Blissfulness

The holidays have been slightly on the ritz this year. Our Christmas tree in the Usher house was put up on Christmas Eve morning and ended up on our porch the following night. I really enjoyed Christmas Day [and also not having to go to work the day after to deal with returns]. Christmas Day I was able to spend precious time with family and extended family. It actually wasn't as crazy as it usually seems, and I loved it. My aunt and I were able to have a sweet heart-to-heart talk that was probably long overdue.

our tree

and our other decor

Luckily I survived my first set of holidays in a retail store. Although everyone appeared to be a little insane...I really did enjoy it. And while I am on my job, I might as well update you too. I still really like it a lot. It is wonderful, to me, that I get to help people and get paid for it. I have such a huge passion to help folks out and this is just topping on a cake. I would still really like a job [soon] in human resources, but for now, this is ok. I can wait on Him to put the job in my path.

Let me just say...we so take a lot of things for granted. I saw a drama put together to a new Faith Hill song, "A Baby Changes Everything." It was really good. At the end, the song says: "My whole life has turned around, I was lost, but now I'm found." This part made me break down everytime I saw it. Everyone is dressed in 'biblical clothes' except the guy that does this part. He is a person from our time. He takes the baby from Mary and just holds Him in his arms.

God sent this baby to a lost and dying world. He sent His baby boy to take on MY sins and save from a terrible, wretched place that I really deserve. That blows my mind. Why in the world would He decide to do anything like that? Especially for me?? I just don't understand. And then as I get into the Word I remember why. He loves me. The God who created this universe, this world, the land I walk on, and my very being with such intricate detail loves me. My oh my. I just want you to take that in. He loves you. He loves you despite the mess ups that we do every single day, week, month, year. He will always love us and be there for us. I hope and pray that as another Christmas season has come and gone that the true meaning will live on in your heart. Jesus is the reason for the season. He is the reason we have breath each new morning. He is the reason we need to live our lives. Focus on the Father.

Birthday week: numero uno...

This week has been wonderful and so much fun. Birthday week started last Sunday (Nov 23rd). Nikki said I should have had a birthday month, but I usually start a countdown 3 months before my birthday and make sure everyone knows about it, so I decided that I wanted to have one solid week of birthday fun. [I got the idea from an episode of Gilmore Girls when it was Lorelai's bday and she got a bday week.] Pictures will be posted below each day from that day...

Sunday: A group of friends that went to China with me was coming through Birmingham on their way from Tennessee back down to Florida. They went to go pick up one of our translators, Midea, for her to spend the holidays with one of them. So, I drove up after church that morning to meet with them for lunch. It was a wonderful surprise to the week [because I had no idea they were coming until Saturday]. And after church that night, a whole group of folks came to celebrate with me at Struts. We had the center of that place filled up. It was so much fun!

my China friends. :)

Jessica and me at Struts

Connor [he wanted his corndogs to be on a stick...so i put them on straws for him]

the big 2-0

Monday: This was my actual birthday. I worked for a little while, went to lunch with Connie and then me and my sister, Nikki, went out to eat at Outback and hang out...we missed you Katie.

Tuesday: I spent the day in Birmingham, worked for Mrs. Kathy for a few hours and then went to spend the evening with Melissa. :) And then I went bowling.

yummy birthday cupcakes.

me and Mel

Wednesday: I went out and bought myself some cute dress shoes. [This is a big deal...I never buy dress shoes...]

three of the most comfortable, cute dress shoes ever...

Thursday: Thanksgiving. We had our 1st annual Turkey Bowl game. Courtney [Wendy's 8 yr old] taught Wendy and I some cheers and we cheered til we got bored... Later that day I went over to Katie's in-laws [another set of parents to me] for lunch and then off to Raylee's to see Nikki and Chad and everyone.

Friday and Saturday: We had the Miller kids stay with us. 6 kids. It was intense, but great! I had to work most of the weekend, but still got to hang out with them. The 5 girls stayed in my room with me, while the brother had the upstairs living room all to himself.

This week, birthday week: number two...Tiff is having me open a present a day. A blog will follow on this week as well...possibly will be just pictures...

Til next time.
Chels