Hannah Gilmore

* you'll have to pause the default music player to fully enjoy this one. scroll down and look for it on the right side of the screen.

i just love this song. it doesn't matter where i am or what i'm doing, when i hear the gilmore girls theme song i high-tail it to the living room. i think i was born to be a gilmore.

ornament game

So some of the girls on my blog roll are doing this and I think it's pretty fun. Post some photos of your favorite Christmas ornaments and explain why you love them so much.

The Christmas Pickle

Can you find it? If you do, you get a prize. The Christmas Pickle has become a Fullerton Family tradition. It's the last ornament placed on the tree (traditionally on Christmas Eve) and the first child to find it on Christmas morning wins a special gift. It's lots of fun if you can keep the kids from killing each other.

The Beauchamps: Circa 2005

I painted this ornament in 2005 at Paint a Piece. It's too heavy to go on the tree so I keep it on the bedroom doorknob. It makes me smile every year.

Joy Bells

We bought these bells in England when we were first engaged. There are 24 of them. They are so sweet and so beautiful. And, of course, remind me anew each time I trim my tree of the joy and excitement we felt when we first bought them.

Baby's First Christmas 1980

My mom gave me this ornament last year. It is my original Baby's First Christmas Ornament. Isn't it sweet?

A Perfect Angel

I searched long and hard for this little lady. I knew I wanted an Angel to top my tree, but I had the most difficult time finding the perfect one. This one is actually a candle holder and I punched a hole through the bottom. I love her simple details and serene expression.

BFC Christmas Party

Friday night was our Bible Fellowship Christmas Party. There was wonderful food, fun and fellowship. Our friends were so sweet to honor Len as he prepares to go to Iraq in February. They gifted us with two beautiful scrapbooks of scriptures -- each the same so that we can read and meditate on the same verse each day he is away. Praise God for their love and support.

Ashley, Tami and Len

(Wren is behind Len. She made the books.)

Amanda, Tami and Alisha

Len, Brian, Mike

PS: These pictures were stolen from here. Thanks Ashley!

Army Christmas Party

Saturday morning was the St Jude Memphis Marathon. Len and some of his Army buddies ran the half-marathon. Some also ran in the 5K and full-marathon. I'm proud of all these guys. They ran well and they did it for a good cause!

Thanks also to Mom and Dad and Chip, Chase and Cole for braving the cold to cheer Len on.

Major Gurney and Len

Cole, Len and Chase

...

After the race we all met with our families at Macaroni Grill for an early dinner and Christmas celebration. The food was great, but the fun was even better.

Friends

Genius Baby

Family photo op

it does a body good

Recycling Tip #1: Make sure bottles and jugs are clean before putting in the recycling bin. This prevents flies both at home and the recycling station.

one year later

...
still adowable

Happy Thanksgiving

Ephesians 2:4-9

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions... For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works, so that no one can boast.

What greater gift is there? Just when I was as good as dead, on the chopping block, life flashing before my eyes, someone stepped in and gave me my pardon. And not just this, but He took my place. Because of Him I have a purpose in this world and a place in Heaven. This is my boast -- That I have received Grace and Mercy through Him. And that anyone and everyone is entitled to the same gift of life.

Thank you, JESUS!

tv with daddy

i don't do windows

this was the scene the other day in papa's office. as you can imagine, it got pretty wild and there were fingerprints everywhere! but it was fun watching them have so much fun together.

ana marie turns 2

my cousin, ana marie, turns two tomorrow! we had a fun party at titi jamie's house today. ana marie got lots of great presents -- a play kitchen, an easel, a tv chair, puzzles, movies, new clothes (let's hear it for hand-me-downs!) and bracelets. i had fun helping to break some of it in.

so happy birthday, sweet ana marie. we love you!!!

the birthday girl

the party table

how does this thing work?

ana marie's new chair

my cousin and me!

fun with blogs

Oh goody! Lauren tagged me -- She must have been paying attention when I said how much I enjoy these goofball games.

Here are the rules:

Pick the 4th picture folder on your computer.

Pick the 4th picture in that folder.

