sweet Da

John Mack Knox

December 19, 1919- December 30 2010

My "Da"

He was always so quiet, but the most I ever heard him talk was when he wanted to tell you how much he loved you. The last thing he said to me was "I love you so much." I am thankful for that.

"When we arrive at eternity's shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we'll sing
You're beautiful"

This is why I celebrate Christmas...

I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You're beautiful

When we arrive at eternity's shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we'll sing

You're beautiful

-Phil Wickham

my grandfathers

Pawpaw in uniform. 1945, 17 years old

my 91 year old Da

Nana & Da loved Bella

So this morning, Hunter and I opened our Christmas presents from each other because we are leaving for Dallas tomorrow. Here are our presents!

Bella sleeping with her Christmas presents

Hunter's presents:

You can never go wrong with a flannel shirt for Hunter. And he loves Levi 511's, so I got him grey corduroys!

He really wanted a Chemex. He loves this coffee shop in Nashville and that is where he was introduced to them. Apparently it makes the best cup of coffee you'll ever have. I also got him a bag of coffee from the shop.

His fave candy, fireballs and a Cracker Barrel coffee mug!

my presents:

Everybody knows I don't read, but THIS I won't be able to put down. He literally found the perfect book for me! I was already reading excepts to Hunter and I could tell...... he wasn't as intrigued as me, haha!

another perfect gift! All the Toy Story movies!

A necklace with 3 pretty hoops. One is rose gold, one is yellow gold and one is sterling silver.

I love this leaf ring!!

Philosophy perfume. It smells SO GOOD!

We wore Bella out with all the present opening! Here she is sleeping by the Christmas tree :)

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just a little thought stirring about my head this morning....

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I was thinking about my pawpaw when he rescued a couple in the 60's from a wrecked car, engulfed in scorching flames. I've also got a struggling family on my heart this morning. The two don't seem tied together, but in my head, they are. You see, some people need recognition for their good acts. They contemplate this recognition, this reward, even before the act is done. However, I know that is not the situation in both these cases. Both parties rescued persons from danger. My pawpaw rescued lives from near death. The other party rescued a life from feeling like death. Sometimes people save others without the thought of the risk being made, without the thought of consequences, without the thought of what will be sacrificed. And when the only thing that goes through their mind is "This has to be done now." that's when this act is being made by a Strength much greater than their own.

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on a light note :)

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Did you know my 4 year old nephew is a comedian? He is. This morning, we had just dropped the older 2 off at school and I got quite the entertainment on the ride home. The usual trip in the car consists of me sipping on my coffee, Christmas music on and Kasen trying to sing along to the Christmas music. Well, I guess he figured out over the course of this season that trying to learn the words to Christmas songs is just too hard. So this morning, he decided instead of singing along, he would add along. Here are a few examples of what I mean:

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song: Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock.....

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Kasen: Rock? I don't see a rock.

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song: Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun........

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Kasen: What?! Dis not fun!

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song: Now the jingle hop has begun.................. dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell square, in the frosty air.....

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Kasen: We're not in a square! Dis air not frosty!

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song: What a bright time................

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Kasen: It not bright!

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song: It's the right time to rock the night away....... giddy-up, jingle horse, pick up your feet...

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Kasen: I not a horse!!!

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song: Jingle around the clock....

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Kasen: I don't see a clock!!

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song: Mix and a mingle in the jingling feet, that's the jingle bell, that's the jingle bell, that's that jingle bell rock!

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Kasen: I still don't see a rock OR a jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell.......... Ok, are you gonna answer me?

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This one was my favorite....

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song: Silver and gold, silver and gold. Everyone wishes for silver and gold...

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Kasen: What?!?! Not a t-rex, dinosaur, or monster!!!!! OK, they not real.

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At that point, I started choking on my coffee and laughing so hard. I don't think Kasen even realized I was listening- he was completely in his own world. But I am OH SO glad he invinted a new way of singing to songs.

special Christmas memories

I have to say, I can't believe this will be the 4th Christmas Hunter and I will spend together as husband and wife! And they just keep getting better... and better...... and, well, you know. I will always remember our first humble little Christmas together in our 500 square foot apartment. We had only been married for 4 months. We loved that little place. One, it was cozy and two, it had a wood-burning fire place. I remember on Christmas eve, I was rushing around trying to find snacky foods to bring to my parents' house on Christmas day because I had forgotten I needed to bring some. The ONLY place open at that point in the evening was K-mart (do people still really shop there???). The weather was frigid and I was stressed after driving all around town. Once in the store, their shelves were about wiped out and the only thing I found was some summer sausage, a block of cheese and crackers. I stomped up the stairs to our apartment in a horrible mood at that point and when I opened the door, Hunter had a surprise waiting for me. There was wood in the fire place, burning a glowing fire and he had bought all the iron tools to build/tame a fire. It was the first time there was a fire burning in our apartment and I pretty much dropped my grocery bags and teared up. We snuggled up under a blanket with some hot chocolate and spent the rest of the evening by our fireplace. It was the perfect first Christmas with my husband.

