A few of our favorite things...

Since Christmas is coming ( no, really it is... haven't you heard?) We wanted to make a list of our favorite Christmasy things. ( hopefully sans commercialism)

I will let Mike go first..You might notice a theme here!

5. Sausage Balls.

4. Peppermint sticks and oranges. Yum!

3.Christmas naps. mmmmmm.....

2. Not having to go anywhere! Staying in Pjs alllll day.

1. Sharing a meal with family. No matter where it is... 

And now me!

5.  Knowing that after all my Mom's family has gone on Christmas Eve, my Mom will pull out the little green carton of eggnog she hid in the back of the fridge for me and her to share.

4.  Christmas Cards. Besides my birthday, when do I get soo much mail? And from people I haven't seen in forever... I love it! I tape them all up in my house. And there is always the infamous Stillwell Christmas Letter...

3 The Christmas Adam Service... HUH? You say. Ok, so our church doesn't do a Christmas Eve service, instead it is Christmas Eve, Eve. Since Adam came before Eve, my friend Sam  ( I think this came from her) has christened it the Christmas Adam Service.... Haha, and that is just one of the random things I love about it!

2.The Kotronis Holy Day party.  Seriously, its awesome. Its such a sweet time to see people we don't always get to see, especially all in one place. Whether by the fire, or in the living room with the Charlie Brown soundtrack. And then there is caroling! I love it too,  when just me and Kristin and Sarah ( and Christine, if she is here) are left.. And we get to "debrief"... 

1. Sitting in my living room with Mike, dogs, cat, the tree all lit up , and a fire. Add some hot chocolate, and I am in heaven!!

Merry Christmas!!

Chesnuts Roasting..

My Christmas season just can't officially start until we put up the tree and decorate our little house. So today, after church and round table, we pulled out all the Christmas stuff from the attic, put the Christmas playlist on, toasted some yummy Starbucks and got to work. Here are some pictures of us in action, and our results!

Unpacking decorations. Note my wonky melted candle...

I need to make a Michael's run for some new ones!

My new favorite ornament, an early present from Shanna and Billy.

( Note the dogs and cat are on there too!)

And, of course, Gigi and Winnie were VERY involved. Involved in their naps that is...

So, in other words...

Christmas time is here.

Happiness and cheer.

Fun for all that children call

Their favorite time of the year!!!!

Perfect Ending to a Perfect Weekend..

Here are some pics we haven't posted yet, from my birthday a few weeks ago. :) Enjoy!

We had an incredibly busy weekend. Herb ( our pastor) was talking at church today about how Thanksgiving is going to blow right by us, and it will be Christmas madness once again. This weekend was no exception to the busyness. Friday, after a pretty nut-so day at work, Kristin, Sarah and I enjoyed some really really good ( and loooong overdue) Little Szechuan. Oh my. Sarah, you have won me over with your orange peel beef! Good call. Of course, after feasting our tummies, we went to feast our eyes on some Twilight. Well, I have to say, the movie wasn't bad. No way it could live up to the hype. If you want a really good revue, see my friend Leah's blog. ( see our favorite spots ) I think the funniest part was being SURROUNDED by major teenage girl fans. So the crowd was pretty hyped up with clapping and screaming..... That was quite entertaining.

We spent most of Saturday with our "Asylum" group. ( ie, teenagers from our church) I got the amazing opportunity to share some of my story of bitterness and resentment, and how God revealed all of that to me. Even more so, that he showed me freedom in the midst of it. Even though I went through the "grown up" version of this, its like I am learning all over again. God is funny like that!

Fast forward to Sunday, church was awesome. I love our funny, sweet community of believers. Then a bittersweet lunch at the Varsity with Lor-ie and her family. I love Lori. I love her family. I hate goodbyes.

I ended my weekend vegging on my couch with Amanda and Sam... I love when friends don't have to say anything. It is just nice to relax and laugh, and just "be".

Happy Thanksgiving Ya'll!!

Transiberian Orchestra

So, we got this great idea to go see the Transiberian Orchestra at Phillips Arena last night. We LOVE their Christmas Music, "Wizards in Winter " is such an awesome song. So we thought surely it would be a couple of hours of amazing music, lights, FIRE! Well, there was music, and lights, and even some fire, BUT, well, lets just say it was a cross between Newsong and Meatloaf. I felt like I had been picked up and dropped into an eighties big hair band concert with a Christmas touch. Not to mention the weird monologue about an angel at a bar....
Hmmmm, moral of MY story is to get the CD or better yet, download your CHOICE of songs from itunes. Now if you ask Mike "It was aweeesoommme"

Fireproof, the movie

So, Mike and I went to see "Fireproof" on Friday. I must say, we had our qualms. We aren't super huge fans of Christian movies, only because they are often low budget, high sap, and mediocre acting. However, we heard from more than one person the movie was worth it. Plus, it was filmed in Albany , Georgia, and I had a thing for Kirk Cameron back in the day.
I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Even though there were some amateur actors who made it clear they weren't super experienced, most of the performances were good, especially since most of them aren't even actors. AND, Kirk Cameron did a really nice job, I actually FORGOT he used to be Mike Seaver. I really liked the performance the actor who played his friend Michael. Very solid! Even better, it wasn't one of those movies that makes you think if you have Christ, your life will just "work out." Um, it doesn't say that in the Bible. I thought the situations the couple went through were so true to life. From the fighting, especially the money arguments, the struggle with pornography, and an emotional affair, they cover alot of what Christian marraiges are faced with. There were so many moments in the movie that were so "hit the nail on the head" that I couldn't breathe. I literally have been there, and it knocked the breath out of me. It is so beautiful and miraculous now, to see the other side. To know that we, like fictional couple, made it through.. I think the coolest part of the movie is that it showed the couple seeing each other how God sees them. To look past the fleshy, self absorbed, self-righteous crud and see God's workmanship in each other. Wow, that is the miracle that He gives us daily in our marraige (if we let Him) and I thought they portrayed it beautifully here.
So, if you haven't figured it out yet, we really did like the movie. If you go see it, don't expect high quality blah blah, but they did really well with a 500,000 budget, and this movie has grossed over 20 million!! Here is a link, go see it!

http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/

I am thankful...

