candy, sasquatch, and a trailer.

what do those three things have in common?

the reese family Christmas.

the cousins from georgia came to visit for the day.

we ate a hearty brunch and played phase 10.

and then, for the second year in a row, it was time to decorate the family float.

red, white, and blue was the theme for this year.

all the cousins piled in the truck driven by the brother-in-law and we traveled down the red-mud road to the country town of vida.

(also known as vider. hehe! ;)

after being rinsed off by the volunteer firemen (it had rained a lot the days before so it was a sloppy red mess), we were lined up among the other floats.

turning the float around to head back to the starting point, aunt needed her picture taken with sasquatch.

perfect.

and then it was home for another round of phase 10, present opening, and drinking eggnog punch.

merry Christmas everybody.

to save a kiss.

i turned on my music and set my running app. my ear buds were in my ear and i was ready.

i turned the bend and began running, settling into my routine at the running track in the community.

in the middle of the track are soccer fields.

in the distance, i noticed a high school "couple" sitting on the soccer field bleachers to my right.

as i drew closer to where they were sitting, i was shocked at what i saw.

the guy and girl kissing.

passionately kissing.

i continued my run and every time i made another lap and rounded that bend, the girl was either sitting in the guys lap, smothering him with her arms wrapped around his neck, or just majorly flirting with him by her actions.

i was shocked.

i mean, sadly, in our world today you may say: "big deal, they're kissing."

but, ladies and gentlemen.

it's a big deal.

click here to read a story of a girl who saved her first kiss.

your kiss.

the thing that you would never give away to a gross boy in school.

(after all, boys had cooties.)

the thing that only went to your mom and daddy when saying "goodnight."

the thing that was saved for prince charming and him only on your wedding day.

what happened?

how in the world did we go from thinking that "your kiss" was saved for your husband and only your husband to giving it to whichever boy would come and meet you at the soccer field bleachers after school?

i am passionate about this subject.

(read my story here.)

why can't we encourage the warrior poets in our life by setting the bar HIGH?

tell your boyfriend or fiance that you would like to save that piece of your heart until marriage.

girls, whether we realize it or not, we have a major influence in the lives of our guy friends.

when you make this major decision to be a set apart girl and save your first kiss, if the guy respects you enough (and if he doesn't, run far far away!), he will be happy to stay away from your first kiss.

he will be honored to honor your request. 

and if he's the right man God has for you, you both can share in that beautiful moment on your wedding day. 

if he's not the one, you can know that you are still a beautiful wrapped package without any tears,

saved and whole for your future prince charming.

i love you ladies and i know this is hard.

believe me, i do.

but guess what?

it will be worth it.

i cannot wait until my wedding day when i can give my first kiss to the one and only man God made just for me.

i pray so hard that God will give ladies the strength and courage to live a life of purity... 

with no regrets.

XOXOXO

the jingle bell run.

the entry fee had been paid by yours truly for the first time.

(after all, doesn't everybody's mom normally pay their entry fee? hehe!)

i was the only one.

sister was married and it was too far for her to drive.

mom had pulled a muscle while running a few weeks prior and was on the mend.

daddy had a men's meeting at church to attend.

i would be the lone ranger in this jingle bell run for arthritis.

the confirmation email had been received and i was ready.

the morning for the 5k arrived. it was very chilly.

i had laid out my new santa shirt (purchased just for this occasion), black running capris, and santa socks the night before.

waking up at 6:40 on this saturday morning, and after feeding the horses, i donned my gear.

mom and i arrived early and was directed to a parking space at huntington.

there were many runners already hustling and bustling about the campus.

mom and i found a warm building to wait inside until time for the runners to line up at the starting line.

finding my station on pandora, and sticking my headphones in my ear, i was ready.

mom gave me one last wave and smile wishing so badly that she was behind the starting line with me.

after the time clock reached 8:31 a.m., the announcer gave the command and the runners were off.

in the middle of the first mile, there was a snow blower.

blowing snow across the neighborhood street, we ran through it.

there were many runners--at least 300.

everyone set their pace and settled in for the 3.1 miles.

in between songs on my ear buds, i could hear the jingle of jingle bells.

everyone was provided with safety pins complete with jingle bells attached to them to pin their bibs on.

we were "jingling all the way".

i rounded the bend, and heard the cheering. i was nearing the end.

i sprinted the last few yards.

taking my phone out of my pocket, i was ready to press the "stop" button on my app after i would cross the finish line.

over the song that was playing on my ear buds, i heard my mom cheering me across the finish line.

yup, she's the best.

my time flashed: 29:29.

