Post Christmas catch up!

I have missed y'all so much. Seriously. Ok, maybe not. Totally kidding. I think. Let me start over. *Ahem.*

This has been the longest blog break I have ever taken. 11 whole days it was. And, I've concluded that if it weren't for Facebook and Twitter, I would have clearly died.

Confession: ADDICTED TO ALL THINGS TECHNOLOGY!!!

Ok, I feel better now.

Now, I had to take down the Christmas bloggy design. I never really liked it from the beginning, but I felt pressured. I'm a sucker. And, I totally went with everyone else and turned the blog into all things Christmas. Well, dumb me obviously doesn't know how to get my professional design back and I've emailed Amy to see if she can quickly pull up the old design. So far, she's still on Christmas break too and I haven't heard a peep from her. Dern.

Well, how was Christmas???

Ours was renamed "Throw up......Christmas Style." No lie. We had the stomach bug. And, all I can say is it was N-A-S-T-Y. I'll leave it at that.

So, we kinda missed Christmas and all those precious memories that the rest of you had. The wonderful 24-48 hours just blew right passed us in a flurry while we.....ya know....got sick.

Thankfully, Santa brought us Cotton Bowl tickets and we'll head to the big D for a few days of "Post-Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" fun. And, I'm back in fun, full force and will get on your nerves with loads of pictures from the adventure.

Here are a few Christmas pix before the big bug bit us on Christmas Eve......

This would be homeboy getting his Christmas groove on.

Homeboy is giving some evil looks don't you think??

Homeboy is blowing out the biggest candle in West TN for a birthday cake. We pulled out the best for Jesus.


Remember, we are from TN. No monogrammed stockings here. Just throw up (ha! no pun intended) some notebook paper and some tape and you are good to go!

That last picture was our last moment of happiness before the bug bit us.

I love ya bloggy peeps. Love to have you on Facebook or Twitter too. Come join the addiction! That's not nice of me is it?!

Come back soon for pix from Dallas. This would be our first trip as a family to TX. We are PUMPED too!!

Happy New Year!! I think 2009 is going to be a fabulous year.

Hugs and blessings~

It's simply time

Hey all....

We have had a crazy, busy week with end of the year Christmas parties, field trips, and the beloved Middle School exam. I barely survived science and learned that "our" efforts got "us" an 88 on our final exam. And, let's just say that momma squealed and carried on like a wild woman in the parking lot.

Now that we are officially done with all that stuff, it's time for me to move into the place of "preparing for Christmas." I need to prepare my own heart and mind. I need to spend some serious time reading the Gospels on the beautiful birth of our Lord and Savior. I need to get my children ready for the true meaning of Christmas. I need to bake cookies and having the sights and sounds of Christmas among us.

In order for that to happen like I want it to, I must leave blogland for awhile. And, I suggest you do the same too. ;) Then I don't feel so bad. Ha!

Merry Christmas, friends. I love you dearly. You are constantly in my prayers. And, I'm praying for some beautiful God things to happen over you and your family this Christmas season.

Luke 2:10 "But an angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

Much love and many blessings this Christmas season~

Fran and family

Merry Christmas Boomama and friends!!

Merry Christmas friends!!! Let's kick this thing off and have fun looking throughout everyone's homes! Below is one picture that I had made with Boomama in San Antonio over the Summer. What a blast we all had together. Be sure and go by Boomama's and check out the 2000 homes that are linked over there. *wink*

Love y'all....enjoy Christmas!


Georgia, Stephanie, Fran, Boomama, and Lisa at the pj party!

Boomama's Christmas Tour and then some..... from Fran Thomas on Vimeo.

I love you Jesus! Thank you for being the complete joy of my life!

hugs and blessings~

Fran

Ain't happenin'....but wait...it FINALLY did!!!!!

A quick hello from Fran Thomas on Vimeo.


I just want y'all to know that in order for my life to move on, I must stop waiting on this short video to post on blogger. Soooooo......I'll let it load over the weekend (ahem) and have it ready on Monday for Boomama's Christmas Home Tour thingy.

Carry on. Happy weekend. And, I'll get over my frustrations as soon as I hide this laptop in my closet and not look at it. :)

**UPDATE: Obviously, the thing finally loaded and then my mouth and words don't match up. Highly entertaining.**
Peace~

A few birthday pictures....

My darling hubs and I and another couple went to Nashville this past weekend to celebrate him turning the big 4-0! We had so much fun. We did alot in a short period of time, but worth every bit of the fun. In this picture, hubs is about to "lay out" for a serious pool shot. And, I do believe the form came through for him and he made it. Now....please note that the girls DID NOT play pool. We stood off to the side and smiled so sweetly at our men!

Here is Jenny outside the Wildhorse Saloon. This is an infamous spot in downtown Nashville, so I hear. They have some weird, freaky looking horses everywhere and we had to take some pix.

These are our sweet friends that went with us. They make me laugh and we love our friendship with them. We laugh with them ALL THE TIME.

Only in Nashville....don't you love what this says?? And, yes, I took it right in the bathroom stall!

Another weird horse inside the Wildhorse Saloon. This is where we watched the big Florida/Alabama game. Everywhere was so crowded so this is where we ended up.

Now, Jenny would just die if she knew I posted this picture!!! Don't you love it?! We were all about seeing just how big we could get our hair. And, then she struck a pose. And, then I couldn't quit singing that Madonna song, "Vogue." That might have been the most annoying.

And, here I am with my wonderful husband. I met him when he was 24 and now he is all grown up. Maybe. :) He is the best thing that ever happened to me. I love him with all my heart and am so grateful that God brought this man into my life when I least expected it.

