Chug-a-chug-a-chug-a...Choo-choo

(way too early in the morning)

"Is it time to go to the dentist yet?"

We got up and around first thing to go to the nearest Dental Depot (one of the only places open on Saturdays). Mr. Right drove Momma and me through the ice. It was still pretty bad that morning, but at least his pick-up truck could get through most of it.

How awful to be checking in for an appointment without a front tooth?

They called me back (finally) and I watched the little train chug-a-lug around the tracks as they filled me up with happy gas. Zzzrrr...they drilled down what was left of my poor little tooth and built me up a brand-spanking new front tooth. Sparkling white (an almost perfect match)...just a temporary filling before determining whether or not I need a root canal...ugh.

I sat up and walked out to meet my support team. He held my hand and walked me to the sidewalk where he pulled his truck around for momma and me. Good as new...almost. I still had puffy cheeks, a fat lip split open, and the beginning signs of black eyes. Other than that...I officially had a tooth.

I was ready for Christmas with his side of the family.

(to borrow from my big sis...) All I Want for Christmas is my One Front Tooth

Goodmorning Christmas day!

Our first Christmas with the fams was wonderful! We scurried over to my Momma and Daddy's just as soon as we could dig ourselves out of the driveway, load up the pups, and make it through the snow drifts. What a mess! There were cars piled in the middle of the lanes just stuck in the snow...I've never seen anything like it.

Once in the neighborhood, the tires spun...we slid around...and landed safely on the opposite side of my parents' street.

We parked.

Merry Christmas!

My three-year old neice, Z, had already opened her gifts from Santa and Mimi & Pawpaw so we asked her first thing what she got for Christmas.
-A bike and helmet with Tinkerbelle
-A pink kitchen
-A pink Kawasaki :D
She was adorably excited.

We gathered around the living room and started to pass out gifts that were piled under the tree. As tradition states, no gift unwrapping starts without a video camera present. Daddy started the tape and we watched Z tear open the rest of her gifts from us. We took turns and can you believe it? My little Laila puppy got her Mommy and Daddy a perfect brownie pan! We were so excited to get home and make some fresh brownies just like mom's.

After the excitement of gifts, we started to make some yummy Christmas lunch. The turkey was almost finished, fresh stuffing was ready to go, and I was making my famous green beans (not to mention the million and one side-dishes that compliment the turkey). Gramma, Pawpaw, and my aunt arrived shortly before lunchtime. We stuffed ourselves to the brim and enjoyed a delicious meal together.

Then...
We played Wii. Yes, WE played WII. My momma thought it would be a great thing for all of us to enjoy together, so she got my daddy a wii for Christmas. It took us a good 45minutes to make a mii for all 9 of us there.

We bowled...

We played baseball...

We rested...

We built a snowman...(isn't he cute?)

Then...

As we packed all of our wonderful things up into a large box, we ventured out to the truck. BAD IDEA. My mister-wonderful (being the concerned man he is) was carrying the majority of the Christmas goods and he told me to be careful and make sure I didn't slip on the ice.

Jenx.

Just about the time I opened my mouth, I slipped on a patch of ice on the concrete. The adorable new leopard-print lamp I was carrying just happened to be the perfect height and composite to send a metal lampbase through my mouth and into my front tooth. Ouch! My tongue hit the back of my tooth and I began to scream, "My toof!"

Mr. Compassionate ran towards me grabbing me from the ground and trying to calm me down. Again, the screaming continued. He held me as he looked into my mouth to see what I was pointing to.

"No...no...my toof! Fine my toof now, whhher ith it?"

He immediately called for my dad to come handle me while he searched in the dark...in the snow...for a very white tooth. Seriously, my Daddy was pulling me away on all fours carrying me into the house. I was hysterical.

My poor neice saw me crying my little eyes out like it was the end of the world. She sat next to me and said, "What happened? I'm sorry someone knocked down your snowman...what happened to your tooth!?"

Yes...that innocent mind thought I was down on the ground throwing a fit because some kids knocked down that good-lookin' snowman of ours. I love her.

To make a long story (an even longer evening without a tooth) shorter...we slept in my parents' living room until we could get to dentist the next day, post-Christmas/blizzard. The last thing I said after telling my prince goodnight was, "WHAT IF IT'S THE WRONG COLOR!?"

...dreaming of a white Christmas...

Blizzard 2009 brought a cozy Christmas Eve for just Joshua and me. We stayed tucked inside where it was warm for the majority of the day. First thing, Joshua surprised me with gorgeous bright-pink roses, and we finished decorating our first Christmas tree together. Since we decided not to get gifts for one another and spend a little more on our family and friends, we ended up writing dates and events that stuck out about 2009 on round ornaments for a special gift we could hold onto for next year:

January 24, 2009 Our first date
February 1, 2009 "Worth the risk"- the night Joshua told me he loved me
July 4, 2009 The 4th of July at Lake Eufaula with the family
Bought a home
...
The list went on until we had successfully written a dozen of our favorite memories with one another from the previous year.


After taking advantage of the chilly weather and resting, we took the puppies out to play in the snow. Bailey LOVED it! She pounced about and tried doing everything within her power to play in the snow. Laila on the other hand...poor thing! She was drenched in a matter of seconds. The below freezing temperature ended up making icicles on her pretty white coat. I ended up drying her off and using her pretty pink parka the next time we had to take her out.

