Christmas is my favorite time of year!

I absolutely LOVE Christmas! It is my favorite time of the year!!

This year was a little different than years past.  This year, we didn't get a lot of "gifts", but a few BIG gifts.  My sweet parents gave us money to buy our TV, paid part of the downpayment on our house, and signed the loan with us, so I consider that our Christmas gift from my family.  It is definitely a GREAT gift that I am so thankful for!! Kip's parents bought us a California king size bed in the Fall, so that was our Christmas from them.  Not like the usual Christmas where we get a lot of small gifts like clothes, shoes, etc.  I was more than happy with Christmas this year. It made it more special to not worry about what gifts I will get, but what gifts I was giving.  I enjoy giving gifts so much that sometimes I don't want to wait! HaHa! I did get a few things and I am thankful for that, but it was a very special Christmas...knowing it was the last Christmas Kip & I would spend as a "not married" couple.  It made me look forward to when we do have children one day!  I really want to do that 3 gift thing with our kids at Christmas for different reasons: Mainly to help them to learn the TRUE meaning of Christmas and to keep them from the whole I WANT, I WANT, I WANT. It is also a good way to save money.  I have seen many parents lately doing the need, want, and wear thing. You get them something they need, something they want, and something they can wear.  I also want to do a stocking for them too, because my parents always gave us a stocking filled with candy and other goodies!  I think it is a really need idea to do that...but I may change my mind when we have kids and want to get them everything I see (maybe not though...can't blow money!).

Here are some pictures from our last "single" Christmas!

Every year, our youth at church have a Dinner Theater where they perform their Christmas musical.  We have a great sit down meal, served by the youth. It is a wonderful time of fun and fellowship with our church family.  This is a special thing to Kip & I because we met at church and began dating only a few days after the first Dinner Theater we ever had.  It brings back some awesome memories!

We go to the Falls every year at Christmastime. The lights are so pretty and the Falls look beautiful, especially after it rains!  This is a special place for us-we got engaged here last year!-, and for our friends, The Carr's. They went on their first date at the Falls with us in 2009 (??? - I think).  We usually go with them every year, except last year when we went with Clai and Jillian...which is a special place for them as well! They got engaged at the Falls during Christmastime! 

 My brother with our grandparents

 Cousins with the grandparents

 Kip & I with his grandparents

My family with Kipper

 My family

Kip's family

I just love the holidays and all the family time we get!! We both have WONDERFUL families! It is truly a blessing! 

Up Next: Holiday Shower!

Until Next Time, 

We are HOMEOWNERS!!!

On December 2nd at 2:00pm, we signed our life away and became homeowners.  We had a roller coaster ride during this process.  Like I have said, this blog is basically just for me, so I am going to give the details of our home buying process so I will remember them one day!

We put an offer in on a house in September. The offer was accepted, so we began the process of a home loan. We wanted to Rural Development loan - no downpayment or PMI. We qualified for it...until we got Kip's employment verification back. He was working at the Gadsden Police Department at the time. He was listed as a seasonal employee, so the bank did not consider his job a stable income and refused to include it in our loan application.  So we are going based on my income alone...which would have been fine...until they started factoring in my student loans. Once my student loans were factored in, my debt ratio was too high to qualify for the Rural Development loan. Throughout this process, I was more stressed than I ever was all my years of college. It was bad. I hit lower than low points. I was mad at myself for having student loans and a car. I was mad that Kip's job was considered seasonal and the bank refused to use his income. We were both completely depressed and stressed.  It put a major strain on our relationship.  We finally got it worked out where my parents agreed to help us out as much as they could.  They were willing  tohelp with the downpayment.  I was still thinking...we cannot do this. We can't afford a house. We aren't going to be able to live.  On Veteran's day, we get an email from the loan officer at the bank basically saying they would not approve us for a loan. We were not going to be able to get the house. WOW...shot to the heart. I cried...and cried....and cried. For days. Until my PRECIOUS fiance calls Erika at First Federal Mortgage. She got us in, got all our paper work complete, then advised us that if one of our parents could sign the loan with us, it would work. So my awesome parents once again stepped up and agreed. I had never been more excited and thankful and happy! Erika got everything finished and sent in a matter of 2 days where the bank we were working with had been taking 2 months almost. We are so very thankful for Erika and First Federal Mortgage for being so great to work with!! Definitely recommend her if you are looking for a home loan!!

