~2010~

Here is my wackadoodle family ringing in the New Year as only we know how. This was taken in our suite on our 30th Anniversary cruise last year...good times~! and here's to a grrrrrrreat 2010~!

~31~

Happy Anniversary to Us~! =)

~Jammies~

Another Christmas tradition in our family is to get new jammies on Christmas Eve. Meg & Jim have been receiving their jammies in the same Nordstrom box for about 15 years~! And even now that the kids are both married...this tradition continues (for some reason the drop shadows were not working on this layout but you get the idea)

~Trimmings~

Jeff decided to tryout his new garden clippers to “trim” their Christmas tree. Can’t you just hear Meg saying…JEFFREY what the heck?!? =)

~Immanuel~

Even tho I find the saying rather trite...Jesus IS the reason for the season~!

~Santa~

Long gone are the days when we would go to breakfast with Santa...but I LOVE this photo of Jim meeting Santa for the first time...makes me wonder just what he is thinking...but then that is what Christmas is about...the joy and the wonder =)

~Tradition~

One of our family Christmas traditions is to put up a Nativity crèche. Since Meg was two years old, this has always been her responsibility. At first I thought she looked at it as a special doll’s house that came out only once a year. Then I noticed how lovingly and carefully she placed each figurine in its own special place in the manger. And when she got to the Baby Jesus figurine, she would always kiss him and say “Thank you Baby Jesus for being born.” This is a precious family tradition that has continued on for her for 26 years.

~Cookies~

The most looked forward to Christmas tradition is decorating sugar cookies with Grandmama. The kids have been doing this ever since Meg was 2 years old...it's always a time of sprinkles and frosting flying everywhere along with lots of love and laughter~

~Nutcracker~

Another Christmas tradition of our was to go see Meg perform in The Nutcracker...gotta say that is one I REALLY miss~! Watching Meg dance is just awe inspiring and breathtaking to me. Here is a little bit of her Nutcracker history...from having a minor role as a bonbon in Mother Ginger to dancing the lead as the Sugar Plum Fairy...Nutcracker SWEET~!

~HoHo~

One of our many family traditions at Christmas time is getting a picture by our Christmas tree. Here are Meg and Jim waaaaaaaaaay back in 1986...they haven't changed a bit huh? =)

~Presents~

Talk about ghosts of Christmas past =) Here are Todd and I surrounded by our presents on Christmas morning waaaaaaaaaay back in 1956. The thing I love most about the photo is the tinsel on the tree...mom LOVES tinsel =)

~Cookies~

My girl Krystal has a new kit...love it~! and I love this photo of Jim leaving cookies and milk for Santa...well of course the milk is now spiked eggnog but the sentiment is the same~! =)

~Signs~

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas~!! sing along with me =) All the decorations are up and the house looks soooooooooo festive. I love this time of year where everywhere I look brings back a precious memory. I love the sights and sounds of this season~!

~12th~

~11th~

~10th~

~9th~

~8th~

~7th~

~6th~

~5th~

~4th~

~3rd~

~2nd~

~1st~

~Strum~

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving...filled with family...fun and lots of food =) it ended on a high note with going to see Meg play with her ukulele club at open mic night...she was awesome~! get it...high note? hahaha =)

~Music~

Music speaks what cannot be expressed,
soothes the mind and gives it rest,
heals the heart and makes it whole,
flows from heaven to the soul

~Pie~

Last Thanksgiving Cassie brought a home made pie all the way from Arizona...mmmmmm good~! And the Thanksgiving before that will be forever remembered with Jeff uttering the phrase ~I forgot all about pie~! =)

~Missing~

It's been 18 years since daddy passed away and I miss him even more now~

~Memories~

The faces might have changed around our Thanksgiving table...but the fun...laughter...love and memories are still there~

~Wishbone~

Every year we save the wishbone from the turkey so the kids can use it to make a wish the next year. I think you can tell by the expression on Meg's face just WHO won in this picture =)

~Mirror~

She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. And some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child.

~Music

I LOVE listening to Meg play her ukulele. It truly amazes and inspires me...not only because she taught herself to play...but because it sounds so beautiful too...play on~!

~ears~

Jim & Cassie wore their Mickey wedding ears all over Walt Disney World! tooooo cute =)

~Thankful~

Tis the season to be thankful...and my heart is truly thankful for my precious family~ <3

~Challenge~

As the year is coming to an end we are busy planning for next year. In 2010 we are going back to the basics of leaving a legacy of faith. This years challenges are all focused on YOU and your lifetime story. When you join us in this challenge you will be creating a mini-autobiography. We are counting down the days till January 6th because we are so stinkin' excited about the My Lifetime Story challenges!!!

