Pilgrims at Oak Ridge

Well, I didn't get this posted last night in between the church service and some last minute pajama sewing. To me, though, this is what Christmas is about- celebrating the light who came into the world. "For the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." -Isaiah 9:2

Jeff, Judah, and Ian

Finally on vacation!

After dinner playtime. you can tell it's after dinner because he has yogurt on his shirt.

Baking night!

Busy work week + a miserable head cold = not taking many photos. I was wondering around the house tonight trying to find something to photograph. What you get is one of my more favorite Christmas decorations - candy cane ornaments inside a glass jar. Here's hoping this head cold goes away before vacation starts. More dpp here .

Christmas part 1 We opened presents with Jeff's parents last night. Judah was very, very excited about his new car.

South Carolina in winter. No snow, but we do have nice camellias. Not exactly a fair trade, but nice nonetheless.

 Yes, I took these yesterday, but since I worked all day today, I had to post them. The zoo was a blast! Judah especially loved the giraffes.

We've been nursing a sick boy today and this morning I had to take a renewal CPR class. Thus the resorting to an instagram photo. But I do love how festive it looks.

Ever since I first found out that my dear Aunt Lynn had lung cancer, I wanted to grow my hair out to donate . Today I finally, finally cut it all off. Although it might be a little bit shorter than initially anticipated, it does feel great to have done this. Aunt Lynn fought cancer bravely for as long as she could, and then let Jesus do the final healing. We still miss her. Earlier this year, a very dear family friend was also diagnosed with breast cancer. She, too, has been fighting hard and so this is also for her.

LSPC had the annual Christmas party at our house tonight. I think the pics speak for themselves! For previous parties - check out this . and this . For the rest of the DPP, head here .

 Tonight I had the pleasure of attending a baby shower for a fellow resident and friend. (Isn't she lovely?) We had a wonderful time talking, eating, and playing my personal favorite baby shower "game" - the "decorate a onesie" game. No melted candy bars involved. :) On my way over to the shower, I was thinking about a blog post I once read (and I can't remember where, or I'd link to it) that was talking about how to deal with infertility in the church. I remember there was lots of good advice, but it all basically boiled down to "weep with those weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice." Which certainly sounded like good advice. It is easy to become bitter and upset when other people get the good news you've been waiting and hoping to hear, and it is always good to be reminded that the Bible calls us to something better. I would add, though, that the way that we rejoice with our rejoicing friends in the midst of heartache may not nece...

I woke up at 6:30am this morning and drove to Edgefield even though I wasn't working there today. Why?? Because it's time for the DPP and that drive is incredibly beautiful at sunrise. Even though it's not quite December, I wanted to get tomorrow's post ready a day early. Are you signed up yet for the DPP ? The fun thing this year is that even if you don't have a blog, you can also do it on facebook!

Merry Christmas! "...No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found...."

Cousins!

I got to go for a run this morning. It was one of the most beautiful runs I've been on in a long time. There was frost on all the trees, the snow flurries were drifting down a little, and I was listening to Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God on my iPod. Yes, it was cold, and yes, the altitude about did me in (we're at 7,000 ft. here, well above the 700 we live at), but it was glorious. And just what I needed to put me fully in the Christmas spirit. (The homemade oreos I made today didn't hurt either.) Someone else clearly is having a good time, too. For more DPP, go here .

Liberty Springs Christmas Party! We love our Church Family. We will miss them a whole lot. The party was a hit! Good soup, good cookies, and a fun year-end video of photos from the last year, set to music. And now our vacation really starts.....

I got a few that I loved today... My new favorite Christmas decoration, a gift from my wonderful parents who brought it all the way back from Germany for us! Judah and his Papa Stan. Saturday night is always bath night.