Explain what the picture is about.

Tag 4 blogging friends to do the same.

This is from our Nashville trip back in February. There are a great many restaurants that I love that unfortunately are not in spitting distance from Memphis and Jack In The Box is one of them. E. coli aside, they have the best Tacos this side of Mexico. And they come in those awesome little pockets so you don't get fixins all over your lap and floorboard when you drive. Those things must have an iron-clad patent, that's all I can say.

I could go on, but sufice it to say, this was (and always is) the first stop in Nashville.

Ok, I'm tagging...
Heather
Christina
Mikaila
Leah C

live like a queen

My MOMS group ended today. I will miss the time with my friends, both old and new and those made better through the experience. This semester we studied Jean Stockdale's "Live Like a Queen: A Study in the Life of Esther."

Here are some of my favorite moments from this study:

10. Hope is not a vague feeling that the future will be positive, but complete assurance of certain victory through Christ!

9. As moms, we tend to live rather routine, ordinary lives... If you believe that, you do not understand God's purpose and plan for your life! Every day with Jesus is wrought with opportunities, prospects, miracles and divine appointments.

8. Don't cheapen the cause of Christ with religion, ritual, rules - legalism.

7. God's not interested in a clean house, but a clean heart.

6. The Christian home is to be God's visual aid in the midst of a sin-sick world to demonstrate God's plan and purpose for the family... The husband will be a servant leader in the home; he will not assume the role of dictator. A godly wife will be a suitable helpmate to her husband and not strive to usurp her husband's authority. Both will be invested in living in harmony and helping his or her mate reach his or her full potential.

5. Remember, you can choose your attitude. You can approach life expecting to be served, or you can look for opportunities to serve others. Are you selfishly clinging to your "rights" or are you willing to serve?

4. The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes, Proverbs 21:1. There are no conditions on the spiritual nature of the person in authority.

3. On building character: It's more important to build [children] then to mend [adults]. - Truitt Cathey.

2. In prayer, Esther has carefully weighed the options. To shrink back in disobedeince is to cast herself on [God's] mercy. To boldly stand in obedience is to live in His grace.

1. Don't try to wear too many hats. The only hat we are meant to wear is a Crown of Righteousness which we will one day lay at Jesus' feet!

a princess party

family fun festival

tonight is halloween. technically it's my second, but i remember very little of my first seeing as how i was only a day old.

we went to the bellevue family fun festival. pictures are scarce because there was just so much to see and do. mommy chased me around the field with the camera for five minutes or so and finally gave up in exasperation. here's what stuck. maybe aunt christina fared better...

me and cousin leah

it was cold

leah the little stinker

a decadent birthday

mmm... candle...

mmm... cake...

worth it

life memories > birthday wishes

a note from mommy

Oh My Sweet Hannah,

Could I ever have dreamed of this wonderful year with you? You bring joy uncontainable to our lives each and every day. You are fun, exciting, exuberant, beautiful and always loving. I can't imagine a world without you!

I pray that soon you will come to know my Jesus and love Him with ALL your heart. I pray that you will seek to please Him every day and in every way. I pray that you will long to serve Him and live in a way that will bring Glory to His Name.

I pray that you will laugh, that you will love, that you will learn. I pray that you will grow to be strong and independent. I pray that your spirit will never be crushed, but always hopeful.

I pray that I can be the Mother you deserve. I pray that you will teach me more about myself. I pray that you will remind me more about life and laughter and love.

I look forward to knowing more about you with each passing year. You are a Gift from God and He has wrapped you up in box after box after box. Each time I open a box I find a little more of you. I could open boxes forever and never be tired of the trinkets I would find therein.

On this day, know how special you are! You are God's! May He pour out blessings in abundance on your young life. May you hold fast to Him ALWAYS! Let Him direct your life. You will not find a better Guide.

Happy Birthday, My Darling Little Girl.

I LOVE YOU!
Mommy

ana marie at cedar hill farm

we took our second trip of the season out to cedar hill farm. this time ana marie and titi jamie came along. it was a beautiful day and lots of fun!

hannah at cedar hill farm