Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve at my Mom's this year. We enjoyed an awesome supper and then relaxed until Josh got home from work. When he got home, he ate, and then it was present time!! We always have fun opening our presents and spending time together!

I got a few pics of Chloe with her dress on. But at this point, Chloe was mad, as you can clearly see. She wouldn't even look at me when I spoke to her. She was sitting with Greg and pretty much begging him to take it off of her. :)
So, I finally took it off of her. And she snatched it up and took off with it. She was probably thinking, "hmmm...where can I hide this so she will never find it again."
And she was all smiles cause it was time to open presents!! What a cute little gift!!
Shane getting some good stuff!

One of my favorite gifts this year that my hubby gave me: Tickets to go see Dave Ramsey next month in Atlanta! I'm so excited!

Another one of my awesome gifts from Josh: a quilt made out of my old shirts, that I can't part with but don't want to wear anymore! What an great idea! Thanks Babe, I love it!

My amazing Mother, me and our two precious pups!

NICK

And CHLOE say Merry Christmas!!

This Christmas was missing someone. Christmas wasn't the same without this happy dog running around seeing what was in the gifts! We miss you Puck!!

And From Our Family To Yours, We Wish You A Merry Christmas!!
~"Silent Night, Holy Night, Shepards quake at the sight, Glories stream from heaven afar, Heavenly host sing Alleluia!, Christ the Savior is born..."~

Christmas at Grandma's

On Friday night, December 23rd, we celebrated Christmas with my Dad's side of the family at my Grandma and Papa's house. We had great food and fellowship. After supper, we watched an old movie of the grandchildren performing our famous "Grand Ole Opry," and got a lot of laughs. We had a awesome night! We have Christmas every year at their house. I have so many amazing memories of past Christmas' here. And this is one of them. My Grandma puts this little tree, along with a wreath just like it, out every year. And I just love it. Isn't it so cute?
My Papa and Grandma

Papa, Me, Grandma and Shane

Papa, Judy, Grandma and my Dad

My Dad, me and ShaneHere is Shane and Grandma doing a little "cooking." This year, for Christmas and Thanksgiving, we arrived around lunch time and helped in the kitchen. Grandma and I made her amazing Crock Pot Mac and Cheese, corn, okra and I made my pineapple casserole. We had some time to just hang out, play some cards and relax before everyone got there and the festivities began. There is something so "sweet" about cooking and being in the kitchen together. This is our new tradition that I hope we continue every year.

Papa enjoying sweet Caroline

I love this one! Papa, Grandma and Caroline

Grandma and Caroline playing together

Katie and Caroline watching the video together

Dustin and Debbie

The Guys

Me and my Papa

Caroline and her Mommy

Mother and Son

Papa getting some new jeans!

And you would've just had to have been there for this moment. Grandma got a Carolina shirt and made a joke about it being a Tim Tebow shirt. To our surprise, she evidently really likes Mr. Tim Tebow, and we were giving her a hard time about it. She got tickled and I caught this picture mid-laugh! It was quite entertaining!

Papa with his sons and grandsons

Papa And Grandma with the Grandchildren and Great Grandchild

Papa, Grandma and the whole gang of grandchildren and spouses and their first great granddaughter! We had a fun time together and made some great memories!

~"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6~

College and Career Christmas Party

Tonight we had the College and Career Sunday School Class Christmas Party! April and Brandon opened their home to the class for the party! We had a pot luck supper and it was excellent! After the meal we watched part of the "The Christmas Story" movie and had devotion time. This movie is great. It helps to get us in the Christmas spirit and celebrating the real Reason for the Season. Josh and I try to watch this each year during Christmas, and wanted to share it with the class! And we couldn't forget about our favorite Army gal who is spending her Christmas in Afghanistan. We took this picture and putting it in the package we are sending her soon. Karen, We love you and Miss you! Thank you for serving our country! Stay safe and we look forward to seeing you soon!

