Grant CHRISTmas

Traditionally we always go over to my mom & dads to open our presents Christmas morning... this year Ben had to work so we waited until he got off @ 7... I thought the girls were going to go crazy waiting!!

Ben and I have been on a budget since he started back to school. We decided not get each other much, if anything... we opened the few gifts we had for each other Christmas Eve. I took a picture of what he got me w/ my iPhone; I'll download it and put it up soon. It is very special and there's a story that goes behind the gift... I'll explain once I post the pic.

My parents always go above & beyond when it comes to buying us gifts... We hope they know how special they make each Christmas for us!!

Here are the pictures from Christmas night w/ the Grants... aka Griswold's!!

Last Christmas mom got the guys a pair of pajama pants.. they say something about opening a can of something on somebody??? haha Needless to say, Ben is sporting them!! This year he got grinch pants, so I'm sure he'll be wearing those next year!! (bless his heart, he had just worked a 12 hour shift) Brad w/ his typical picture face wearing his new North Face jacket

Wes too got a North Face jacket

Laci and Benny

There's a story that goes behind this picture... my dad has acquired a few new "friends." Every night there are two raccoons, Ricky & Rotnei, and Peter the possum that comes to their back door.. they started feeding them their leftover dinner (or whatever dad finds in the pantry) and they come back every night... it's amazing how much weight they've put on!! It's a family joke now that dad has new friends.. he's very protective of them too!! When they visited Wes in October, I went over and made sure they had some food!! This particular present is a raccoon puzzle.. we've started putting together puzzles @ the particular house were at.. we have one going @ the Bohannan's, our house, & theirs!!

Megan has taken a special liking in Tinker Bell... here is her new costume!! After she put it on she asked me where her high heels were!!

Laci & her new gymnastics suit!! I remember the days I could pull that outfit off too... I have to think real hard but they're there!!

Of course Meg got one too!!

and again...

The girls got matching GSU (Georgia State Panther) shirts w/ Wes's # on the back!! We can hardly wait for baseball season to start and road trips to watch uncle Wes play!!

This is particularly funny because it's a Popeye shirt w/ no head.... Wes happened to pose like this which makes him look like Popeye!!

Megan decided to "bust Laci up," this was the end result!!

Laci being attacked; they both went down (They were getting restless waiting on uncle Ben)

The Noah's Ark puzzle going on @ mom & dads house (this will be framed and go in the baby room @ our house)

dad & Megan

Laci trying to pout waiting on Ben to get home... & yes those are all her presents in the chair behind her!!

Amber & her girls

Laci showing off her new charm bracelet

Amber's present from Brad was an iPhone.... this is how she was until Ben got there!!

mom's mantle in the living room; very pretty!!

my two favorite girls!!

CHEESE!!

Wes always has this water bottle in the fridge... Megan thought it was funny to drink from it too!!

eating dinner waiting for Benny to get home already!!

Laci was handing out cards to all the different piles of presents!! She was supposed to sort out the presents but she only found the ones w/ her name on them!!

I know I've said this before but we are truly blessed!! Obviously, opening presents and getting new "things" is fun but we rejoice for the real meaning of the season!!

CHRISTmas @ the Grant farm!!

Tonight we celebrated Christmas w/ the Caple side of the family @ the Bohannan's... I forgot my camera so you'll have to go to my sisters blog to look @ photos. We had a great time eating, playing dirty Santa, & great fellowship!!

Last Saturday we had our annual Grant Christmas @ the farm. It is always a wonderful time when we can all get together!!

This year we're reminded of how blessed we are to have such a wonderful family who loves us unconditionally!! We're also reminded of the obvious... we will never meet our daughter, Weslee on this earth, papaw Grant has stage IV lung CA, my sister is no longer pregnant... sadly, I could go on... BUT we know all things happen for a reason and God has a much bigger plan for us than we can fathom; with that fact, I have PEACE

Enjoy the pictures, we had a great time!!