Defintion : "Showing a grateful heart, a state of thankfulness"

So, inspired by Real Simple's article on Gratitude, and the upcoming holiday, I decided to take a minute, and make a list of a few things I am truly thankful for. You know, before everyone else does... Here goes.

1. Laughter. The ability to laugh at every day situations and most of all, myself. To be able to see the humor in every day life, and a reminder not to take myself so seriously all the time. For that I am truly thankful.

2. Changing Seasons. How awesome that God new we would need things to change. That we are so fickle we would get tired of heat, and then cold weather. How amazing it is to see leaves changing, or snow, or flowers blooming :)

3. Internet. Ok this one isn't as shallow as it may seem. I love the ability to so rapidly communicate with people I don't see often. My sister being the most important. What may seem like silly back and forth messages are giving way to a deeper relationship that means the world to me!

4. My friend Jen. I love all my friends, I know I am a blessed woman to have each of you. Jen, I single you out for a ton of reasons, mostly that it is such a miracle to be able to work side by side, day in day out ( well except Wednesdays, but usually we talk then) with someone that I count as a best friend. How grateful I am that God put us together. I think He knew we would need each other, and Lord knows we do.

5. My husband's patience. So for those of you who know Mike, you have to give him kudos. He puts up with ALOT. I don't think we would survive if he weren't so patient, and so giving, umm and humble, and FUNNY, and it goes on and on......

Alright, so I challenge you to take a minute out of your busy day and think of some things you are truly thankful for!!!

Something evil this way comes...

So Halloween has traditionally been a favorite holiday. Weird, yes I know. Even weirder probably to those of you believers who think its "wrong" Whatever. The holiday is what you make it. I personally LOVE to see cute little (and big) kids beat on my door and say "trick or treat" or the ever popular "gimme some candy" Well, I did LOVE this until today. Until this little kid showed me the true meaning of "he needs some discipline." There I was, handing out Reese's Cups and Snickers, when this little boy handed me back my Reese's and said "I am allergic to nuts... Got anything else?" I had already given him a snickers, so I said " No, sorry, this is all I have. So he turned to walk away, but "something" made him pause. He grabbed the snickers out of his pumpkin and said " Does this have nuts? To which I replied, " yes, sorry, it does" And here it is, the big moment. The kid proceeds to THROW the snickers at me and run. Now his Mama, was laughing saying " well, at least he knows he can't have it!" HELLLOOO, your child threw a Snickers at ME" In addition, I ran out of candy, I gave over 60 pieces out, and even after I turned off my light and blew out my Jack-O- Lantern, I still got knocks. I must say, I am reconsidering that part of my Halloween obsession. What I won't reconsider is my love of pumpkins, carvings, and hayrides. ( See above).

Up and Running and Birthday Bananza!

Ok, so now that I finally have some pictures up, I am officially sending links to everyone!
Today was my 29th birthday, and seriously, I think it was one of my best ever :) I started my day snuggling with the dogs and the hubby, followed with yummy breakfast at J Christopher's with my friend Sam ( that place is SOOO GOOD, oh the potatoes) , got a surprise facial as a gift from my sweet hubby ( shout out to Spa Venessa, they always treat me well) , went to Michael's to get new picture frames, and finished the day with a YUMMY dinner at The Real Chow Baby surrounded by 14 people I love and cherish. Thanks for all the calls, texts and "Happy Birthdays" I say this so much, but Mike and I are truly blessed to be surrounded by so many people we love!
Tommorrow is back to work For now, I am pooped and headed to bed with sweet visions of birthday cake dancing in my head!

Up and Running .

Good Grief, Here Goes

After much harrassing ( thanks Mandar) I have caved and decided to write this lil thing called a blog. I think I put it off up until now, b/c I don't have any cute ( or not so cute ie FLK) children to post pictures of. But, alas, I do have my practice babies! Also known as Winnie and Gigi, our Boston Terriers. So here is their story. We ( Mike and I) got married 3 years ago. After we had been married for a little over a year, he proclaimed his wish to get a Boston Terrier. Now, I, mind you, had proclaimed a great dislike for "little snorty dogs" This came about from a trip to Arizona to visit our friend Lori and her beloved stinky Boston, Higley. It seemed providential, however, when some friends from church announced their Boston, Maggie, was preggers. Well, of course, Mike jumped at the chance. One fateful Sunday, we went over and played with their three pups. We agonized. Which one do we choose? We kept coming back to one of the little girls, named Lily. So, a few weeks later Lily came home with us. She looked like a chubby hampster at the time. We changed her name to Winnifred Lily Turner, since these are no delicate flower type dogs. About two years or so later, it occured to us that two might be better than one! The mom that gave us Winnie sent us a link about some Bostons at a rescue shelter in ATL. We saw a picture of sweet little Gigi and applied immediately. Of course, we were rejected at first. It seemed another family was ahead of us. Then, what do you know, we got a call. The adoption had fallen through for them, and were we still interested. Two days later, we went on a play date/interview with Winnie in tow, and things went so well, we brought Gigi home with us.
So, things are a little crazy. They "play" like sister, and they are so different. Winnie is our agressive, playful, sassy girl. Gigi is a sweet, cuddly couch potato. But we LOVE our girls!

So now, you know the Tale of Two Bostons, and the crazy people that LOVE them!