We signed papers on December 2nd and got keys on December 12th. SO EXCITED!!! We started moving stuff in that night. We moved all our kitchen stuff we got at the shower in and began unloading everything. We also found some AMAZING deals on furniture, so we were very lucky!!

Now, we are just enjoying making this house our home! Still got a lot of decorating to do and some more furniture to buy, but we are getting there! YAY!!

I really need some updated pics of our house....these were just the first pictures we took when we were moving things in! :)

Up Next - Christmas!

Until Next Time,

JSU Class of December 2013

December 13, 2013 was a very special day. Not only did it mark 8 years since we first started dating, it also marked 1 year that we got engaged. It wasn't just special because of those 2 events though...Kip graduated from COLLEGE on that date.

After 5 years in school, he finally graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management degree! So extremely proud of my man! Graduation was at 4:30, so after graduation, we went to eat at Baja California Grill in Jacksonville with our friends, Haniah and Brandon, Kip's parents, and his grandparents.

I look forward to telling our children one day that Mommy and Daddy both finished college! What an accomplishment!

Up next-HOMEOWNERSHIP!

Until Next Time,

Random November Happenings.

November and December were such busy months for us...with wedding planning, holidays, graduation, birthdays, and fun outings! I just love the holidays!!

We always go to at least one Alabama game each year - or try to anyway. This year we went to one of those "nobody" games..the game wasn't even on TV. It was so much fun though! Just being in Bryant-Denny stadium in that atmosphere is so exciting! After the game, we hung out just outside the stadium to see if we saw any of the players. We saw a few walk by, but weren't sure who they were. Then...we saw Vinnie Sunseri! Yep that's right! I got a pic with him but I cannot find it to post it here! :( SAD! Then a few minutes later, we saw Landon Collins! Kip, Dylan, and I got a picture with him and he signed some game - used gloves that Kip had! We had a great time! It was a fun trip!!

We had to rush home on Sunday morning to get back for Graison's 2nd birthday party! I could NOT miss my little buddy's birthday! He had the cutest little "He-He" aka. Mickey party! That poor baby didn't feel good and he ended up having a fever! Poor Thing!!

 Sweet sister in her Minnie Mouse outfit!

 Playing on the playground!

Opening gifts!

I honestly don't really remember much about Thanksgiving. I know we went to my aunt Pam's house and then to Kip's grandmother's but there weren't any big things that happened I don't guess! I do remember that we got an awesome Black Friday deal - a 6o" LED TV! We didn't even have to fight the crowds...Best Buy posted their deals online Thursday morning, so we got an awesome deal! 

We watched the Southside High playoff game on TV Friday night. A little background on that: When I was in school at SHS, we barely won 10 games my whole 5 years at the school. The last time Southside was undefeated was maybe the 80's...so it was a BIG deal that they had made it to the playoffs. The game we watched Friday night was like the final 4 or something. If they won, they went to Tuscaloosa to play for the state championship. Yes...Southside Panthers could possibly play for the state championship. They were playing Muscle Shoals. The game did not turn out very good...they ended up losing and didn't play their best. What a let down...I was very excited for my alma mater! But I was still excited that they had the season they did! It was awesome!

