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We've had a great Christmas this year! We had my Mema's Christmas on Dec. 13th, celebrated with my parents at their new house on Christmas day, and had Christmas at Jaron's parents house yesterday (Sunday). And we're not done yet... Hayes Christmas is next Sunday. Its been so great to be with family, chillin, eating and enjoying each other's company. We saw the movie "Avatar" on Christmas night- it was really, really good. Jaron played at all 3 Christmas Eve services at The Branch and they were all great. Here's a video that he and Tim Scott worked on...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MquW9T0quw

Overall, its been a relaxing season and we've enjoyed celebrating with our family and friends the birth of our Savior. Merry Christmas, I pray God's richest blessings over your family in 2010!

Thanks Christel, for taking these amazing Christmas Eve pics! And thanks mom for the Christmas Eve/day pics...

Started this post a while ago and we've since had our Christmas at Mema's, but here's some pictures... :)

We had a great day of relaxing at Mema's and lots and lots of FOOD! It was so great and such a gorgeous day. We got some great pics of the girls....

I was blessed in some amazing and unexpected ways today and I'd really love to share...

Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed with all the different "causes" and "charities" out there- It always seems like there's someone you know doing something really good and you think, "I really need to support them". And it usually stops there. At least for me.

Well, my good (no, I'd say great) friend, Jessica sent an email out a few weeks ago to a few people, asking if they'd be interested in coming to a Freedom Stone jewelry making party she would be hosting, with the founder, Leah. I had heard a little bit through the grapevine about this project, didn't know a whole lot about it, but offered to have it at my house. Mostly because I love Jessica so much. :)

So, the crew came over this morning, we made a nice brunch and set up the tables and just hung out for awhile until everyone got there. We ended up having a lot more than we thought- over 20 people! And I at this point, was still not really grasping the whole concept of what we were doing. Then, Leah gave a brief overview of her work, and this new Freedom Stone project that was starting up- the Ghana project. It immediately took my breath away- such a simple, but powerful concept. Here's an excerpt from the Freedom Stones facebook page...

"We are currently working with trafficking victims and those at risk in Thailand, Cambodia, Ghana and Nigeria. Women in poverty are often preyed upon by traffickers who trick or coerce them into selling their bodies or their children. Economics often drives this problem so we are seeking to change the economic situation which often leads to human slavery. We are developing jewelry projects and marketing these fair trade products in the states to sell to socially concerned consumers. While in the program, women and teenagers are able to attend training and classes which focus on holistic development (spiritual, relational, emotional, physical, economical healing)"

Today, some amazing women made some incredible pieces of jewelry from stones made of recycled glass in Ghana and stones from Thailand. I have never seen more gorgeous colors in my life- and the creativity of the women in my house today blew me away.

Jaron had taken the girls out, and we were still working on jewelry when they got back. They were interested in it for a little while, but there was a little too much excitement for them to really help. After while, Makayla figured out what we were doing and decided she needed to be involved. I let her help me make a necklace- she picked the colors and we made a pretty fabulous pattern, which turned into a pretty fabulous necklace. She THEN decided she needed to make a necklace by herself. I let her. With a little guidance from me on a pattern, she hand picked and strung this entire necklace by herself...





I helped her with her unraveling string a couple of times and my patience was definitely stretched (those bead holes are SMALL!), but I have never been more proud of my precious girl!!! She meticulously spent over an hour on her creation. What a blessing to watch and know that the purchase of that necklace would go towards enriching the life of a child recently taken out of slavery. Or giving a poverty-stricken mom facing the horrible threat of having to sell her child, the gift of a better life.

My heart is full tonight and I know God is going to do some big things through this incredible project.

Let me know if you'd like more information and thanks for letting me share my heart.

We had a great Halloween. Their first "real" trick or treating experience and they loved it. Jaron made Makayla's costume and did a great job.

I know you've all been on the edge of your seats waiting for a Pitts update, so here you go...

**Disclaimer: my camera still does not have a flash and I haven't had a chance to upload all my phone pics, so I have "borrowed" some pics from friends and family. Thanks in advance ABL, Aimee, Becca and Jason. :)

Its been a fun, but exhausting couple of months. With all the birthday fun in August, I forgot to post about Divine Consign! I worked both Plano and Grapevine and they were great (as usual). The girls are gonna look super cute this fall/winter! Here's some of my favorites (including a different spin on Christmas dresses this year)...











We celebrated my Mema and Grandad's 50th anniversary at 3 Forks in August- had such a great time with our family!!








We got to go to Hillsong United (on Makayla's birthday, Aug. 25th). It was incredible! Awesome to worship with a big group like that. New favorite worship song- With Everything (My favorite part's about 3:45 into the song).

The first weekend of September was my cousin, Chandra's wedding. My mom and sisters and I made their cupcake cake and it turned out great! We had such a blast- who knows, there may be a future business. :) Here's some pics...









We spent Labor day at my cousin, Josh's house and had a blast with a bunch of family and friends- thanks for being great hosts, Josh and Jeff (not that they're reading this). :) Here's what the kids did...



The girls went to the first of FOUR princess parties we will have over a 5 week period at the end of September. They had such a fun time celebrating Addy's 4th- there was even a bounce house- so fun!!

Our 2nd princess party was for Nat and Lainey. The girls were in heaven! REAL live princesses came (Ariel, Belle and Cinderella) and they put on makeup, got their nails painted, made necklaces and got to hear Cinderella's story from Cinderella herself! But the kicker was the ride in this...




It was such a blast and the girls are still talking about it. Here's some more pics of the princesses...














October 11th was my niece, Emmeline's first birthday. We celebrated the day before at my Mema's house with a fabulous tea party (but in the girls mind, it was their 3rd princess party). :)









And the highlight of October (well, maybe the year)... Jaron and I went with Aimee and Eric to the U2 CONCERT!!! Muse opened for them and we were on the floor- about 10 feet from the outer circle. During the first song, the Edge made his way over the ramp and stopped right in front of us!! Aimee and I about lost our marbles. It was very surreal. As much as I love Bono, I think I was a little more excited about seeing the Edge- he's incredible! Great experience and something I will never forget.








Other than that, our lives have consisted of Sunshine school, work and church. I've joined MOPS at Irving Bible Church and absolutely love it! We've also been doing Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, which has been VERY helpful- I definitely recommend it. I've enjoyed doing the Beth Moore "Esther" study and we've started a small group with a couple of couples that has been SO great. Wow, no wonder I'm so tired. :)

Lastly, I wanna brag on my hubby a bit... he's been taking such good care of our yard and did this while Makayla and I were gone yesterday....





I couldn't get very good pics of the whole yard, but the plants add so much and he did such a great job. Thanks honey!!

We enjoyed lunch outside on this fabulous day, hope ya'll are taking advantage of this gorgeous weather, too.



Ok, we're caught up... have a great rest of the month!!