Christmas and the New Year

It has been quite a while since my last post due to the holiday season. What a busy, wonderful, exhausting, and splendid all at the same time season it has been. Here is a top ten list of this year's great festivities.

10. In our house for the first Christmas

9. Decorating and putting up two Christmas trees in the new house

8. My first Christmas married

7. Spending the 23rd with Vernon, Patsy, my parents, Chad, Charity, all the kids and Jeff's stepsister Amy for the first time

6. Two extra days of Christmas vacation due to the 2 feet of snow, gotta love this!

5. Christmas Eve church service--singing Silent Night in the candle light

4. Cooking Christmas dinner for the first time, Jeff fried the turkey, Patsy made the sweet potatoes and stuffing, and I did the rest--had a little assistance for the first go round. Loved every minute of spending time with the entire Brinegar, Cunningham, Blackburn, Fink crew (those of you that know my family will understand this ;)

3. Having my Dad and Sherry stay at our house for 5 days

2. Spending New Year's Eve and day laughing with Darlene and Vince(Jeff's mom and stepfather), Chad, Charity and all the kids

1. Knowing that Jesus truly is the reason for the season

That is one heck of a top ten list. All though everything truly was wonderful and I know that my family is blessed, there was a bit of sadness in my heart for my brother and all of our troops. Every time I sat and started to think about him and his sacrifices I just cried. He is so brave and I truly miss him everyday. Our military men and women are so brave and I hope that all Americans really swallow the depth of their service; especially during the holiday season.

Ok, off the soap box and on to a few pictures. These are pictures of New Year's Eve and Day in Mannington, WV. I hope all of you enjoyed your Christmas vacation as much as we did.