Better....and more....

I have been out of town since before Christmas and have had very limited Internet access. It has been a bummer but at the same time I have had more time to be with my family and not sitting in front of a computer. It is New Years Eve and yes, I am sitting here watching the Hokies play and waiting for the crazy guy to jump his car over the lake....or whatever it is he is doing. Somehow that has replaced Rockin' Eve in our home and I am okay with that. Yes, I am sure that makes me older....more out of touch maybe, but I get to spend New Years with my oh so grown up nephews watching a crazy guy do crazy stunts and I will take that any day of the week.

I know there are several things I want to do better at this year.....

1.) I want to be a better Christian. I want to be so involved in the Word....so enveloped in prayer....and encased by His grace. I want to do better....be better.....Trust Him!

2.) I want to be a better wife to my sweet husband. He is my best friend...my confidant...my soul mate. The one that I trust with everything. He knows my weaknesses and loves me anyway. He is the one I laugh with....love...and I want to be better for him.

3.) I want to be a better mom to my four precious babes. I want to spend more time meeting their "small" needs instead of worrying about the things that I view as big. I want to talk with them....laugh with them...teach them...pray with them and over them. There is no more important job on earth than that of raising children and I want to honor God with it. I don't want to just be a mediocre mom.....I want to be the BEST!

4.) I want to be a better Pastor's wife. I have had the honor of serving in my church for the last 9 years and this year I want to do more. Not just "doing" more...but taking more time to talk to folks...even if I have four kids tugging at me skirt. I want to take more time to pray with hurting people and sit with them and hold their hands. I just want to be more...do more....and love more.

5.) I want to be a better daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, friend....you get the picture. I want to take the time to let the people that truly mean the most to me....that I love them. That I appreciate them...and that I am there for them. I want to spend more time praying for them....and just spend more time with them.


I am not one for New Year's Resolutions....I am not sure I have ever really set one. But I do believe that sometimes we need a clean slate....a fresh start...a new day...and what better one than the first day of the year. 2010...here I come...and I just want to do better than I have done....and do more for Him than I have ever done......and if that is a resolution, than I will mark it down, but more importantly I hope I am sitting here next year looking back knowing that I have done the things I set out to do. Better....and more!

The card......

Merry Christmas....from the Blazi Gang!

Peace on Earth....Goodwill to men.....

For unto us a child is born....unto us a Son is given.....

I'm gonna let it shine....

I love this season and all that it entails....but being in church during Christmas is my favorite thing of all. Sunday night at church we had our candlelight service. I had taken all three of the older kids in for the service so that they could experience the beauty of the service. We had the Lord's Supper and boy did it bless my heart to see my sweet 8 year old son partake of it with me. To see him praying and thanking God for saving him reminds me of how good God has been to us.

As the service concluded, we each lit our solitary candles and the room slowly began to glow. Shelby Jean, my four year old, was seriously either trying to set the church on fire or the gentleman's hair that was sitting in front of us(sorry Mr. Denny)....she was seriously letting her light shine. Charlie was getting burnt by the wax...Shelby was setting folks hair on fire....Addie was stiff as a board...and then I looked around us and everyone was holding their candles high as Dr. Price reminded us all to let our light so shine before men. I have to admit.....I got welled up. Welled up that our church that has had the toughest year yet....our church that has literally walked through a fire......has come out on the other end......with our light shining. The candle light was softly glowing on each persons face. Faces that were joyous...thankful...peaceful...and blessed. Some of those faces have been through a loved ones death this year...heartache...job loss...loss of homes....but yet on this night...their faces glowed with hope....and it blessed me!


Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

May you.......

This Christmas......

May there be peace on earth....

May you have the love of family....

May you have the hope of a child...

May your heart be still...

May your feet walk steady.......

May your face smile.....

May your eyes speak volumes....

May you take time to notice the small things......

May you take time to have fun and laugh.......

May you also remember that "Unto you is born this day in the City of David, a savior, which is Christ the Lord And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men " Luke 2:11 -14

It's a tour....of my home....

I have been wanting to link up with the Nester on the Christmas Tour of Homes but have been having major issues with my blog this week and am just now able to get it do it...hope you enjoy the tour!

This is looking in our kitchen where we eat every meal....I love my big farm table!

I bought this snow globe at Target last year and just love it!

I made this with an old onion keeper that I spray painted and turned upside down and put a little bird and nest in it....



I love red and whites together...and of course a little black bow...Go Dawgs!

Looking into the living room from the kitchen....

Horribly fuzzy pic...but I loved the glow of the tree!

This is the little tree I have in my foyer....I love how simple it is and the message it sends!

Wreath on my front door that I made...love me some spray paint!

Burlap bows on my lights outside.......

Tiny wreaths that hang on the old barn door behind my desk...

I like to do some simple touches.....a little green goes a long way!

Let it Snow.....yeah right...in Georgia???

I made this with chalkboard paint and a platter I got as a wedding gift...

The tree in the playroom.....it has only fallen over 86 times so far!

Snowflake hanging in the door to the playroom...

These are the snowflakes the kids made one night...we have been trying to do a fun thing each night during the Christmas season....this was fun, but the paper...oh my, it was everywhere!

Dining room hutch.....

I made these with some old pine cones and left over ribbon and an empty frame that the glass got broken out of....I love the way it looks!

Foyer again...

This is the little table behind my couch that I re purposed.....it was so ugly so I sanded it and painted it black and love it now....it usually sits in my foyer where the tree is!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care......

Our advent box that we do a neat family thing out of every night....can't wait to go look at lights!

I made this cool wreath using stuff from the Dollar Tree.....it was so cheap and easy...but hot gluing each of these tops to the ornament took a while...

I made this using one of my vinyl's from my company....On the Doorpost!

Meet Buddy.....our Elf on the Shelf!

The top of our tree is literally hitting the ceiling...so this old barn star will just have to do!

I love my tree...with it's mismatched ornaments...homemade things....memories of my sweet kids......I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. I love to look at all the beautiful trees that are out there....but for now....and until my kids are old...this shall remain!

It's Glowing!!!

I made this with another vinyl from On the Doorpost...I love the look of the wood...which I painted with a paper towel...because I couldn't find a brush...I know right!

My kid's stockings are personalized with their pictures....I love the way it looks!

My Willow Tree Nativity that I have had since we got married....I love how simple it is!

I love this little piece....sticks...fake snow...cute ornaments!

The real reason for the season. Even though I love to decorate....love to give gifts....love to see my kids light up....love to make goodies.....nothing compares to this:

He truly is the Reason for the Season. The reason I am who I am!

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.