Jill Victoria

Two years ago in Valentine’s Day of 2008, I was dumped by my then boyfriend. Even though it was not the most pleasant thing in the world to endure on a day I wasn’t already fond of, that day turned out to be one of the best things that could have happened to me.

I knew it was over with Thomas way before Valentine’s Day. In all honesty, I was pretty relieved when he broke up with me. Thomas was a nice guy, but definitely not the guy for me.

By that day, I had already met and gone on a blind date with David. I suppose it could be considered cheating, but the date I went on with David was chaperoned by Krista and Spencer, and nothing even close to romantic happened other than David opening the car door for me.

Its hard to believe that a break up on Valentine’s Day two years ago lead me to a marriage. But, I suppose that every break up eventually leads to a marriage. Or at least to a long-term relationship.

That breakup was just one of the stepping stones on the way to my husband and the love of my life. Not every ending destroys a happily ever after.

Christmas has wrapped up now. The year will follow in just two days. It seems crazy how much this year has dragged and flown by at the same time! All the months of preparing and waiting for my wedding day seemed to crawl. Now these days of marriage are quickly passing me by!

My Christmas was very good this year. David and I were asked a lot how we liked spending our first Christmas married together. Honestly, the only difference in this year and last year together is we woke up in the same bed. All the other things, like family and traditions and all the driving were the same.

On Christmas Eve, we started our day out next door to our house at Sally’s for the Sams/Cole/Goza/etc get together. We had finger foods, drinks and visited with people. We left directly from there to go to my parent’s house and ride with them as well as my brother, GranMar and Aunt Donna up to The Varsity in Atlanta. That’s my side of the family’s Christmas Eve tradition. We meet other family members up there for dinner, exchange little gifts and then part ways again.

At my parent’s house afterward, the five of us exchanged gifts under the tree and watched my favorite Christmas movie: A Muppet Christmas Carol. David and I then went home and exchanged our own gifts. It was one of the few moments we had just to ourselves. I loved the gifts that David gave me, and I know he loved the ones I gave him. I think his favorite gift from me by far was his fedora hat. He looks sharp in it, too! My favorite gift came a couple of days later: a Coach purse!

Christmas morning my wonderful husband made sure that Santa Claus took the bait of milk and cookies I left out and found me at my new address. It was very sweet

We then made our way to breakfast at my in-law’s house. John, Yoly, GrandMom and Laurie were also there, so we exchanged gifts with everyone. Afterward, David and I drove to McDonough to have lunch with my parents, brother, grandparents, Aunt Donna and Corinne. Other family members stopped by to wish us Merry Christmas before they left for their next destination.

For dinner, we were back at the in-law’s for the Cole Christmas party. That was fun, as always.

The day after Christmas was the Varner family gathering. We first met at GrandMom’s house to dedicate a tree in Pop’s memory. It was a very touching time.

This Christmas was also a bittersweet time for me and my family. While it was wonderful spending my first Christmas as a married woman with David and my family including him in our traditions, we were sad to think my brother would leave in a few short days to serve in Iraq for a year.

Matthew was supposed to leave on December 27th, but he left today instead. I wish more than anything that I could have been with him and my parents as he was preparing to leave, but I couldn’t be. Please keep him and our other soldiers in your prayers as they defend our country and our freedoms.

Other than Christmas and my brother leaving, things have been going well. The house is an on going project, but it’s a lot of fun watching even the littlest things make it feel more and more like a cozy home for two. The new furniture my in-laws bought us for Christmas certainly has helped the living room!

David and I have also been able to spend more time with Krista and Spencer. We all have such clashing schedules it’s hard to find time to get together. It’s especially hard when we live in two different towns. I just wish I could spend as much time with other friends.

I am almost sad to see 2009 go. It has changed my life so drastically and brought me so many good things and good people. I am so blessed, and can’t help but look forward to what 2010 will be!

During the Christmas holidays, you see and hear the phrase “Keep Christ in Christmas” everywhere. It’s no surprise, seeing the way that Christmas is viewed by some.

