Our Rather Informal Christmas Greeting

I concede; 

Christmas cards just aren't going to happen this year. 

I had planned, in spite of finishing my last semester of classes and Mark moving home, to be super-wife and get them sent out anyway... alas, I yield. 

So here is our official Christmas greeting from the Young's home to yours! 

Merry Christmas! 

Enjoy celebrating the blessing and miracle of 

Christ's coming this season. 

Love and blessings to you all!

Days, Hours, Minutes...

At this time tomorrow my hubby will almost be here with the last of our belongings from Texas and I will be finished with the last classes of my undergraduate degree and officially on Christmas break... just in time to unpack boxes.  ;)

I don't mind.

I can't wait to have him home... it will finally start feeling like Christmas around here.  =)

Merry Christmas to me.

That's about all folks.

Maybe I'll spruce up the creativity of my posts once I'm finished with my LAST final, in approximately 6 hours... =D

Until then... 

11 Days and Counting...

Until I am FINISHED with the classes of my undergrad...

&

Until my hubby is loaded up and moving home for good!

It was definitely bitter sweet saying goodbye to our Texas friends for the last time (well not LAST, last) this weekend.  We will definitely make trips down to see them, but I am sad that it will be a much less often occurring ordeal.

The Lord developed our lives in so many beautiful ways while we were there and those friends were a very large part of that.  We are so thankful for our time in Texas, what I originally saw as practically a 'banishment' was truly an incredible blessing to each of us individually and as a couple.

Here's to starting new chapters in life...

=)

Name Change

Just so you know, if I survive these last few weeks I'll be officially changing my name to Super Whitney.

...If I survive...

And in said case, I will then proceed to reward myself with LOTS of sleep, a husband who will actually move home to live with me (YAY!) and hopefully some lovely DIY projects I've been dreaming about.

On a side note, yesterday I spent several hours at my high school placement doing auditions for "Bye, Bye, Birdie."  As a result, last night I dreamt about Elvis singing this song...

Bye, Bye Birdie: One Last Kiss

A Happy Thanksgiving to You!

I hope you're spending this wonderful Holiday with those you love!

It's the Little Things...

So last week, Franny the Focus rolled over 100,000 miles... Get it girl... she's officially an old lady now!  =)

Then Sir Skylar Kal held a super vogue pose just for me... geez... never realized how big his ears are!

And the 17th was Miss Bayley Rae's 2nd birthday!!!  

Needless to say, when I got home from the H.S. Choir concert, there was a cookie with her birthday candle waiting on the counter... Nana likes to spoil her grandpuppies!  =)

Bayley wasn't quite sure whether or not this was a mean joke... she just didn't know if she was really being allowed to take a cookie straight off the plate.  I might pay for this confusion of expectations later...

And last but not least... 

a little something to help your Holiday spirits along:

The 12 Days of Christmas

Testing, Testing, Is This Thing On?

This week is the week of tests in the land of university.

Apparently just before Thanksgiving break, when students are most fatigued, is the time professors deem necessary to test every student on their knowledge absorption before stuffing themselves with turkey and pumpkin everything over break.

Thus, this week I feel as if I'm sprouting an irrational number of fresh grays while too many of my reds fall out.

*sigh*

I'll make it, no worries... pressing on, pressing on... =)

PS, this afternoon I've decided to reward a day full of studying and testing with a bit of retail therapy... I'm really excited.  I may share my findings with you later!  =)

Armed & Dangerous

As I said before, my handsome hubbers picked mom and I up from the airport the night of our return from the beautiful Bahamas.

The next morning hubs and I headed off to his grandparents' in Boonville for a day of sorting and gathering all sorts of treasures.  I'll post again soon to document our goodies and upcoming DIY projects resulting from that day.  But first, a lovely treat for you.

My first experience shooting a hand gun.  =)

My Daddy-in-law got a .40 cal not too long ago, so before we left, he saw to it that I got some lessons and experience with the glock!

Watch out folks... She's got the powa'...  ;)

Aaand for further viewing enjoyment:

Belated Celebrations and Bahama Elations!

A couple of weekends ago we hosted a belated surprise graduation party for my cousin, Karissa.

The party was fabulous, complete with:

Her mommy's homemade angel food cake, batter hand whipped to "stiff peaks" do to our lack of electric mixer at the house...

Homemade banner by yours truly, some beautiful decorated cupcakes (thanks to my friend Sherry for giving me some tips!) and some delicious punch... among other more substantial food... 

And of course, who could forget, Miss Graduate herself.
{A pic of the attending Womack ladies:
Susan, McKenzie, Karissa, Whitney, Nachelle, Brenda}

The very next weekend, mom and I packed up and headed off for our long awaited trip to Nassau, Bahamas!

No, we're not rich -- far from it.  Mom was able to qualify for the trip through a company she works with called Mannatech.  She worked so hard to get there and after everything she's been through in the past few years, she deserved such a lovely bonus!  I was lucky enough to be invited to tag along... ;)

Coming in for a landing... water like I've never seen before!

The welcome dinner had some incredible performers!

 Atlantis Trivia: The "Bridge Room" (above, right) is a ten room suite rated at $25,000 per night with a minimum 4 night required reservation... and it's booked solid for the next five years.

The walkway leading to one of the many incredible restaurants of Atlantis.

Loving the beach!  Again... the water!!!

Our *ahem* $250.00 meal... glad we weren't picking up that check!

So many incredible sculptures...

And one giant chair... =)

Looking back at the foyer entrance to the Atlantis resort... it's basically insane.

Preparing to go swim with the dolphins!

A sunset view from our balcony.  We were on floor 19 of 20... what luck!  =)

More incredible architecture...

We walked through the marina on our way to...

...ride the ferry!  We took this "taxi" to the main island for a bit more affordable souvenir shopping.

On the boat with our friends Angie and Chalise... poor Chalise was feeling a bit sea sick at the moment.

 Our most touristy moment of the week, right here folks.

Mom found some Bahamian maracas for this soon-to-be music teacher!  =)

A quaint little area (I believe called the Harbor Village?) we walked through between the resort and the marina.

We stood mesmerized on the balcony, watching some "fore-math" of hurricane Tomas brush alongside Nassau.

The view of Dolphin Cay (pronounced "Key") from our room.

In light of "Tomas" we headed down to The Dig to experience some marine life.

And explored some outdoor areas we had yet to experience once the rain cleared...

At the farewell dinner with Mannatech.

Bidding our sorrowful goodbyes to our lovely room and view at Atlantis...

 Does anyone else know that Christopher Columbus landed in the Bahamas?  That's a statue of him we passed on our way to the airport.

Oh beautiful Bahamas, your beautiful sights and exciting new experiences will be missed!