Megan wanting someone to take her on the 4-wheeler Laci doing cousin Adam's hair

Amber & Brad

Connie being goofy w/ her umbrella she won playing dirty Santa!! Notice Ben in the background w/ his dirty Santa gift on; an awesome Carhart hunting jacket!! Ben does not hunt so Wes ended up w/ it!!

Amber explaining the rules of dirty Santa, we go through this each year!! We are a VERY competitive family so we all have to be on the same page..

Brad and Laci bird

Papaw Grant & Meg going for a ride

mom & Wesley, we're soo glad he's home for a while!!

dad and his dad, our papaw Grant, and Laci, Megan, Brayden, & Weslee's great grandpa!!

my cousin Katie & her boyfriend Jace, such a great guy!! (notice Katie's glamour shot hand pose - haha)

studs

Ben and mamaw Grant.. Ben is holding a glass of her sweet tea, which happens to be the sweetest tea ever!!

Megan and her corn, this kids loves corn!!

Laci giving Ben a new hairdo

I saved the best for last, our papaw Grant!! When Ben and I were in Branson the Lids store there embroidered hats, we had this one made for him.. it says, GRANT FARM

We have so many great memories w/ he and the whole family @ their house in Benton and now @ the farm... we're looking forward to MANY more!!

What a wonderful CHRISTmas!!

our past few weeks

I realized once I posted all the pictures that I should've posted the pictures first then wrote what I had planned... needless to say, you'll have to look @ the pictures then find out what we've been up too!! A quick overview; we went to Branson w/ Ben's family this weekend. It was lit beautifully for CHRISTmas, very cold but we were bundled up and comfortable!!

Mary Ann always takes this bag of "essentials" with us anytime we travel.. I'm holding a pulse ox and a stethoscope!! I believe there was an updraft machine in the bag too!! We were having a good laugh at her expense... we wont be laughing when we actually have to use something in her bag!! The Christmas water/light show on the Landing

this is one of the views from our balcony... each couple had their own condo, we are spoiled!!

Mary Ann and Katherine (Ben's mom & sis)

Another view of the water/light show

Branson Landing

me

typical!! Weslee's dad!!

Ben and Mary Ann (his mom) Trent, Katherine, myself, & Ben (Ben's sis & our BIL)

the girls

In front of the big Christmas tree @ the Landing

2 of my favorite things: Ben and a CHRISTmas tree!!

I am so happy to report that it's been a great few weeks!!

My youngest niece Megan turned 3 on December 7!! We celebrated that night @ Amber's house with family and a few close friends. I get asked a lot if Megan is mine, to that I answer, she might as well be and she sure does act like me!! I think this is a great thing, although it makes Am & Brad a little nervous!!

We had my work Christmas party on the 9, which is always a good time. I've said this before, but I truly love my job!!

Ben and I got back today from a Branson trip w/ his family!! Needless to say, it was a much needed getaway for us!!

My papaw Grant goes back to the doctor soon so please keep he and the rest of my family in your prayers!!

when it rains, it pours....

It seems when things are starting to get back to "normal" we are rocked by more bad news.... sadly, today is no different...

My sister posted on her blog a few days ago about her recent miscarriage. My heart hurts for her, Brad, and our whole family daily... (close family were the only ones that knew, the girls still don't know) She also posted about how we are 5 years apart and never went through the same stages together..... we've always dreamed how fun it would be to be pregnant @ the same time!! It was almost a reality... (who's to say it can't still happen) She has two beautiful, healthy daughters that are the center of our families universe!! We do not question God, we know he has a plan for us all!!

My papaw Grant has been having pains in his chest the past few months... after a series of tests, today it was confirmed he has stage IV lung cancer... my heart is so heavy words can't describe the overwhelming sense of sadness. I have never not known what specifically to pray for?? I will admit I am mad.... but @ who, what?? I don't know if I've just had enough for a while or just don't understand why all this is happening??????????

It's at times like these that I wonder how people without a faith get through each day.... especially when they're knocked down so many times..

My philosophy has always been PUSH - pray until something happens!! I know I do not understand Gods plan all the time but I do trust in His word!!

Please continue to pray for my family, specifically my grandpa right now!!

**I would love to hear your favorite bible verses