Lately...

I figured I was due for a post since I haven't written one that actually gave any updates on my life as of recent. Thanksgiving was great! We went to Charlotte to spend it with my mom, brothers, aunt/uncle and the infamous "pawpaw" that everyone got to experience first hand at the wedding. He never disappoints and thanksgiving was not an exception. My mom also invited our neighbor of like 37 years who we just recently discovered goes to Shoney's by himself on thanksgiving so my mom felt inclined to invite him to our madness instead. Very sweet, definitely made for some good stories and awkward moments (just think: pawpaw that is hard of hearing and says whatever he thinks whenever he wants, very dry sense of humored aunt, weird neighbor who also says whatever he thinks apparently and my brother pictured below who obviously threw a few back before showing up for the family event.) Needless to say, thanksgiving was great and Kyle and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I'll leave you with this picture of my brother in a track suit. enough said.
Kyle and I LOVE real trees and refuse to have a fake one because it just isn't the same. I know it is a lot of work but really, who could sacrifice the aroma when you walk in the door?? We decided to set up our tree on wednesday night before thanksgiving before we left town. I was so thrilled to return to it already set up on sunday. I just love christmas and what it means to be a christian during this time. There is so much craziness and "wanting" for christmas but it is so cool to sit back and marvel at what an amazing God we serve. A God that loves us no matter what and the fact that I get to know Him and love Him amazes me. I definitely want this Christmas to be simplistic in faith and to be focused on celebrating His love, no matter what. Here is our tree all decorated. Kyle and I have tried to collect some ornaments as we go the past few years and we have even added a few special ones for "our first christmas". I'll post some pics of the new additions soon.
And I leave you with one stinkin good recipe that we recently learned from the Yates. They are a couple in our small group that we recently joined in October. We absolutely love the small group and are so blessed by this couple, we just love them!

"the yates infamous goat cheese pizza"
1 refrigerated pizza dough (or i guess you could make your own if you have the time)
1 package of goat cheese
1 red bell pepper
1 orange bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
1 package of mozzerella cheese (i used the new "philadelphia cream cheese added" mozzerella from kraft and it was delicious
a little olive oil

Just simply drizzle your olive oil on the pizza dough after you press it out on the pan. Add your mozzerella cheese, add all the diced peppers and sprinkle the goat cheese (not sparingly, if youre like me)

ENJOY!