a little r & r

I did a whole lot of nothing this weekend.  I slept on and off almost day Friday, and Saturday I read books all day (yes, plural).  We finally all got out together on Sunday, for church.

In all of my doing nothing, I snapped some pictures of what was going on around me.

I probably drank more coffee than usual, since I didn't have to get up and get going.  It's also no secret that I have a coffee mug problem~particularly, a Christmas coffee mug problem.  I have so many that I can hardly squeeze them all in the cabinet!  I do love this one, though, because of what it says.

I was entertained by my dogs' antics.  This one was keeping a close eye on the kitty, who was lounging on the couch.

I read multiple Christmas books.  This was one in a series.  The entire series was so good!

On Friday night, we had the neighborhood kids over to watch Planes with us.  It was really cute...not quite as good as Cars, but it was entertaining.

This book kept me up half the night.  It was so good that I couldn't put it down.  I didn't feel good, either, so maybe that was part of what was keeping me up.

Yesterday I woke up feeling so much better!  In light of that (and who knows how long it'll last?), we made a Christmas-y breakfast.  All it was, was pancakes and milk, but food coloring added a little "magic" to it.  It was totally worth the effort, and the boys think it might become a new tradition.  ;)

My mom came over yesterday morning to give me my birthday card and gift.  They won't be here on the actual day of my birthday, so I got it a little early!  I love hand soap from Bath & Body Works, and she knows I never splurge on myself, so these are a treat!  She gave me a beautiful card that made me cry and some birthday money to spend on myself.  However, one thing I'm going to do with part of my birthday money today is treating my boys to the movie Frozen.  I have been wanting to see it, and I know they'll love it as well!  I can't wait~we NEVER go to movies.

Yesterday afternoon, we went to the Enchanted Forrest at the Pink Palace museum to visit Santa.  When we were driving home last night, we saw this...it's The Clark Tower, all lit up for Christmas.  Isn't it beautiful?!

I was feeling particularly loved and blessed yesterday.  I was slightly overwhelmed with the goodness of God, and in light of that, I'm going to share with you one of my favorite passages in all of Scripture.  It is my prayer for all of my family, all of my friends, and all of anyone who ever reads this blog.  It's from Ephesians 3: 14~19:

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge~that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

To Him be the glory.  Love to all.