I can just barely recall the first time Jeremy and I stepped through the front doors of this house. The sheer wonder of that moment has stayed with me in a greater capacity than the now-graying visuals. Of course, the house still looks much the same, so perhaps photographic memories are not quite as important. Four years and some odd weeks ago, I walked up the front steps, through the wide front porch, and into the empty shell of this Prairie Box. Even the old brown carpet, spread wall to wall, could not dim the beauty of the wood which gleamed at every corner. From the frames embedded with leaded glass in the foyer to the columns stretching to the high ceilings in the living room, the old house was filled with beautiful original wood. And it was then we fell in the love with the idea of a house, this house. As out of reach as it seemed at that moment, the Lord had a plan for us. Us in this gorgeous house of yellow pine, with a front porch built long and deep, and the beautiful front windows.

Seven days into the December Photo Project and today is the first one where I remembered to take my camera on an outing. I present to you: Walgreens, Christmas Edition.

This evening we dined at Lonestar with Jeremy’s side of the family… Steak, shrimp, fried onions and ice cream cake. What more could a girl want for her birthday? Mmm, mmm good. I’ve been very very blessed this year with tons of well wishes from family and friends—you guys really are the best—and fairly spoiled with fab-u-lous gifts that, if given enough time, may turn me into an introvert. (Jeremy, love of my life, THANK YOU!) And just so you know, Adam & Kris, I feel giddy at the very thought of opening the art set you gave me. I’m hoping Livia will be satisfied with her paltry Crayolas when she sets eyes upon my new goodies. Today she turned 19 months old and let me tell ya what, she gets smarter every day. I wouldn’t be surprised if she ignores her ROY G. BIV options and goes for my new oil and acrylics.

Anyhow, thank you, thank you, thank you all for the fun birthday extravaganza!

Thanks to everyone who prayed for me. I’m feeling loads better today. Due to staying indoors for almost four days straight, I haven’t taken all the photos I assumed I’d be taking. So here’s one from the vault, posted for Geena and Jenny — I know you guys are out there! : )

This picture was snapped last Christmas at one of our family dinners. Two proud grandmas with the newest additions to the clan. I like this picture because it really represents the personalities of the new little ones… James, eager and excited, is ready to love on Livia. Livia, cautious and contemplative, would rather lean into Grandma than take any sudden moves towards this joyous little fella.

Hey, prayin’ folk out there. If you’ve got a moment, please pray for me to get over this virus I’ve contracted. Three solid days of all sorts of rotten symptoms, bleh. Enough is enough! I want to be on my feet and feeling good for the festivities that begin Tuesday…

I’m in such a daze this evening that I actually did the unthinkable. I used Livia’s rectal thermometer to check my temperature. It’s 99.9, for those of you not completely freaking out from that horrendous piece of information. Fortunately, I *do* remember washing it well first.

I’m off to wash my mouth out with soap now.

(With only minutes to spare, she uploads Photo: Day Three to the website. Perhaps tomorrow she’ll give herself more time to create.)

Today was definitely a blue kind of day.

The December Photo Project is on.

And I almost didn’t live up to my own challenge on its very first day.

But here you have it. My first photo in the line-up of 25 photos, one posted each day in December, from now through Christmas. I can’t promise great photography but I will try hard to come up with interesting perspectives on my favorite month of the year. If you care to join me in this challenge and want to post your own pics on your own blog for 24 days or 12 days or just a few sparkling days this month, let me know and I’ll post a link to your site.

Day one, mission accomplished. Twenty-four left to go.

Merry Christmas, my dear friends.