How we spent New Year's Eve...

 This is the first time we have been in town New Year's Eve in several years.  The last few years we have been in Gatlinburg with my family but this year it was exciting to spend it with friends!  My hubby smoked some A-MAZ-ING chickens!

We ate (ALOT!), played games, chatted and hung out.  Thankful for such wonderful friends!

As you know Amy and Adam moved 1 1/2 hours away after Thanksgiving but they surprised us and showed up.  My mouth dropped when she showed up at the door!  Good secret Whitney!

Catchphrase is always a blast!  

All three "Facebookin'"!

The whole crew stayed up until Midnight, even Lucy!  But all my kids did take a nap today to do so!

Girls windin' down and getting tired...

Waitin' on the countdown...

Watching fireworks at midnight out our front window...

We missed the NYE countdown (forgot they do it an hour early for our time) but we did watch the local countdown.  I had recorded it and we watched the ball drop later on our DVR.

Because I drank caffeine at dinner (I usually don't drink caffeine), I couldn't sleep until after 1 a.m.  January 1st is gonna come way too soon in the morning!

Great night!  Looking forward to all that 2013 brings us!

Date night!

While the kids were at Lolli's for the weekend, Jay and I decided to go on a date night since it has been a while.  I was given some gift cards at Christmas so we were thankful to get to use those for our date.  We left about noonish and went to see Les Miserables.  Neither of us had ever seen it before so other than a musical and recognizing some of the songs, we didn't know what to expect.   I will say the acting was great and it was a good movie, although it was either of our preferences on a movie.  It was long and Jay couldn't believe they sang the entire movie.  Yea, I don't think he would go see it again ha!  He is not a musical kind of guy.  I actually like musicals however I am not a fan of history and there was a lot of history in the movie.  But if you like musicals, you will LOVE it!

Then we stopped by Starbucks for a cup of joe!

Then we went to a restaurant we have never been to before.  I had a gift card to Carabba's but the gift card was also one of the sister restaurants such as Bonefish or Flemings.  Jay chose Flemings and it was GOOD!  It was some of the best steak we have ever had however it was really expensive.  It probably won't be in our rotation of restaurants except for special occasions.  But it was GREAT food!  And they gave us a complimentary dessert box when we left...I'll take it!

 Then as if the date wasn't good enough, at dinner we got to talking about iPads and how I finally think I might use one.  Up to this point Jay has tried to convince me I would like one but I just wasn't too interested in them.  However I had finally decided that I might like to have one.  This made his day and on the way home, he pulled into Best Buy and said, "Come on I am going to buy you an iPad!!"  I was excited!  How awesome is he?!  And I LOVE the case too!

And I love it!  He got me all set up and I had a ball playing around with it.  SO fun!  I've been missing out!

Christmas with the Nason's

Tonight was our last Christmas for the season at my mom's house with my dad's side of the family.  The kids were thrilled to know Christmas wasn't over and to get to see family they don't get to see very often.

Me and my hunky hubby before leaving...

Lucy and cousin Sarah Jane...

Cousin Will...

Lucy and one of her favorite people...Pop!

Lolli and Cousin "Lil' B"...couldn't let you miss out on that sweet smile!

Gift time....

My dad and 2 of his sisters, Carol and Mary...

Great Christmas with the Nason's!

A family date to Skyzone

Today we had a family day planned with our friends and Lucy for the first time wanted braids because her hair is finally growing out.  So I did my best and we have braids!!! She was so proud!

 

 We had a family day planned with the Potts to Skyzone.  We have never been and the kids have been wanting to go really bad and we were pretty excited too!

Karis drew this in her journal about the pictures she had seen of Skyzone...so cute!

Skyzone is a great place!  SO fun and we were all sad (me included) when our hour was over!

My girls with their braids...

Dodge ball was Brayden's favorite.  He was the last man standing both times he played...he never got out! 

Lucy was afraid of the "pillows" as she called it at first and then by the end she was doing it all by herself and didn't want to leave!

Here are some videos...

Lucy jumping...

IMG 1185 from Amanda Lemonds on Vimeo.

