Anniversary trip to the cabin

Artie and I decided to take a small trip for our 1st year anniversary. We rented a cabin in Pigeon Forge and stayed the weekend there. It was very relaxing...in fact i read 2 books while we were there. Most of the time we hung around the cabin. On Saturday we went to The Comedy Barn and I recommend this to everyone. It was really funny and it was a clean family show! Artie and I laughed until we cried. On our actual anniversary we ate dinner in Gatlinburg at The Peddler and it was so yummy!!! I could not think of a better way to celebrate being married for a year. Here are some photos we took while we were there..enjoy.

The view from our deck

BIG NEWS!!! Very Exciting!!!

Drum roll please.....Artie and I are the now the proud owners of The Christmas Shop on Main! I bet you thought I was going to say I was pregnant. Well I am not.
One of the owners of The Christmas Shop decided to leave and offered me her half of the business. I was floored. It all happened really fast. I found out that she was selling but the other owner had the 1st opportunity to buy them. So I assumed that would be the case. I had prayed that I would have the opportunity but kept it on the back burner to not get my hopes up. I got a call about a week before Christmas letting me know that I was going to have the opportunity to buy...and that something needed to be on paper before the 1st of the year. Artie and I sat down and discussed the logistics and then prayed for guidance. I woke up the next day and felt at peace with our decision. I called the owner and accepted her offer! I believe this is the direction I am suppose to be going. I have prayed for an opportunity like this for a long time. I am so excited about it!
So if you are in the Jonesborough area stop by..we are in downtown Jonesborough across the street from the court house!

One year ago today!

One year ago today Artie and I were married. I can not believe it had been a whole year. A lot has happened. I can not believe we have survived our 1st year. Here is our year in review...


1. Artie finds out he got a new job in East TN on our wedding day.

2. We learn we have to move in 3 weeks. (1 of those weeks was our honeymoon, we had to find a place to live, we had to pack and move 5 hours away, and get our house on the market)

3. Artie's dad passes away suddenly the Thursday after we return from our honeymoon.

4. Artie leaves for East TN to start his new job...the week after his dad passes away.

5. WE MOVE to East TN!!!!

6. My Mammaw dies (almost exactly 3 months after the wedding)

7. We sell our house in Murfreesboro

8. Artie and I buy a house.

9. I go on a cruise.

10. WE MOVE!!! (again)

11. Artie gets a job promotion!

12. I start working with the Greeneville Majorettes.

13. I get a job at the Christmas Shop

14. We buy The Christmas Shop




Hmmm....we have been very busy. I hope this year is a bit more quiet.

Merry Christmas!

Artie and I decided to host our family christmas this year. We worked our little booties off to make the house crystal clean...I mean it took us no time to clean because my house is perfect all the time. :)
My parents drove in on Christmas Eve and we all went to our midnight church service. It was so beautiful and moving. On Christmas morning we all woke up and opened presents and I made the most YUMMY french toast ever!!! After that Artie and I went in food prep mode...haha. Artie and I made all kinds of yummy food for our family. Artie's family came at about 2 and we ate like little piggies. Afterwards we all opened presents and had dessert. Once everyone left Artie and I crashed into the bed at 6pm!! I do not know how my grandmother did it all of those years. We were pooped. Artie and I had a wonderful Christmas...here are some photos from that day!

Very early on Christmas morning!

All the yummy food!

Opening presents

Majorette Christmas Party

The majorettes and I decided to go to dinner to celebrate christmas and exchange gifts! We all had a blast. The Bistro 105 is so delicious..I recommend anyone to go there! Here are some photos from the night...and yes, the girls bought me a pair of SUPER CUTE Coach shoes!!!!! I can not wait to wear them!!!! (my camera died before 2 of the girls could open their presents..BOO!)



