One thousand gifts...

So much blogging to catch up on, so many e-mails that need to be written, so many phone calls that need to be made, and so little time. Hence the theme here....I am way behind! But we are adjusting to our new lives in Atlanta. More on that later I promise!

Really the intention of this post was to share this new book/website.

"Just like you, Ann Voskamp hungers to live her one life well. Forget the bucket lists that have us escaping our everyday lives for exotic experiences. “How,” Ann wondered, “do we find joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties? What does the Christ-life really look like when your days are gritty, long—and sometimes even dark? How is God even here?” In One Thousand Gifts, Ann invites you to embrace everyday blessings and embark on the transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling God’s gifts. It’s only in this expressing of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the life we’ve always wanted … a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. We come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved — by God. Let Ann’s beautiful, heart-aching stories of the everyday give you a way of seeing that opens your eyes to ordinary amazing grace, a way of being present to God that makes you deeply happy, and a way of living that is finally fully alive. Come live the best dare of all!"

With all of the changes going on in our lives right now, I find it so easy to focus on the things that aren't turning out the way we had "planned" and even at times questioning God's plan for us. It always seems so much easier to focus on the negatives, instead of stopping and counting all our blessings. So, that is what the author of this book did-- started naming daily blessings and counting them all the way to 1,000. And on the website it's an open forum of women sharing all of their daily blessings. How awesome is that? When I heard about this website/book, I stopped everything I was doing and was immediately hooked. I couldn't stop reading the first chapter on-line. I can't wait to get the book and read more and learn how to live life more fully.

First on my list of blessings today would be for coffee and my sweet husband who got up to make the coffee for us this morning :)

“I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.” Psalm 35:18

A New Year

A New Year means a New City for us.....we are moving to Atlanta next week! I feel like I was just starting to get settled in Chattanooga and starting to find some sweet, Christian friends. But we definitely feel God's hand protecting and providing for us and have a peace about everything. We have both found good jobs for which I am so thankful! I will be working in pediatrics again...this is a huge answer to prayer!

After relentlessly searching different areas of Atlanta and housing options...we have found a condo in Midtown to rent. We had both been praying and knew it was going to be a challenge to find somewhere affordable, safe, and close to our work {read: not excited about the traffic in Atlanta}. When we felt like we had exhausted all options and had agreed to just rent an apartment....I get an e-mail. It was from a lady that I had looked at one of her condos to rent a few weeks prior but ultimately decided that it wasn't the right option for us. She asked me if we would be interested in being property managers for her completely updated, gorgeous condo that is for sale. She is giving us a great deal since we are agreeing to keep it staged and show ready. It was really too good to be true and was such a good reminder of how much God cares for us and that He really does answer prayers.

The outside of the building....love the bay windows that overlook the Park!

We are excited about this new journey and are looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us this next year. Did I mention the condo is less than 2 miles from Trader Joes and only 2 miles from Whole Foods?!? I am sure I am going to have to remind myself of that often when I am complaining about traffic.

For New Year's Eve this year we had a relaxing dinner at home. During the midst of all the craziness right now, it was actually perfect! And on New Year's Day we had some out-of-town visitors...

My parents came and stayed the weekend with us. We enjoyed a delicious meal at Easy Bistro, exchanged Christmas gifts, took them to our church service, had dinner at my in-laws' house, and also managed to get in some sightseeing. The weekends always seem to go by too fast and it is never easy saying goodbye, but I am looking forward to Atlanta being 2 hours closer!

Now that family is gone, it is back to reality....we haven't packed one thing yet! I really can't think of many things that I dread more than packing and unpacking. 3 blog post in less than 24 hours wouldn't be a sign of procrastination, would it?