Lucy jumping all by herself! from Amanda Lemonds on Vimeo.

Me doing a flip...

Amanda doing flips... from Amanda Lemonds on Vimeo.

Karis doing a 1 1/2 flip into the pit!

Karis doing a 1 1/2 flip into the pit! from Amanda Lemonds on Vimeo.

Brayden doing a flip into the pit!

Brayden doing a flip into the pit! from Amanda Lemonds on Vimeo.

Amanda doing a flip into the pit!

Amanda doing a flip into the pit! from Amanda Lemonds on Vimeo.

Then we went to Casa Mexicana with the Potts and then on the way home we met up with our friends Amy and kiddos briefly because they were in town for an appointment.  So good to see them!

 Great day with friends!

2013 Bible reading options

I have had several people contact me in the last 2 weeks about options for Bible reading for 2013 so I thought I would blog about what I have done in the past and what I plan to do in 2013.  In September 2011, I started the One Year Chronological Bible in hopes that for the first time I could read the Bible in its entirety for the first time.  

In September 2012 I completed my goal and it was such an accomplishment in my life.  I will say at times it was hard and I got behind quite a bit, but I refused to quit.  I would get behind and then spend hours catching up many times.  However, I did it.  It was amazing to read the Bible not only in its entirety but to read it chronologically.  It made so much more sense and I read things that I had read 100 times but in context, puts a whole new spin on it.  

There is also a commentary/workbook written by a very Godly woman Iva May that goes along with the Bible that is wonderful.  She has read the Bible chronologically over 40 times and I learned so many things from her wisdom.  You can view her website and order the chronological devotional study at www.ivamay.com.

As of now, I have read the New Testament twice.  I learn best when I can write and highlight and mark all over my Bible.  I know people learn different ways and this just works for me.  However after going through the New Testament twice and using a different highlighter the second go-round, my Chronological Bible is starting to feel worn and torn.  I don't know if I have any more room to read it a third time.  

Change is good and a fresh start is sometimes needed.  So Jay and I decided to switch it up a bit and start something similar and new for 2013 and maybe alternate years.  We decided to do what David Platt is taking his church through called Read the Bible for Life.  There is a Chronological Bible that was compiled by George Guthrie, one of my professors at Union, as well as an "app for that."  

 

 It is compiled a week at a time, only 6 days a week to give you time to catch up.  And if you don't skip a day then you read it in 10 1/2 months. 

Here is the app that goes along with it....

You can choose your own reading plan.  I chose the One Year Chronological Reading Plan and titled in Bible in a Year.

 I am looking forward to fresh pages, a new plan and time in the Word.  I have learned so much since I started reading chronologically and I don't plan to do it only once.  God has taught me so much about Himself, how much I need Him, and simple truths about walking in the Spirit.

If you are thinking about starting this January 1st, here are some tidbits or words of wisdom I would share with you...

1. Don't give up!  There will be times when it is super hard and to be honest parts are super boring.  But it's God's Word, inspired by the Holy Spirit and there are all there for a reason.  Don't skip any.  If you get behind, spend some time catching up.  You'll be glad.
2. Protect your time.  Set a time each day that you are going to do your reading and do it.  Get up early (that is what works for me, may not be your best time).  My kids know when I am doing my Bible study, interruptions should be limited and only necessary.  I have explained to my children how important this time is for me and some of the time (ha!) they adhere to it.  
3. Have someone hold you accountable.  Jay and I read it together starting January 1, 2012 and it was good to have someone to be accountable to and to talk it over with.  Also my friend MaryBeth and I started it at the same time and we would often talk about what we were reading, new things we came across and how crazy it was that what we were reading applied directly to something we had experienced.  If you need someone to hold you accountable, let me know and I can do that for you.
4. Don't be afraid, just do it!  There are lots of New Years Resolutions you could make (exercise, eating healthy etc. and all of those are important too) but make one that is eternal and that will impact all other areas of your life.  No reason to be afraid, if I can do it, so can you.  You just have to be determined and follow through.

And if this is not your goal for 2013 I just encourage you to make time to spend in the Word every day, it is necessary.  Baby steps!