The View From Up Here

You know... Just one of the views from James' Mom's apartment in New
York.

I <3 NY. We ordered sushi at 10:30 at night and had it delivered to
the apartment. So awesome. James and I have some sleep to catch up on.
Not doing a good job at that since it's already 4:30am, but we are all
backwards on our schedules! :) I love it. Night from the Big Apple!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
Nat

The More I Clean... The Messier It Gets...

I never intend on staying up all night before an early flight, but somehow it always happens :) We're leaving for NY in the morning. It's 3:45am and the shuttle is coming at 5am, so why sleep now, right? Cat nap for a minute or two maybe... we'll see.

We got home this evening LOOKING like Santa with our suitcases and bags-o-goodies :) But I had the strong need to purge before putting things away.

I only got the bathroom done.

But hey! That's at least something. I threw away all the out of date medicines and vitamins... and continued to fill my bag that will eventually go to Goodwill... got rid of any other unnecessary items. Then I cleaned that sucker like no one's business! WHEW that feels good.

But the bedroom only got messier as a result. Ughh. That's for when we return.

We're always coming home for a few days at a time... and I think stuff builds up even more than the average person. We put things down, and it's hard to get the gumption up to REALLY clean when you know you're not gonna be there more than a couple of days. But this is our home... even if it's only a few hours at a time :) So getting a little bit done here and there is better than nothing at all.

Mamma mentioned yesterday that she didn't feel as sad about Christmas being over as most years because there's so much to look forward to this year. I must agree. And THAT in of itself is an incredible feeling!!! To have so much to look forward to that you get giddy with anticipation. Life still happens all around us - the hardships and rough times. But there is so much goodness and excitement. And the good times become even MORE meaningful when things aren't always just fine and dandy.

So I am thankful at the end of this year. For ALL that has happened and all that is to come.

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Port Stovall

I was so excited, I forgot to take pictures today :) So this is from a couple of months ago when there were still leaves on the trees. My parents bought a lake house on the Tennessee River, and today was the first time that James and I got to go see it!


The lake house racked up this Christmas! :) So we had to take all the new goodies down and continue cleaning up.

It's so funny. My parents have pinched pennies my entire life. And I am so thankful because it has taught me a lot about spending money and making responsible financial decisions! And after years and years of not spending and saving... sending 4 kids to college... and finally retiring... they have been able to buy the most beautiful lake house. :) And the whole family will be able to enjoy it for vacations and eh em... of course... band retreats :)

So Merry Day after Christmas, from the Tennessee River!!!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Christmas 2009 At The Stovall's

4 Generations of the girlies!


Sweet Cinnamon


NO WAY!!!!


Granny REALLY didn't think that picture looked like Mamma :)


John Rachel and sweet Abby's monster slippers


Joe, Tracy, McKinley, and Cameron


What do you think it is!?!?!


Tony and Ansley


Beautiful Bay


Awww Shelby


Mamma, Steph, Granny, and Cinnamon's nose


A Final Thought From Cameron



MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!! AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Guy Falls Down into A Hole

This evening I am reminded of an anecdote my pastor has shared with us at every Christmas Eve service the past few years.

It is a story that was on the West Wing and now because of my pastor's Christmas Eve sermon, I always think of it at this time of year. :)

This guy's walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can't get out.
A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, 'Hey you. Can you help me out?' The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on.
Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up, 'Father, I'm down in this hole can you help me out?' The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on.
Then a friend walks by, 'Hey, Joe, it's me can you help me out?' And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, 'Are you stupid? Now we're both down here.' The friend says, 'Yeah, but I've been down here before and I know the way out.'"

Christmas time can be a wonderful, joyous occasion. It can be a time of heart ache when we lose those we love. But as a Christian, I believe that God sent his son to this earth to be our Savior. Jesus lived His life on this earth. "He's been down here before... and he knows the way out." He's our guide. In times of good and in times of sorrow.

I hope your prayers to Him or whoever you pray to are prayers of joy right now. But if they are not, know that you are not alone!

Merry Christmas.

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Don't Eat Santa's Beard at the Nut Buffet

Mamma kept talking about a song that was stuck in her head and just HAD to listen to it. She kept saying "You know... the one where the little boy ATE Santa's beard."

"Ummm?? Did you say the little boy EATS Santa's beard? "

"Yes!!! That's what he says in the song!"

SO yeah... I couldn't WAIT to hear this song. It sounded awesome.
The best part was that she said it pretty nonchalantly... kind of like "You know, the one where he saw Mommy kissing Santa Clause"

She played it for me... It's a Beach Boys song called "Santa's Beard" And it really does sound like they say the little boy "ate his beard right on off of his chin" but it's "he yanked the beard right on off of his chin"

With roll dough up to my elbows, and flour on my face, we both stood in the kitchen and laughed and laughed.

My brother was ignoring us because he kept eating nuts in a basket that he said the squirrels would have spit out... but for some crazy reason he kept eating them. Mamma finally took them away from him and brought out every single stash of nuts she had in this house. He sat there and ate at his "nut buffet" all night.

I love Christmas :)

This was the best version of the song I could find on Youtube because it shows the lyrics... I have NO IDEA why it's pictures of the Jonas Brothers. But hey, 'why not' is the REAL question! :) Verse 2 at around 52 seconds is where you can find the lyrics in question :)



Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

The Presents Have Over Taken the Tree!!!