the letter...

Hello Family and Friends! As 2008 comes to a close, we can’t help but be thankful for all that we have been blessed with- good jobs, the love of family and friends, and fun adventures!
We are so lucky to have the jobs we have! Kevin celebrated his one-year mark at Flying J Inc. this year. He hauls fuel to Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Nevada. His noon to midnight shift is hard when Jennie works 5am to 1pm, but they are managing! Jennie is still at Sam’s Club as the Audit Team Lead. This years inventory was the best in the Utah region! Wahoo!
Our families have been a huge part of our year! Jennie was able to visit her Dad, Rick, in May. They had a fun week together seeing the sights in Michigan! Kevin’s sister, Carol, came out and spent 10 days with us in October. Jennie’s mom, Sally, spent her 60th birthday with us too. Jennie and Sally have had several road trips together throughout the year as they went down to visit Jennie’s brother, Sam. Our visits with him have been so fun! My best friend's mom and sister (MaryAnn and Kristine) moved to Logan in August and we were thrilled to have them stay with us until they bought a home. It has been great to have more “family” so close!
We have had a good year – together and with our loved ones! We hope each of you have as well.
Merry Christmas and Happy 2009!

Jennie and Kevin

Merry Christmas!

i hope that each of you have a very merry Christmas! this is such a wonderful time of year!

i am so blessed to have such a supportive family and good friends!

i am grateful for the Savior, Jesus Christ and the love my family feels from him.

may you each remember the true meaning of Christmas on this special day!

Merry Christmas!

On the Twelth Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

12 Christmas Ornaments!!!

i love my tree... i love my ornaments!

each ornament tells a story... here are 12 of my fav's and their stories!

this little girl has been on my tree for as long as i can remember! she is my favorite! she is the very first ornament on my tree every year!

oh... the mouse on a mouse trap! my mom made this for me when i came home from my mission in idaho! in my last area we lived in the middle of a beet field... lots of mice! we were constantly emptying the traps! here is my memento of such a wonderful time! lol!



kevin and i bought this hallmark ornament the year we were married! i love that it is the ring box and wedding bands!

this one reminds me of my best friend! she is a huge mickey mouse fan! i was working at hallmark when this ornament came out and bought it for her right away! a few years later i bought mine on ebay, cuz i liked it so much!




this is such a darling ornament! i bought it a few years back at a craft fair! i keep saying that i should make my own version of it and give them out to my friends for christmas... but have yet to do it! who knows... maybe next year! ha!

i love this ornament! i made it at school when i was in second grade! we were told we had to bring a clean tuna can to school. there is green felt glued around the outside with a red glitter stripe down the middle of it! then we put our school photo's in the middle. this was our gift to parents that year... love it!

i love leaves! as most of you know i love my fall birthday, thus the leaf addiction! this is a gold plated leaf that came from connecticut. my dad sent it to me while he lived there! i think it is so beautiful! very fancy... and i enjoy having it on my tree!

i grew up in a single parent home for most of my childhood, so money was very tight! my mom and i lived in california for a short time and we used to go to the dump all of the time for really great stuff! the dump at that time was open to the public and you would be amazed at how many things were brand new, still in the packages! anyway... mom found this christmas ornaments and we took them home and made them ours...

my grandmother (nanny) was an amazing needlepointer! she was always making something new, different and cool! one year she made a handful of these cute little trees for us! i love that they are so bright and cheerful!



these were also on nanny's tree. i have 3 of them and they always are put around the very top of the tree! i think they are so cute! they are so fragile! i used to think that they were made for me because of the blond hair! (when i was a kid my hair was very blond! )

when i was in the dating scene, a good friend of mine and i would always joke about what we "owed" each other if we did things with the guys we were dating... ie: hug= candy bar, holding hands= brownies, kiss= ice cream, engaged= dinner! and we laughed about how the way to any man's heart is by baking a pie! when i got engaged, she made this ornament for me!



this ornament is an actual starfish! i buy ornaments whenever i go on a trip to represent where i went! this was bought in mystic, Massachusetts! love it!

i sure hope you have enjoyed these special ornaments!

and my 12 days of christmas!

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

11 Calvin and Hobbs Winter Cartoons!

i love these! soooooooooooooooo funny! enjoy!!!

On the Tenth Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

10 Christmas Movies!

i love christmas movies! this year i have been watching a ton of them on tv!

they are so great!

here is a list of my favorite 10 this year!

