Project Scarves. Operation Christmas.

I love to give gifts.  It is one of my favorite things to do.  It let’s your friends and family, or maybe even complete strangers, know that you are thinking of them.  Why not give a little?  The reward you will feel on the inside is way better than anything you can receive on the outside.

However, gifts at Christmas time is a different story.  Don’t get me wrong… I still love to give.  I just don’t love to forget what the holiday is all about, ya know?  Like the Savior of the whole world’s birth.

So this year to save some moolah (we do have two mortgage payments right now) and to minimize the gift hype, I decided to make infinity scarves for all the women in my life.  And there are a lot of women in my life… so it took a few nights at the sewing machine.

In the end, I was very pleased with how the turned out and even a little inspired to sew other things.  We will see…

Merry Christmas!

I love getting Christmas cards… like a lot.  It doesn’t really make sense that I don’t send them myself.  The only excuses I have are:  stamps are 44 cent a piece, and nobody wants to see pictures of just Nate and I.  So, maybe when we are blessed with a little one, I will bite the bullet and spread some Christmas cheer ;)

Anyway, here is the “digital Christmas card” I made this year.

"I found out what the secret to life is--friends. Best friends." --Fried Green Tomatoes"

Even Frankenstein said, “Alone.  Bad.  Friends.  Good.” 

I have learned these two statements to be nothing but the truth.  I am so thankful for the wonderful friends that Nate and I have made through our twelve years together.  Some have lasted a short time, and others will last our entire lifetime.  And, in some cases, even enduring the test of living four hours apart.

Great friends quickly become like family.  It is always a great time when you can hang out.  When you don’t get to see each other, you miss your times together…. and when you do see each other, it’s like you were never gone.  Birthdays and holidays are shared.  Hugs are given in times of need.  And lots of prayers are lifted up as you go through life together.  Friends.  Just don’t know what I would do without them.  I have never had such great friends in my life and I am super thankful and blessed with all of you :)

For our birthdays this year, a few great friends surprised us with an awesome cake and a fun gift that we got to bring back to OK and enjoy.  It was super fun and I thought I would share.

This picture of Nate was just too cute.  I love that man!

Incase you couldn’t read the envelope here is a close up…

 

Our sweet friends Carmen & Andew, and Cassie gave us these two “dates.”  We weren’t allowed to open the envelope until we were actually ready to go on a date.  So…. here is what was inside date #2….

I know…. you’re jealous of our super great friends, right?  This was great for us because Nate was wanting to see that Moneyball movie.  It’s about baseball.  You know the one about the Oakland A’s with Brad Pitt.

Anyway… We went to see it and there wasn’t any yogurt close so I got this…

An icee as big as my head. haha

It was a great time and we really enjoyed the day together.

Thank you Carmen & Andrew, and Cassie for this stinking awesome gift.  You guys are among my closest friends and I love you dearly.

Thanksgiving ~ Twenty Eleven

“In all things, give thanks…”

Thanksgiving came fast and was over just as fast this year.  We were able to get together with one side of my family before going to Texas to see Nate’s family.  It was at my cousin’s house this year, and she likes to take pictures….

*Disclaimer*  I know I look like I may, in fact, be with child… but I am not :)  All these holiday goodies have not been kind to my waste line.  Come January, things will change!

Me, Nate, and Crystal

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Nana and Pops!

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Tommy and Pops

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Mom and Dad

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Me and Tommy…(missed getting to see Brain, Kim, and the boys this year)

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Nana and I

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I cannot stop thinking about how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family.  I wish that we could get together a lot more than twice a year, but I guess that’s life.  With all the distractions out there… good and bad… take some time right now and thank God for your family.  And, resolve to thank God more for the people that mean the most to you this holiday season.