There are the people who say that Christmas is too commercialized and that Santa has kidnapped the baby Jesus and taken His place at the center of the holiday. I just don’t see this as so.

If Christ is missing from Christmas, it’s because Christians are failing to recognize their own religious holiday for what it is. Christmas is a CHRISTIAN holiday, so therefore people of other faiths or non-believers won’t celebrate the way a Christian will.

Christians get so offended when someone says “Happy Holidays” as opposed to “Merry Christmas” to them. I don’t. Why should I? As a Christian, it’s up to me to tell the story of Jesus’ birth, not a store’s, a non-believer or any other outlet’s. Boycotting stores because of “Happy Holidays” is just ridiculous.

We need to remember as Christians that this is our holiday. If you don’t like the commercialism of it all, then don’t buy into it… literally. If you don’t want your children to see Santa as a central Christmas figure, then don’t raise them to believe in him. Keep Christmas as you see fit.

The Obama’s wanted to celebrate a “non-religious Christmas” in the White House this year as a way of making a Christian holiday “more inclusive”. If they, as a proclaimed Christian family, want to neutralize Christmas in their home, then that’s their prerogative. But expecting a religious holiday to bow to the politically correct needs of others is just insulting. Saying you want a “non-religious Christmas” is like saying you want a non-political campaign run. Christmas is a religious holiday for Christians, regardless of what anyone wants it to be.

Then there are the global warming zealots like Mary Armstrong of Cazenovia, NY. In a letter to the editor of Syracuse.com, Armstrong states her opinion that we should do away with Christmas as a way to combat global warming. If Ms. Armstrong believes so strongly that a lack of this holiday will save our planet, then she can practice this belief on her own.

There are obviously many people out there who will make Christmas into anything and everything but what it is: a time to celebrate the birth of a Savior; a time to celebrate the bonds of family through blood; friendship and faith, and a time to wish peace on earth and good will toward our fellow man.

Christmas is what it is. Traditions change, views on the holiday change and how we celebrate evolves with time. Keeping Christ in Christmas is easy, because despite what a secular world might say or do, Christ will always remain. The only way Christ will leave Christmas is if His followers abandon Him.

I’ve made my list of wishes for Santa, but what I really want for Christmas is for all the people in the above picture to be together.

For this year, I at least have my parents, husband and brother for Christmas. My brother, Matthew, will leave two days after Christmas to serve in the Army for a year in Iraq. I won’t see him again till next December. Matthew’s wife Susan is stationed in Korea with the Army and I won’t see her again till June or July of 2010.

As much as I wish I could have my whole side of the immediate family together for Christmas, I know it won’t happen. I look forward to Christmas of 2010, when all the people in that wonderful family photo will spend Christmas together.

Everyone has their traditions, especially around the holiday season.

My personal traditions with my family have always been special to me. Part of Christmas is participating in these traditions, and helping them grow.

Traditions have changed with the years. One tradition that we used to follow at Thanksgiving was taking a walk in the woods at my GranMar and GrandDaddy’s house after digesting. We’d also walk up the road to visit family friends. That tradition faded as it became harder for my grandparents to walk that far. I miss it.

During the Lighting of the Great Tree at the Macy’s in Atlanta, my family and I would also light our indoor tree and the outdoor one my dad would put up every year. That was the mark of Christmas beginning in my childhood.

An evolved tradition happens on Christmas Eve. Used to, GranMar would fix spaghetti and we’d all eat that on Christmas Eve. Then we’d watch The Grinch on TV and open gifts from each other. Santa would bring more to open in the morning.

Now we all go with other family members up to The Varsity in Atlanta on Christmas Eve to eat there. We meet and will give gifts to those we won’t see again for a few months. It’s a fun tradition. In fact, I can’t go to The Varsity during the year without thinking of Christmas Eve.