Wouldn't you love to know what your grandma's favorite toy was as a child, how she felt when she met your grandpa, her favorite scripture and the song that expressed her heart? Your children and grandchildren will have that treasure when you join us in this challenge!

We will start out with your family roots in January and move into your childhood in February. We will continue throughout the year with your teen and adult years as well. The last challenge of the year will be a letter to your future generations or anyone who reads your book.

Each of our stories is important. This is a book that everyone should create about themselves. It will be the most treasured album of your family. As you create this album about your lifetime story you will be leaving YOUR LEGACY OF FAITH. This is an album that can make an impact in your life as you create it, but it will also create a major impact in the lives of your family both now and in future generations. As your children read your story in this scrapbook that YOU created, they will take your stories to heart. Your stories may have more impact on them than even Bible stories, because they are personal and from someone they know and love . When friends and neighbors pick up your storybook and look through it you will be witnessing without even saying a word. They will read your lifetime history and discover your love of Jesus, and His forgiveness and faithfulness in your life!

The My Lifetime story challenges will begin the first Wednesday in January. A new challenge will be posted each Wednesday all throughout 2010. The last challenge will be posted the last Wednesday of December. Just because the challenge series ends at the end of 2010 doesn't mean your lifetime story album is finished. We will continue to offer periodic challenges to continue your autobiography and keep it current.

Please join us in this year long challenge! Some of these challenges may be layouts you have already completed. That is ok! We need to get these all compiled in your lifetime storybook. Everyone deserves to be the star of their own book, including and most importantly YOU! If you don't put some time aside to create your My Lifetime Story album now, you may never find the time. If something were to happen to you, would your legacy of faith be lost forever? Take action now, join us as we create our lifetime storybooks for the next generation to see the glorious work the Lord can do in the life of a woman that loves God!

~12th~

Faith Sisters started a challenge in January of this year...to take 12 pictures on the 12th of each month. It's been a fun way to document just what transpires during my day. But this month I decided to switch it up a little and focused on the 12 things that I am thankful for each and every day~

~Happy~

love love love this photo of Meg & Jeff as they were hiking around Ganesha Park near their home...gotta love being a tourist in your own town~!

~11-11~

Truce was declared in WWI on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month and we have been celebrating Veterans Day ever since! So thanks to all service men and women...we are the home of the free because of the brave~! oh and this layout is of my grandmother's brother at Camp Kearny while he was getting ready to be shipped out during WWI...I LOVE that she saved even the postcard he sent home letting his family he arrived safely overseas...family history...THIS is why I scrapbook~!

~Brave~

I made this layout in honor of my dad and the upcoming Veterans Day holiday. The picture is of him and his buds at the US Naval Base in San Diego right before shipping out to the Pacific in 1948. LOVE this quote...This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. Elmer Davis

~Measured~

My girl Krystal has a new kit and it goes perfectly with Jim & Cassie's wedding colors...bonus~! Love this photo of the newly married couple...sooooo cute~!

~Swing~

A sweet photo of Meg... waaaaaaaaaay back when... swinging on her swing with her baby dolls...love it~

~Love~

Some more amazing photos of Jim & Cassie's wedding...they look soooooooo happy together...you just can't help but fall in love with them =)

~Chillaxin'~

Here I am just chillaxin' with my flip flops on before Jim & Cassie's wedding...hey I waited til THE last minute to put on those wedding shoes =) A new kit by my girl Emily and a new template by Chrissy...what better way to chillax than scrap with their amazing designs~! =)

~Happiness~

My girl Emily has a new kit coming out that I love love LOVE~! and it's just perfect for scrapping all my happy photos of the kids~

~Love~

And the wedding layouts continue...this time...let's hear it for the mother and father of the groom...woohoo~!!!! =)

~Beginnings~

My girl Krystal has a new kit called Oh Happy Day...which I think is perfect for this photo of Jim carrying Cassie over the threshold of their house as they start their new life together....oh happy day indeed~!

~Halloween~

I LOVE this layout...cause this photo just cracks me up~! credit for the title goes to Meg... but the design is all mine~ and now I am off to carve our pumpkins for this year... Happy Halloween...BOO~!

~Bubbles~

Jim & Cassie left their wedding reception surrounded by a sea of bubbles blown by their wedding guest. What a joyful way to send off the newly married couple as they start their new life together. 10/23/09

~Branch~

Jim & Cassie have now started a new branch on the Williams’ Family tree