2011: the year preceding 2012, a year of abundant blessings, memories made, moments treasured, praises sung, thanks given.
New Year, New House!
Snow Much Snow!
The BIG 3-0!
First Steps, First Words, First Foods, First Boo Boos
Kudzu Kicked and Kept at the Kurb. Kah-ya!
Coop's First Easter (and subsequently his first experience with a irresistible golfer hat)
Whale of a Good Time, Coop Turns ONE!
Cowboy Coopie has Fun on the Farm
Coopertone Goes Coastal
Five (5!) Indescribably blessed years!
Bite of the Big Apple!
Coop, Chicken Coop!
Oober Thankful at Thanksmas!
Best Christmas. Ever.
It's amazing to see God's goodness unfold with each new day of each new month of each new year. As we look back over the past year, we are silenced by His mercy and sovereignty. As we turn the page on a new year, we thank Him, we praise Him, we bow to Him.
Oh my stars! What a Christmas! Full of wonder, full of magic, full of bliss.
An overwhelming sense of thankfulness and peace settled over our family this Christmas season. We have so much to sing praises for.
We have a different appreciation for life this year, a different perspective. Christmas morning I woke up whispering constant prayers of thanks to God for bringing us through the past year. For once I am stumped. I don't even know how to say what I'm feeling. I just know that the Glory goes to God, our praises unending.
"Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing." Psalm 34:10
You might remember her...She was my Floormie in F5. She was is my car dancin' buddy (jazz hands) in Athens (and beyond). She's the one who was by my side when we took the leap into grownuphood. She's the one who agreed that we should indeed move apartment units just to get the cherry cabinets we so dreamed of. She's the one who played Supermarket Sweep with me in Target one night at 9:56 pm when we decided we needed to redecorate (again). She's the one who taught me the beauty of a 1am Krystal Chik and a small Dr. Pepper. She's the one who taught me about espionage. And debacles.
She has some mad dance moves.
She's the one who never refuses to dance The Devil Went Down to Georgia with me. Even if it's in broad daylight and she is wearing the most uncomfortable of shoes.
She's the one who welcomed sweet Jeremiah into her world and became a mama just a few short months after she lost her own mama.
She's the one who has been a rock for her family. And for her friends.
She's the one who sat with me in the Babies R Us parking lot while I cried my eyes out last year when our world was turned upside down. She's the one who hand-delivered a bouquet of hydrangeas the day Chris started chemo. She's the one who pours herself into creating edible masterpieces just to see others smile.
She's the one who came with me to meet Tony. And the one who giggled like a school girl when it was our turn to shake his hand.
She's the one needs YOUR mighty prayers. Her Precious Parker needs your prayers. Her sweet hubby Mike needs your prayers. And little JB.
Abby is an absolute blessing. God's grace is so evident in her. She is strong, she is courageous, she is faithful. And I am entirely blessed to have her as one of my besties.
Pray, pray, pray without ceasing. Lift them up every chance you get.
We love you Gidge! We love you Mike! We love you JB! And we love you Precious Baby Parker!!
We went to meet Santa Thursday night. Oh my stars, Coop LOVED him. He loved the choo choos more. And the fishies. And the moose. Kudos to Bass Pro for a fabulous first Sittin'-on-Santa's-lap experience.
I've been in a drug induced coma for the past 3 days. We're on the final fertility med for this cycle and it's the first that has thrown me for a loop. Merciful cheesenips, it is most bizarre. I sleep and I sleep and I sleep and I wake up tipsy. It's hilarious. And terrible. All at once.
I dropped the ball on our Christmas cards. a) We haven't had any pictures taken recently that are Christmas cardy. 2) It's December 18 and we haven't even addressed them. 3) They printed all funky. Like totally unacceptable funky. Here's what they shoulda looked like.
I blame it on the Prometrium.
Chris had to drive for me today. The road signs were spinning. And you know it's bad when I can't even keep my eyes open to watch "On the Case with Paula Zahn". Apparently this is normal. So long as you have 10-12 hours a night to "sleep it off", it's not supposed to be so bad. 10 hours of consecutive sleep? I haven't seen that since my Millege Place days.
Coopster went down to the farm this weekend. We are so very blessed to have such fabulous parents who love that little fella inside out and outside in. He had a big time. Feeding the horses, playing checkers, drinking chocolate juice, eating chicken cookies, and playing Coopie Choo Choo. Thanks a million Mimi and Poppie Tots!
My heart is so heavy for so many incredible people right now. It's been almost a year since Uncle Stevie went to meet Jesus. How can that be? Oh how my heart aches for his sweet wife Dori and precious baby girl Ludi Mae. My soul searches for the right words to say but none suffice. My heart breaks for Chris and for his mom and for his dad and for his sisters and for his brother. What we'd all give just to hug his neck just one more time.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may find mercy and grace in time of need. -Hebrews 4:16
My sweet sweet Lori lost her mother-in-law Friday night. She has been such a rock for her family, and we just adore her so.
