Merry Christmas

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Merry Christmas from our family to yours! Christmas is a time for fellowship, food, giving, memories and most importantly, a time to celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

It the chaos of finding the perfect gift, hosting the perfect holiday party or making sure all the cookies are just right, it's easy to lose sight of what Christmas is all about. Now is a time to sit back and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. No matter how much we give, we can never give as much as Jesus has given us.

Perhaps next year instead of hosting a Christmas party, we will throw a "Happy Birthday Jesus" party. Isn't that more appropriate? Isn't that what Christmas is all about?

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. - Luke 2:14

Christmas Lovefeast

One of the Christmas traditions in the Petree family is to attend the Lovefeast at Home Moravian church in Old Salem. This has special significance because it is a popular celebration of the Moravian church using lighted candles and carols to celebrate the Christmas season. Every person is given a lighted candle to remind them that Christ said, "I am the light of the world", and "Ye are the light of the world - let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." The history of the Lovefeast is in remembrance of early settlers of the church using a small Moravian bun and coffee to symbolize the original Lovefeast. This also had special significance to us since Home Moravian Church is where we got married in October.

My dear husband had to point out that I was the only one in the church taking pictures. Oh well, a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2nd Annual Christmas Dinner

Last year Brian and I decided to host a Christmas dinner for my family. You can read about it here. This year we pushed it back an hour so we weren't so rushed. We decided to be less formal this year and just have everyone sit in the living room to eat instead of at the table. I forgot to take pictures until the dinner was 1/2 over. Oops! But here are the ones that I did manage to take:

All the yummy food: Ham, Green Beans, Spinach-artichoke dip, sausage balls, baked apples, roasted potatoes, etc.

Our Rudolph pitcher that was a wedding gift

Sitting around (We watched A Charlie Brown Christmas Story)

Centerpiece

The pups decided to cuddle up and join in on the fun

We really enjoyed having everyone over! Family time is the best time!

Winter Storm 2009

We live below the Mason-Dixon Line . We never see snow. I can't remember the last time we had a White Christmas. When the weather forecasters were predicting snow last Friday, my reaction was "I'll believe it when I see it". Well much to my surprise and joy, they finally got this one right!!! Even work issued the "severe weather plan" on Friday so we both got to leave early!!!

Here is what it looked like Friday afternoon:

And here is what it looked like when we woke up Saturday morning:Perhaps we will have a White Christmas after all!

Happy Birthday Zach!

Today is my big brother's birthday!!!! Happy Birthday to one of my best friends and one of the guys that means the world to me! Thanks for always being there for me. You are the best brother ever, Zach! Love you! Mean it!

Card Solution

I am OCD about clutter. I hate it. So needless to say, not having a place to put all our Christmas cards was driving me insane. This was the before:And here is the after:All it took was 2 nails, ribbon and small clothes pins. Better than anything, it was FREE! I already had everything so I went to work and literally 2 minutes later, the cards were hung and everyone could view them! We have them hanging from all the windows in the living room. And my OCD-ness can rest easy now.

How do you display your Christmas cards?

Need this...

A friend received this wreath as a gift. I need this. I want this. And frankly, I am determined to make one just like it! I do believe this is a must have for all Mountaineer fans!!! Isn't is great?

Have YOSEF a very Merry Christmas!

Boonetown

Like many newlyweds, Brian and I are trying to form our own traditions. Last year we trekked up to Boone to a Cut and Choose Christmas Tree Farm and keeping with the tradition, we headed up again this year. Boone holds a special place in my heart and it is always nice to go back and show Brian around the small town that was my world during college.

Brian at Cool Springs Nursery

Drive back down the mountain... gorgeous!

My parents tree (we cut theirs down too)

My Appalachian Ornaments (I get one every year!)

Our Tree

Our stockings on the ladder Brian made

O'Malley watching while we decorate

Deacon asleep by the tree

In our next house, I really want a mantle and fireplace so we can hang the stockings on the mantle and cuddle up around the fire on cold nights. There is nothing better than sitting in the living room with no lights on except the tree. I simply love Christmas Time!

And for those who have never been to Boone... I highly recommend jumping in the car and visiting! It is a wonderful place. I promise.

Green Swing

I've talked about the green swings before. They are located in Southport and overlook the water. I'm not sure why I was originally drawn to these swings but over the years, they have become a necessary stop during our beach vacations. Just two of the pictures from the past years...

Beach Trip 2007

Halloween 2008

You can only imagine my surprise when I stumbled across this post on White Thread . It's one of the green swings. Love it!

It's the small things that make me smile. Has anyone else been to Southport and seen the green swings?

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Big Brother's Wedding

Saturday, December 5 my big brother, Zach, got married! I couldn't have been more excited for him. They got married in the same church as we did and although it was rather chilly that day, everything went off without a hitch. Zach and I have always been close and I couldn't have been more happy to stand up there and watch him marry Taylor. It was a beautiful ceremony and a very nice reception that followed. For now, I'll just let the pictures do the talking. Just a warning... picture overload...

The bride to be, Taylor, getting dolled up

Brother and Sister

That's more normal for us

First "Look"

The 3 most important men in my life

My cousin and her daughter (flower girl) and I

I heart my family

Mr. and Mrs. Zach Petree

Reception Time...

My awesome grandparents

I have the best friends in the world

Zach, Colleen and I

Zach, Dawn and I

The Moore's and The Smith's

My parents and my "sisters" + Keith.. missed you Jess!

Bridal Party.. and Keith.

These people are my world.

Muffin and Pookie

Typical

Bride and Groom.. Zach and Taylor!!!

Congratulations Zach and Taylor! We love you!