Favorite Time of The Year :)

I LOVE this time of the year!

The smells.

The music.

The food.

The fun.

The lights.

The joy.

& family time <3>

We always go to see our family in GA on Thanksgiving and we took some pictures!

I'm proud of my huge, giant, big ol' family, so I have to share them :)

My silly sis <3 br="br" nbsp="nbsp">

WHOLE family :)

Sisters & Cousin

Typical Browns..

The Family :) 

Whoever took this picture needs some photography lessons.. jussst saying lol

Merry Christmas errybody!!

God is Not Dead; Nor Doth He Sleep!

Mr. Davis, one of the men in our church, during prayer request time Sunday, decided to read this poem about peace.

It was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  He wrote this during, the Civil War, a war where our country lost many, Longfellow's son being one of them. He was going through much pain because of his loss, and it was Christmas when he wrote this poem. We live in a war filled dark world, but as this poem reminds us "God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail,"

 I think the meaning and story behind this poem brings so much hope.

Christmas Bells
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"


Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
~ Luke 2:14 ~

Quotes by Kimmi

I see people put quotes on their blogs all the time of famous writers, poets, and theologians. I put quotes from Kimmi. 

This is what kimmi just said to me when I told everyone I knew I was going to love what Kimmi got me for Christmas because she asked me what I wanted and I told her.

This is what she said with a funny/cute/guilty face...

"Uuuuuuh... I got you what you wanted for Christmas, it's just not what you said you wanted."

She's still my BFF!

Actually, knowing Kimmi, I'll probably end up liking what she got me better than what I asked for.

• Week Full of Christmas Fun •

 Just to let everyone know what we've done in the past week...

We made gingerbread houses, as we have done every year since the 90's. We use orange juice boxes and graham crackers... we're so sophisticated!

The one above is Nona's house... my personal favorite! ;D

This is Kamryn's beautiful house. She's so good at doing things! She's really has really seemed more grown up to me lately. She's such a sweet blessing to our family!

We also decorated gingerbred men. That's a newer tradition. One that started this year. hehee

•••

We saw our favorite babysitter in the whole wide world from when Cason, Kimmi, and I were much younger! You can't really see her well, but that's just to keep her identity hidden... no actually that's not true. Remember, my camera got washed. hehee

•••

We went to a live nativity yesterday with friends. It was much fun, and it was so cute because children were the actors for the nativity play. There were camels, lots of goats (I think they were supposed to be sheep, or maybe those angels were speaking to goatherds... not shepherds. heehee)

They also had a donkey which was the cutest thing ever! I want a donkey! I'm gonna name him Lester.

Daddy and Max. It seems like so many picture we have of him he's cutting his eyes like he is in this one. I think it's so cute!

My very handsome little brother, and oh so cute Jessie Carol!

Ok, so the same person who washed my camra was the photographer last night. This person forgot to turn the flash on so we don't have any very clear pictures of the actual natitvity.

•••

We've been wrapping Christmas presants.

 (and opening them...woopz-ie heh heh)

I wrapped this one myslef... TALENT!

Kimmi and I went Christmas shopping today and got our siblings presents.

That girl is crazy good at walking into a store and going straight to the best section for what she's looking for. She doesnt even tell me where she's going or what she's getting.

I would't call myself a follower of very many people, but when we walk into a big store I just follow Kimmi. Really, I do. I don't even realize I'm doing it half the time.

I love Kimmi...her strong will and all!

She's my BFF!

•••

•••

We have lots of sweet, and fun, Christmas traditions.

Do you and your family have any fun traditions you like to do every year?

If so, what are they? I would love to hear about them!

•••

Hope you all are all having a blessed Christmas season!

....and also, if anyone even noticed, this isn't Ten Thigs I Love Tuesdays. I love the idea, but I did it once and I sadly can't be as creative as Alyssa, and have a new ten things every week. ;D

• Ten Things I Love Tuesdays •

My good friend, off and on Blogger, Alyssa, has started doing something called "Ten Things I Love Sundays", and I, being the little copy cat I am, have decided to do the same. Except, I'm going to be spice'n things up and doing it on Tuesdays. Okay, I know that's not spice'n things up. I've just decided to do it on Tuesdays.  =D

So, here are my first "Ten Things I Love Tuesdays"

I Love:

Very Decorated Salads

When we were out today we went by Publix on the way home and everyone got chicken for lunch, but mom and I got a very yummie, and colorful, salad.

Autumn Colored Leaves

Living in the south, or at least where I live, you can expect to see colorful leaves in December. Yesterday I noticed how pretty the leaves looked on the road right before you get into my neighborhood. It looked like rainbow row except, instead of old Downtown Charleston houses, they were trees. =)

Guesstures

 

We got this game on Nona's birthday so we could celebrate in a fun and special way.

We have now played every Sunday night since, and it's hilarious to watch my fam play.

Each person has their own way of thinking through and playing the game.

Reese's Peanut Butter Trees

Oh my goodness!

Do I even need to say anything here?!?!

Not Having a TV

I was one of the less enthused about the removal of the precious, and I really didn't think I would ever be saying this... but it really has been a blessing not having it. I mean, my parents have been talking about getting rid of the television since.... I don't know maybe since we first got a TV, and so I never thought their words would ever turn into actions. Now that they did it, I don't really even miss it.

We have been sitting around just being with each other more. We've been doing more things like playing guestures and card games, and the house has, beileve it or not, been less messy.

The Library

This is our library....

No, it's not really, but it's beautiful, huh?

Kimmi and I went to a much less extravagant library today, and I got a new library card.  I'm particularly excited about a book on photography.

Rain

I absolutly love the rain. It could rain all the time and I'd be happy.

I'm looking now out at the pond, and it's  actually raining pretty hard.

It's been raining so much here you'd think we were actually in London.

When Crickets Cry

 

I have really enjoyed reading this book, and I'll probably end up finishing it tonight or tomorrow.

Charles Martin is a phenominal writer, and I definitely recommend his books.

(I sound like I'm doing a book review)

Trying New Things

Jesus

I love, and am so thankful for Jesus! Because of Him, we can now have joy, and peace with God.

We have this nativy set.

 I think we've gone through about three of this particular one ove rthe years. We love it.

Press the angel and it  plays  "Away in a Manger", but right now we can't find baby Jesus.

So, it's a little insignificant for the moment. ;D

Well, I did it!

When I sat down at the computer (45minutes ago!) I had not a clue what the 10 things would be, but that made it all the more fun. =D

Thanks for the idea Alyssa!