Continuing to be Thankful

Several years ago I began this blog after a time of discouragement. In my heart I was discouraged looking around, but there was so much love and grace surrounding me, I just didn't see it. "In everything give thanks"-- this is a command that we are given despite our circumstances, and I am learning day by day this attitude of thankfulness comes with an ever present awareness of the gospel. We can trust in God's sovereignty and control over our lives. We can rest in his care for us, because we know that despite how we feel and what we see surrounding us, he is in control. And HE has defeated sin, our sorrow, and ultimately death. We can rejoice through difficulty because we have Christ, and He truly is all we need.

It's hard to understand this on the other side of grief and trial, but as we experience Christ and the fullness of joy that comes in knowing Him, we understand in a very real way what it means for Christ to be ALL we need. Believe me, I'm still learning and growing in this-- I have in no way arrived.

All that to say, I recently read through my blog as I do occasionally, and decided it's time to pick it back up. I may or may not blog daily (in fact I promise I won't blog daily due to being a wife, mom, friend, furry child mom, employee...), but I want to get back into the habit of looking for seemingly small things to give thanks for.

So today, I'm thankful to be able to look back and smile as I see so clearly God's faithfulness over the small things, and the sweet gives He has given and continues to give. Mainly the sweetest gift given in His Son, Jesus.

NEW BLOG!!!

Hello from the cubicle of Allison Campbell!!!

Just wanted to encourage all of you to follow our new sisters blog at www.everytradition.com. We will be posting family traditions and recipes that you will be sure to enjoy, and then requesting for our readers to share in their family traditions.

So, thanks for following me here all of these years, and please contine... but go on over to our new website and click "FOLLOW". :) It's sure not to disappoint!

ALSO... I AM ENGAGED!! Praise the Lord for His provision in my life over the last few years. He is so good and I am a direct testimony of that!

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This year I had the privilege of spending lots of time with family over Christmas. Not only did I get to enjoy the Campbell family traditions around Christmas eve and Christmas day, I also got to enjoy time with Ronnie's family.!

Just to share a few pictures of the holidays....

1) Christmas eve brunch with Ronnie's Dad and Kay. Ronnie's sweet sister had all of us over for brunch and BOY was it delicious! She is such a great hostess!

Rhonda is so creative and classy- love her cheese and fruit tray!

Ronnie and his dad... two handome men if you ask me!

Jeff and little Jules... Jules wanted to wrap up. If there is a dog in the world
with personality, it's Jules!

The cooks with Elvis

We skyped with Michelle, Ronnie's sweet sister who lives in California and couldn't be with us.
Ronnie's showing her Rhonda's new necklace. :)

Jules' new Christmas present!!

Hi Chelle!! 

I don't know why we were laughing but I love this picture! And I love this lady!! Rhonda is a jewel!

2) Christmas Eve with my parents, Great Aunt Broy, Grammie Campbell and Grandma Kline, followed by our Campbell/Bundrick REINDEER food tradition!!

Grandma Kline and Sarah Lou

Our desserts ... mmm... :)

Beautiful Ladies

So happy Jon and Ronnie could be with us for Christmas!

After dinner we all sat around and sang Christmas carols with the Bundricks... 

Of course, every year we have to throw the reindeer food!!

Practically sisters... love Elizabeth!!

3) Christmas morning we participated in the "Richardson family tradition". Several years ago my friend Stephanie Richardson stayed with my family over the Christmas season. She shared her family tradition  of paper bag stockings.

Ronnie, Sarah and I were so excited about the goodies inside our bag!!!

This is only a little preview of Christmas Eve/Christmas day in the life of Allison... I wish I had time and space to share more. In addition to all of the above, we had a WONDERFUL time Christmas day at Grammie's with my dad's side of the family. We then went to Ronnie's mom's for dinner on Christmas day and had a wonderful time! Danny brought out records of Helen (Ronnie's mom) from when she sang in a Gospel quartet years ago. We had a ton of fun listening through them!

 I feel so blessed and overwhelmed by the grace and provision of the Lord. He has given me so many good things- an incredible family, an awesome man of God pursuing me, lots of fun presents :), good health,... the list is endless. But the most awesome gift of grace given is Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for the relationship that I have and ALL can have through knowing Jesus. It's such a comfort to know that this little baby who we celebrate is THE Savior, and because of Jesus and what He did for us on the cross, we can have purpose and completeness.

I'm so very thankful for this Christmas and all of the memories made! Praise the Lord!!

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Last weekend Ronnie and I went to a wedding of a friend of his from Clemson. The wedding was beautiful- in Augusta right down the road from Augusta National. We drove to the wedding with Tanner and Hannah, friends of ours. It was a great day! 

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Happy 2nd Birthday, Kathryn Louise!!

While Matt is away, the rest of us will play. We have had a GREAT time with Rach and the kids here in town! And it was so much fun to celebrate Kathryn's birthday yesterday! She had a little princess party and boy did she play the role well!

Silvia made burrito's for us and they were DELICIOUS! Grandma Kline was able to come celebrate with us, and Grammie sent along a birthday pound cake in her absence. We missed having Grammie Lou who is the one Kathryn is named after.

Anyways, enjoy the pictures of my little princess!!

4 generations :)

Kathryn LOVES bows! This is what she did when she opened one from Aunt Carrie and Uncle Dan!

Campbell girls love food!! :)

Benton and Daniel helped blow out the candles on Grammie's cake

After a long night of presents, cake, singing and playing princess, these sugar-filled children
needed to relax and watch sprout with Boppa. What a great end to a wonderful 2nd brithday!!

LOVE YOU, Kathryn!!!

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Happy Birthday (belated), Sarah Louise!!

For Sarah's birthday our family took a trip to Highlands, NC to eat lunch at a restaurant our sweet friend's family owns. We met up with Laura Kremser and ate at Southern Belles (delicious!!!), and almost had to roll ourselves out of the restaurant. After lunch we wandered around downtown Highlands and had a wonderful time relaxing and enjoying Sarah's birthday celebration.

I love my sister and best friend and am so thankful for another year of life with her!!

Sarah and Jon at lunch

Ronnie and me with Laura... so very thankful for her friendship!

Laura's parents are behind Sarah in this picture... they were so sweet to make all sorts of
extra treats for us for lunch. They even made baked apples that were OUT of this world!! Delicious!

My awesome parents :)

Laura gave Little D a stuffed animal after lunch. He was so excited!!

Downtown Highlands missing our other two sisters!

Daniel wanted to buy this shirt at one of the children's botiques...
and we all thought he was a perfect, sweet, innocent child... hmmm......

The Old Edwards Inn, a GORGEOUS Inn downtown Highlands

And this would be the "traditional" birthday cake for Sarah... Merry Christmas Tree cakes!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Sarah Lou!

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PRINCESSES don't EVER cry over spilt milk... :)

Love my little Bubble Belly Ellie!

Life with Ellie is NEVER dull..... :)

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We love the Wilson Family!! At Thanksgiving I snapped a few pictures of them and am just now getting around to editing them. Can you tell it's been busy in the household of the Campbell's??

It was so neat to have them here over the holiday, and of course many of you know that Rach and the babies are currently here while Matt is in boot camp- he's going to be an Air Force chaplain. We're so proud of him, and especially grateful that he sent his family here for the time being. :)

Love you guys and wish that Arizona and Clemson were closer!!!