Group Shot

Advent

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)


Often during this time of year we start getting caught up in lists of things to do; lists of people to buy for, list of presents people want, lists of chores to be done. All the increased stress of traffic jams, crowds, and the frantic feeling that we can not get it all done or forget something/someone important. Even the demands of my my own expectations overwhelm me at times. Times when I need to be more focused on God and the sacred events of Christmas. I guess that's why I like Advent. Advent literally means "the coming or arrival". Liturgically speaking it is the 4 Sundays before Christmas during which we prepare our hearts, minds and spirits for the birth of Christ. I believe we all need the time of Advent. It slows us down and helps open our ears to God's quiet voice. During this time of year the pace of life speeds up. We rush around trying to buy the perfect gift, throw the best party or prepare the perfect home for holiday guests. I am as guilty as anyone! As we race through this busy season please take time to prepare your heart for the birth of our Lord. Take the time to thank God for sending us the most perfect gift of all, Jesus.

New Christmas Tree!!!

Artie and I broke down and bought a new tree this year. So here it is!


In the box...the kitties loved it!


Pulled out and un-fluffed



Fluffed


Pearl garland

Cluster garland lights

Topper and bow

Bows on the tree

Bows and flocked pick

Glitter picks and 200mm balls (white and silver)

FINISHED!!!

The house is going to look bare when it is gone. Haha...I will post more pics of the decor through the house. We are hosting Christmas at our house this year so we are decked out!!!

Uh Oh

The morning after I put the finishing touches on the tree in the kitchen...I woke to find this...

Ooopps....so I lifted it up and this is what it looked like

I only had one broken ornament! I was surprised....so this is kinda what it suppose to look like.

Thanksgiving from H-E Double Hockey Sticks

I knew it was going to be a disaster before we even walked out the door...

It is such a long, crazy story that I am not even going to post it. Sorry...but here is a photo from our first Thanksgiving of the day. This one actually went well!

Yep...I'm that crazy person...

I'm the crazy person that puts her Christmas trees up before Thanksgiving!!! I Love It and I look forward to it every year. I work in a Christmas Shop...what do you expect!! Thanksgiving weekend is usually so hectic that I never have time to do it! I do not have my big tree up yet but I am working on it! I am so excited this year because it is super fun decorating a new house! I will post more pictures as I finish things up!

This is on my living room coffee table

This is the tree in our bedroom!

This is the tree in the powder room.
The decor in that room is zebra print
and so this tree is a safari tree!

MTSU Homecoming

The 1st weekend in November was the MTSU homecoming game and I got a chance to go! As the alumni majorettes we got to twirl in the parade, during pregame and at halftime! We all had a blast and can not wait for next year!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Halloween

We had a game on Halloween this year. It was so fun to see what costumes the kids came up with. The majorettes were cowgirls and twirled ropes during the show. They were very cute! So needless to say we were not home to hand out candy...but we had a lot of fun at the game!!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Birthday Artie!

Artie's birthday was on Saturday and we chose to celebrate after church on Sunday. It was wonderful to have our friends and family. We had a lot of fun!

Alcoa Competition

Saturday the band competed in a band competition in Alcoa. The band did pretty well and the majorettes did great! They won their division for the 1st time this season! I am very proud. This is a photo of Brittany Barger and myself. Brittany and I twirled together when we were smaller! Time sure does fly...she was only 8 the last time I saw her. Now she is a junior in high school!

Harvest Fest

Every year our church holds a Harvest Fest. This year I was the story teller and everyone had a blast. We had a cake walk, games for the kids, pumpkin painting, and a make your own caramel apple station!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

GHS vs Morristown West

Friday night Greeneville played Morristown West! We won in an overtime and it was so exciting. Here are some photos from that night. It was actually cold and I loved it!!!

New furniture

Artie and I finally have living room furniture! Wahoo! Here are some pics of the before and after.

Before:

After:

Miss Heritage Days Pageant

Saturday I was asked to judge the Miss Heritage Days pageant in Parrottsville Tennessee. (yeah I had never heard of it either) I did not realize it but the pageant was held outside...on the side of a barn. No, literally. The stage was built onto the side of a barn. I guess there is a 1st time for everything! I had a lot of fun and met some really great girls. This was my first official outing at Mrs. Tennessee Galaxy!

In front of the sign for the park the pageant was held in

This little girl wanted to try on my crown

Homecoming

Here are some photos from Friday nights game. It was homecoming and we all had a lot of fun. The girls looked beautiful as always!