Get'n caught up on your Z's

I have been there... I have been to actual Bethlehem...on a cold December night at age 14 I went into a little cave that they think was the old manger that Jesus was born in and I sat there as this all boy choir of inner city New York kids sang Silent Night in harmony! It was something that I will never forget and can only wish everyone got to experience. My faith became real on that trip to Israel...it became alive and it was something that I praise God for... allowing me that experience. Sometimes having faith is hard...sometimes it takes work and convincing to just keep believing...just believing can be such a task when life gets hard and things are not going your way...but to hold on to it...if you just hold on to it...you will find simplicity in it...you will find the joy in it... and I was blessed enough to see it come alive! I saw the streets my Savior walked...I witnessed the seas that He walked on...I got to see proof of a faith that was all to small. It was as if God was telling me at that young age that "yes Allie...you believe I existed...you know I lived and died...but walk with Me and let me show you that I am your Savior...I lived HERE and I died for YOU...HERE!" I could use words like "magical" or "amazing" to describe it but really the only word that comes to mind is "Holy" ...it was a holy I had never felt or even knew was attainable...but I felt it and I felt it the second my feet touched the soil. This Christmas, I remember those moments...being out in the dark cold with only the stars and music guiding our travels...the waterfalls that poured out of the desert mountains while the shepard's walk by with their sheep...I remember being baptized in the Jordan River where our Lord was once baptized...that is what I remember this Christmas...He was not only born but he lived!

What a strange thing when a celebrity dies. Justin doesnt quite understand it but it's oddly shocking when someone you have seen on the big screen multiple times just suddenly dies and you will only see them from now on in reruns of old films. Justin is right...I did not know her...I wasnt her biggest fan or anything but still...I was weirded out by it...just as I was when Heath Ledge passed...I cant imagine if I had been around during the Beatles or JFK...I might have lost serious sleep over those deaths! Anyway, Brittney Murphey was just like the rest of Hollywood...trying to find perfection in earthly things...trying to find happiness in little pills that only hid pain for a short time. What comes out of news stories like that for me is just truth...perfection is unattainable...life is fleeting...and what make look like beauty on the outside could be rotting away on the inside. I am so glad I am not in that world...I am so glad I dont have the pressure they put on themselves along with all the gossip and complete lack of privacy...the lies that are whispered in their ears daily and the deceit they begin to believe. Thank God Im not in a bubble so superficial that it can kill you...quite literally. Read what we will about what an amazing person she and all the other celebrities that died this year are but the truth is, that they dont get to bring their money, possessions, or status with them when they are gone...they are only left with their souls...their souls are all that matter...that's all they take with them when they're dead! It should make us all open our eyes as to what we find precious on this earth...what we put our time and love in...is it our souls...or other things? Real life is right now...and as John Piper writes..."Life is a Vapor"...Blessings~

In the month of December...I have my sons, husbands, and moms bday all 4 days apart and in that order...oh ya...its not stressful or anything! ;) Anyway, we celebrated J's with a few of his good friends over at Ninas for a campout sleepover...for Big J's we had some friends over to cook out and fry a turkey for the first time (that was thrilling) and for Nina's (moms) bday...we went out as adults to a nice dinner and earlier that day had done a girls lunch at a cute cafe in downtown Frisco! So I think overall everyone had a wonderful birthday and I hate to say it but I am glad they are all over and done with...bdays stress me out sometimes..especially when they are all bundled together like that...so now...Christmas and then mamas DONE! whooot whooot!
p.s. I thought I had more pictures of all the birthday parties but Im missing pics from Big J's party:(

I cant post pictures for some reason? I click on the add picture button and it does nothing?!?! grrr does someone know what the problem is? How frusterating!

Soo...I was going to add a few more pictures including Big J's bday and moms but my computer for some reason wont download anymore so I'll post them in the next blog I guess? Anyway, J had an awesome time at his bday party...the boys played Twister, made key chains, built a fort, watched Night at The Museum 2 etc etc! It was quite fun and Im still in awe that my little man is 7 years old! *tear*

soo I had this stuff I was wanting to talk about a few days ago but now I've forgotten half of it and it would have bored the pants off of everyone anyway so Im just exing it. Anyway, I really have no idea how people post everday...how do you find the time everday? and more importantly how do you have something interesting to write about everyday? I waste 10 minutes most of the time just sitting here wondering what I could possibly talk about that would seem the least bit amusing? So here's what I did today...dont hold your breath...
I GOT LAZERED or lazzerd or lazzurd or I went lazering? I dont know how you say it but I got my bikini done..it's something I started last year and I just went in for a touch up and I LOVE IT! For those of you who have never done it...this is the blog for you b/c it really kicks ass (and if you have a hairy one you should def check it out)!:) Its only worth the money though if you are guaranteed a lifetime guarantee! (b/c every couple of months you need to go in there and get it done again) but for the most part it is smoothe sailing after the 5th or 6th time! It makes your skin feel like a babys butt...no lie...so anyway...I highly recommend it and that's about all I got today folks...keep it real...~Al~