Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas everyone. I thought I'd do a quick update from good ol' WARM Naples, Florida....we've been having a wonderful time. Jordan and I are down in Naples with his side of the family and it has been great. Mom & Dad are waiting for us, patiently, to get back to Nashville to do their Christmas exchanges.

It's been an amazing and fun-filled week/weekend, whatever it is. We got down here on Thursday and met up with everyone (Erin, Dan, Auntie Anne, & cousins Will, Caitie, Elizabeth) to go see "Pursuit of Happyness." Jordan and I just liked it, we didn't love it- a little too stressful for me, it was hard to watch. We had great sushi afterwards at "Tsunami" and all danced to the great 80's music they had playing :-)

Friday I worked in the office and that evening we spent helping E.D. (Erin & Dan) move into their brand new home that FINALLY got finished. It was originally supposed to be done before me & Jordan's, so you can see they've been waiting a while. We worked until all the boxes were in and everyone was too tired to move anymore. I'm so excited for them- the house is beautiful!

Saturday was our Christmas Eve, since we moved stuff up a day because E.D. were flying out on Christmas Day to go to IN. I spent some time over at E.D.'s house helping with a little more organizing and we went to the beautiful candelight service at First Baptist Naples that evening. It was a WONDERFUL service and I really really enjoyed the worship and the teaching. All the family came over aftewards for some chili and hangin' out.

Sunday Jordan and Steve got up early and hit a little bit of tennis, and then went to a church to sing a few Christmas songs for them. Hope and I started breakfast (I made Grandma Bertie's homemade biscuits) and E.D. got over soon after. We all had a big breakfast and started off with stockings and then exchanged gifts! It was a wonderful day that we finished up with a lot of family and a huge meal with ham, green beans and pecan pie! We played a rousing game of Catch Phrase which was so hilarious as games with family usually are.

Monday, actual Christmas Day, we headed over to Harbour Chase with Pam Schuler's homemade pastries for a little Christmas Breakfast with Gma & Gpa Chalker. We had a great time with them, Jordan played a few carols for them, and I lost it when I tried- sometimes you just can't quite make it. We then went for a walk on the beach that began as a nice stroll and ended as a fight against the wind and a rush to get back in time to get E.D. to the airport. We did in fact make it and had a wonderful evening "Rocky Balboa" (AWESOME MOVIE!), food (WAY TOO MUCH OF IT) Family, and an awesome game of murder! Elizabeth brought the house down with her 7 rounds of killing and complete confusion! Good job Eli!

Today is our final day in Naples :-( and we are about to go play doubles tennis, and then go out to the new mall, Coconut Point to do some shopping. We'll see Grandpa and Grandma one more time and go out to dinner tonight! It has been an amazing trip and I can't believe I still have Christmas to celebrate with my side of the family tomorrow and Thursday- I'm so excited!!!

Most importantly, I am blown away by our Savior. I've just been reading this morning in Matthew & Luke about Jesus' birth and thinking about the gift of God- the true meaning of Christmas in giving and sacrifice! It is amazing! God, thank you for your Gift- thank you for life! Thank you for the Holy Spirit that gives guidance, joy, life and peace all day and throughout! You are the only thing that brings true meaning and joy to Christmas and I love you!

Have a blessed day!