12.31.23

"Praise the LORD!

Praise, O servants of the LORD;

praise the name of the LORD.

Blessed be the name of the LORD 

from this time on and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun to its setting

the name of the LORD is to be praised.

The LORD is high above all nations,

and His glory above the heavens."

Psalm 113:1-4

Thankful tonight that I can look back at these 365 counted Good Gifts,

knowing they are only a snapshot of the LORD's grace, mercy, and kindness to me this year.

Just keep counting...

12.30.23

"The Boys in the Boat"

It was a good day for a good movie with the girls!

Thanks, Laura for planning and executing this outing for us Trew women!

 

12.29.23

Hooray! It's always a good time with sweet Rachael and her kiddos!

I'm thankful for her willingness to be creative with ways to connect and have conversations,

and am so glad we got our monthly date in just in the nick of time!!

"So encourage each other and build each other up,

just as you are already doing."

1 Thessalonians 5:11

12.28.23

Back home after our night away doing fancy big city things, 

and this discovery on the top of my bookshelf made me laugh out loud!!

Glad for this subtle nudge that perhaps dusting soon might be a good idea.

12.27.23

Camp Bobby

Nashville, Tennessee

Thankful for an enjoyable evening catching up with dear, old friends! 

Also...how fun is this rooftop venue?!! 

12.26.23

The guys are back at work, so it's a perfect day for lunch and a movie with my girls!

And now I'm ready to go to Biltmore and see it decorated for Christmas again!

 

12.25.23

Christmas Morning was extra sweet for me to share with our amazing "kids"!!

12.24.23

"Now may our LORD Jesus Christ Himself and GOD our Father,

who loved us and by His GRACE gave us eternal comfort and 

a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say."

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 

 

12.23.23

Cracker Barrel Christmas for this gang of Merry Makers 

Hard to choose just one Good Gift from this family celebration ~

* The staff accommodated our large party seating us all together very quickly.

* Our server was patient, kind, efficient and just all around wonderful!

* Everyone got to to eat what they wanted and none of us had to cook. Or clean up.

* It was warm enough we could enjoy sitting on the front porch for exchanging gifts.

* No one else was even waiting out there, so we just made ourselves right at home! 

* My goal is to sneak this family photo onto their wall before our 2nd Annual CBC...

 

12.22.23

Hooray for getting to have a fun houseguest for Christmas Break!!

12.21.23

Such a JOY-filled visit with our friends at the farm today!!

Goats | Gator Rides | Snacks for Jack | Baby Calves | and an awesome Cookie Chat!!

 

12.20.23

Oops! I got a good chuckle out of this situation...

and am pretty sure my brother-in-law won't even notice!

 

12.19.23

December Mail Days are the Most Delightful

12.18.23

Sharing stories with friends was the JOY highlight of my day!!

Especially this well loved requested one ♡

 

12.17.23

🌟 Double Good Creative Arts Gift Counting 🌟

Our sweet preschoolers acting out the birth of John the Baptist in the morning,

and tonight, worshiping with Enoch at A Crossgates Christmas-NO OTHER KING in Mississippi!

 

12.16.23

Loved getting to share a little time side by side with my friend the professional gift wrapper!

 

12.15.23

Hooray for talented friends and the ACMS Christmas Cabaret 🎄 

 

12.14.23

Thankful for these helping hands with this each year...

12.13.23

What JOY to sing Christmas carols with our friends!!

I LOVE how they knew every.single.word to the traditional hymns!!!

Joy to the World, indeed!

The Lord is come!

 

12.12.23

Glad for a Holly Jolly evening with North Pole friends!!

12.11.23

In today's episode of "Real Life is Stranger [better] than Fiction"... 

Since no one wanted to abandon their already full carts, 

we just kept shopping...all the while saying, 

"I smell smoke. Do you smell smoke? I wonder what's on fire?"

Turns out a fire in a cooler in the produce section can crank out a LOT of smoke.

Good job, Walmart employees for building a cool barricade and staying calm.

And letting us complete our shopping mission.

And giving me a great story to share for the rest of the day! 🔥

 

12.10.23

Thank you, sweet Ellie for a perfect addition to our Christmas tree!!

I love the memory from this year's Thanksgiving Day puzzle!!!

12.09.23

Thankful for the Best Double Date friends! 🍣🎶🎄

12.08.23

Always love the opportunity to worship with Enoch!!

Tonight was even sweeter with these dear friends!!

 

12.07.23

Such JOY with these sweet friends at Esther's parents' church on their property!!

Preparing hearts and the room for celebrating the birth of King Jesus!

 

12.06.23

Community Group with the SWEETEST of friends!!

12.05.23

These guys crack me up! 

Especially the way they come running when they think they're going to get a snack

Thankful for fresh air and Goat Therapy this day!

 

12.04.23

Hometown Christmas Parade Tradition and these sweet buddies ♡

12.03.23

Every once in awhile I like to revisit Sunday dinner snacks of my youth

 

12.02.23

Thanks, Scott for making it So Cozy at the Cabin!

 

12.01.23

Good Family Times 

Rocking out with Dreams of Kings at Angela's to kick off December!