The Big Reveal

I know everyone has been on the edge of their seating waiting to see how the renovation turned out. Well, I am excited to finally be able to announce that construction is complete, painting has been done, and the final touches are being placed. Overall, we are very happy with everything and are hoping this will utimately make our house more marketable for a potential buyer :)

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We are almost finished with all of the HGTV projects around here. Just a few more little things to purchase for staging purposes, but the majority of the work has been completed. Now we are just praying for a buyer!

Christmas in Chattanooga

Christmas morning was one I will never forget. I was in complete awe of the snow falling down. It made me not miss home as bad, knowing that I would never see this in Mobile. It was absolutely picture perfect!

We left our house that morning and headed over to Ben's parents house. Jacob had flown in from Boca Raton Christmas morning, so it was really good to see him. Ben couldn't wait to get over there so they could play in the snow!

Carol is truly the hostess with the mostess. I have some big shoes to fill that is for sure...I own like 2 Christmas decorations and did not even put up a tree this year. I am pretty sure she would be appalled if she came over to our house and would have sent some kind of emergency decorating crew over.

I mean who doesn't own casual Christmas china and formal Christmas china? Totally normal, right?

Working really hard to create that perfect snowman!

Jacob diligently working....not knowing a large snowball was headed his direction...

Guilty...

I guess he asked for forgiveness by offering to clean his neck off

All of the yummy food

After dinner, we enjoyed some tunes from someone's new toy...

 Later that day, we headed over to see Miss Dottie, Ben's grandmother, who unfortunately fell the week of Christmas and had to spend Christmas at the rehab center. In her words, "this is the most unusual Christmas." Due to the snow, she didn't want to get out as she was afraid she might fall again. So, we brought the Christmas presents to her. But I think the gifts cheered her up!

We had a great time with my in-laws and I feel so blessed to have 2 families that care about and love us so much. And I must admit, it was really nice not having to travel and waking up at our own house on Christmas morning!

My favorite Christmas gift this year was from my mother-in-law, who passed on her silver tea set to me. I don't know that I could ever bring myself to use it but I think it is absolutely beautiful just sitting on our buffet. I have never mentioned to her that I wanted one, but I couldn't be more excited that she has entrusted me with hers. I love sentimental things and this means so much more to me than any tea set I could have gone and bought.

Merry Christmas!

This makes my heart smile. I love coming home and checking the mailbox and seeing all of the cute Christmas cards. I especially love to display them and I find myself just staring at them throughout the day. We are obviously at a time in our lives when many of our friends are starting families.....I mean look at all those cute cheeks! Besides making me want to just squeeze all those little cheeks, looking at this display makes me so thankful. It is a reminder of so many prayer requests that have been answered, both in our lives and in our dear friends lives.

"Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done WONDERFUL things!" -Isaiah 25:1

May your greatest Christmas blessing be God's love for you and yours! Yes, I stole borrowed that from a Christmas card. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

And since we've no place to go

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

This picture was taken this morning after it snowed all day Sunday. It was our first snow of the winter. I could seriously sit by the window, and the fireplace of course, and watch it snow for hours! After growing up along the Gulf Coast, I love that this is something that happens in Chattanooga more than once every 10 years. It definitely gets you in the Christmas mood seeing everything covered in white.

It's great to be an AUburn Tiger!

Ben and I went to Atlanta this past weekend for the SEC championship game. We were so grateful to have been able to find tickets and take a little weekend getaway. And my Tigers did not disappoint! 56-17! What a season...I am SO proud of our team for getting the opportunity to play for the National Championship on January 10th...history in the making :)

It was a great weekend and we were able to catch up with some good friends who we hadn't seen in a while!

Future Auburn student who sat behind us

 Post-game, back at the hotel...we were exhausted

 But it was SO fun to see the #1 Tigers beat South Carolina!

We stayed at the JW Marriott in Buckhead which was perfect because I had not even started our Christmas shopping! No trip to Atlanta is complete without going shopping! The mall in Chattanooga leaves much to be desired!

The beautiful trees at Phipps....I just love Christmas decorations!

Happy Friday!