Erin Akin Carroll

1. The hills are alive…

Did y’all see Carrie Underwood and The Sound of Music on NBC last night? I stayed up way too late watching it after an event for Todd’s firm, but I was blown away. Blown away. KK and I played nuns in The Sound of Music back in 1995, and it was such a great experience. I love this show and love the stage production. What did y’all think?

2. If you live in the Columbia area, I highly encourage you to go shopping this weekend at the Junior League of Columbia’s Holiday Market at the state fairgrounds. Tickets are only $8 and they get you in every day of the market. And if you have kiddos, bring them tonight at 5:00 to meet Santa!

It might look a little like this!

Or this?

3. Instagram

If you want to follow along with some of the day-to-day things going on in the Carroll household, find me on Instagram! I love love love Instagram.

4. Moving Day

We’re moving into our house today. If you’ve been reading along for the past year, you know there’s not much else I need to say. Can I get an amen?

5. Movies!

Hudson and I have been watching a lot of kid-friendly Christmas movies in the afternoons. We’ve been using this list as a guide. When we get moved and settled, I plan to drag out all the Christmas books and read those to them. I so love this time of year!

So December is here.

How in the world did that happen?

I am overwhelmed by the feeling of longing and a feeling of contentment. My heart is battling my head’s desire to do it all. To make all the memories. To bake all the treats and to complete all the things on the bucket list.

I haven’t displayed my beautiful advent calendar yet. I haven’t wrapped any gifts.

We are closing on our house this afternoon. A major thing that we’ve been waiting for since November of last year. And despite all the excitement surrounding that, I am overwhelmed with expectancy for Christmas.

The need for the Savior. The grace of that perfect Gift.

So come, thou long-expected Jesus. Come.

I’ve prayed daily for the reminder of how much we need Him. The realization that without Him, we have nothing.

This season of waiting that we’ve been in for the past year was about more than waiting on a house. I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I have been humbled to the bones by His grace in the midst of my selfishness.

And as we wait and prepare for Christmas Day in this season of Advent, we’re praising Him. For the gifts. For the opportunity. For the grace. And for this season of giving.

On Tuesday morning, we loaded up our car to make the long drive to Indiana. The GPS says 10.5 hours without stops, so the drive ends up being a little over 12 hours for us to get to my parents house when we stop for potty breaks (for kids and dogs) and food.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have already seen some of these pictures.

We packed up the dogs, the suitcases, snacks, the boys, their toys, and plenty of paper towels and we were off!

It rained and iced a little bit on us on the way up there, and then the rain finally stopped and there was snow. It wasn’t the smoothest drive, but the boys were troopers. Thank goodness for the DVD player we got last Christmas.

Over the river and through the woods, to KK’s house we go!

Todd’s parents and grandmother caravanned with us and joined us for Thanksgiving in Indiana. And my brother got the week off, so he flew in from Colorado.

By the time we were 25 minutes away, everyone was a little slap happy. We ended our trip with a dance party in the car, and even Boudreaux was excited about it.

I woke up the morning after we arrived full of gratitude. My entire family was under one roof and I was outside with my sweet dogs, and it was snowing. I just love Thanksgiving and love that it comes without expectation and full of absolute thankfulness.

 

We watched Christmas movies, cooked, ate delicious food prepared by my mom, and just hung around. I mean, is there anything better than Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and the Haines sisters singing… “Sisters?” It’s just the best!

And Hudson was able to talk Poppy and Uncle Walker into playing Candyland with him a few times.

Thanksgiving Day was spent watching the parade, cooking, and napping. I think almost everyone took a post-lunch nap!

On Black Friday, Todd’s parents and grandmother drove back to South Carolina, and the rest of us went with my Dad to the Ball State football game. Hudson and Hayes had the best time. And, luckily, we were inside and out of the freezing temperatures.

My boys just adore their grandparents. We are so blessed to have four loving grandparents who just want to love on our kids.

After the game, we took the boys to see Frozen. The theater was packed and we were on the very front row, but both boys were mesmerized. They had snacks, but they laughed and laughed and never looked away from the screen. It was so fun to watch them. And I loved Frozen, too! It was such a great Disney movie.

The drive back home wasn’t as much fun…it never is. But was made it safely, and made it home in time to watch most of the Carolina/Clemson game. (Go Gamecocks!)

Did you see Frozen yet? How was your Thanksgiving? I cannot believe December is here. We’re pretty excited. We have a very eventful week coming up, and I can’t wait to share it all with you!

 

A couple of years ago, Nina and I put our heads together to create a list of acts of kindness. We were trying to think of ideas to make the holiday season more intentional and to focus on serving others.

The list we created is to serve and bless those in our daily lives that we know well, and ways to bless the tired mama at the grocery store or the hungry, homeless man that you pass every day on your way to work.

This time of year is full of fun, and full of chaos, and full of wonder and hope. And it can be hard to stop and think of ways that I can bless the people around me. It is my goal this season to be aware, and not be so busy that I miss the opportunities to serve and be a blessing.

What are some of the other ways you can show kindness this season?