to remember the "reason for the season".

xoxo,
bee

christmas list

all i want for christmas is...

this gorgeous camera bag:

infinity scarves. any of them, really:

1//2//3

 

boot socks/cuffs. such as these:

1//2

 

while we're at it, i'd like these also:

 or maybe these:

 

i could keep going...

 1//2//3//4//5//6//7

ok, for real, i'll stop now.  there's just so much pretty to be found!

 

 

 

however, on a more serious note...i do know that christmas is not about the presents and pretty lights and trees.  it's about the birth of Jesus Christ.  it's a time to celebrate all the He has done and continues to do for us, even when we don't deserve it...especially when we don't deserve it.

 

luke 1:28-38

the angel went to her and said, "greetings, you who are highly favored! the Lord is with you."  mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  but the angel said to her, "do not be afraid, mary, you have found favor with God.  you will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  he will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. the Lord God will give him the throne of his father david, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."  "how will this be," mary asked the angel, "since i am a virgin?"  the angel answered, "the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  so the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  even elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.  for nothing is impossible with God."  "i am the Lord's servant," mary answered. "may it be to me as you have said." then the angel left her.

 

how terrifying that must have been for mary, but she was faithful and obedient.  praise God for her faithfulness.  i find myself wondering what it must have been like to have given birth to the Savior...to have kissed the face of God and held Jesus in my arms as a tiny baby.  what a privilege that must have been!

oh, christmas tree

well, like i said we would, we got our decorations up and got our tree this weekend!  score!  as i predicted, hubs was ecstatic about the christmas music.  and just as happy about putting up the decorations and getting our tree.

see for yourself...

 

doesn't he look excited?

no...no, not at all.

but, this is where he is truly happy...

 

ah, momo's pizza.  thank you for being so good.  you make my husband happy after a morning filled with things that don't please him.  :)
[disclaimer: my hubs is not a scrouge.  he loves christmas, and what it stands for.  he just doesn't get into the pre-christmas spirit like i do...putting up all the lights and decorations and the tree.  he would just be perfectly fine with our tiny little potted fake pre-lit tree.]

i'm not completely finished with everything yet.  it's been an insanely busy week for us and last night, since we didn't have anything we had to do, we decided to have an impromptu date night.  outback and pitch perfect?  please and thank you.  love the dollar theater.  hoping to finish decorating tonight and put away all those boxes!  we shall see.

insert typical christmas-related title here...

it doesn't really feel like christmastime around here just yet.  we haven't put up any of our decorations.  we haven't gone to get a tree.  i've JUST started listening to christmas music.  i plan to change that.  tonight.  i've got boxes of christmas fun stacked up in my car ready to be dusted off and displayed around our apartment.  tyler is going to be annoyed thrilled about my blasting christmas music and dancing around like a child while we put everything up.  this is my favorite time of year!  i'm ready to get it started!

even though we have been together for 7 christmases (this will be our 8th together), it's different now.  it's our first christmas as a married couple, living together, starting our own little holiday traditions.  it's exciting!  this thing they call marriage is beautiful.  it's hard, challenging, frustrating, and beautiful.  especially right now, during this happy season.

what are some of your favorite holiday traditions?