I think Jordan and I need to purchase some new Christmas music this year. It's been a while since I updated our collection and I know there are some really good things out there this year. Does anyone have any good recommendations they would like to share? We have the "standards:" Michael w. Smith, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Amy Grant, etc. but I'm looking for some new sounds. I like pretty traditional, no Black Eyed Peas Christmas or anything :-) But I am looking for some suggestions.

One of my favorite parts of the day is my morning time. I wake up, put on the water for some tea, turn on the lamps and recently, have been plugging in all the Christmas lights as well. This morning I lit a fire, and I tell ya, every morning it just brings a smile to my face.

I wonder what it is about the red and green and white lights that we all love so much?! I sure do enjoy it, though!

We had a great small group meeting last night. We talked about Walking in Wisdom and there were some things that really hit home for me. The word for wisdom that is used sometimes in the Bible is "sophia," which is defined as the application of knowledge. We, so many times, think of wisdom as head knowledge or "smarts," but really, as Christians, it is the application of what the Lord has shown us, or what has been revealed to us. Another way to phrase it is how well we steward what God has given us, and the understanding He's given. That encourages me- I may not be the smartest person in the world, but I can walk and apply the things God's given me!

We saw a movie over Thanksgiving which probably most of you have seen or at least heard about by now. Click here for all sorts of information. The movie's called August Rush and I cannot wait to see it again.

If you get the chance- go see it! It will be well worth your 9 bucks. (Even though that's crazy to pay for a movie)

Happy Wednesday!

This is Steve enjoying a little massage in front of Old Navy in the Evansville mall on Black Friday :-) We had a lot of fun shopping! Some highlights of the weekend:

* Being comPLETELY packed into the minivan. It's amazing how much luggage 7 people can produce for 2 days!

* A fun game of "murder" on Wednesday night...Jordan got it twice!

* Lazy Thursday morning

* Wonderful meal with wonderful people

* Watching the Colts beat up on the Falcons

* Catchphrase!

* Kemps!

* Shopping fun on Friday

* Being with family and dear friends! Always wonderful...

More pics to come...

Happy Thanksgiving!! We are sitting here in a beautiful cabin in Southern Indiana, and my day already feels complete because I have all my family (Mom, Dad, Jordan, Dylan, Hope, Steve, Erin, Dan and Trish) here with me. We are missing Ferris though which is VERY sad, but I got to talk to her this morning. She's working hard at the hospital! She said she as surprised by the number of injuries that came in last night.


Jordan and I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving and pray that you feel blessed by the things God's done and the people surrounding you. We love you!

Oh and in other news, more congratulations are due to:

* Mark Munden & Natalie Cressy on their recent engagement!! (YAY!)

* Scott & Courtney Ray on their pregnancy- we can't wait for little baby Ray :-)

It's going to be a GREAT week!

It started off with an incredible and fun church service yesterday morning. We had some baptisms, and Thanksgiving testimonies about things God's done in people's lives this past year, and we just rejoiced together as a family over God's faithfulness.

Kyle Cooper & Ian came over for lunch after church and I made Thai cashew chicken. Mmm....I've been buying the packs of rainbow peppers from Costco because they are DELISH and I put them in everything. So I added some peppers and broccoli to the dish- it was yummy! Afterwards, I cleaned up and the boys rested a bit. Then they pitched in and helped Jordan put the tree up. We decorated super early this year so our family from out of town can see it. They were a funny spectacle putting that tree together. Of course anything Kyle, Jordan and Ian do together is funny! I made them some no-bakes cookies and we watched a little football.

Kyle had to leave about 5, and I took off to get a few more things for the home-made pizza I was making, and to pick up 2 more strands of lights. Most of ours worked but you're always going to have a few go out. Oh well! We finished the tree, watched a little of the Patriot's massacre the Bills (side note: Randy Moss: 42 points for me in FF) watched a little American Music Awards, finished decorating, made the pizza and turned on "The Santa Clause." It was a top-notch evening! I told them I felt like I spent all day in the kitchen though, b/w lunch, cleaning up lunch, making no bakes, cleaning up no bakes, deep-cleaning the kitchen, making dinner, cleaning up dinner, but I shouldn't complain, b/c I love it.

This morning I woke up early and turned on the Christmas lights- beautiful! I made yummy eggs with peppers, red onion, mushrooms, spinach and feta for me and my husband and a bowl of oatmeal w/ walnuts and cranberries for him. We have a full work day ahead of us, drs appt, meeting and then we get to see family! They all fly in tonight- so we are pumped. I'm telling you, it's going to be a wonderful week!!!

We want to extend a HUGE congratulations to Nathan & Bethany. I told Jordan yesterday I "knew" it would be a girl. The Gaddis' make too beautiful of babies for them to not have a girl :-)

We love the name and can't wait to see you guys in December.

What I'm currently listening to on repeat:




I hope we can start doing this at church! Can't wait....

I love my husband!!

He surprised me last night with a fun time to go to Old Time Pottery in Murfreesboro and dinner out at Demos'. We had a great time AND got some GREAT deals out at Old Time Pottery- we are READY for Christmas decorating! Yay! And we had a great dinner.

AND- to top it off I won my fantasy football matchup that I wasn't expecting to at all b/c of bad bye weeks.

Current rank: 2 of 10 (the women are leading the league!)

It's baby time in Tennessee. No! Not for Jordan and me, but I found out about two of my friends who are pregnant...one on Saturday and one on Sunday! It's just super exciting and fun! I am absolutely loving this season of our lives....the BABY time! :-) What an incredible miracle and joy it is. And Jordan and I look forward to the day when we too step into that season.

God is so good!

In my reading this morning, and because of some things I was praying about, God led me Galatians 3, and verse 3 just jumped off the page. Here it is in NKJV,

"Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?"

I also love how it reads in New Living Translation, which is,

"Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?"

As I was asking and praying for help in certain areas of my life, and increased faith in things or increased passion, I was reminded that it's only by the Holy Spirit that I can truly accomplish what God's called me to, and fulfill His purpose for my life.

So now, my prayer is not to revive my passion or my focus, but for Him to reveal areas of my life I am trying to do on my own. Areas that I am trying to get by on "what I know" or "what I'm accustomed to"

It is only by stepping out in faith and hearing the guiding of the Holy Spirit that I can live life to the fullest!

I am encouraged!

Currently Listening to:

It's definitely ooey-gooey girl/boy music, but it's SO catchy and just generally fun. Wish I'd found it in the summer. It's definitely summer music. Everyone will have heard the majorly-played "Bubbly" but one of my faves is "The Little Things." SO catchy, and very smart writing.

We saw an incredible movie this weekend. It's called "Bella" and it is the story of a young woman, and the choices she has to make, and the love that is found in that. It's an amazing story and we completely endorse it. It's only playing at the Green Hill's Cinema in the Nashville area for those of you who live here but totally worth the drive!!!

What a beautiful picture:

...sitting here, seeing the slightest sunrise beginning, and as I continue to sit and to wait before the Lord- I look out and the sun is now fully up, and it is day- there is no longer night.

All I did was wait.