Word...to your Mutha

I've seen many bloggers choose a word of the year. A word to live by, I suppose...I've never really been one to do that, but this year it hit me. JOY...a small word, but one that has so much meaning this year. 2010 was not what I would consider a good year by any stretch, what with Lilly getting diabetes, so much sickness-Every. Single. Holiday. it seemed, financial ickies, etc.-I know many people have things they deal with, but these are my things, you know?? Violet's birth helped redeem it, but overall I could have done without 2010. I read a verse a while ago that spoke to me...
James 1:2-3
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

I have decided to embrace JOY instead of letting things get me down...to thank God that He spared Lilly's life, that Cory has been able to keep his job, that we have a super cute rental house to live in{oh yeah, we are moving}...so many things to be JOY-full about...

What about you...do you have a word to live by...a word for 2011??

{Oh yes...the JOY hanger was from Target, after-Christmas clearance from 2009. It was white originally and I just mod-podged fun papers on it...a reminder everyday to find the JOY in all circumstances...}



And finding the JOY in having to wake up early to take one to school...BEAUTIFUL sunrise...Thank you, Jesus, that you love us!!

Linking up to Blessed Little Nest, Life Made Lovely...

My Joy-FULL Journey to Fingerville...

This is the story of two girls, a vintage sofa, and a small town. I was looking on Craigslist in early December for a vintage couch and found one. I recruited my friend, Leah{pictured above with her husband-my husband's best friend from high school...they lost touch, and have recently rekindled their friendship, but that's another story for another day...}

My new-old couch...Ain't she a beaut?? I swiped this pic from the Craigslist ad...It was love at first sight!! She needs a lil lovin' and I'm open to any ideas y'all have...

I did have to trave out of state to get her...Thought I was goin' to Inman, SC.
Uh hmmm...


Whilst driving to get my newest love, we passed a sign that said Fingerville. I knew I *had* to get a pic!! Doin' my best Vanna White...

Driving thru, I may have belted out a line or two from "Coal Miner's Daughter"...Seriously, the town{?} reminded me of Butcher Holler. I met the sweetest girl there, Ashley, who is gonna start blogging. Right, Ashley?!?! Funny little side story...I emailed the standard C-list link thing{help...} and Ashley writes me back and gives me a little info about the sofa-yes, it was still available, was passed down from her Grandmother-lovin' that history!! Then she emailed me back saying she had read my blog. So funny!! I'm always shocked and amazed to hear people come here!!

I really don't know what struck me so, but we took a slew of pictures of me with this sign!!

I mean, really...It was so funny!! I promise I am not poking fun, just loved the name...Only in the South...

I'm pretty certain I was catching my breath here...

"Oh..." Might I add a little disclaimer here?? In addition to my camera hating me on a regular basis, it also adds about 80 pounds. I swear I'm a size 4. Okay, size 6. ;)

Now this is a little out of order, but you'll get to the other "Joy-FULL" part of our trip later. Anyways...after all of our fun, Leah and I decided to go eat at Cracker Barrel. If you've never been to one, you are missing out on a real treat!! They have awesome country cookin' and a super fun shop!! In fact, Leah and I got matching blue chicken mugs. So cute!!

Anyway, the decor there is very vintage country. This sign was above our table and I had to take a pic for y'all...

She's lookin' at the shoes and he's checkin' out something else, if you get my drift...

Then there was this sign. Seriously, strap, street, strip, stroke, strut are the only "str" words?? I need to go pray now...

Now for the best part of my journey...

Drumroll please...

I MET JOY OF JOYFULLNESS!!!!! I thought she lived on the way to where I was going and indeed she did. We decided to meet up at Chick-Fil-A. Let me tell you, Joy is the sweetest person and such a great Mom to her little guys. And those boys are even more delicious in person. Looks like I ate one, doesn't it?!?! ;) Seriously though, Joy has the sweetest temperment with her little men and makes me want to be a better, more intentional Mom. Joy, I cannot wait to get together with you again and CRAFT this time!!!

Oh, we met up with Joy after picking up the couch and just as Joy was answering her phone, Leah was telling her husband about Fingerville, and I lost it!! Completely lost it!! Poor Joy had to listen to me laugh for probably a minute until I could gain my composure!!

What happens in Fingerville, stays in Fingerville!!

We Made Merry...

I am finally getting around to posting about Christmas. How about that?? Now we can move on along...Above is our tree all lit up on Christmas Eve. I love how my camera hates me and I cannot get a decent pic to save my life. ;) Maybe that will be this year's goal, to learn my camera.

Here we are with a flash. Same time as above...The dress hanging on the window...I made that Christmas Eve Eve, intending on taking the kids to see Santa the next morning. Nothing like the last minute!! That plan went to pot, much like this whole 2010. I think I was running behind most of the year. No matter, though, this is a new year with new beginnings. And...we didn't actually get to see Santa. Why?? Let's start by saying the week of Christmas, or maybe the week before, heck the whole month of December had someone sick at some time. Well, Thursday before Christmas, my husband came home early. Sick...Then, Christmas Eve, I awoke to my oldest saying something about seeing Santa. I knew immediately that I wasn't feeling well, then proceeded to get sick myself. Nice...Luckily, I wasn't sick long, but felt poopy the rest of the day, tired, achy skin, fun stuff...I couldn't hardly pull it together to wrap gifts. Thankfully, Cory felt a little better and he did most of the work.

Here the kids are in their Christmas Eve jammies. My Mom and I made them. I had the idea to use flannel sheets from Target instead of buying fabric by the yard. One little ditty praising Target...Cory and I did the bulk of our Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving{a great feeling!!} with coupons and sales. Well, Black Friday rolled around and I happened to be in Target and noticed a few things were on an even better sale, but sold out. I took my receipt to customer service and they refunded the difference in what I paid and the current sale price!! Isn't that great!! They do price adjustments within a 14 day period.

Lilly was quite excited to get a Barbie movie!!

Jackson playing a game on his DS...

Violet loved to lay under the tree gazing up the lights!!

Fisher was quite content playing with his choo-choo...

These are the pillows I made for my Mom. Those are the only handmade gifts I gave this year, aside from a teacher gift and Christmas Eve jammies. How sad is that??

I have to give God some props here...I went to Ingles one morning to get a few necessities and decided to look at hams. Originally, we were supposed to go to my Mom's house on Christmas day but with all of us getting sick, and my stepdad having a double bypass, it wasn't prudent. Anyway, most of the hams were $1.69 a pound, but this ONE was marked down to $1 lb. How wonderful that God knew how our Christmas was going to be and gave me a ham on an even better sale!! We also had green bean casserole and corn casserole. Yum!!!

Lilly was so cute, she sat the table with napkins and forks. On the napkins she wrote everyone's initials. I tried to photograph them, but you know how this sentence ends...:) The day ended in snow falling, a Christmas miracle!!

Anyway, that was our Christmas wrap-up...Hope your's was wonderful!!