We've Taken Over Gatlinburg!

Gatlinburg.....just as usual, except for 22,500 teens who are here for the four Winter Xtreme Conferences! Jake is the master of all this madness and he is exceptional at it...so cool, calm and collected and totally in charge. Pete is the master of ceremonies and is great at it. These kids (and adults) are having a fabulous time and many decisions have been made for Christ. Of course, there can't be a conference with preaching without the 'master preacher'.....Johnny Husband! All of his sermons are great and I KNOW! Here are a few snapshots from last night.

Pete...the best MC of the universe! Sorry, Rick! He IS my son-law- you know!
Toby Mac is the Man! (But of course, Johnny Husband is Manlier!)
A great concert! All four of them!

Gatlinburg Here We Are!

A Day In Gatlinburg! The weather was unusually warm so we ventured out to enjoy the sites! Goofy Circus Putt-Putt and the Star Cars tour.

Two Clowns clowning around at the Circus Putt-Putt. They look just like Lindsey and Taylor!
Is this Papa or another wild Indian?
Miss Gatlinburg!
Addie Loves Herbie!
MiMom Loves the Flintstones!
Addie Loves Racing and Racecars!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

It is wonderful to have friends who think enough of you to get you exactly what you want for Christmas even when it is your Christmas Day Lunch! Our sweet, long-time friends, Gene and Charlene White have done just that very thing for us for the last few years. They prepare a huge delicious meal for us and there is always enough for more than one family, so we invite Jake's parents to come as well. This year we were able to have Jake's parents, his sister, Jennifer and her husband Luke, along with their little daughter, Ella. Also, Eddie's mother, Granny (Viola) was able to join us and she is always a delight to be around. We had a great time celebrating Jesus's Birthday!

We were happy that Santa was able to make a surprise visit on his way back to the North Pole! He also shared with us a story about why we really celebrate Christmas. Santa really is a great guy!

Addie patiently awaits "her turn" to open her stocking! During our family time we take turns from the youngest to the oldest opening our gifts. However, on Christmas Day after we have lunch everyone opens their stockings. That is a "free for all" and everyone just goes for it. But at stocking time, Addie thought she had to wait her turn so she sits patiently then finally asks Jake if it is her turn now!! I think her favorite item of the day was her fishing pole!
Family is wonderful and it is nice when cousins actually like each other. My niece, Lindsey, and her fiance, Taylor were able to drop by for a brief visit before everyone is off to Gatlinburg!!

Christmas Eve 2007....Traditions

This was a very different Christmas Eve for Johnny and me. We actually had a Christmas Date. After the wonderful Christmas Eve service, Johnny and I had a great Italian dinner together then went to the movies. It was a great time for the two of us. We really enjoyed being together. Christmas Eve has changed for us throughout the years. It was always a real treat for me as a child to look forward to spending Christmas Eve at my grandmother's house, exchanging gifts with the large family then heading home in the backseat of the car always looking in the sky hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa on his way to my house. When the grandparents are gone, things really begin to change. It is then time to make new traditions with the family. Ours changed when we began to have Christmas Eve services at Woodstock not going to Wilmington as often during the Christmas holidays. It was then a chance for Mom and Dad to come to Woodstock to visit us which did happen on occasion. Then, came Xtreme, meaning we all head for Gatlinburg on Christmas Day or the day after. (You will hear about that soon!) As a parent with grown children the time comes for their traditions to begin for their families as well, which means sharing our children with the other parents! That is not so easy! However, it is a necessary thing to do. It is a part of having a growing family. So....new traditions must begin for Johnny and me. For the last two years, we have had our family time on Dec. 23rd which has worked out well and we had a great time as a family, as always. Christmas Eve for Hollie and Pete is spent with his parents, the Hixsons and Deanna and Jake spend Christmas Eve with Jake's parents, the Carswells. Then on Christmas Day everyone, including the Carswells, all gather at our house for a delicious Christmas Day Lunch, provided by a great friend that I will tell you about next! Will our new tradition be a nice dinner and movie on Christmas Eve? We'll see as the years roll around. Stay tuned! Christmas Eve will be here again before we know it! Regardless, Christmas Eve can always be great if you are celebrating with someone you love as much as I love my wonderful husband, Johnny.

Christmas Eve 2007

Katie, our eldest granddaughter is really growing up. She is now 9 years old and in the fourth grade at Cherokee Christian School. Such a real sweet dollbaby and we are so very proud of her.

She is nothing less that a pure delight to her Mimom and Papa.

December 20th...in the middle of Christmas....Happy 30th Birthday, Hollie!

We did it! We actually gave Hollie a surprise party for her 30th birthday! It was a 29 Forever
Theme with a Prom dance for the HHHixson High School! And of course, she and Pete were crowned the Prom King and Prom Queen! It was so much fun. Most people dressed in their most unlikely prom wear for the evening. Hollie, Pete and some friends arrived on the Fur Bus. Below are some of the pictures from the evening. Go to Hollie's blogspot to see more fun pictures of the evening.

Queen of the Prom...Hollie and Her Prom King
Dancing at the Prom
Carson doing the ......Superman? Dance? Anyway, he was sure good at it!
Proud Mom and Dad
The Prom King Entertaining the Prom Queen!
The opening of the dance floor by the Prom King and Queen

Snapshots at Christmas Gatherings at the Hunt House

Friends catching up and friends meeting new friends
Hard working helpers...thank you Lord!
The GirlFriends!
Meeting around the table...
Our sweet Governor and sweet Hollie having a Merry Christmas!
The older four Hunt girls!

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!

This is the downstairs security guard!
This is my upstairs security guard...notice his two little helpers!

Hollie and Pete went to Las Vegas for Hollie's 30th birthday get-away (her blogspot has some great shots that may be used against them!) and Deanna and I had the privilege of keeping Hope and Addie. Deanna has another "engagement" to attend (go her blogspot to read about the "engagement") so I went to Addie's school Christmas party with her. It was so much fun until Addie didn't get to keep the book she brought to the 'book exchange'...then it was time to GO!

"The Reindeer Games" lead by Ms. Purdy! Can you name these four reindeer?

Christmas began with the Church Staff Party... Yes, Church Staff!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everybody! Okay, Okay, I'm going to try to update this page this afternoon, Lord willing!