We enjoyed as much peace and quiet in the house until we decided to venture out to the local Wal-mart. (Did we NEED anything at Wal-mart? No.) The neighborhood wasn't too bad...at first. As soon as we hit the first main intersection, the snow started blowing so hard you couldn't even see where we were going. The windshield wipers would clear off the window and the snow would accumulate before it could go back up again. I had never seen anything like it before.

Finally, we made it to the parking lot (which was complete chaos with stuck vehicles and crashes). Surveying our options, we decided that parking was not an option. Joshua dropped me off at the door to get the two things we listed while driving to the store. I picked up a gingerbread kit while I was there to pass some time and stopped at the redbox rental while I was walking back out the door...nothing worth even paying the dollar for.

McDonald's.

I was starving for warm food...

He pulled into the drive-thru...closed.

After hitting our heads in agreement that this roadtrip was not one of the smartest decisions we had made, we drove back to the house. I didn't know if we were going to make it. They weren't kidding when they said "Blizzard". It was nothing but a windy, snow-white, freezing-cold, mess.

Once inside, we decided we were going to stay inside. We took advantage of the frozen foods in the freezer and our fully-functional, yet not-so-lovely, yellow stovetop. We made shrimp pasta with herbs and fresh asparagus tips with a garlic-soy base...ymmm. It wasn't our traditional Christmas dinner, but it was definitely a day to remember.

Bailey, Laila, Joshua, and I curled up on the couch and started to watch the parades on television.

*ring, ring*

It was the neighbor. He had made the same mistake we had and was stuck in the entry of the neighborhood. Well, we did the neighborly thing and (ignoring the smart parts of our brains) we bundled up and reunited ourselves with the seats of the pickup. On our way for the rescue!

This time, it was pitch black outside, and the snow drifts had piled even higher.

We drove for a while...
...dead end.

There were cars covered with snow to their windows, and there was no way we could make it down the street.

We made a U-turn and took a detour route.

Stuck.

Stuck, stuck, stuck.

No snow-shovel.

No 4wheel drive.

Stuck.

Luckily, our other next-door neighbor pulled up behind us (and being the wonderful cop and citizen he is...he dug us out with another man that lived nearby).

No, we were not heroes...we couldn't even get to the stuck vehicle we had set out to help.

However, all of us got home safely thanks to good samaritans of the neighborhood.

That night, we slept peacefully in a cold home with concrete floors and broken walls. The same broken walls that we have put love and sweat into over the past few months. The same floors that carry the sound of 8 little paws across the rooms. The same walls that hold a very blessed couple that are very much in love with one another.

With that being said, I am thankful for the cold stable that housed a man and a woman that were totally wrapped up in love with each other...and their Son. This Christmas Eve, just like that night in Bethlehem, we were right where we were supposed to be...

Together...

Shining the light on what is really important in life.

It's not just traditions and gifts around a Christmas tree. It's what you make of it when the world around you is quiet and dark and you are face-to-face with the reason for living.

Love.

Stoplight

Green means go,
But...
What if you don't?
You hesitate.
Life passes you by.
You watch those around you reach where they wanted to go,
And you are left alone.
The annoying horn blares from the frustration of those around.
What if you make a wrong turn?
Is it left or right?
Which way do you go?
Your journey awaits you...your destination...your destiny.

Before you know it,
You've missed your chance.
Yellow...red...stop.

Yellow means slow,
But...
Why?
You rush through everything.
Hurrying to get where you want to go.
Life is a blur.

Bypassing where you are.
Always looking to get somewhere else,
But you forget what is right here.
Stop it.

Red light.
Stop worrying about the forks in the road.
Take the road less traveled.
Focus on what is above, not up ahead.
Forget about the hustle and bustle.
Stop rushing but keep going.
Never give up.
Focus on the prize.
Don't forget to realize right now.

There is a time and place for everything.
Don't rush through when it's time to stop.
Chaos and crash...
The risk isn't worth taking.
Listen to His will for you life.

Go when He tells you.
Full speed ahead.
Don't hesitate.
Just keep going.
Trust that He will protect you.

Enjoy it.
Slow down when you wish you were somewhere else.
Do not be anxious for what is to come...
Remember today.

Green...
to yellow...
to red.

Hello, Mr. Frost...

Hello, Mr. Frost.
It was so nice to see you. It's been a while since we last ran into each other. February was it? My, oh, my...time has passed so quickly, it's hard for me to even remember. And can you believe Thanksgiving has already passed? I am Thankful to have you back in my life every now and again.

It was such a pleasant surprise to see you. I almost didn't recognize you with the sun shining still. Then I stepped outside, and sure enough...there you were. You are so thoughtful to have left little messages on my windows so I would remember you even in the warmth inside. My cheeks blush everytime you're around, and I cannot help but want to cuddle up by a cozy fire when you're in town.

How lovely of you to show up just in time for the holidays. I love having you around on Christmas. You will join us this year, won't you? Oh, please say yes. We wouldn't have it any other way. It just wouldn't be the same without your special touch on everything. You seem to make the world light up when the sun comes near. You are so pure and truth-be-told, you just glisten.

I understand you have to run. Oh, Mr. Frost, you are always on the go and your visits are so unpredictable. Please come back soon and see us. Let's get together when we go to look at the lights this year. You make the perfect company and we can enjoy a nice hot cocoa. I'll be sure to wear my darling new jacket next time you're around. Don't be a stranger this winter!

Sincerely,
B.