The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

In September, we took family pictures for my mom's birthday. They turned out great and I am excited to have a good picture of Brian and I for our Christmas cards. Here are some of my favorites.

Usually I am not one for endorsing things on my blog but when I can get something free...count me in! :) Shutterfly is offering 50 free holiday cards to any blogger that creates a post about the deals they are offering this holiday season. Here goes nothing...

There are two reasons why I love Christmas cards so much. First, I love catching up and seeing pictures of friends and family, especially those I haven't seen in a while. Second, I love getting mail! Last year Brian and I sent a photo card and it turned out super cute. Click on this link to see our card from last year. 

Scott and Adrian (Brian's brother and wife) made a picture mug with a picture of Jackson on it. They gave it as a gift to Mimi and Pops. So cute! I don't know how many people want a picture of Brian and I on a mug. Maybe I will just make one for Brian with a picture of my face on it. He would love to take that to work! Perhaps we should save that idea for when we have kids. :) 

The holiday cards and calendars have to be some of my favorite things that Shutterfly offers. I think they have some of the cutest designs out there. We were so happy with the way our card turned out last year and look forward to creating one for this year.

Send your cards our way...our fridge is looking very bare! 

Happy Holidays!

A Weekend In The Woods

We spent this past weekend in a small town in north Texas playing horseshoes, roping a fake cow, playing with Jackson, sitting around a campfire, and doing a lot of reading. Brian's parents rented an amazing cabin in the woods. We got there late Friday night and Brian's parents already had everything set up. Scott and Adrian had high hopes of seeing Jackson eat his first s'more over his first camp fire. His reaction was not what we were expecting. Chocolate AND marshmallow, who could resist?! Maybe next year we will have better luck. 

Here are some pictures from the weekend. 

Jackson was helping Brian rope the cow.

I wasn't quite as successful as Brian...even with the cowboy boots. 

Jackson found a tractor.

Cozy around the campfire.

Jackson loves Uncle "Bri"

I am not a huge reader so when I find a good book I have to share. Brian's mom recommended this book to me and told me it was such an easy read. She was right. I read the entire book over the weekend. I highly recommend reading this book! Thanks Beth and Jerry for a fabulous weekend.

Zumba

I have started up a little business on the side....teaching Zumba to my fellow teachers. I started taking Zumba classes over the summer and really enjoyed it. I learned a few routines that were posted on YouTube and led 2 classes after school this week. We had so much fun! Kali and Tanner have come both times. Tanner loves watching the ladies shake their hips. He just sits there and smiles. Who knows...maybe I missed my calling. :) 

My Classroom

I promised to show the "after" pictures of my classroom. Last year, I took a picture of what my room looked like right before I started my summer break. I have done a lot of work since then :). Here are the pictures.

Here is a link to what my room looked like at the end of last year.

You Hold Me Now

This song brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it or sing it at church. I think that is because this song creates such a longing in my soul for the day when Christ returns or chooses to bring me home. Because of sin, the world and everything in it has been fractured. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I know that I am a slave to sin and it is only through the saving grace that the Lord has given me, that I have life and meaning. This song is such a good reminder that I should keep my eyes focused on Christ. 

 It says in Romans 8:22-24 "For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for the adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved." I encourage you to read through the lyrics and watch the video. I hope it touches you as much as it has touched me. 

On that day when I see

All that You have for me

When I see You face to face

There surrounded by Your grace

All my fears swept away

In the light of your embrace

When Your love is all I need

And forever I am free

Where the streets are made of gold

In Your presence here to hold

Let these songs of heaven rise to you alone

No weeping, no hurt or pain

No suff'ring You hold me now

You hold me now

No darkness no sickening

No hiding You hold me now, 

You hold me now

In this life fin'lly stand

Through my joy and my pain

Knowing there's a greater day

There's a hope that never fails

When You're name is lifted high

And forever praises last

For the glory of Your Name

I'll be livin' for the day

When the world has finally cease

All creation rest in peace

Let these songs of heaven rise to you alone

No weeping, no hurt or pain

No suff'ring You hold me now

You hold me now

No darkness no sickening

No hiding You hold me now, 

You hold me now

For eternity

All my heart will give

All the glory to Your name

Your kingdom come

Your will be done

Here on earth as it is in Heaven

You Hold Me Now by Hillsong

(click for the video)

Labor Day Weekend

This weekend we celebrated Labor Day by relaxing out on Lake Palestine. My parents, Grant, Kali, Lance, Tanner, Brian, and I all headed to Tyler to join Lance's parents at their lake house. We had so much fun relaxing, swimming, reading, and wakeboarding. The weather could not have been better. The breeze was cool and it made sitting on the porch so much more enjoyable! There were many funny moments on the boat. My dad tried wakeboarding for the first time and after he figured out how to get up his biggest challenge was staying up. Let's just say his falls were NOT graceful! Kali captures some of the best moments on camera. 

Grant made us all look bad!

Dad's signature fall. We laughed so hard after this one. 

Lance

Kali

Me

Brian and I on the boat.

Tanner couldn't get in the lake water so he "swam" in his little pool. He loves to splash! One of the other fun parts of the weekend was Tanner's new noise. 

Thank you Bailey's for letting us spend the weekend at your lake house. We had an awesome time!

Brian's Big Day....a week late!

Brian celebrated his 26th birthday on August 31st. He was really lucky to have the chance to celebrate his birthday 4 times. We went to Gloria's with my side of the family, ate quesadillas at Brian's parents house with his side of the family, celebrated with close friends at Mi Cocina, and ended the celebrations at the last pre-season Dallas Cowboys game. He was very celebrated! Here is the gang (minus one couple) from Mi Cocina. 

Last Thursday night, I treated Brian to a Cowboys game. The best part of the game (other than the awesome seats) was the fact that Stephen McGee played the entire game. Brian and Stephen were friends at A&M and it was fun to see him play such a great game. 

This picture was actually taken by one of my co-workers. During the game I looked at a group of people walking up the aisle and realized I recognized one of them, it was Julie, the 5th grade teacher at my school. She was sitting 4 rows in front of Brian and I....so random! Another fun part of the game was being on the "Kiss Cam". We looked up and saw our faces on the huge screen. I almost didn't recognize myself because it was so unexpected. We got a lot of text messages from people that were at the game that saw us on the screen. The best comment was from the CEO of Brian's company! :) 

View from our seats

It still is crazy to think that we have been in this for just over a year. Marriage has been such a blast and we continue to be blown away by the blessing the Lord has given us. When I look at the man I am married to I am just filled with such joy because I know without a doubt that his number one desire is to pursue the Lord. It is so exciting to sit and talk about the way we want to live our lives and the things we want to do together. He has such a passion for living his life with purpose and desiring to follow full hearted after the Lord. I am so excited to see where life leads us over the next year. Happy Birthday baby! I love you :).