The next day...probably one of the biggest days in the state...Alabama vs. Auburn. This was the game that basically determined who would play for the SEC Championship and possibly the National Championship. Alabama was sitting in the #1 spot with Auburn in the #4 spot. Auburn had only lost 1 game to LSU early in the season. Alabama was undefeated. My nerves were through the roof. I was always nervous about this game...even the year before when Auburn had only won 3 games all season. The game started...I don't even remember much about it except that I felt like I was going to throw up through the whole thing. I think Alabama got a pretty good lead and I felt a little better but you can NEVER count Auburn out of a football game. Trust us...we Bama fans know how that is! The end of the game...it was tied. Time had run out and we were heading to OT. Nick Saban argues that there should be 1 second left on the clock. So 1 second was added. 1 second....we lined up to kick a long field goal. In my mind I am thinking...ok so we are either going to make the field goal and win or go into OT and still have chance. BOY WAS I MISTAKEN. The field goal is up...it is perfect. If it would have went 5 more feet it may have been good. But lo and behold an Auburn player was in the end zone. He caught the football and started running. He ran all the way to the other endzone...and scored a TD. Game over-Auburn won. Alabama's season is basically over. What a bummer. I was so upset...really. I cried. I don't remember the last time I cried over a ballgame. It was dreadful. Then I got sick that night. Probably from the 5 year old macaroni I fixed at Kip's house. It tasted awful but I was starving and needed something to eat. But I am still and always will be ROLL TIDE forever. But that night...it hurt. Bad. 

Up next-Kip's graduation!

Until Next Time, 

EGBC Wedding Shower

Well the wedding has come and gone and we are living life as newlyweds, but I have been so busy I have not had time to update my blog!

Our wedding shower at the church was November 17. We are beyond blessed with such a wonderful church family! We had a huge shower and got so many awesome gifts! Some of my favorites were a minky-dot blanket that my sweet friend Angie made, a kitchen-aid mixer, gift cards, crock pots, decor for our home, dishes, etc. I just loved all our gifts!!

 My best friend and Matron of Honor (and the groom in the background)

 My sweet Southside girls!

 Mother in Law and Mom

 My precious Nana Sue

 Future Mother in Law

 All of my wonderful hostesses

 My sweet grandmothers

 My Bridesmaids (minus Lindsey who had the stomach bug!)

We were MORE than blessed with over $500 in gift cards, lots of kitchen gadgets, towels, decor for our home, etc. I could not have asked for a better shower!

Up Next-HOLIDAYS!

Until next time,

"In Everything, Give Thanks" - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Everyone on Facebook is posting thankful things every day, so it gave me a thought: Why don't I post a "thankful" blog! 

Day 1: I am thankful for my salvation.  I am thankful that God sent his son, Jesus to die on the cross for MY sins, and because of that I know I will live eternally in His home.  It is such a great/awesome/wonderful feeling!

Day 2: I am thankful for my wonderful family!  I seriously have the best parents in the entire world.  They have ALWAYS been here for me, financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  They have willingly given me money, helped me pay bills, rent, schooling, etc. and they are paying our downpayment on our home.  They have given me much more than I deserve. 

Day 3: I am thankful that God sent me a WONDERFUL soon-to-be husband.  He is really the first guy I ever seriously dated, and now we are about to get married! He comes from a wonderful, Christian family and he is just great! I love him so very much and I really don't know where I would be without him in my life!

Day 4: I am thankful for my best friend, Jillian.  She has been there for me through thick and thin, fights, break-ups, happy times, sad times, anything and everything-you name it, she was there!  If everyone had a friend like her, this world would definitely be a much better place.  She isn't afraid to tell you how it is, and she has made me a better person today because of that.  If I was doing something wrong, she would let me know-in a loving way.  She IS my sister, maybe not biological, but God put her in my life, because he knew I needed a friend/sister!

Day 5: I am thankful for my job.  It may not be the best paying job, but I love what I do, I love that I work with friends, I love that I work at a church, and I love that I am so close to home.  I am very thankful that I have a job in this day and age.

I have so much more that I am thankful for, but that will wait until next time!  Off to lunch I go!

Until Next Time,