Have a great day, friends. Slow down and enjoy this season of Christmas. Pull back from those things that keep you from truly enjoying this magnificent season!

Hugs and blessings and Merry Christmas!!

Burnt Snowmen

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God,
which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV)


The snowmen dressed in red mufflers and black stovepipe hats stood cheerily on the dining room table. Amidst all the Christmas decorations, their presence brought the most oohs and ahs. Everyone at the party asked my friend, “Where did you buy them?”

I smiled. I had bought the snowmen candles for my friend as her Christmas gift. I thought to myself, “You did well!”

A group of us chatted around the dining room table, nibbling on sugar cookies. Holiday gaiety floated through the room. We laughed together until, all of sudden, I noticed smoke emitting from all three of the wax snowmen candles. Before I could speak, flames spewed up and out of the stovepipe hats. The candles burst into flames, igniting the other table decorations! My friend shrieked for help. Her husband, a firefighter by profession, ran into the room and doused the candles with the bowl of fruit punch that sat on a side table.

We sat in shocked silence. Instead of feeling pride over my gift, I hung my head in embarrassment. Now everyone wanted to know where I had purchased the fire hazard, because they didn’t want to buy anything of the same nature!

The apostle Paul encourages us “…to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you ...” (2 Timothy 1:6, NIV). Much like the candles burst into flames from a catalyst within, our gifts are to burst forth through the power of the Holy Spirit within us. Our God-given gifts are to be used to bless others.

Maybe you’re thinking, “That’s great for others, but I don’t have any gifts to share.” My friend, God’s Word promises “…each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that” (1 Corinthians 7:7, NIV). I encourage you to seek the Lord and ask Him to show you what gifts He’s placed within you.

Consider Romans12:6-8, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully” (NIV).

So what spiritual gift do you have that Christ wants you to use this Christmas season? I encourage you to allow your spiritual gifts to burn brightly during the Advent Season. And, as we fan our gifts into flames, let’s pray that others will see and recognize the glory of the Most High God.

Dear Lord, Thank You for giving me spiritual gifts. Please show me the gifts You’ve placed within me. Teach me how to use my gifts so that others may see You and desire to know You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Since I was gone most of the weekend to Nashville, I completely stole this from Crosswalk! But, I love what it has to say and knew it was definately worth sharing.

Love you all so much! My thoughts and brain will be back by Wednesday!

Hugs and blessings~

Some Friday fun!

Hey my sweet friends...

I've been a little sentimental this week. You know when you catch yourself remembering times and people that you truly love and care about.......the friends you met on the internet. CRAZY!

I had the thrill of going to San Antonio this past August to the LPL event and the Siesta Fiesta. It has been one of the highlights of my life. Yep.....CRAZY!

The girls that I was with have become my sweet friends who reside in a piece of my heart. These girls (and too many to name) mean the world to me. We pray for one another, talk on the internet via blogging, we even talk on the phone, we text, we facebook, we twitter. The words that we write or say to one another have allowed me to see their big, beautiful hearts. And, that is why I love 'em.

One of these precious girls in my life, Darlene, gave her roomies an award this past week and I'm playing along in the fun. Some fun trivial stuff to get a glimpse into the here and now.....which happens to be Thursday night as I type this.

1. Where is your cell phone? In the car, in the garage or in my purse in the car in the garage.

2. Where is your significant other? Taking a shower

3. Your hair color? Brown. And colored at that. And...some highlights thrown in for fun.

4. Your mother? Absolutely precious

5. Your father? Will do anything for you

6. Your favorite thing? Bible study with the girls, family, and vacations

7. Your dream last night? Can't remember specifically but it was weird.

8. Your dream/goal? Christian speaker to women

9. The room you’re in? The infamous den

10. Your hobby? who has time? But anything on the computer I guess

11. Your fear? Losing my husband or children

12. Where do you want to be in six years? At peace with life and filled with joy

13. Where were you last night? Church and enjoying our Family Advent Night

14. What you’re not? Confident

15. One of your wish list items? For me personally....a rolex watch studded out in diamonds. I know. Shame on me. You asked.

16. Where you grew up? Arkansas

17. The last thing you did? put kids to bed, chatted with hubs

18. What are you wearing? pj's

19. Your T.V.? Barbara Walter 10 Most Fascinating People

20. Your pet? That would be 2 dogs...both asleep on couch

21. Your computer? Wishing it was a MAC

22. Your mood? good but tired

23. Missing someone? Always

24. Your car? Can someone clean it out?

25. Something you’re not wearing? socks

26. Favorite store? Anthropologie

27. Your Summer? Want to stay there forever

28. Love someone? YES!

29. Your favorite color? red or orange

30. When is the last time you laughed? With the kids right before bed

31. Last time you cried? yesterday at church

So, wasn't that some Friday fun?? I love my San Antonio girls!!! EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM! And...I'm going to see one or two of them next weekend and I'm absolutely giddy about it.

Have a wonderful weekend. I'm headed to Nashville with my birthday man turning 40 today and we are celebrating! Can't wait!

Hugs and blessings~

Do you ever feel like this guy??

I'm having one of those days....actually one of those weeks. I feel like this guy. I'm full of the Christmas spirit and the excitement of it all, but I keep falling over. Something is tripping me up daily. And, I'm NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.

Even if we are falling down left and right....keep praying, keep in His Word, and keep after Him with all you got! A simple reminder for myself right now.

Now...back to the Christmas season....

Hugs and blessings~