Im Pretty Fond of These Kids

My Christmas Present to the Faris Family

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Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas From The Cannon's!
We wish you all love, joy and laughter!

Bon Voyage!

Well in 11 days we will be headed on a Christmas Cruise! Crazy I know. Now before you start thinking wait? I thought they were starving seminary students? Well we still are. My dad and stepmom are the ones giving us this wonderful trip. The whole family is heading on this cruise! It's going to be interesting that's for sure. I have never been anywhere Tropical for Christmas and I am sure it will feel different. In fact I am just going to pretend its NOT Christmas until we get back! (on the 26th.) Josh and I will have our "Christmas Eve" that night and wake up to our Christmas morning the 27th!

So anyway I am excited it will be great to get away with the family and here are the places we are visiting!
Cayman Islands

Cozumel Mexico


Roatan Honduras


Princess Cays, Bahamas, That's our ship I think!


So maybe I just need to buy a Bathing suit with Santa on it or something! Now I have so much to do in 10 days, register, renew my greencard (just get the paper work in! I am safe to travel still!) Figure out about our car :( We got in an accident on the way home from Boston in the snow Saturday night. It was not fun. We are ok but our car is not! And pack!

Christmas Favorites

I love this time of year. I mean I don't know what part I love the most, but I just love it all. Family, the ambiance, the parties, the colours, decorations, the music, the food! It's all grand! Here are a few of my favorite Christmas Traditions!

1. Christmas Music:
I love the classics, The Drifters, Dean Marin, Elvis, Brenda Lee, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and throw in a little Mariah, Christina, and Celine of course.


2. Christmas Movies: Ohhh I love the Claymations, Miracle on 24th street, Elf, The Santa Clause, White Christmas, and Its a Wonderful Life

3. Warm drinks such as Egg Nog, Cider, Coffee, Hot Chocolate


4. Christmas Eve Hors dourves. After the Christmas Eve service we come home and make all sorts of Hors Dourves, and watch a Christmas movie. It's a family tradition since as far back as I can remember.



5.Stockings. My family always opens them first. It's always full of fun things like chap stick, gum, candy, and cool mini Maglights. My family has always known how to do a good stocking.

What are some of your family's favorite traditions?

A Fresh Start....

So we had an amazing Holiday with my family in Quebec. It was picture perfect! I am so happy most of all for my mom. She has had such a hard year and this Christmas was for her. It was beautiful! From the Cabin, and playing card games to the fresh snow Christmas morning God provided such a great time.

We have been so busy we hardly know what to do with ourselves! We are pulling out all our flip flops and shorts to head to the Bahamas bright and early tomorrow morning. What a great start to 2009!
I don't know what it is but I have a great feeling about this year! I just know God is going to do some great things in Josh and I this year and I am excited to see all He has in store. As I contemplate what I want 2009 to mean to me this year I think my theme is Stewardship. I want to live well and be a good steward of all the blessings God has given me.
A good steward of my:
Relationship with God
Marriage
Money
Things
Body
Time
and my Family.

I am learning more and more the balance of seeking to live a good holy life. I used to try and be holy because I thought that is how to stay in good relationship with God. I have learned more and more through the Gospel He has payed for my sin and it is covered and seeking to live for God is response of love. I seek to live in a way that honors God not to earn my righteousness but because in living a life that honors Him I delight Him. A life that is lived well for HIS glory is the deepest way to honor the one who lived and died to serve and save us. We desire to make ourselves into images of him.
As Tim Keller says:
"In religion we go to God because he is useful for getting the things our hearts most want. In the GOSPEL we go to God because HE is beautiful. We go simply to get GOD himself. WE want to sense His presence and we know that living a life imitating HIM is the way to do that."

I love that the New Year brings a fresh start. A fresh start to seek to live life well to honor HIM. But the awesome thing is for us who are in Christ "His mercies are new every morning".

Here is hoping that 2009 brings you and I a fresh start in to a deeper Gospel relationship with God. Far different from religion.

Tour of Homes.....

My good friend Greta had this awesome idea to do a little tour of homes to display our Christmas Decorations. I love Christmas! And I am so excited to have a real tree again this year! We didn't down in B-ham but you have to when you are up north! The smell is my favorite!
ANYWAY here ya go!! And go see Greta's site if you want to do your own!

Christmas List!

Did you ever look at the Sears Catalogue when you were a kid? We couldn't wait to get it in the mail. My brother and I would spend an hour or so peering in it at all the fun toys that were on sale for Christmas. We would make a Christmas list of the things we wanted. Now don't get me wrong Christmas for us was always focused on Jesus, and others. My parents always encouraged us to think of others too. One of my favorite memories was bringing some neighbors a single mom and her kids some presents. Hiding and watching the joy on their faces as they opened the door to find their gifts on the door step.

Ok so what is the point of this post. It is not even Thanksgiving yet! (Well American Thanksgiving anyway!)Well even though I am a grown up. I still have a Christmas List. Well not really. Actually I am quite excited about a new toy myself.
Its This. My mom's husband George is selling it to me at a ridiculous price. Seriously amazing. I am so excited! I have recently developed a love for photography. Well honestly I have always loved taking pictures. I have suitcases full of pictures I have taken over the years (Back in the days of film developing of course.) I really never took the time to figure out what I was good at in high school. Basically because I was going through a lot at that time. If you want to know, ask me I will share my story. I was more distracted with trying to find meaning in life and joy, then figuring out my talents.

But I have found something that I love and feel I have an ounce of talent it. Maybe not anything great but still I enjoy it and want to Glorify God with it.

Now I would love to have something else to go with my new camera, so I can share my pictures and print them out myself. Its a new printer. I have two chances to win it! Here or Here:



My Friend Greta posted this on her blog or else I never would of really heard about the contests. SO THANKS GRETA! Ps: Check out her blog for cute Christmas Card ideas. She is making them this year! What a great idea. She is very talented!

So anyway this was really just a post to help me win the contest. So I will keep you posted! Hopefully Greta or I win!