HAPPY HOLIDAYS

UCLA Game

We spent Thanksgiving in CA. A trip to CA is not complete without attending a UCLA Game. We had a great time and I got a cute UCL sweatshirt just to show my support :-)

KIRSTE

Kirste came to visit us, on route to S.A. We had a great time with her. We did not do anything too extravagant but it was great to have her here and show her our lives. Here are some of the pictures we took while she was here. Isn't she cute???? :-)

CHARIS BOOKS

My name is not common at all, so when we stumbled upon this bookstore in a random part of Atlanta I had to stop and take some pictures. Never mind that it is your feminist, independent women's bookstore :-) It's a little odd seeing my name right there - I never see my name printed anywhere. So here I am - Charis in front of Charis Books. And yes, they do pronounce it the same way.

Rosie

Meet Rosie - She is Andy's parents dog. She is HUGE - but has never been told that. She jumps on the couch (when she's allowed) and snuggles right into you as if she is a lapdog. She has no clue as to how heavy she actually is. It is so funny to watch.

Gorgeous Fall

ATTITUDE

I found this quote on someone's blog - I love it!!!!!

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me is more important than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in certain ways. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one thing we have and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes."
Charles Swindoll

BLOGS

Since the blogging world has boomed I have read a ton of different blogs. I love to see what people use their blogs for. I love to see other people's creativity and be inspired. I am often impressed by what information people share on their blogs. Of course I love it when they share things - who doesn't want to hear other people's life experiences - I know I do and I love to look at pictures of other people - even if I don't know them (yes, that may be a little odd) So, after reading all these blogs I have realized something about myself - I am such a private person - maybe to a fault. I don't share any info on this site at all - other than our trips etc but nothing really interesting and nothing juicy. Well, I am not sharing anything today either ;-) I just think I need to talk a little more.... But not today :-)

Kirsty's Visit

Kirsty has been visiting us for the past 1 1/2 week. It has been a ton of fun showing her our lives here in Georgia.

WOMANHOOD

"Womanhood: The Highest Place of Honor"

James E. Faust

"I wonder if you sisters fully understand the greatness of your gifts and talents
and how all of you can achieve the 'highest place of honor' in the Church and in
the world. One of your unique, precious, and sublime gifts is your femininity,
with its natural grace, goodness, and divinity. Femininity is not just lipstick,
stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes. It is the divine adornment of humanity.
It finds expression in your qualities of your capacity to love, your spirituality,
delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness,
dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman,
but each of you possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner beauty.

"One of your particular gifts is your feminine intuition. Do not limit yourselves.
As you seek to know the will of our Heavenly Father in your life and become more
spiritual, you will be far more attractive, even irresistible. You can use your
smiling loveliness to bless those you love and all you meet, and spread great joy.
Femininity is part of the God-given divinity within each of you. It is your
incomparable power and influence to do good. You can, through your supernal gifts,
bless the lives of children, women, and men. Be proud of your womanhood.
Enhance it. Use it to serve others."

It's a GREAT day in South Africa

20 October - South Africa defeated defending champions England 15-6 on Saturday to claim the World Cup for the second time in a match packed with atmosphere but short of excitement.

Jessica

A few months ago I posted a video of Jessica reciting Mary Poppins' famous saying. Here she is again singing a familiar church song (with some words replaced) She is seriously too precious and is not even 3 yet!!!!!!!

Here she is in more flattering light :-)

A Tribute...

He grew up in our current ward and his parents (and siblings) are in our ward now. Andy and I have never met him but we were amazed at the out pouring of love the whole community has showed toward him and his family. I don't know if it's a small town thing (yes, I think Athens is a small town) or a fallen soldier thing, either way I think it is wonderful.

We took food to the Chapel while the service was going on. I could not believe how many people lined the streets. There were American Flags in the ground everywhere. It was an amazing sight to see. An older lady asked me if I knew Josh and I told her I did not and she thanked me for bringing food. I asked her if she knew Josh and she too had never met him. Yet here she was on a Saturday morning waiting outside to pay her tributes.

The post and pictures below were taken from another person who knew Josh that lives in our area.

The Chapel right after the service.

On September 21, 2007, Joshua Jackson Reeves was born. His mother, Leslie Reeves, phoned her husband, Josh, in Iraq to tell him the happy news. Spc. Joshua H. Reeves was able to hear his son cry before the phone call ended.

Spc. Joshua H. Reeves was killed the next day, September 22, 2007, when a bomb detonated near his vehicle.

The community support was unbelievable. On the way to the funeral, hundreds of people lined up on the side of the road with hands over their hearts and flags waving. The Patriot Guard Riders, a group of bikers who attend funerals of fallen soldiers, stood at attention with flags to form a walkway to the chapel. Hundreds of people who had never met Josh lined the street to show support.

Our 1st Visitors

We had our 1st visitors since moving to Georgia and we loved it. Max & Amy came to visit for the weekend - we had a fun time showing them around our town and our day to day life.

You may notice a sparkle on Amy's left finger :-) They just recently got engaged and we couldn't be happier!!!!!!!!!!

My Favorite BULLDOG

A while ago I posted some of the painted Bulldogs that are scattered throughout Athens. I am still seeing different ones that I had not seen before. This past weekend I found my all time favorite bulldog - she was outside a boutique. She is just beautiful :-) I am amazed at the creativity.

A Little Happier

I am a little obsessive when it comes to things being in order and looking the same (or like it goes together) I also have binders for EVERYTHING. These binders have been on our bookshelf for some time and I have hated the way the look because they aren't all a perfect (matching) white. I decided to try adding my own colorful spine with scrapbook paper - and I just LOVE the way they turned out. Now it does not bother me every time I see them.

You can see the different stages

Braves Game

Scorpions

In OUR HOUSE....


He/She is now living in our vacuum cylinder in the basement. Andy promptly vacuumed him up :-)

SA

From Pigs to Bulldogs

In Seattle there are beautifully painted pigs throughout the city.

In Athens there are beautifully painted bulldogs throughout the 'city'