(in no particular order)

White Christmas

Miracle on 34th Street

Holiday Inn

A Season for Miracles- Hallmark Gold Crown

Holiday Switch- Lifetime Channel

Snow- ABCFamily Channel

Flirting with 40- Lifetime Channel

Silver Bells- Hallmark Channel

Comfort and Joy- ABCFamily Channel

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year- Hallmark Channel

On the Ninth Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

9 Yummy Christmas Treats!

i love this time of year for so many reasons! but one of them has to be the treats! i have gotten some funs already this year! here are just a few of my fav's throughout the years!

chocolate dipped pretzels

pecan log

chocolate popcorn

english toffee

homemade caramels

peppermint bark

candy cane sugar doodles

cornflake wreaths

fudge with nuts

On the Eighth Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

8 Favorite Christmas Songs!

i love listening to christmas music! here are just a few of my favorite songs and their lyrics!

White Christmas

Bing Crosby

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

Just like the ones I used to know

Where the treetops glisten

And children listen

To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

With every Christmas card I write

May your days be merry and bright

And may all your Christmases be white.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

With every Christmas card I write

May your days be merry and bright

And may all your Christmases be white.

Let Him In

The Forgotten Carols

Michael McLean

I am a man forgotten

No one recalls my name

Thousands of years will fail

To fully erase my shame

But I turned a profit nicely the day

That I turned the couple away

I turned them away

I didn't sleep that evening

Though I'd sold out my place

Somehow I felt uneasy

Something about her face

Why did I wish that I'd let them stay?

I didn't think they could pay

Or could they have paid?

Restless I left my bedroom

I walked the streets all night

Lost in the world I lived in

Fokund by a heavenly light

Staring at one bright star in the sky

I heard a baby cry

And I knew where the cry had come from

'Cause I told them where they could go

But I didn't think I could face them

And so I walked slowly home

Missing my chance to share in their joy

I never say the boy

He never would condemn me

I did that all on my own

He offered His forgiveness

And ever since then I've known

He lets us choose each hour of each day,

If we'll let Him in to stay

Let Him in... let Him in

Let the hope and joy begin

Let Him in... let Him in

Let the peace on earth begin

Whether it be in your world today

Or a crowded Bethlehem inn

Find a way... make Him room...

let Him in

Mary, Did You Know

Clay Aiken

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy will one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know

That your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered

Will soon deliver you?

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?

Did you know

That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

And when you kiss your little baby

You've kissed the face of God?

Mary, did you know?

The blind will see

The deaf will hear

And the dead will live again

The lame will leap

The dumb will speak

The praises of the Lamb?

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know

That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding

Is the Great I Am?
Oh Mary did you know?

Silent Night

Silent night, holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and Child.

Holy Infant, so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night

Shepherds quake at the sight

Glories stream from heaven afar

Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!

Christ the Savior is born

Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night

Son of God, love's pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birthJ

esus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night

Wondrous star, lend thy light

With the angels let us sing

Alleluia to our King

Christ the Savior is born

Christ the Savior is born!

Mary Let Me Hold Her Baby

The Forgotten Carols

Michael McLean

Mary let me hold her baby

Her newborn son

Though I'd never be a mother

I felt like one

Mary let me hold her baby

So she could rest

Ever since taht night I held him

My life's been blessed

Those like me who can't have children

Still can be mothers

Something in His eyes convinced me

I could serve so many others

Mary let me hold her baby

So soft and warm

Mary let me hold her baby

And I was reborn

Jingle Bell Rock

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock

Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring

Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun

Now the jingle hop has begun.

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock

Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time

Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square

In the frosty air.

What a bright time, it's the right time

To rock the night away

Jingle bell time is a swell time

To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh

Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet

Jingle around the clock

Mix and a-mingle in the jingling feet

That's the jingle bell

That's the jingle bell

That's the jingle bell rock.

Silver Bells

Christmas makes you feel emotional

It may bring parties or thoughts devotional

Whatever happens or what may beHere is what

Christmas time means to me.

City sidewalk, busy sidewalks

Dressed in holiday style

In the air there's

A feeling of Christmas.

Children laughing, people passing

Meeting smile after smile

And on every street corner you'll hear.
Silver bells, silver bells

It's Christmas time in the city

Ring-a-ling, hear them ring

Soon it will be Christmas day.

City street lights

Even stop lights

Blink a bright red and green

As the shoppers rush home

With their treasures.

Hear the snow crunch

See the kids bunch

This is Santa's big scene

And above all this bustle you'll hear.