Last Christmas, he went ring shopping with one of his close friends. His friend was on a mission to buy an engagement ring and Hunter was on a mission to get me a blue sapphire ring. Both boys were successful!! I was so surprised to open my little ring box from Jared on Christmas morning :)

I married such an amazing man!

Last night, we made another special memory. We had our nephews over to open their gifts from us because they leave for Arizona on friday and Hunter and I will be in Dallas on Christmas. I made a big pot of white chicken chili, mexican spoon bread and brownies with buttercream frosting. Kevin and my parents joined us, as well. We sat around the table, sipping wine and talking. Every 2 or 3 minutes, the boys asked "when are we gonna open presents?" After dinner, I served hot chocolate and spiced tea and the boys opened their presents! When my parents and Kevin had gone home for the night, the boys changed into their pj's and I made a big pallet on the floor. Me, Hunter and the boys (plus sweet-face Chase and little Bella boo) turned on Home Alone. It's always so sweet to have everyone snuggling by the pretty Christmas tree, watching a movie. We all slept in a little late this morning! I made blueberry muffins and served yogurt and fresh oranges. Then we realized it was 8:05 and for the next 20 minutes, we ran around trying to get out the door, JUST like the scene in Home Alone. It was pretty funny :)

This afternoon, I had to pick up the older boys from school early because of weather conditions. Me and Kasen were in the car and The Carpenters' "Merry Christmas, Darling" came on the radio. Kasen asked me the sweetest little question.

"Aunt Hea-yer, how you marry Christmas?"

"Ooohhh, buddy, that's not what they mean! When they sing 'merry' they mean 'happy' kinda like happy Christmas."

"Oh."

(silence.)

"But they mean you can marry Santa Claus?"

"No, no. Kasen, not that kind of marry. They are talking about merry, which means happy."

"Oh. 'Cause I can't marry Santa Claus 'cause he a boy?"

"Right...... That's exactly right."

I will never forget that conversation.

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snow adventures

with Bella

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"This stuff again..."

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"It smells ok..."
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"Yeah, this isn't bad. It's all good!"
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"It's all.... good..... getting..... a little.... high..."
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"Too.... high..... getting burried..."
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"Ok, yeah. Get me outta here."
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i love snow!

It's rather beautiful here in Tennessee :)

Everything by Lifehouse

This song came on my ipod during my run today. I literally started balling like a baby (yes, while I was running. I think I concerned some of the construcion workers I ran past.) because

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A. it's such a beautiful song

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B. it brought back one of the best memories of my life.

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It made me remember the day I married the most incredible person I've ever met. My bridesmaids walked to the slower part of the song, and when the song picked up I walked down the aisle with my dad. This song was so perfect to play because it represented the very thing that was going to bind mine and Hunter's marriage together- the Holy Spirit. Originally, I chose to walk down to Helen Stellar's "IO" but then my mom approached me about walking down to "Everything" by Lifehouse. Wow, I'm SO thankful for her idea! The song turned out to be the perfect introduction to the life that Hunter and I now share.

the Coasters - Charlie Brown

I thought about this sweet memory today and it made me smile. My sisters and I used to always sing this song with our Pawpaw when we were little. We would sing the chorus part and he would sing "Why is everybody always pickin' on me?" and me, my sisters and Pawpaw would just get so tickled.

This video is incredible! The Coasters made "Charlie Brown" a hit in 1959. I long to have lived in this era of entertainment.

I have some great memories with that silly man and sure do miss him!

Christmas brings SUCH lovely things....

can't wait to put this little gem on the record player

he is excited to read this classic!

Scooby Doo with Uncle Hunter

Bella says "What's in the box? Can we open it? Can we open it?"

Aunt Nanny (Hunter's great aunt) bought me this lovely tiered candy tray in Chattanooga. It's so special and I hope to pass it down to my children one day!

snuggling with the Christmas blanket

I especially miss Pawpaw this time of year

You better watch out.... you better not cry..... you better not pout, I'm telling you why!

(Chase pouts too much.)

I bought a special ornament from this amazing store last Christmas when we went to Gatlinburg with Cuz D! (photo to come later)

"Who's this funny looking guy? What's this stuff you're putting everywhere?"

It's that time of year for Cuties!!!!! I LOVE eating these little guys!!!

Everyone loves the Christmas blanket.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! This time of year is so special and I can't wait for Christmas day. Putting the decorations up and giving presents and knowing the true meaning of why we even celebrate this season is one of the best feelings in the world. It's a time for cold, crisp weather, sparkling lights, hot chocolate, Christmas movies and the reminder of our Savior's humble birth into this world.