Back to the Manger

 

Well every year we help out at our churches Vacation Bible School.  VBS is always amazing and that started people talking about the Christmas program.  Annie my SIL  was asked to put on the children’s Christmas program and asked me to help.  I wasn’t sure what I was getting into.  It was A LOT of work, but as of last Wednesday it is over and it turned out fantastic!  Each Wednesday since October we have worked with the CHERUB choir (3 yrs-Kindergarten) and the JOY choir (first-fifth grade)  to learn all the songs.  

The program had such a wonderful message and the children really understood why it is important to be compassionate to others and why we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  The main character Jackson was visiting his grandmother and the were attending her churches annual caroling outreach.  It was there that Jackson was introduced to a few children his age that showed him THE HO 2000 TEMPORAL DISPLACEMENT MODULATOR, a time machine.  The children traveled through the decades (70s, 80s,50s,90s, 40s, and then to the birth of Jesus in the manger).  Jackson changed  the future by giving a young boy in the 40s his allowance who needed it more than him.  It so change that little boys life that he was the pastor of the church at the final scene when the time machine brought the children back to the present.  The perfect message to be sharing at Christmas when giving can change the outcome of a families life.  

Here in the sanctuary is the HO 2000 TEMPORAL DISPLACEMENT MODULATOR!

The Caroling Outreach sign Annie change when they traveled to each decade. 

Some of the JOY carolers getting excited about the performance.  The carolers sat in the choir loft and sang the carols as the main characters traveled through time. 

The CHERUB girls enjoying their sweet poodle skirts the mamas made for them when they sang the 50s song Ring Ring A Ling! 

A Doo Op Girl and  a Greaser Boy! 

The CHERUB girls not sure where the boys were.

The JOY Choir read to go up to the church!

Of course I have no photos from the program when you are trying to get the children to sing and say their parts at the right time, but after an hour of sweating and stressing the children did a phenomenal job and the audience loved every minute of it.  The audience laughed, cried and ewed and awed.  A success in my book!

   

Annie and I are overjoyed that the program went so well and that it is over because we want nothing more than to be home with our families during this Christmas season.  

*LRW*

Cookies, a Parade, and Family

I just love Christmas time full of singing, parties, and preparation for the birth of Jesus. 

~December 3rd~

The first festive activity this year was the 2nd annual cookie swap hosted by Annie and Carrie!  It is such a fun time of laughter and eating.  This year I made a toffee crackle cookie and they were delicious!  I love tasting all the cookies and then we have “the vote.”  I was so excited to hear my cookie won best cookie this year.  I got the cutest apron that I wore when baking all my cookies for my colleagues this year. 

~December 10th~

The Rotary Club and Junior Women’s Club put on Light Up Williston each year with a Christmas parade.  Since Adam and I have been together we have been going to the SEC Championship to cheer on the gators, but since this year was a season to forget we actually got to attend this year.  I loved it they had lights on all their trucks and trailers in he parade. Candy, lights, and Santa…what more could you ask for?

It was a cold night.  Annabelle was all bundled up for the parade!  Couldn’t enjoy a parade without a sweet little one to watch their wonder and excitement! 

~December 11th~

We have celebrated with the Whitehurst family last weekend.  Adam’s dad has three sisters and the four of them and all their children and their children’s children get together every year!  I love it because there are some family we only see at this celebration.  The children change so much over the year!   Last year we adopted a local family and this year we did the same.  I love the fact that we are able to provided for a whole family during the busy Christmas season.  After lunch all the women get together to wrap the gifts which is always a fun time.    Aunt Betty Ann and her family did a fabulous job decorating! 

Don’t you love this grape vine Christmas tree?

I am now on break from school and am hoping to enjoy being home and catch up with family and friends! 

A Thankful time

 

This time of year is just so crazy busy and I feel like I am behind 98% of the time.  I have been up since 5:50 and don’t want to work on school or play practice or watch TV.  I just wanted to sit and hear the crickets chirp and think and pray about all the things that have been troubling my heart and praise God for all things I am thankful for each and everyday.  Then I remember I never posted about Thanksgiving….better late than never right!

Last year Adam was in West Virginia hunting so I was down in Tampa with my family, but this year we head back to his Uncle Bill and Aunt Betty Ann’s river house at Weekiva.  I it is just so beautiful there and we couldn’t have had better weather. 

 

The tables were set and we had enough food for days!  I was thrilled because I love me some side dishes!

    Yum!  I can’t see the turkey but I know I did eat some :) 

 

After eating up I hung out with my nephew Warren who was excited to swing on the tire swing!  I tried to catch a few cute shots of his joy!  So cute!

I was so grateful to have Adam and his wonderful family!

 

After lunch we headed home to check on the pup and then headed to Palatka, where my family was celebrating Thanksgiving at the hunting camp.  My brother Michael was home from college and it was so good seeing him.  My Grandma was down from Michigan but was sick with a stomach bug and so we didn’t really get to visit with her much.