Silver bells, silver bells

It's Christmas time in the city

Ring-a-ling, hear them ring

Soon it will be Christmas day.

I'll Be Home for Christmas

I'll be home for Christmas

You can count on me

Please have snow and mistletoe

And presents on the tree.

Christmas Eve will find me

Where the love light gleams

I'll be home for Christmas

If only in my dreams.

I'll be home for Christmas

You can count on me

Please have snow and mistletoe

And presents on the tree.

Christmas Eve will find me

Where the love light gleams

I'll be home for Christmas

If only in my dreams.

On the Seventh Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

7 Stocking Stuffers!

i am usually the one to stuff my stockings... but this year we added stocking stuffers into our budget. i am hoping that will encourage my cute hubby to help! :)

i, however, did buy a few things to add to my stocking too! old habits die hard! :)

~avon rings... a friend from work just started selling avon and they have very pretty jewelry! i had to get a couple of rings! santa would approve for sure!

~nail glue... a staple in my house! lol! and they are perfect size to stick in a stocking!

~shower loofah... santa was kind enough to get both kevin and i a new shower loofah thing! isn't that thoughtful of him!?

~undies... ha! i know this isn't very exciting... but every year we replenish our undies! hee hee!

~orange slices... i love the gelled orange slices that are covered in sugar! they are probably one of my all time favorite candies! santa always puts a bag in one of our stockings!

~calculator... this year kevin asked for a calculator. he uses one at work and his recently broke! so, walah! santa gift!

~hand warmers... kevin works outside and this time of year is very hard for him. he has had some pretty cold days lately... so santa decided to give him something to keep his hands warm since i can't go with him to work everyday! :)

On the Sixth Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

6 Christmas Traditions!


i love traditions! they make a holiday special and exciting! here are just a few traditions that i have... whether they are from long ago when i was a little girl, or new ones with my cute hubby!


dinner- growing up my mom always made dinner on christmas eve. that way she could just enjoy christmas day without having to cook. we always just snacked on turkey etc on that day. i love the idea... but with just kevin and i, its no big deal to cook...

the white stocking- many years ago, my friend lisa gave to me a white stocking. this is a stocking for Christ. each year on christmas eve i would write a letter to my Savior and tell him what i would give him for the next year... faith, prayer, obedience... etc. when kevin and i got married we started doing this together. we don't read each others letters until the next year... i love this tradition. it helps me remember the true meaning of the season!

concerts- i have mentioned all of the fun concerts that i go to each year several times on my blog, but they truly are part of my christmas traditions. micheal mclean's forgotten carols and voicemale... they are the best! they each play a part in the way i celebrate this wonderful time of year. it wouldn't be christmas without them!

decorations- i need to say that I BELIEVE IN SANTA! but i don't have any santa decorations. i don't want the focus to be on santa, i don't want the Savior to get lost in the hustle and bustle. i have lots of decorations of snowflakes, stars and trees... but no santa's. i love the season and the goodness it brings out of people, so i am not a scrouge in any way, shape or form. i have just made a personal choice not to decorate with santa.



my advent calender- i remember seeing this advent calender hanging at my grandmothers house when i was really little. and then my mom brought it to our house! i love it! the ornaments are made out of felt and have lots of details! some of them are falling a part a little, but that is part of the charm! i have seen a similar calender in a few catalogs, but i cannot bring myself to replace this one... it had lots of sentimental value. and that, to me, is what a good tradition is all about!



christmas morning breakfast- when i was growing up, we always had to wait until everyone was up before any part of the day began. when everyone was up and dressed/decent we would open the santa gifts. usually just in the stockings. then we would have breakfast, usually a pull-apart bread or orange rolls. then, and only then, we would gather around the tree and open our presents... one at a time with one person at the tree passing them out. my mom was very particular in making this part of christmas last for more than just 20 minutes. she remembers when she was a little girl that they would be up and have christmas all done and over by 6am. she didn't want it to be like that for us. i am glad... i like making it last longer!

so, now that i have shared 6 traditions with you... what are yours?

On the Fifth Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

5 Random Friends!

Laura: i met laura while traveling with creating keepsakes. this gal is so full of life! always up for an adventure! and very thoughtful! she lives a few states away... and it makes it hard to see her as often as i would like! (thanks goodness for blogs! now we can check up on each other anytime we want! :) ) laura is very talented and i love getting her cards and postcards in the mail!

