{just for you: holiday devotional}

We are so busy during the holidays, it seems we often forget the real meaning of Christmas. The Women's Minister at my church recently posted this holiday devotional and it is a wonderful way to start each day in prayer. Click on the picture below for a daily devotional, just for you.





{click here for your daily devotional}



{blessings}

Fall is by far my favorite time of the year. I am amazed at the beautiful shades of red, yellow and orange East Tennessee is painted in over the course of the Autumn season. The season also represents a new beginning as the old leaves are recycled in a beautiful display of God's power and grace.

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:18

{the many words to describe the season}

We all have so many things to be thankful for. Here are some of the things that stand out in my life...

I am thankful for... my relationship with Christ. I cannot imagine my life without the Lord's guidance and hand in everything I do. He provides abundantly more than I could ever imagine.

I am thankful for... my family, new and old. It has been very exciting joining The Kizer Family. There is never a dull moment! I love being Aunt Holly and having such a wonderful and inspiring group of people to share our life with here in Knoxville. I could never ask for more supportive parents and family in West Tennessee. This was our holiday to spend in West Tennessee and it couldn't be better. I am so very blessed to have two amazing families.

{thanksgiving day hike}

I am thankful for... Sophie. Our new little pound puppy is the light of our lives. Sophie is a one trick wonder that John and I love so much. She was able to spend her Thanksgiving holiday at the Barkside Lodge and had such a great time. We would recommend it to anyone... contact me for details!

{sweet Sophia}

I am thankful for...my new position at Knox County Imagination Library Coordinator. Once again, the Lord proves he has a hand in our lives as he has provided me with my dream job providing free books for children in Knox County age birth-5 years old. I am extremely excited to begin this new adventure next Monday. More details to come!

I am thankful for... our new house. It is so hard to believe we have been in our house for one year! There are already so many wonderful memories and I look forward to many more!

I am thankful for... the freedom we have as American Citizens. Whether your candidate won the election or not, the fact that we have the priviledge to vote and elect the leader of our country is a right we should not take lightly.

I am thankful for... amazing dresses. I know this is very trivial, but I absolutely adore a great dress. There is just something about putting on a new dress for the first time that you feel like you can conquer anything!

P.S. I just ordered perhaps my favorite Shoshanna dress yet! It's such a good day!

This Thanksgiving we were able to spend time with my family. We had a delicious dinner at my Meme's house and enjoyed spending time with each other. You never truly realize how special people are to you until you don't have the chance to see them  all of the time. I am truly thankful for my wonderful family.

(my brother and his sweet girlfriend)

(thanksgiving dinner)

{my mom and I on our hike}

meet sophie

John and I had our list of reasons why we did not want a dog- and they were all very good reasons. We consistently listed the reasons to each other, reaffirming the fact that we were not ready for a puppy.

• We both work downtown, so it's almost impossible to come home for lunch each day.
• We take a lot of weekend trips, so we would have to find someone to keep our dog.
• A dog would make our new house very messy.
• We disagreed on the breed: I wanted a pure bred dog and John was set on a rescue dog.

And the list continues, until we met Sophie...

{sophie at young williams animal shelter}

Sophie is a Chesapeke Bay Retriever from Young Williams Animal Shelter. Someone left this sweet girl on the side of the road in Knoxville. From the moment we met Sophie, we knew she belonged with our family.

{sophie}

 Immedietly the list of reasons why we should not get a dog became obsolete. We love coming home at lunch to walk Sophie, our house feels more like a home and I am so thankful we rescued sweet Sophie from the shelter. I would urge anyone who is thinking of adopting a pet to visit your local animal shelters.

John and I love spending time with Sophie, John calls himself a "dog whisperer" and Sophie is very obsessed with him. Everytime he walks in the door, she literally jumps in his arms. It is so wonderful to have a sweet puppy so very excited to see you everyday.

{the dog whisperer and sophie}

Life is not just a bed of roses with a new puppy, in fact, she has literally dug holes all around our bed of roses...

{sophie loves digging holes in our rose flower bed}

Sophie's favorite activity is swimming at the lake. She just didn't know that she liked to swim, so we had to give her a little encouragement.

So despite our list of reasons why we are not ready for a dog, it turns out we were more than ready and love Sophie so much! We hope you will get to meet her soon!