Other traditions I hold dear for the holidays is decorating the house, my GranMar’s elf hiding game (she has five little elves that she displays somewhere silly every year. we all compete to find them), visiting Santa Claus, watching A Muppet Christmas Carol (my personal tradition I started) on Christmas Eve, driving to see people’s Christmas lights displayed, opening gifts on Christmas Eve from each other, and Santa coming on Christmas morning.

One of my favorite long-standing traditions is tomorrow: the McDonough Christmas parade. My family has gone every year in my memory, along with my godparents and their sons. We bring food (usually pizza and chicken tenders) and watch the parade. My dad will actually be participating in it this year, marching with his Marine Corp League.

Now I’m married and have new traditions to start and to participate in. Both of David’s sides of the family do the “white elephant” type gift exchanges. Except they actually bring gifts people want and fight for!

It’s these things that really bring a special meaning to Christmas for me. I look forward to these little events every year, and I bask in the warm fuzzies they give me. Now I’m a new member of a family, and David as well. My brother Matthew also brought a new member along in Susan. I can’t wait for Matthew and Susan, as well as David and I, to start our own traditions, and to carry them over to our children one day!

What are your Christmas traditions?

I’m so excited that it’s Christmas time! To me, Thanksgiving starts the holiday season. In fact, David and I put up our Christmas tree when we got home from the in-law’s house Thanksgiving night. I put the finishing touches on last night. Just the outside decor to worry about now!

This Christmas will be bittersweet. It will be my first Christmas away from my childhood home and parents. Thinking of starting new routines and traditions with David is exciting, but I hate to think of not waking up at my parent’s house Christmas morning.

Two days after Christmas day, Matthew leaves for Iraq. He will be there for a year, with a break in June or July, hopefully. My sister-in-law, Susan, left to go back to South Korea. We’re all having a hard time seeing her go. She called me from Texas crying. I wish I had known Sunday would be the last I saw her.

One of these years, my whole family will be together for Christmas!

I wrote my letter to Santa. I hope he gets my change of address notice.

It’s that time of year again! Christmas time is upon us and I’m very excited to spend my first Christmas as a wife in my new family!!

I have always either written to Santa or told him while on his lap what I wanted for Christmas. I’m pretty sure that Santa has internet access up at the North Pole, so I decided to spare him some leg pain and write on my blog what I’d like this year:

*Disclaimer*
It’s just a wish list. Doesn’t mean I expect it all!*

Dear Santa,

I’ve been pretty good this year, plus I got married and took on a whole new role in life! I have a very sweet and wonderful husband that God set up for me. I’m sure you and He are pretty tight, so you knew that.

What I’d like this year for Christmas, if you can swing it, is:

* A Coach purse. I like this one in particular at Macy’s.

* More of these comfy Pure Beech Sateen Sheet sets in Butter, Taupe and Fern. Even one set would be great!

* An iPod touch 8GB.

* One or two of these storage ottomans.

* Gift cards to Dots, Lowes and Target.

* This nice, simple end table.

* Measuring spoons, cups and new tongs for my kitchen.

* Pandora charms.

* Flameless candles of various sizes.

* This red toss pillow.

* Some nice decorations for the house.

* Two 6×9 photo frames.

* Angels and Demons on DVD

* Dexter Seasons on DVD

* Clips for keeping food items, like bread or other opened food packages, closed

* A garlic press

* Anything left on the wedding registry

That’s all I have on my wish list. It’s just a list of wants, not demands. I’d be happy spending Christmas with my husband and families and friends. The one and only thing I want most of all is my family and friends safe and happy, especially my brother Matthew. He’s about to go to Iraq for a year. He’ll leave two days after Christmas. I’m glad I’ll have him here this year.

Merry Christmas, Santa!

Love,
Jill

P.S. I’ve had a change of address. I’m sure you can find it. We have two fireplaces to choose from

It’s my first Thanksgiving as a wife and official part of David’s family, and him part of mine. That in itself is reason enough to give thanks.

The first part of the day was spent at my grandparents’ house with my parents, Aunt Donna and my grandmother’s first cousin. My brother Matthew and his wife Susan left at 6:00 this morning for Texas to visit Susan’s family.

