Brace yourself! : )

 . . . you are about to see the culmination of many months of hard work!

By the way ~ don't you like the new design of Allison's braces??? : )

December 3rd was the annual Christmas parade for our small town.  What a wonderful opportunity to invite the community to our church's Christmas cantata!

 Yes, we got there an hour and a half before the parade so we could get a good spot! : )  At least we had plenty of time to get to know our "neighbors" . . .

 Our church's float with the cantata characters on it

 Wait a minute . . .  Is that Ray I see?!?

Looks a little hippie with the glasses on.  Ha! Ha!

 The streets were absolutely packed!  Some estimated approx. 15,000 people. Wow!

December 4th was dress rehearsal for the cantata.  This is the only time every year that the choir and the drama practice together . . . just one week before the presentation.

Ray, the Shepherd 

A peek from the choir loft . . .

Then the big weekend arrived!  No pictures from Saturday night (sorry ~ some negligent person had forgotten to charge the camera battery). : )  But here are a few from Sunday.

 After seeing him like this, we sort of got used to his appearance, but at first, he was unrecognizable.  It was like -- "Double Take!"

 Hmmmmm . . . looks like someone is enjoying those Mary Kay parties a bit too much!

 The innkeeper and his son . . .

 The shepherd and his son . . .

 Mary . . .

 Every year after the cantata on Sunday night, the cast does a funny skit while presenting our pastor's wife with a gift.  (She works with them about 4 months in preparation and is the director of the drama.  It takes a while to get the Southern accent out of Ray!)

 Pa Paw, Ma Maw, and Ray

Sara and her bagpipe instructor

It was a wonderful, blessed weekend!

'Tis the Season

. . . and the traffic is definitely a good indicator of that!

 We were at Pa Paw and Ma Maw's the other day, and I, being the shutterbug that I am, couldn't help but capture a few elements that stood out.  O.K. ~ I know I'm not the only one out there that sees a picture in about everything.  You know, I often wonder what people think when they see this crazy lady with a camera standing out in a parking lot trying to photograph blooming Bradford Pear trees or anything else that strikes her fancy.  But if they would only come up and ask me, I would be more than happy to show them what I was seeing! : )

 The holly bushes are beautiful this time of year!

 And Ma Maw's Christmas cactus is blooming very nicely!

 So healthy and lovely!

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And this is our little friend that thought he was going to have a nice, cozy home in our attic this winter.  Ray caught him and brought him down to let Allison hold him.  She was thrilled, but as she held him with her hands held tightly together, she felt like she was suffocating him.  She cracked her hands ever so slightly, never imagining that he would wiggle loose and take a tour of the downstairs as well.  Ray was so funny as he chased him from one room to another and finally cornered him in the bathroom.  Isn't he sweet! . . . the bird, that is. : )

So Thankful!

 We might start by saying . . . we are SO thankful that he will only look like this for just a little over one more week!  Just kidding! ; )  . . . maybe.  (grew his beard for the Cantata)

We are so blessed to be surrounded by family and friends . . . and for our family to be friends.

We are thankful for those small moments that bring a smile and guarantee a laugh . . . for the joy the Lord gives us in such abundance.

And we're thankful for the time to spend with extended family.  Thanksgiving day, most of the family was able to gather for Thanksgiving dinner at Uncle Gerald and Aunt Valerie's house.

So beautiful and festive, yet so comfortable and relaxed.

As always, there were plenty of goodies plus some.

Allison found her a nice cozy corner in which to relax.

Dig in! . . . well, said in a little more civilized manner, of course. : )

Family fun . . .

: )

After supper, everyone headed downstairs to decorate gingerbread houses.

Pa Paw and Ma Maw had a lot of entertainment as everyone busied themselves with their grand architecture. : )  Hey, it's only once a year that we get to decorate something exactly as we please and are allowed to blame it on creativity. : )

Madelyn was ready to get started!

I want some of this, and some of this, and . . .

He liked the candy idea! : )

SO thankful for parents who love the Lord and love us unconditionally!

We only put a couple of those gray hairs in Daddy's head, you know . . . : )

Organization

This can get to be serious business around here! : )

Such cute little gingerbread boys and girls!

Enamored with Nana's artwork

Teamwork

Hmmm . . . can you guess her decor???

The little ones were fun to watch . . . and to listen to . . . as they decorated.

Aunt Valerie was very brave this year.  Spray paint icing.  Sounds rather dangerous.

(Don't worry . . . this is posed.  The spraying only took place outside!)

Looks like he is rather enjoying the candy . . .

Finished!

Back Door

Aunt Crystal's very nice, cozy cottage . . .

and two precious gingerbread men.

Elizabeth's happy house

Laura's with a pretty, cool blue theme

Mom's gingerbread man-sion

Allison's exotic Zebra house

Claire made Cayden and Madelyn (respectively). See the blue eyes and green?

Sara even built a chimney for hers.

Valerie's little shanty

It didn't even belong in the same neighborhood as Christina's pristine blue. : )

Jon and Marie's even has an occupant!  So cute!

Keisha's Chapel Chimney House with a blowup penguin outside. : )

Such fun!!!!

Allison's . . . could we correctly conjecture that she has settled in "Chinatown"? : ) : )

Our little gingerbread village

We definitely do not take advantage of all the precious moments the Lord gives with family . . . the sweet memories of loving grandparents always there to give a hug, aunts that spoil us rotten and uncles that help them, cousins to laugh with . . . and get into trouble with as the occasion permits : ), parents and siblings to share life with, nieces to spoil . . .  God is SO good to us!!!!