Matt is officially taller than me!

 

I love this next picture because this sums up our family get together.  Fighting…we are a family who doesn’t talk we argue and bicker.  So having my brothers wrestle (for fun of course) makes me laugh and smile!  Matt is struggling here…ha-ha!

 

Hope you are having a great weekend!  Can you believe Christmas is 14 days away? 

*LRW*

 

A Florida/Georgia Tradition

Every year since I became a gator in 2003 I have made the trek to Jacksonville for the Florida/Georgia game.  There are so many memories that have been made surrounding that game…mansions on the St. John River, crazy hotel nights, the Landing, Gator wins, and great friends through the years!   This year was no different.  The tailgating for this game is a people watchers dream.  I continued to snap pictures throughout the day of the crazy things we saw and experienced.  

We headed out at 8:30 and got to our stomping ground, Parking Lot J after 10 to set up shop.  This years tailgate spot was the best one yet.  See how no one could park to the left of our tailgate, so we were free of feeling squished.  We tailgated this year with our friends Mark and Heather!  They are a great couple the only thing wrong with them is that Mark is a Georgia Bulldog fan.  That made for some interesting banter throughout the day. 

So here are the things we saw this year:

1.  We watch a wife smash into the back of her husbands car.  He got out and kicked his hard, kicked, her car, and then proceeded to yell some profanities that ended with what were you looking at?  It was a sight to see and we can thank our sweet tailgating spot for the view.

2. We had Robin Hood in our midst if any damsel was in distress.  It would be an interesting rescue because the outfit was a bit short.    

3. The Pride of the Sunshine drum line played for us.  Heather and I had to get a picture with them. 

 

4. Fred Flintstone  and Bam-Bam were ‘gatored’ out for the game!

5.  I got to see my cousin Jeffrey!  He used a Facebook picture I upload of our tailgate to find our tailgating spot. It was so good to see him and hear about what he has been up to!

6.  The City of Jacksonville has this golf card sized  ambulance that was so cute!  Glad no one we knew had to see the inside of it though.

 

7. We ran into Zach Galifianakis on a yacht in the marina!  He had “Carlos” with him! 

  Heather and I want to do the Florida/ Georgia game in style next year.  We have a goal to rent a gorgeous yacht and party in the marina with the high class crowd!

 

8. We had the #1 gator cheerleader in our section!  He had his pom-poms going the whole game.  He was up jumping and dancing…I swear there is always one crazy by us every year!  

9.  The GATORS won!!!!!!!  (Sorry the picture is blurry)  34-31 baby!  We were thrilled to finally be cheering for the gators again! 

It was a great time!   Any good tailgating stories? 

*LRW*

The Sweetest Pumpkin!

A few weeks ago Uncle Adam and Aunt Nen had the honor of partying with the world’s sweetest pumpkin!  Annabelle and her BBF Allie Claire hosted their first annual Pumpkin Party!  We had the best time enjoying the children in all their excitement. 

This little one has no clue how much we love her! 

 

Oh wait she does!  This picture makes my heart smile!

On Friday we had this ‘Sweet Pumpkin"'’ come for a little trick or treat with her friends. 

They were are only trick or treaters this year, but definitely the most important!

    Our nephew Willie, Cori, and Annabelle

Hope you all had a wonderful spook-free Halloween!

*LRW*

Brother Love….

I went home to Tampa a few weeks ago for a glorious three day weekend!  Adam stayed home and hunted all weekend so mom and I were able to shop, shop, shop!  I slipped away on Sunday before heading back home to see my long lost brother Stephen and meet his precious girlfriend Kelsea!  Side note: I unfortunately don’t have the best relationship with my dad and that means I miss out on seeing my 2 brothers and 5 sisters.  Stephen who is the oldest is able to get away easier than the rest of the Kimball brood.  Let me just tell you its was amazing to see him and hear about all that has been happening in his life.  He is an artist and is aspiring to attend Ringling College of Art and Design after he graduates from high school.  I enjoyed him sharing about his life and seeing how he is becoming his own person forming his own ideals and thoughts about life.  We have plans for the next time we go home to do something fun!  He suggested “Boing”Jump Center” that has trampolines covering the floor and sides!  I can just see Adam jumping around…haha!  

Good times and many memories were made! 

   

Who are those firefighters?

I love a walking field trip!  The Williston community is so wonderful to open their doors to the JBES students.  On Tuesday my class headed out to the Williston Fire Department! The firefighters are so great with the children.  They want the students to understand what the firefighters look like and will sound like if they were to have one saving them in a house fire.  The guy was such a great sport, putting all his gear on and then letting the child come up and check him out! 

 

Then it really got interesting. Mrs. Inman and I were asked to put on the firefighter gear so that they could spray us!  I said what?  It was something I will never forget and neither will the children.

    Excited and nervous!

Waiting patiently..unsure of what to expect!

See your targets boys and girls!  HA!

What a fun day!