End of Year Book List

Just for my own personal record...here are the books I completed in 2010:

* Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J. K. Rowling
* Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J. K. Rowling
* The Pursuit of God - A.W. Tozer (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!)
* Reforming Marriage - Douglas Wilson (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!)
* A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court - Mark Twain
* Twilight - Stephanie Meyer
* New Moon - Stephanie Meyer
* Eclipse - Stephanie Meyer
* Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyer
* The Tangible Kingdom - Hugh Halter
* Grace: God's Unmerited Favor - Charles Spurgeon
* Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

If I don't get another post in this year, I would just like to say that I am delighted to say goodbye to 2010. It was a pretty rough year. But...I am optimistic and hopeful for 2011. :)

Blessings to you and yours in the New Year!

2010 Christmas Photos

Our very talented friend, Zach McNair took our Christmas pictures this year. I LOVE LOVE LOVE them! Here are a few of my very favorites.

the Christmas card photo winner

triple kiss

sigh...love that one

Thanks again, Zach! And thanks Candice for letting me borrow your sweater! ;)

Christmas Wreath Make-Over

'Member the burlap Christmas wreath I made? Well, it was looking a bit droopy and I did not enjoy looking at it when I approached my front door. So...I ripped those little flowers off the burlap, whipped up a few more and gave my front door a new look.

I'm happier with this one, I think, although I just realized that I didn't mix up the old and new buttons very well. Dang! Gonna have to get the glue gun out again! UGH! :/

------- 5 Minutes Later -------

There! Switched a few buttons around.
Now I love it! :)

Common Cures for a Cranky Christmas Spirit

This year the Christmas spirit seems to be evading me. I think its because last year I started working on Christmas in January, so by the time December came around I was as cool as a cucumber...thinking about Jesus, memorizing Bible verses, preparing for Advent and doing all kinds of Christmas activities with Braelyn. Sigh::: It was lovely.

This year has been nothing of the sort. I'm a chicken with my head cut off...scrambling to get gifts done, only doing about 1/2 homemade, Braelyn and I are using LAST year's memory verse! and I get a big fat F for Advent activities this year.

Last year ruined me, friends! It ruined me! Cause now I know what Christmas CAN be and SHOULD be. Knowing what I learned last year, and not putting it into practice this year...has just made me a bit of a Grinch.

Until...

The Christ Community's 1st Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Christmas Party brightened my Christmas spirit!

Feast your eyes, my friends, feast your eyes!

Now...I know my Christmas outfit is not what it should be for such an occasion, but I didn't want to spend money and you would be surprized and appauled at how few ugly Christmas sweaters there are these days. But don't worry friends...I will be on the hunt all year long for next year's ensemble! (Cynthia...Please take no offense! I love my green scarf and wear it for real all the time...I was just trying to be Christmas clashy. ;)

Casey, however, looked like a complete idiot in this turtleneck. I wish you could get the full effect from the picture.

C3M Girls.

With Sarah...the female winner for sure!

James...the male winner...without a doubt. That's his mom's sweater. She added pompoms just for his benefit! GENIUS!

What Casey ended up with for the White Elephant Gift Exchange. Lucky!

(I'm just kidding about being lucky to have this book. I hate having it in our house. In fact...it's in the closet outside.)

By far, the most awesome gift! Christina painted a Cease family portrait! Our friend Rope is the lucky winner of this precious work of art!

Recreating the painting.

Lori and me...just for fun.

All of us who participated in the Ugly Sweater part of the party. I know...some of us need some work...it's gonna get better and better...just you wait!

See?! Who could be Grinchy after all that Christmas fun?!!! Being silly is such good medicine! Oh and do know what else is good medicine for the Christmas blues?...Not gonna lie...Diet Dr. Pepper. Yeah...I've fallen off the wagon a bit...but who can blame me?! How else do you make it through the mall in THE WOODLANDS? AT CHRISTMAS TIME? I'm pretty sure it's not possible without a Large Diet Dr. Pepper.

So if you are feeling down this Christmas Season...remember...
1. Wear an Ugly Christmas Sweater out in public.
2. Grab a large Diet Dr. Pepper and nurse that baby all day long!

You're Welcome! ;)

If I Were on Twitter Tuesday

My Tuesday Tweet:

The Ceases LOVE getting Christmas cards!!! If we are on your Christmas card list, but don't have our new address (because I was never on the ball enough to send out "We've Moved" cards) email me at stephcease(at)gmail(dot)com and I will be happy to give it to you!!!