Photo Shoot!

I got a call a couple of weeks ago that Slim 4 Life was being featured in a magazine, and they asked me if I would be willing to be interviewed for it! I was honored to be asked and was more than willing to participate, but it was really short notice. I got my work schedule adjusted, then they postponed the shoot. :(
They rescheduled it for the following week, and my boss was so gracious to work with me again and let me switch my shifts.
When I arrived to the publishing company, everyone was super friendly and the photographer was very kind, but I'll admit...I was super intimidated being in front of the lights and camera! I don't think modeling is in my future. LOL
There were six clients that participated. We began with individual shots, then group shots, and peppered throughout they conducted interviews with each one of us.
It was a really great experience!
This was for Inform (Dallas) Magazine, a local health-based publication put out by Russell Publishing Group in Addison, TX. The plan is for our story to be featured in their January issue.
This is a photo that Dan took of our group session. I'll keep you informed of when the issue comes out!

Christmas

Merry Christmas!!!!
We are at my parent's house in Lubbock, and it has been a special time.
Christmas Eve we had some shopping to do, so we ran into Lubbock to get that done...and it was snowing!!!!!
I love it when it actually feels like Christmas!
I snapped this picture outside my parent's house just before we went into Lubbock.

Christmas Eve is also my dad's birthday. I made him some pumpkin bread cupcakes with cream cheese icing. Mmmm....they were so good!
I wish I would have gotten a picture of all the snow on Christmas Day, but I was too busy sitting by the fire drinking an excessive amount of coffee! ;) We ate breakfast together, Dad read the Christmas story and had prayer, then we opened gifts. To see a very special gift, you can click here.
I honestly can't remember the last time that I was home for both his birthday and Christmas Day. Working retail pretty much dictates my holiday events, and even though I don't manage anymore, we can request time off but it's never guaranteed.
This year, I didn't even request any time off for Christmas. I was just waiting to see what I was scheduled then we would make our plans around that. I was surprised when she scheduled me off Christmas Eve. I had to close on that Friday, so we decided we would leave Friday night as soon as I got off work, drive all night so that we could spend Saturday and Sunday with my family. Then I would request to work late Monday so that we could leave early Monday morning. Makes for a long day, but it worked out well at Thanksgiving.
That was the plan.
Well, we got thrown a curveball.
One of our cousins passed away Wednesday before Christmas. The funeral is planned for Monday. When I found that out, I called to let my boss know, and it turns out she scheduled me off until Wednesday! When I asked her about it she said she knew I was going out of town for Christmas, so she wanted to give me some time to spend with my family. Little did she know that I would need that time so we could attend the funeral.
It always amazes me when God works in the details of life's curveballs.

Finals

Three down.

One to go.

Christmas vacation is in my future.

...Near future.

...As in TONIGHT!!!

Oh, glorious day!

Christmas Fun!

Last night was our final home group of the year, so of course we ended it with a Christmas party!
We did everything one would normally do at a Christmas party...white elephant gift, finger foods, ugly sweater contest, and lots of laughter!
I think the best white elephant gift of the evening was a pack of batteries with a sticky note that said "Gift Not Included."
HA! So stinkin' funny!
The highlight of the evening was most definitely seeing the sweaters that people came up with. Clearly, we are a bunch of competitive people unashamedly grasping for bragging rights. ;)

Update

Check out the latest details here! :)