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

The Drummer Girl

Today was busy day for us, but we enjoyed every minute of it! This morning, Josh and I were in our choir Christmas cantata, "Down From His Glory." (which I didn't get any pictures of) Josh has been the narrator for the past few years and does a great job. He was also in a trio this year, and it was so good. The whole cantata was beautiful! And thanks to Bill, our music director who puts this together every year and does a great job. I look forward to being in this every year. It really gets me into the Christmas spirit and focusing on the Reason for the Season! Our prayer was the He was glorified through our singing! Tonight, I went to the choir/children's musical at Reidville First Baptist. Gracie was the Little Drummer Girl, Missy was the choir director, Patti was in the choir and Wick was the narrator. (Now I know where Josh gets his good narration voice from....his Dad!)
The musical was great! Everyone did a good job and I really enjoyed it! And that was one cute little Drummer Girl!!
~"Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum, A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum.."~

Party Time

This afternoon, we celebrated Kylie Grace's 7th Birthday Party!! It's hard to believe that she is 7 years old! She had an awesome party with lots of family and friends to help her celebrate! This Princess was ready to party!!
I love this sweet picture of Gracie and her Mama!

Josh and I with our sweet niece!

Gracie with her Nana and Poppy!

Nanny Tuck and Gracie

Poppy getting sweet kisses!

Maddi and Gracie

This girl loves "The Lion King"

Getting a little help blowing out the candles from Zach and her Mom!

Haha..this one cracks me up! It looks like she is saying..."I know I'm a princess..." And yes you are sweet girl! Too cute!

Gracie and her Pa Knight

Time to open some presents...and she got lots of them!

"Can I open now??"

And she loves books too!

This is the book that Chloe, Nick and Puck(from Heaven) got for her :) It's called "If you Give a Dog a Donut." There are some of her favorite pictures with them taped in the book. She is truly an animal lover, especially dogs! And they love her. Puck adored her. They would play fetch for hours if you would've let them!

Another one of my favs! Two of my favorite gals!

Pa Knight, Gracie, and Simba, of course!

Gracie and Jennifer! "Thank you Jennifer for helping me with all my presents!"

Nanny Tuck and Gracie

Love it!!!

Me and my sweet girl!! Happy Birthday Kylie Grace! We love you so much and so proud of YOU! We look forward to seeing how God is going to continue to use you for His Glory!!

~Jesus Love the Little Children, All the Children of the World, Red and Yellow, Black and White, They are Precious in His sight, Jesus Love the little Children of the World~

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl

A Collection of Precious Memories of "Our Sweet Girl!"

These are pictures of her taken over the last few years and of her, during her cord blood transfusion. Last April (2010), Kylie Grace, her Mom and Dad, and a lot of us family headed up to Duke Medical University. There, Gracie received a transfusion of her cord blood, that her Nana and Poppy had been banking for her since her birth (this whole process is a miracle in itself). This, along with other therapies and surgeries, is going to get her that much closer to walking all by herself! Kylie Grace is one amazing child. Her smile and laughter is contagious. She brings light and joy to everyone she meets. We feel so blessed to have her in our lives!!
Happy 7th Birthday Gracie!
Uncle Josh and Aunt Brandie Love YOU more than you'll ever know!
You keep shining sweet girl!!
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Cor. 5:7

Forever By Your Side

"I have found the one whom my heart loves."-Song of Solomon 3:4

Marriage is truly a wonderful thing. A beautiful unity, that God created. And as wonderful as it is, it is not always easy. It is something, like a clay pot, that needs to be molded, worked on and from time to time, even re-shaped.
Josh and I dated in highschool and all through college. I knew early on that he was the man that God chose for me, and that I wanted to grow old with him. On December 2, 2006, 5 years ago today, Josh and I were married. We had a beautiful, fairy-tale wedding that was all my dreams come true. Our first 5 years of marriage have been nothing short of incredible. We have come through so much in such a short time. We have grown and matured, just as our relationship has. And just like the old clay pot on that potter's wheel, we have had to give our marriage to the Lord to be molded and re-shapep many, many times, to be in His image. I've never shared "our story" before, but I'm feeling led to today. I think a lot of people think we have the perfect marriage, that comes so easy and painless. And that is not the case. And though I do think we have an amazing marriage, that has not come easy and pain free. And to this day we have to work hard, together, while giving it all to the Lord, and that is what makes it all so amazing.

