Christmas

I just had the BEST Christmas ever. Really.
Paul took me to the Biltmore House on Friday. We got up early and beat the crowd (good thinking Paul). Even though it was pouring down rain, we had the best time! I've never been, and I was amazed by the house. We also toured the green houses and winery. That night, we went to Paul's cousin's house for a family get together.
Saturday, church at New Spring. Awesome as always. The sermon really helped put the importance of Christmas into perspective. It's a shame we (myself definitely included) get so caught up in shopping, rushing around, and spending money that we forget we're celebrating the birth of Jesus. After church, my family, Paul, and I went to eat and looked at Christmas lights. (I have to admit, I was a little disappointed in the Pelzer lights this year!) Fun times!
On Sunday, more church at New Spring...getting my greet on, as I like to say. :) Paul and I exchanged Christmas presents that evening. Then we went to his family's house, ate, and opened presents. Paul has an absolutely amazing family by the way.
Today, we went to my brother and sister-in-law's house for Christmas brunch with my family. We opened presents by the fire and watched Christmas Vacation (best movie ever). I was in a rush when we were heading to my brother's and I left my car on. You know, not running, but just enough for the radio to be on so that I could get a CD out. So when we got back to my house, my car was of course dead. So after a romantic Christmas dinner at Super China Buffet (no, really it was!) we headed to my brother's again for jumper cables. So the ol' Metro is up and running again! Hooray! We then went BACK to my brother's for some Trivial Pursuit, which Paul and I (okay really just Paul) kicked butt at. :) It was so nice just to spend some good ol' quality time with the most important people in my life.
So all of that said, Christmas was awesome. I've always associated this time of year with some not-so-happy memories. Not this year, thanks to some new additions to my life! ;) This really was the best Christmas ever.

Paul and Me in Little Switzerland

shout out

This is a shout out to Joyce and Karen, the two BEST librarians, and faithful readers. :) They make me update my blog! Enjoy your break ladies!

Christmas MEME

Christmas MEME
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog (my brother makes an awesome batch)
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? when I was little, no wrap, but it might have been more fun to have them wrapped
3. Colored Light on Tree/House or White? White, especially outside. Paul has a warped mind with his love for colored lights. How can I love someone who is so twisted?! :)
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, but great idea
5. When do you put up your decorations? As soon as Thanksgiving is over
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? sausage balls...they are heavenly
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? My grandfather (pronounced "grindiddy") always came over early to watch us get our Santa Claus presents and we'd have a big breakfast
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I heard the rumor at school, so I confronted my mom to learn the awful truth THREE DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS! tragic.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? absolutely
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? white lights but an assortment of ornaments, especially old, sentimental ones
11. Snow. Love it or dread it? I absolutely love it! I love playing in it, and then coming in and warming up by a fire.
12. Can you ice skate? If it can be called that. The hard part is stopping, easy part is falling
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? definitely my horse Oreo that I got in 4th grade
14. What’s the most important thing about Christmas to you? Jesus of course. I also just love relaxing and getting to spend lots of time with family and friends.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? pecan pie
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? big breakfast on Christmas morning, driving around looking at Christmas lights
17. What tops your tree? a star
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? giving, but I do love me some receiving too!
19. What is your favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night
20. Candy Canes. Yuck or Yum? Well, if they're around I'll eat them, but I don't really look forward to them

I'm tagging:
Lee
Andrea
Angela

I FINISHED!

I made it! I finished the half marathon. And with only a slight pulled muscle in my right leg. My time was two hours nine minutes, and I ran a 9:51 pace. Definitely NOT fast, much slower than I used to be, but faster than the pace I was training at. Not too bad for less than a year after my surgery! It was lots of fun. Definitely helped having Kim to run with, and Paul waiting on me at the finish line. (Have I mentioned that I have THE BEST boyfriend in the world???) So, now I'm enjoying a week or two with NO RUNNING! :)

I'm in desperate need of Christmas vacation. I'm totally exhausted, but trying to keep a good attiutde in the meantime. My life is great, and I'm having fun. God is good. He always gives me the energy I need to get through the day.
Last weekend was a BLAST! A group of us went up to Paul's mountain cabin in Tryon, NC. Seven girls, seven guys. Paul took some amazing pics, as always. It was busy, but relaxing and refreshing at the same time. We ate lots of delicious food (thanks to Paul and Kenyon), shot guns (well, not me), rode 4-wheelers, made smores and roasted marshmallows (and some grapes, gross by the way-don't try it) over bonfires, playes lots of "mafia", and did lots of other fun things. Good times had by all.
I FINALLY have my half marathon this weekend! I'm excited, but a little nervous too. Okay, very nervous. I'm definitely ready to get it over with. I'm thankful God has allowed my knee to hold up through all of the training. Thanks to everyone (especially a certain good looking guy named Paul, and my running partner Kim) for encouraging me! Couldn't have done it without you all!
On a final note, I had a good laugh at myself last week. Our science specialist makes vocabulary cards to post on the wall for each unit we teach. For the past 9 weeks I've been teaching sound and motion. I couldn't figure out what a certain word was-punos. I thought perhaps it was some Spanish word? Well, last week, I FINALLY figured it out. It happened when the word suddenly got turned "upside down". Yeah, it was sound. The sad thing is, I had been wondering why there was no "sound" card, so I'd made one myself. Luckily, I love to laugh at myself.