Ok, so there is a story behind this tree. Isn't there always?? I initially purchased it in November and could hardly wait to assemble it once I returned from Thanksgiving. After all, it gave me something to look forward to, right?? Well, not exactly, and not at first. Ryan and I began putting the tree together and he looked at me, puzzled. "Katharine, I don't think this thing is going to be 12 feet." "Oh, sure it is, Ryan! We have to fluff it!" About halfway through our little escapade Ryan noticed a small yet important note on the instructions: Box 1 of 2. Oops. I had left the other box at the store. The first night our Christmas tree looked like this:
Anyway, after FINALLY getting a tree that worked properly (and actually came in TWO boxes), we got the tree up. After all that hassle it may just stay put until March! Then there was the process of sorting through all the Christmas ornaments:
This was actually a gift topper at one of my showers last year. Talk about talent!
A diet tip: ornaments in a candy bowl are not edible.
And for my light up flag from Mama!
These little guys are hard at work!
Christmas tree in the living room. This tree is special to me. My grandparents gave it to me a few years ago when I had my first apartment in Columbia. This is the tree they would put up every year when Jay and I were little.
Snow village!
This cute duo tells a Christmas story : ) "Not even a mouse?""
Kitchen table. Gracious, Santa and Mrs. Clause, can't you wait until I take the picture?
And I put out my Christmas china! Yay!!
Nothing says Christmas cheer quite like a mountain of Christmas cards!!! Each day they make me smile : D I love going to the mailbox!
A few highlights from our first married Christmas card:
Now, back to the madness that is our lives...
On the 10th Ryan and I attended a wedding of some friends of ours in Dillon- Kelley and Adam. We had a great time and enjoyed seeing so many of our other friends there!
Ryan's beloved friends.
Now for some scary but hopefully good news in the end…I started having chest pains the day after the wedding. I tried to ignore them, but they came back on Sunday evening (the 11th) in full force, and I was very worried. That night was miserable for me. When I woke up Monday morning and they were worse, I decided I needed to see a doctor ASAP. I was of course thinking the worst. I ended up talking to a doctor on call who said that she wanted me to come in that morning to have several tests. After an EKG, blood work, a chest x ray, and an echocardiogram, the doctor told me that my heart looked normal. Just a few short moments prior to hearing the results I made a deal with the Lord- I will NEVER eat another fried food AGAIN if I have heart trouble!!! Then when I received the news of a normal test result, all I could think about was having Chick Fil A for lunch… seriously, I couldn’t eat before the tests and was starving.
Anyway, the doctor came to the assumption that I had bronchitis- eek! I have had a sinus infection of some sort since HALLOWEEN, and apparently it has lingered around so long it has turned into bronchitis. Partially fortunately, partially unfortunately, she believes that the chest pain is a result of fluid around my lungs and not actual heart problems, as my EKG was normal. So- I was prescribed with a Z pack that week, which seems to have cleared up the problem. I have actually been talking, laughing, singing, working, etc. with BRONCHITIS. I would probably have to be tased in order to actually stop and relax. Yay for my antibiotics!
Last Tuesday I went back to work, not 100% but at least psychologically better knowing that I wasn’t having a heart attack. My parents were actually in town that day so that Daddy could have a procedure on his throat to help with his swallowing. Fortunately, it was a success! After work, my awesome friend Courtney brought her friend Stacy to Columbia for the evening. We had an amazingly delicious dinner at Mellow Mushroom (does pizza ever disappoint???) It was great fun!!!
I think Courtney and I are sisters and were never told. Two of us in the same household would mean nothing but constant laughter and nonsense. After dinner I went to my grandparents’ house to visit with them. They are a riot! Love them so much. Nanny was giving me cooking advice, and I was listening to all of it except the recipes that included pasta- yuck!!! My ideal weight loss plan is an island where the only available food is macaroni, tortellini, spaghetti, lasagna, etc. I would eat NOTHING except perhaps a small sliver of grass. I digress…
After a lovely visit with them I headed to the nearest grocery store to get some cake ingredients (make that two stores, because the first one didn’t have what I needed- typical). When I got home that evening Ryan watched as I attempted to make a 14 layer cake. Well, my friends, I had the best of intentions in making this cake but quickly learned that I only had half of the amount of mix and icing that I needed. But as I’ve said before, I see the bright side of things. If I misunderstood the recipe and only made half of the cake, that meant it contained only 50% of the calories. This entitled me to eating double the amount of cake that I wanted. I’d say that’s a success!!!
Before...
After!!!
I was so excited all day on Wednesday, because I was hosting a Christmas dinner party that evening for some awesome friends! Using Christmas china/making sugary punch/ eating lots of food = happiness!!!