This is "Our Story." (I wrote it and sent it in to His Radio during their Love Dare Challenges.)

~February 2009: I never in a million years would have guessed that God would use such a small challenge in such a powerful way. My husband and I, after only being married just a little over 2 years hit a very difficult time in our short marriage. At the age of 25, I never thought I would be saying the words separation and divorce, but I was. My husband had decided that he no longer wanted to be with me. He was hurt, tired and worn down. This hit me like a brick. I didn't see it coming, and it left me feeling desperate, lonely and broken.

So I set off to try and resolve this big problem that we were facing, thinking that I just needed to stay in "control." I bought us books and we even went to Christian marriage counseling, but nothing, at the time seemed to be working, and despite all efforts, he still wanted out. Finally, my last effort to save our marriage was the Love Dare. I started it with a very heavy heart and a crushed spirit. I was devastated that this was happening to us and I couldn't believe that God was allowing it. Completing the dares and all the aspects that the dares entailed was a very difficult task when I wasn't getting anything back.

But then, I got the Dare about unconditional Love and my outlook changed. After reading that, I wanted to love my husband with "God's kind of Love"...Agape love, which is unconditional. And I set out to do just that. God showed me through that one Dare, and through many others along the way, that love is not determined by the one being loved, but rather by the one Choosing love. And the only way that love can last a lifetime is if it's unconditional. While on this journey, God showed me that I wasn't giving all of myself to Him and wasn't giving Him my very Best. I know that so many times I was leaving Him feeling broken and lonely, just as I was feeling. I wasn't letting Him take full control of my life and my marriage. He had to teach me that He loves us, not because we deserve it, but because He chooses to love us. He is the designer and maker of Agape Love. "We love, because He first loved us" which is laid out for us in 1 John 4:19.

Through all of this, I feel that His ultimate goal was to bring myself and my husband closer to Him, and that He did. My new life verse became "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding..in all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 About two weeks ago, in the midst of continuing my Love Dare Challenges, my husband came home and as soon as I saw him, I knew that God had answered my prayers. He was a changed man of God. My miracle had arrived and God had mended my broken marriage. Josh told me that God had spoken to him in a mighty way and he knew that first and foremost, he wasn't where he needed to be with the Lord. He knew that he had a lot of work to do strengthening his relationship with Him. And secondly, he knew that I was the one that God had sent for him. And that he was ready to love me as God intended. Wow, I had been waiting to hear those words for what seemed like for ever! God is so good, and His grace and mercy is sufficient.

I know that we are not completely out of the woods, and we will have to work at our marriage for the rest of our lives, but I truly feel like we have put God back where he belongs, in the center of our lives and ,and in full control. I couldn't be more thankful to God for what all He has done and for the miracle he has performed in our lives! ~ And to Josh, my husband, my very best friend, let me remind you of the words I wrote nearly 3 years ago, that still ring true today. I thank you for the man you are. I thank you for being submissive to God's work in your life! I thank God for you everyday and for the joy you bring to my life! Know that your are my treasure, my priceless gift. I pray that we continue building our marriage on the firm foundation of the Lord and fill it with the Love of Christ...Agape Love. Let us never forget that we must always lead our hearts, choose to Love and give God full control! To God Be the Glory! Happy 5 Year Anniversary Babe! Always and Forever, I love YOU!!

"Forever by your side, wherever life may take us, whatever road we climb.....As long as we're together, All my dreams are satisfied and I'll be happy, Forever by your side...." Forever by Your Side-Eric and Leslie Ludy (an amazing song that was played in our wedding)