Angie: i met angie through her husband when he worked at sam's club. angie and i became fast friends! i had the wonderful opportunity to help her out after the birth of her first child. i would watch him while she ran errands, did chores around the house or just took a nap! when she was done we would just sit and chat! i loved having to chance to get to know her better! she is going to have baby #3 in a couple of months! time sure flies! she is a great mom and a very motivated person!

Chelsa: i love this girl! we met and worked together at Coppin's Hallmark almost 9 years ago! we hit it off right away! chelsa is funny and kind. she has always taken the time to get to know me... and made me feel special. she was there during my "courtship" to my husband! she witnessed it all! we don't see each other very often, and i miss her!

Noelani: i met noe while working at Coach House Gifts many, many years ago! she is a great mom, and one of the most talented women i have ever met in my entire life. she is so creative and smart! noe is also one of the kind and considerate women. she is always looking for a way to help... she, too, lives out of state and i miss interacting with her on a regular basis. she inspires me to be a better person! she is wonderful and i am honored to be her friend!

Nicky: i don't even know where to start with nicky! she is fun and loving and kind! she and i became friends at one job and then we both moved together to another job. nicky is creative and a very smart thinker. she loves to have fun and isn't afraid to be silly. she makes me feel comfortable and myself, just by being around her. i have the pleasure of seeing her every month at bunco! i love it!

all 5 of these women have touched my life in a way that has forever changed me. i am very grateful for each of them and the differences of them all! thanks gals! i sure love you!

On the Fourth Day of Christmas...

sorry for the delay... my computer was down...

my loved ones gave to me...

4 Christmas Bracelets!

i bought a set of 5 bracelets at hobby lobby and as usual, they were too small! so i took them all apart and created 4 bracelets that fit me!

i love them!

very festive!!!

On the Third Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

3 Christmas Concerts!

this year we are attending 3 really great concerts!

we went to forgotten carols...

wonderful!!!

last saturday we attended the voicemale concert!

amazing, as usual!

and this friday we are going to

NEIL DIAMOND!!!!

ok... so he isn't all that christmasy... but he is going to be so great!!!

so that is how i get the christmas spirit, how about you!?

On the Second Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

2 Santa Letters

i had the wonderful opportunity to play Santa for a friends 2 kids! they wrote letters to Santa and i got to write back! how fun!

let me know if you need a letter from Santa! :)

On the First Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

a random act of kindness!

this morning i looked outside and saw that someone had plowed my driveway! i can't even begin to explain how grateful i am to have someone do that! i am sooo sooo grateful...

do i know them? i don't know... if so, thank you very very very very much!

if not, thank you too!

what a kind thing to do!

32 years ago...

one of the most wonderful people in the entire world was born...

my sweet husband,

Kevin Ozell Little



i love you babe!





here are 32 things i love about kev...

1. cute smile
2. great hugs
3. kid at heart
4. good brother
5. loves music
6. great eyes
7. hates onions and tomatoes (me too! :) )
8. easy to please
9. intoxicating kisses
10. peacemaker
11. knows "techy" stuff
12. punctual
13. simple guy
14. dedicated worker
15. funny
16. willing to help... most days :)
17. holds my hand
18. loving
19. gentleman
20. eagle scout
21. loves me
22. honest
23. cute bum
24. kind
25. attempts to fix things himself first before going somewhere else
26. takes care of me
27. generous
28. caring
29. fun to be around
30. cuddle bug
31. says "i love you"
32. perfect... for me!

happy december!

happy december everyone!

i can't believe it is here already! so many things to do ... but i am sick!

i woke up sunday morning with a cold! and i haven't been able to shake it!

there are so many things i need to do and errands to run!

* my tree is up, just no decorations- haven't had the energy to put them up!
* some of the lights are not working on the tree and i saw this handy thing at home depot that detects where the problem is! i should have bought it then, but i didn't... and now i need it!
* kevin's bday is this week and i have everything for it, just need to do some last minute touches! we are going to celebrate tonight... but... i am sick!!! that's no fun!
* the good news is that i think i am completely done christmas shopping! i just need to wrap everything! but the tree is not done!!! one thing at a time....
* my christmas cards are done, i just need to buy envelopes and stamps.
* my mom and i are going to see my little brother on saturday! i am excited! i just hope i feel better soon!
* i have bananas that need to be turned into banana bread! just not in the mood to do it!
* i think i am finally ready and excited for christmas to be here! just wished i felt better!

hope all of your holiday planning is going well!