Happy Birthday, Heather!

Today is my very wonderful sister-in-law's birthday!!! She is wife to my CRAZY brother, an amazing mother to three BEAUTIFUL kids, and a WONDERFUL teacher to her kids at school! She has more on her plate than any other person I know, but she manages it well and does a great job at it. We live far apart so I am not able to see her often but we still keep up through technology and I always enjoy hearing from her. I was blessed with a great brother but never a sister so I have enjoyed having some "sister-moments" with her over the past 7 or 8 years!

Thanks for being a great sister-in-law! I am grateful to have you in my life.

Happy Birthday!

Enjoy some old pictures!!

David and Heather at his Ordination service in Marmaduke.

Heather and I at my wedding.

David and Heather right before they had Carter.

Me, Heather at Carter at a Georgia Bulldogs game.

Heather, Carter, David and Summer (Tilly wasn't born yet!)

We love you. Cari/Cory.

Celebrating the life Jill on her birthday!

Today is the birthday of my dear friend Jill Attebery who passed away on November 2nd after being in car wreck with her husband and 3 month old son. I have thought of them often since that day, as I know so many have who were touched by this tragedy. It is amazing how one person can permeate your life! It has been the most basic things that have brought her to my mind. I have thought of Jill as I looked through my cookbook. She loved to make 2x4 soup for all us and I have passed that recipe in my book and thought..."I just can't make it yet!" I have thought of her as I pay the bills and do our finances b/c she is the one who referred us to our financial advisor and modeled for me what it meant to live on a budget. I think of her each time I pray for my nieces and nephew b/c she left behind a son who she dearly loved and prayed for several years to have. I think of her each time I open my study Bible to read it. It is just like hers -- color and everything. I asked Cory to buy one like it for me our first Christmas we were married, b/c I admired her so much. I think about her each time we watch a Razorback game b/c I know how much her husband LOVES the Razorbacks. I think of her each day -- as she was the truest example of Proverbs 31 women. I had known Jill for about 8 years, which is a while but imagine those who have known her longer and more deeply. Imagine the memories that they hold of her. Today, I pray for Scott and Bryce to cherish the memory of their wife and mother with recalling the happy moments which with Jill was VERY often. She was always able to make something hilarously funny. She loved to serve and intentionally minister to the hearts of others. She was one of the biggest influences in my life and today I miss her.

I know I already posted these pictures in an earlier post but I love pictures and wanted to post them in again in honor of her birthday.

Stina, Jill, Me and Kristi at Jill's house at a wedding shower they threw for me.

Me and Jill at "Bootcamp" getting ready to head off to a mission trip.

Tiffany, Lindsey, Me, Jill and Beka at my college graduation

Lindsey, Me, Jill, Beka, Kristi and Crystal in the lawn at St. Louis next to the arches.

Kim, Stina, Jill, Kristi, Lenea, Me, Lisa, Erin, Brittney,

Crystal, Lindsey, Christina and Beka at my wedding.

CEC.

Low-Key Decorating.

Well, this year the Christmas spirit has been a little bit harder for me to find within myself! I think my job has kept me so busy that I have seen Christmas decorating as more of a chore than a joy. Sad, but true! We were really wanting to do a contemporary take on a Christmas tree this year. We brainstormed some ideas (i.e. spray paint a tree red, find a tree to hang upside down, etc.) We grew a little weary of our lack of a creative idea that we loved. So, we decided to buy a 20 dollar 4-foot RED tree from Wally-World. Its pretty cute and easy assembly! It is a lot easier to put up and take down than our big one. I also put out my lime green tree this year which is usually one I put up in my office. However, I am not in my office much so I decided it would be less neglected out our house. I have taken a couple pictures from around our house and included them below. We also went to C's company Christmas party on Saturday evening. Since we were dressed up we took the opportunity to take a picture in front our our tree via self-timer! It took a couple of takes but overall I think it turned out well. I hope you enjoy a glimpse into our low cost/simple style Christmas decorating! :)

RED TREE!

LIME GREEN TREE!

Mr. Snowman! I LOVE snowmen!

Willow Tree Nativity Scene

Us. On take 55 with the self-timer. If you look closely, you will be able to see the sweat on my forehead from running back and forth to the camera.

Happy Christmas Decorating. CEC.