Thanksgiving!!

I know I know that would be a Christmas hat on Macy on Thanksgiving day! Just so you know: first, we celebrated Thanksgiving with lunch and then the Christmas photo session occurred. So see we didn't break the rules!
Thanksgiving was great! First we headed to the Mitchell side to visit with the extended family that came in town.
We had a great time eating a LOT OF FOOD and we watched the movie Four Christmases. Definitely, not a favorite. After all the festivities, we headed to the Bensingers for dinner. It was definitely a great day surrounded by family. Macy even got to tag a long and play with her dog cousin's Shug and Molly.Needless to say she slept like a rock when we got home.




Meet Shug- this is my brother's 65lb English bulldog puppy that is still growing. There is definitely one word to sum him up = slobber. I think he slobbed me twice, which was two times to many.

Thanksgiving oh how I love Thee!!!

I LOVE this time of year! I mean LOVE!!! First of all, I don't get to see my extended family but once a year at Thanksgiving. So I am extremely pumped they are all coming in town this week. Second of all, I love the Christmas season. And lets be honest Thanksgiving is the kick-off for Christmas.
Some activities I have planned this week are:
1) Try and finish pillows and other stuff I am making for the living room( look for an update on the Bensinger Blog)
2) I am going to see New Moon tomorrow with a bunch of work girls! Can't Wait!



3) Black Friday shopping early on Friday with Leslie
4) Auburn/ Alabama Game on Friday afternoon
4) Disney's A Christmas Carol with the family and friends on Saturday

Happy 88th Birthday Mamaw!!

Monday was my grandmother's 88th birthday! We all headed to my parent's house for a birthday dinner and cake. My grandmother has alzheimers so I don't know if she knew the party was for her, but we all had a good time.Overall we made some good memories that night!


Rob and I at the party!

Core Weekend!

Rob and I are participating in Core Groups again this year! This means that we are discipleship leaders for a group of middle school or high school boys or girls. Rob has been with his guys since they were in 7th grade and now they are in 9th. I have had my girls since 9th grade and now they are in 10th. Core Groups have been meeting on Sunday nights since August and meet through out the school year. This weekend is call Core Weekend. It is a time for Core Groups to hang out and bond. I am so excited! My girls and I are going to the drive-in moive Saturday night. And I think most of them have never been to a drive-in moive before.

Vulcan goes Pink!

I think it is awesome that the City of Birmingham is recongnizing breast cancer awareness month. In honor of it City Hall, Vulcan, and the Museum of Art are all washed in pink this month. What a great reminder for people as they drive by and see Vulcan in pink.

Camping!

So Friday night we had the opportunity to go camping with our Sunday School class! Need less to say it was very very cold! We had a great time listening to the Vestavia/Hoover game on the radio, hobo dinners, and late night campfire. Even though it took me about a day to thaw out- It was a lot of fun!!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

This past Saturday was the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. This year my mother didn't participate due to other circumstances, but when ever this time of year rolls around it causes me to really reflect over the last few years.
First of all, my mother is one of the strongest women I know. Just seeing her go through chemo and her reliance on the Lord was humbling. She was more worried about others during this time then herself. She even worked through most of it.
There are two times during her treatment that really stuck out to me:
The first memory was the night we found out she had breast cancer- It was a rainy night and I was on my way to meet a friend, whose mom also had breast cancer when she was younger. Sitting on the passenger seat next to me was a CD that my now sister-in-law had given me. I remember her saying that she makes this cd every year of songs that God had used in her life over the past year. She said I don't know why I am giving you this cd, but the Lord told me to give it to you. Well it was sitting on the seat next to me as I drove and prayed about my mom and her cancer and I just flat out asked the Lord what do I need to do and to just give me an answer of the outcome of all this if He could. I placed the cd in the player and the first song that played was " Praise you in the storm" by Casting crowns. I! just began to sing and weep. The next song to play was "It's gonna be alright" by Sara Groves. WOW!!! I had never heard God's voice be so clear. From that day on I knew the Lord would heal my mom. I was talking to my sister-in-law later and was telling her about my experience and she turned to me and said " Ginny- that was not the first and second track on the CD" Apparently out of all the CD's mine was the only one that the songs had gotten mixed up- As my pastor always says "What are the odds- 100%!"
The second memory I have- was when my mom lost all her hair. It didn't really bother me the first day. I remember sitting in my room in Auburn with Kristen and I just began to cry. I wasn't upset about my mom having cancer- I was sad because she had lost all her hair( which I knew she would). It is funny how we as women place so much identity in our hair. Yet again what a humbling experience. I finally was like what a trivial thing to be upset about. This doesn't change my mom! - the Lord used a ton experiences through my mom's cancer to teach and grow my realtionship with him.

After all of that - I dedicate this month to my Mom! I am so proud of you and who you are and all you have done. And even though we didn't get to do race for the cure.We will just say we slept in for the cure. You are amazing and I love you!!!