merry chrima'

FRIENDS. i suuuuuck at blogging. truth is, for the past week or two I have logged on to write a new post and I end up giving up after the first sentence. I have sooooooooooo much to say, but I can't ever put it all together. So, tonight, I decided it was time to buckle down and crank one out. Since I'm still in full-blown ADD mode (it's Christmas, a mess for people like me), you're going to have to deal with bullet-point/list format. 

*the first point i must make is this: Thanksgiving is my favorite. This year was no exception. I love my family.. and their cooking skills. After stuffing our faces, the 5 cousins (we missed you BEN!) decided it would be a wise idea to jump on the trampoline. It wasn't wise... but it was fun. I love them so much. The little boys made a tree of thanks and we pinned on leaves with written notes of what we were thankful for. We aren't perfect, but we love each other and I'm really really blessed because of it. My friends here and oceans away make me praise the good Lord for calling me worthy of being in such relationships. It's all, humbling, really.

*now that i don't feel bad for leaving Thanksgiving in the dust, let me just put it out there: I AM IN LOVE WITH CHRISTMAS TIME. obsessed. i just love the feeling..i love the smells, the movies, the way my house looks,  i love it all. The Lord really speaks to me in a powerful way during this season. 

*Christmas music is on non stop wherever I am. In the car, on my computer, in the stereo in our den, in the kitchen.. EVERYWHERE. My favorites? James Taylor (duh), Mahalia Jackson, Patti Labelle, David Phelps, HARRY CONNICK JUNIOR (he is so fine), Mariah Carey, Vanessa Williams, Bing Crosby, The Eagles, Nsync, Sufjan Stevens, Bebo Norman, Clay Aiken (judge me, i dare you). And Chris Brown's version of "This Christmas".. i lurv it. these are just a few of my favorites.

*While I love Christmas music, there are some artists and songs that you will never find coming through my speakers. NEVER. EVER."rocking around the christmas tree".. NO. "jingle bells". UH-UH.  "frosty the snowman".. SHOOT ME NOW. how did these become Christmas songs? I need to stop talking about it, it just gets me all worked up. 

*i have made it my mission to watch 25 Christmas movies before Christmas. So far? 8!

 1. home alone- kevin mcallister, buzz, marv. it never gets old, people

 2.White Christmas- vera, bing, danny, rosemary. i've already watched it twice.

3. Four Christmases- its ok. reese is such a cutie and vince cracks me up.

 4. Flirting with Forty- lifetime movies at christmas? FABULOUS. you NEED to watch this, robert buckley is unbelievably fine. seriously, i drooled.

5. An Unlikely Christmas- lifetime

6. I can't remember the name- lifetime

7. I can't remember the name- lifetime

8. Love Actually

*i need suggestions on others. Of course I'll be watching A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, the Holiday, Charlie Brown.. but do you have others? help me out.

*i want snow. REALLY REALLY BAD.

*we got a pup. she's so cute. but, as of now, she's nameless.. i'll post a picture and maybe you can help me out.

*im missing africa BIG TIME. i'm craving their simplicity this time of year.

*marc broussard and gabe dixon in Birmingham in a week.. with leighanna, bagby, and lea. I CANNOT WAIT.

*florida just kicked that elephant tail tonight and it was so fun to watch. i think tim tebow is my soulmate. yea? maybe? pLEASE?

*lets go to new york. 

*does anyone have any good cookie recipes? i have a cookie swap to go to on thursday and im at a loss. i need it to be cute, original, and impressive.

*we put up Christmas decorations ALL DAY today. like 9:30-6:00. it deserves its own post

ok, i can't think of any more bullet points. thank you for praying for mom during her surgery, she's doing so well.  

"flirting with forty" just came back on and i feel like snuggling up for another round of absolute HOTNESS. (im telling you, robert buckley is worth every second of my time. google him).

i have lots of things to share (including, but not limited to: my frustration with cynicism of the church, craft christmas ideas, an incredible giving opportunity, and thoughts on love). so don't leave me, i promise i won't be gone for 2 weeks.  i'll be back.