5k number ten. check.

after the race, mom and i went into the warm building again to warm ourselves. then, we ventured back outside and found the fresh orange slices from earthfare and the VIP coffee. 

(not that we were VIP. they were just nice people and shared their coffee with two freezing women--me and mom. ;p)

awards were next and then we fast walked/trotted back to the sub.

let's just say, we worked that heater and heated seats. 

Stats for Jingle Bell Run 5k:

Chip Time: 29:25.0

Gun Time: 29:29.0

Age Division: 20-24

Place: 5th out of the 12 in my age division

Overall Place: 146 out of 375 runners

Pace: 9:28

thankful.

it's that time of year.

the time of year to gather with family and friends that you haven't seen in months.

the time of year to stuff yourself with dressing and ham and eating turkey even if your not crazy about it.

via instagram

the time of year for the cousins to weigh before and after the thanksgiving meal and counting the pounds gained.

the time of year to write down "thankful for's" and to count the blessings that are abundantly overflowing.

via instagram

the time of year where everyone gathers around the tv to watch the face-off between the tide and tigers.

the time of year to go pick out the perfect Christmas tree and build a fire and listen to Christmas music while ooohing and ahhhing over the ornaments that haven't been seen in a year.

via instagram

the time of year to get all Christmas shopping done which means staying up all night to fight the black friday craziness.

the time of year to find the perfect hiding spot in the house for the presents you bought so that no sneaky peekers will get too curious.

via instagram

(pictures taken from this past weekend. my 22nd birthday was happy and blessed. my boyfriend came from kentucky and there were lots of family of friends who showered me with birthday love.)

what happy things does thanksgiving have in store for you?

i hope you all have a happy week and try not to eat too much turkey, okay? ;)

a and m :: the big day.

a perfect day (it rained the day before and the day after. God is amazing.), waking up knowing this was the last night my sister would be sleeping upstairs with me, me and the sis taking our time to take a shower and eat a little breakfast at home, listening to wedding playlist music on the way to the venue, a quick raking job by daddy, setting the tables with the bridesmaids the correct way (haha!), hair and makeup...did i mention how FUN that was?...well it was, a quick photo shoot in our robes, the excitement of slipping our dresses over our heads and getting that "princess feeling" all over again, a card from the groom to his bride delivered by his mom, spying on the groom without him knowing (they did not see each other before the ceremony...or so the groom thought *insert sneaky grin*), hanging out in the weight room (*ahem* i mean, the brides room) and being silly and giddy from all the excitement, one last picture with the sister before she is a married woman, getting butterflies before walking down the isle (and it wasn't even my wedding. sheeesh.), the bro-in-law's "first look" (a little smirk-smile thing), starting to tear up after he says "i do," a sisterly embrace after after the ceremony and after walking back down the isle, a dinner of turnip green soup//potato soup//bread bowls//fruit//sandwiches & wraps//sweet tea & apple cider punch, cousins sneaking away to write on the trucks windows, sparklers lit, "the dip," cleanup till late late, sitting around the fire with friends and family, rain sprinkles beginning to fall as the last box was loaded.

instagrammin' photos.

spying on her man.

our last pic as two single sisters.
15 minutes before she would say "i do."

the grandparents.

"it's almost time!"

a tearful (but happy) sisterly embrace.

bro-in-law was the carrier of "the tail."

the guestbook.

"is it time to go yet?"
(hehe!)

via instagram

a and m :: the dress.

yes,

my sister is gorgeous.

the end.

Photographer::

SunniSue's Photography

Dress::

The Clothes Rack