Thursday, December 31, 2009

Short Pump Mall

The last few days have been a lot of fun!  It's so nice for Daddy to be off of work for a while!
Yesterday our family, including Nanny and Babum, went to Richmond to shop at Short Pump Mall.  We had a great time!  Short Pump has so many stores that we don't have here in Lynchburg.  The mall was still decorated beautifully for Christmas, just like when we went last year.  The only bad thing about the mall was walking to the different stores because it is all out doors. I think we chose the coldest day of the year to go shopping!  We still had a good time though and it was nice to spend some time with our grandparents.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry CHRISTmas!

We had a great Christmas Eve and Christmas day.  It was so exciting to have a white Christmas for the first time in many years!  Yesterday we spent time together as a family and Daddy made his special scones- yum!  A friend of ours also took us for a horse drawn sleigh ride in the snow.  That was a lot of fun! 

In the evening we went to the Christmas Eve service at our Church.  Tyler and I were able to play and sing "Silent Night" in the service.  Afterwards we picked up Grandpa and Grandma so they could spend the night with us and be here in the morning.

Today we got up early and opened our gifts.  Then we ate a big breakfast.  We got lots of great things for Christmas but Acts 20:35 is so true ..."it is more blessed to give than to receive."  I love getting gifts but it's so much more fun seeing someone open a gift you gave them. 

This afternoon we went to Babum and Nanny's house.  There we opened more gifts and ate more.... and more... and more! 

Babum also read the Christmas story from Luke 2.  Isn't it wonderful the gift God gave us on Christmas, the gift of His only begotten Son, Jesus?  And it's so amazing that God's perfect gift would die on a cross to take the penalty for our sins and rise again to conquer death forever.  But remember, like any gift it's not yours until you receive it.  It's like a check some one offers you as a gift for Christmas.  Before you can get the benefits you have to receive it.  It has your name on it so no one can cash it for you.  God offers the free gift of Salvation to all who will reach out by faith and take it.  No one can take it for you though, you must receive it for yourself.

If you haven't received the gift of salvation please do so today.  It's the greatest gift you will ever receive!  If you are not sure how or have more questions I'd love for you to email me ashleyscakes@verizon.net  I would be thrilled to help you!

I loved spending time with our family today.  We are so blessed to be able to do this!  Hope you had a wonderful celebration like our family did!

Merry Christmas from the Schnarrs!


Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Christmas Cookies

Before we went out looking at Christmas lights yesterday, we made some Christmas cookies to take a long.  Christmas cookie decorating is another one of our family traditions.    We have so much fun doing it each year! 
When we were finished  decorating, all the cookies looked different.  Every one has there own styles and ideas that make each one unique.  The cookies turned out great and tasted good too!



Christmas Light Looking

Tonight Daddy left work and doesn't have to go back until after January!!!  It is so nice to have him off of work for while!

To kick off his vacation time we went out looking at Christmas lights.  This is something we've done for a very long time.  We always look forward to it.  All of us get in our Pajamas, grab some cookies, pop-corn and hot chocolate and head to the van.  Then we drive all around Lynchburg and Bedford looking at lights. 

Two places that we always make sure and go see are the Elks Home and a house in Bedford with a HUGE yard and tons of decorations.  Both places have great displays!

One thing I would not recommend is taking the side streets.  The snow is beautiful with the lights but not worth getting stuck in for twenty minutes!  Thankfully a nice man who's house we were stuck in front of, let us use some of his salt to melt the ice and a group of people caroling were kind enough to give us a push!  That was an experience!

We really did have a good evening though.  We stayed out for almost three hrs.  It was great being together as a family too.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Snow Days




This week it snowed at our house.  We got about 14 inches which is very unusual for Virginia.  I never remember having that much and definitely not this early in the year.  I heard that we haven't had this much snow in ten years!

The kids have had lots of fun playing in it.  I hear it is great for snow ball fights!  I think everyone was glad they were off from school for Christmas break so they could enjoy it!

Because we live in Virginia and it doesn't snow like this very often some of the roads were slippery.  Many of our plans were canceled including the Christmas cantata at our church.  I had made a very large cake to bring to the cantata  practice but since it was canceled we will be eating a lot of cake over the next few days! 

We were unable to have an evening service at our church because of the roads too.  So, we went over to Grandpa and Grandma's house and spent some time with them.  Daddy and Tyler shoveled their drive way for them while we were there. 

Both Grandpa and Grandma seem to be doing better as far as their backs go but please continue to keep them in you prayers if would.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Happy Birthday Blog

One year ago today I started blogging.  I have really enjoyed it!  So much has happened in a year.  Probably my two greatest highlights would have to be my grandparents moving here and my Graduation but so many other great things happened too. 

Thank you to everyone who has become a follower.  It excites me to know that people actually keep returning to my blog to see what I have written.  I intend to keep on blogging and look forward to seeing what this new year will hold.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Broken Vertebrae

Poor Grandma and Grandpa within the last few days both of them have fallen.  Unfortunately both of them have broken vertebrates in their backs. 

They are both in considerable pain.  Yesterday Grandma had an MRI but as far as I know we do not have the results back from that.  Yesterday Grandpa spent a good part of the day in the hospital, after his fall.

Broken vertebrates are certainly not good but we are thankful that it was not any worse.  If you think about it please keep both of them in prayer.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Driver's License

I had a very exciting day!  This afternoon I went over to the DMV and got my driver's license!  I was pretty nervous but it all went well.  All I had to do was drive for about 7 minuets around the DMV.  I still have to go to court to get a hard copy of my license but they gave me a temporary piece of paper as a license until go.

It was a big relief to me (and my parents:)) that I finally got it!  Thank you Mommy, Daddy and Babum for teaching me!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Christmas Festivities

Last Friday I was asked to sing in Holiday Carols, a formal Christmas program that various singers and musicians from around the area preform in.  The program was held at our church and directed my two ladies that go to Timberlake. 
The evening went well and I had a lot of fun singing!  Holiday Carols is something our family always goes to see and it was exciting for me to be a part of it.



My Holiday Carols Dress

Saturday I had hosted a Christmas tea party for some of my friends.  Grandma Schnarr let me use her dinning room and some of her tea cups and servers.  I had a really great and I think everyone else enjoyed themselves too.  At the end we all had a Christmas cookie exchange.  Yum!





Saturday Morning Tyler got to play his guitar in a wedding for some friends of ours.  I was not able to go but from what I've hear he did a wonderful job! 

Monday, December 7, 2009

Knit Together In Love Project 2009






Yesterday I received all of the scarves we are going to send to Romania.  Our goal was to have 50 scarves and we exceeded our goal by receiving 52!  Thank you so much for all your hard work!  The scarves are so beautiful!

We also received $105 to go towards the shipping of the scarves.  Thank you so much to those of you who helped the project financially!  That was a very special blessing.

Thank you again for you contribution to the project.  Please be in prayer that God will use these scarves to show His love to others.


Thursday, December 3, 2009

The Christmas Tree

Last Friday we decorated our house for Christmas. That night we also decorated our tree. Every year we get a new Christmas ornament that had to do with something we were interested in that year. We have quite a few ornaments now. Good thing we have a big tree!


While decorating the tree we listened to Christmas music and ate Christmas cookies, sausage, cheese, crackers and eggnog. We have done that every year ever since I can remember.  I love Christmas traditions!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

2009 Gingerbread Houses

Thanksgiving night we decorated our gingerbread houses. We had a lot of fun and the houses turned out well.


Trey and Ashley's houses

                                                         Trent, Tyler and Amber's houses