David and I ate well and visited with my family. We had to eat and run (which is better than staying to eat again, as my GranMar says) to make it to round two at my in-law’s house. My mother-in-law’s side of the family is all present at the house right now, which is fun. There are a lot of people around my age here, so the atmosphere is light and fun.

I am pleasantly full and very glad to count my blessings as I sit with family. God has given me many things in my life. I have a husband who loves me with a selfless and unconditional love, family who also loves and supports me and my husband, wonderful friends, a house and all my wants and needs met.

I also live in a country that gives me freedoms. I may not agree with the people in charge of our government right now, but I’m thankful for the men and women brave enough to found this country and for the men and women who are brave enough now to defend it. We as Americans take a lot for granted, including even the freedom to write and read blogs like mine.

I’m very thankful for the wedding I just had. Looking at pictures from that day with not sides of the family made me once again so happy that David and I had the most perfect wedding we could have hoped for! I first entered the Hazlehurst House when I was 14 and knew then I wanted to get married there I never thought it would happen, especially as perfect and wonderful and memorable as it was. I’d be happy marrying David in a gutter, but marrying him in the lovely setting we had made the day seem complete.

When I reflect on all my life holds and will bring, I can’t help but to feel my heart fill up with love and happiness. I love my life and all the people, experiences, memories and things it has brought me!

I should also note that I’m extremely thankful that both sides of my family are sane and don’t hold Jerry Springer worthy throw downs on holidays. Or any day.

I realized that the blog I wrote yesterday didn’t post for some reason. Instead of going back and trying to recreate it, I will just make this post instead.

I tend to take a lot for granted in life. This past year has really taught me differently. I have been given a lot of blessings in just the past few months, and I definitely have plenty to be thankful for.

The greatest thing I am thankful for is my family. I’ve been blessed to grow my family by leaps and bounds this year! Marrying David has doubled the size of those I call kin.

I consider myself very lucky, blessed and thankful for everyone you see in that picture, and for those who aren’t in it. Family is one of the best things a person can be a part of, if that family is a God centered one. Thankfully, that’s what my family is.

I’m so grateful to have people who support and love me, and who I am able to give my love and support to in return. Being part of a family like mine and a family like David’s is a true blessing. All my life I knew that I’d have to find a man to marry who was as focused and involved with his family as I am with mine. It’s hard to find people these days who are interested in their families, and not searching for the nearest exit when it comes to family get-togethers.

Not only did my family grow with marrying David, but I also gained a sister-in-law and another soon-to-be sister-in-law! Times are so exciting! My brother got married just a little over a month after I did and my brother-in-law will get married in July of next year. More people to add to this family, and who are also involved with family life.

God has definitely been good to me.

Fall is my favorite time of year. The crisp, cool air paired with the beautiful array of colors in the changing leaves is just the most lovely thing to me.

I especially love the things that also come with this time of year. Events like fall festivals, pumpkin carving, brewfest and Halloween are just a few things that make October and this season great to me. Add in David’s birthday and now our anniversary and this time of year is even better!

The fashions are great too. Warm colors in the clothes, coats, boots and scarves! Love it!

This past Saturday David and I went with Krista and Spencer on a historic tour of Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta. It was very interesting. Actors portrayed different people of interest buried in the cemetery. Before that, we all ate at Six Feet Under. It is across from the cemetery and has some pretty good food. The terrace view of Oakland was lovely, too. The fall colors really made the garden cemetery look beautiful in the setting sun.

As Halloween is this coming Saturday, David and I are hosting a costume party at our house. It should be a great time. We’re going to have an opertunity to use our new firepit we received as a wedding gift. I just wish we had the patio and furniture ready.

The house is coming together. Its an overwhelming task. There are so many boxes to unpack and go through. Its hard to know where to start or even where to put everything. I never knew I had so much stuff! And the fact that there are still other people’s things are still at the house doesn’t help.

It will all work out. We have a lifetime to get the house fixed. Hopefully one project will be done this weekend! Yay!