Operation Surprise Beck!

It should come as no shock that since I love surprises,

I also like to surprise others.

The perfect opportunity to do that for Becky came up 

and we jumped at it!

Since she is a speaker for Dr. Bruce Wilkinson's 

The Great Turnaround,

she literally speaks all over the U.S.

It just so happened that she was going to be speaking in Gainesville

and so we wanted to get to see her 'do her thang.'

We sent out invites and ended up filling 2 tables!

Beck was a mess when she saw us 

(even though she had seen our names on the table list - shoot!)

and I think it blessed her to have us there.

We got to hear her speak

(I seriously think she could sell ice to an eskimo)

and witness/be a part of over $200,000 being raised to save babies.

It was a win/WIN night!!

The couples that came were:

Jason & Pamela Collum, Chuck & Stacey Warbington, Chad & Mandy Henderson,

Barry & Christa Mock, Bowdie & I, 

Ben Hartsock (Amy had to stay home with a sick kiddo), 

Ron & Pat Riley, and Robbie & Melanie Crozier

All MAC'd Out!

The day that Beck came into town for Christmas,

she was dying to give me my gift.

Knowing how much I love surprises

and really don't want to open gifts early,

she begged.

I relented ... she was giddy!

She handed me the package ...

it was thin and a little heavy.

Uh-oh ... is that an Apple I see on the back of my gift??!

Oh yeah!

My very own iPad!

I've had a hankering for one of these for the past several months ...

I'd been doin' my darndest to convince Bo that we needed one ...

No need now!

Beck knows me so well ...

she loves all things Apple too!

Love the gift ...

love the surprise ...

love Beck even more!!

Christmas with the Jones side

Even though we had snow, 

the roads were passible by lunchtime

so we were able to still go to my

parents to have Christmas.

We enjoyed a great meal and

fun time opening gifts.

Gathered up to bless the food ...

Micah=static, Blaine=cling!

Mom always does a wonderful

job with the food ...

Watching the Jets play ...

Sweet ...

the Stricklands ...

All the grandkids/cousins ...

Stocking time!

Notice Beck's stocking is in the shape 

of a boot ... in honor of her being in TX!

Mom always gets Tam and I the yearly

Southern Living cookbook.  

Her mom used to do the same for her.

I think her collection dates back to

the '70s!

Gift of the year from Mom and Dad:

Personalized Turvis Tumblers!

Mom sporting her scarflet ...

Jess loved the gift card to Pac Sun ...

the boy likes to shop ...

Yes, we are big enough people to buy

UGA items, even though we are definitely not

fans!  I loved this shirt for Rob ...

it had a buck & UGA on it ...

2 things he loves about fall!

I was most excited about this gift.

I found out about Southern Heidi Belle from 

Pioneer Woman's blog.  She makes all kinds

of vintage-y looking jewelry.

I had her make Tamara a North Hall

bracelet.  It had the kids pictures on it,

along with several North Hall insignias,

as well as sports charms.

It turned out so cute and is perfect for a mom

with enough spirit to have her son's football

number painted on her toes!

Pancake Daddy had requested for T

to get him some big Tupperware bowls.

She was happy to oblige!

I love that my man can go from getting a 

pressure washer one day to Tupperware

bowls the next.  He's diverse!

A team gift ...

We gave Micah dirtbike pants,

Nana and O gave Blaine some.

They both had to try them on ...

Jacob was so excited to get 

a pillow pet.  He and mom had 

had a conversation earlier in the year about

these.

Jarret was thrilled to get a new Gator 

sweatshirt.

I was excited to give Dad this book

I bought while in NY in the fall.

The guy that wrote it was the only one

allowed at Ground Zero during the clean up.

Amazing stories and photographs.

Mom and Dad gave me a belt (and buckle)

that go with my new boots.

Yes, I got a little country in me!

Nana & O with all the kiddos ...

And Aunt Beck with them as well ...

NOTHING beats time with the family!!!