If all of the Skittles and Pixi Stix in the world were confined to one space, that would equal the amount of sugar in this punch. It. was. DELICIOUS!!!
After dinner we played “Hit or Miss” (we’d make any game hilarious) and Musical Catch Phrase. Oh, and we ate some of the half layer cake! It was still very good, and surprisingly it didn’t lean or fall over. Woo hoo! That night was a blast!!! I want to do it again : ) What’s everyone doing next week??
On Thursday afternoon I headed to Dillon for Blair and Lindsey's wedding rehearsal. It went well, and then we had a nice dinner at the Wellness Center. When I got home I couldn’t wait for a “relaxing” evening and sleeping in the following day. WRONG. Leave it to me to be in town on the ONE rare evening when a helicopter search mission is in full force for three armed men. I thought those blades were going to take off the roof of the house. It was that loud, yet exciting, yet frightening for those involved. To quote the Four Seasons:,“Oh, what a night!”
Friday was Blair and Lindsey’s wedding day! It seems like just yesterday when I was in Lindsey’s sister Ashley’s wedding. Time flies! Blair and Lindsey are two awesome individuals, and all their friends had the nicest things to say about them. I was so glad to see so many great friends at their wedding. It was a very special day! And one that involved no helicopters.
On Saturday morning baby Noah was born! I spent several hours in Florence shopping and visiting that sweet baby boy. Taylor was holding him when I walked in the room. He is absolutely perfect, and I had never held a baby that was only a few hours old! As I said to some friends, I had to get out of panic mode and realize that this was a child I was holding- not a phone or makeup case that could be dropped and replaced! He is BEAUTIFUL and slept the whole time!! I can hardly wait to see him again. To know that there is another piece of my Meagan in this world is going to make it an even sweeter place. I love her so much!!!
Guess who else joined us for Noah’s big day?? None other than Aunt Jenny, Uncle Rob, Aunt Leslie, Anna, Katelyn, & Jordan!!! We had a blast. I’m sure everyone on the entire floor breathed a sigh of relief when we all left. Nothing says "Christmas silence and peace" like the absence of Katharine.
After seeing Noah it was time for dinner! We all headed to Red Bone for a finger lickin’ (or utensil- if you’re proper) good time. Here was my meal. Clearly Red Bone pays no attention to portion control. I wasn’t complaining.
Sunday was a VERY busy day: First up, the “Light Looked Down” musical presentation at church. Our choir did a wonderful job, and the songs were beautiful.
Next on the agenda: a family Christmas party at Lafon & Cindy Legette’s house. They are wonderful hosts!!!
What's a Christmas party without lots of food?
Lola and Sophie Belle. SO adorable!!!
I love my little cousins : )
And Ryan, too!
Paula!!
Say hello to my little friend.
Sunday evening was our annual Christmas Communion service. I love this service, and it is one of my favorites out of the year. It is such a special time and a reminder that Christmas is so much more than the hustle and bustle all around us.
After the communion service Jay, Mesha, Bennett, Hilary, Caroline, the amazing Paul & Rosemary Lewis, and I headed to Del Sol for a delicious meal and some laughs. Fortunately, no drinks were harmed or spilled during this outing.
After dinner we headed to the Lewis's to play Cranium. Such fun : D
Bryan demonstrates gravity. I didn't understand his clue.
I love Bennett and Hilary cracking up in the background. Who knows what just happened!
Christmas is one of the highlights of my year. It is the culmination of a year hopefully filled with blessings and also a time for reflection: reflection on the things we have accomplished and the parts of our lives that need improvement. People have probably already asked, "Are you ready for Christmas?" several times in the past week. I have been thinking about that question a lot lately. What exactly does it mean to be "ready" for Christmas? Are the stockings hung, all of the bulbs actually working on the tree, and are the presents wrapped? Over 2,000 years ago, the Ultimate Creator was ready. Ready to send His one and only perfect son to be born into a world full of sin so that we could have eternal life. That tiny baby was also ready 33 years later to sacrifice Himself on a cross. Christmas was the beginning of a journey for the followers of Jesus. I pray that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas. Be ready-for the fun times and also willing to listen to God's voice. I hope 2012 brings many new and exciting things my way.
I am looking SO forward to a much needed vacation and wonderful Christmas holiday. This weekend will jump start with a Christmas social on Friday night, followed the next day by the annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service that my church, Dillon First Baptist, holds every year. Each and every service is important, but this one in particular is one that I never. ever. want to miss. It is such a special time filled with music, worship, and a reminder of the reason why we are here: to worship, thank, and follow Him.
May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases have LIGHT- that of the Savior shining through You!
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