Our good friends Heidi and Ryan lost their Nannie early this morning. They're heading down to Florida for the services tomorrow.
I fell in love with a complete strangers this morning. I somehow came across this amazing family's story and I just can't get them off my mind. I have prayed and prayed and prayed for them all day long. You can see God's grace pouring from them. They are humble. They are courageous.
Can you imagine heaven this week? I mean, it's got to be just absolutely amazing. FULL of His glory. FULL of mercy and grace.
I'll leave you with my all-time jam right now. Turn it up loud. Raise your voice. Lift up your face. Abundant blessings to you all...
You think our freezer is bad...you should see our pantry. Do Candy Cane Jo Joes and Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes stand alone as a food group?
Magical Nights of Lights at Lake Lanier...
We spotted the Ferris Wheel a mile away. I shrieked and ran off to the ticket booth doing the carnival dance. We skipped hand in hand up to the gate, handed over our tickets, popped our booties into the seat and I instantly had a panic attack. Weeee! Whirrrr! Realization: fertility meds + rapid motion + peppermint hot chocolate = party foul. Oh my soul. There we were whooshing through the air, Coop terrified, and me green as mistletoe.
Ok, so truth be told, it might have been a little bit fun. I call this one "FEARris Wheel". Look at those tiny white knuckles.
Coopster marveling at his first Carnie experience. Such a sweet toothless man. Or wait, was it a woman? Jury still out. This "gee up whore" ride ain't your Mall of Georgia horsey ride, y'all. We should have known something was amiss when Carnie tapped Mama here on the shoulder before "take off" and told me to widen my stance and lock my knees. Shoo. Wee. Gee up.
We had our Forsyth Flamingo's Christmas lunch today. I got the GLEE Christmas CD. The replacement one for the one I lost and will probably find tomorrow. We've been jingle janglin', Gingerbread man makin, Baby Jesus and "Tunnel Town" (Bethlehem) reading, wreath hangin (and picking up--how on earth do we make the ones on the upstairs windows STICK??), and squeezing each other extra tight.
Midnight rounds of Apples to Apples with my favorites.
Front porch rockin.
Sausage Balls.
Reindeer footy pajamas.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate.
Choo choo ridin.
Buffalo chicken dip. And wraps. And sandwiches.
College math fun and late night boy talk with my precious niece Pay-Pay.
15 of the people I love most in this world under one roof.
Front porch swingin'.
Pinwheel sandwiches.
Mini Coca-Cola cans.
Christmas tree huntin.
And more tree huntin'.
Glamor Shots by Deb with Sister.
Tanger Outlets.
Pass Steal the present game.
S'mores and Marshmallows (ahem, Shaun).
Homemade chicken biscuits.
Big shoe walkin'.
Brunswick stew.
Pac Man.
Taco soup.
Chili.
Did I mention we ate...A LOT? Like we were there for 5 meals (I counted) and we ate approximately 13. My mom is the very best cooker and we just can't help ourselves.
Thanksmas 2011, you were mighty tighty good to us. Mimi and Poppy, THANK YOU times a million...we love you up to the moon and down to depths of the ocean. Now, go and eat a pinwheel sandie for me :)
We are all snuggled up in a lil cabin (built for 25), on the top of a mountain, just miles from an outlet mall. We have endless play time with Coop, time for round after round of Apples to Apples with the sibs and nieces and nephews, and more dips, casseroles, soups, sausage balls, sweets, and tater chips than you can shake a stick at.
My parents are absolutely AMAZING. Truly, there isn't a single thing they haven't thought about. They pour so much into this trip it just isn't even funny. The cabin! The food! The games! The toys! The food! The entertainment! The togetherness! They. are. just. something. else. LoveyousoverymuchMomandBill!!
So Coop and Hubs are napping and I am sitting here pinning :) Yes, the addiction continues. My mom is serving me buffalo chicken dip by the Frito full and I just ran across this amazing blog that makes me realize how awesome it is when people allow themselves to be vulnerable. Check it out: http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/
Can you believe I read it while chowing down on buffalo chicken dip? Sacrilegious. I know it.
So we are on Clomid Day 2. Rockin right along hiccupless. Except for the half hour I spent laughing so hard I almost tee teed in my pants while we were playing "What's Your Favorite?" (how could I help it, my sister has alligator arms) and the couple of tears I shed when we realized Cooper slept through the Dollywood choo choo (not kidding. I cried. Real tears), everything is just fine and dandy.
Elfis made the trip with us. He wanted to guest blog but he is stuck in the grandfather clock, swinging from the *insert word for pendulum looking things that swing back and forth in clocks*. Elfis, bad Elfis.
