NOTE TO SELF: Do not decorate for Christmas until AFTER the rivalry game....

Thanksgiving Part Two

Everyone who reads my blog KNOWS that my computer is horrible these days! It has taken me this long to post these pictures. I try to upload them and the computer shuts down, or they won't post for some unknown reason etc.... Anyway, here are a few pics of our Thanksgiving with my side of the family.

Scott getting some over-due Jamie luv
Cousins

Me and Jamie



The most handsome face in the house!

Aunt Laurie and JP

PaPa "gettin'" JP

ALWAYS playing cards!

Thanksgiving Part One

We had our first Thanksgiving dinner with Scott's family last night. We had so much fun. Kim did a great job decorating!

Note to self: Bring little kids over AFTER everyone is there and ready to eat! We had a time entertaining them and making sure they didn't undo everything that had been done!! They enjoyed watching movies in KiKi's room on the little DVD player.

Me and Eddie

Scott hates taking pictures, so this was the best I could do.

KiKi coloring on the bed.

JP LOVED the snow globe. He called it snowman bubble.

KiKi playing with GaGa's ipod.

Getting out some energy!

KiKi decided it was too cold....JP was knocking on the door screaming for her!

This would be the picture of the two kiddos playing with their Christmas gifts that they opened while the adults were busy cooking! Shame on them!!

Playing in the ice...

Papaw, JP and KiKi wrestling...

Lazy Morning with Tyler and Molly

We are hanging out this morning with Tyler and Molly! JP LOVES Molly...she is dragging him around everywhere!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Top ten things I am thankful for:

10) FACEBOOK (haha..I'm only 1/2 serious)

9) My books that carry me off into an imaginary world and allow me to escape from the reality of this one for a while!

8) The fact that in this economy I, not only have a job, but I have job security.

7) My friends who are also so precious to me!

6) My church family

5) My extended family who are too numerous to list!!

4) My precious,precious gift from God and light in my day, JOSEPH PABLO BEAM!!!

3) My husband for loving/supporting/encouraging me. (Also in spite of me!)

2) Jesus for giving His life for me!

1) God and His grace,mercy,forgiveness and for loving me in spite of me!

I hope that everyone has an AWESOME Thanksgiving Holiday! We are celebrating Wednesday evening through Thursday night, so I am super excited! FOOD, FOOD, FOOD!!

DATE NIGHT!!!!

WOO-HOO!!! Scott and I are meeting Terry and Shannon for dinner and then heading out to Christmas shop! I am very excited about spending an entire evening with my sweet husband eating dinner and just hangin' out!

Don't feel too sorry for JP though...he and KiKi are beginning the new tradition of "helping" GaGa put up her Christmas tree! Can you imagine?? Poor GaGa....it can't be fun putting up the tree TWICE!!

Change is a comin'

In the near future, I am changing my blog just a little. Rather than the whole "Cute as a Bug" theme/JP, it is going to be more of a "Our Life and Ministries" type blog. Don't worry....JP will still be all over it, but it will be more inspirational and used as more of a ministry tool.

All of you know how I love to read. Basically I have just about read every book written by Erwin Raphael McManus (Barbarian Way, Chasing Daylight etc.) Anyway.....it has changed my life! Here is an excerpt from Chasing Daylight:

" It's so much easier to choose to be invisible. Oh, there are other words for invisible---average mediocre, normal, compliant, predictable, safe. The list goes on and on."

All of his books talk about living life the way God intended us to live. How can I do that by waking up, working, coming home going to bed, waking up, working, coming home, going to bed??? And so on and so on....I'm tired of that. I've said it before, but then I fall right back into the lazy way and do NOTHING. Well, not anymore. In fact, on the way home from work today, I prayed for a while. About nothing in particular..just stuff. Anyway, I asked God towards the end of my prayer to open up doors during the holidays for Scott and I to serve as His hands and feet. When I said "amen" I turned the radio up. The Salvation Army "just happened" to be airing their advertisement at that time. They need volunteers for their Christmas project. I almost didn't even hear it. Ya know how you daydream while driving. All of a sudden it was like the Holy Spirit hit me upside the head and said, "hey dumbo! You asked for doors..WAKE UP!" So, I pulled over on the side of the road and called the number.

I say all of that to say this.... my new blog will now record my family's daily walk with Christ. It's why we are a family in the first place.

Look who's coming to Anderson, SC!!

I am so excited to announce that my bro Terry will be opening up for Chris Sligh in Anderson in February!!! I am so excited for him!!! And for us, b/c when he makes it to the "big time" Scott and I are going to quite our jobs and travel with him!

I would encourage everyone who reads this blog to try and attend this concert..you will definitely be blessed. He is the most awesome singer and praise/worship leader. Chris Sligh's not too bad either! Congrats, Terry! We love you and are looking forward to this awesome opportunity. We are praying that God uses this to open great big doors for you and the family.

First thing first....my sister-in-law, Amy found out today that they are having a baby boy!!! I am very excited for them! MacKenzie is excited and went with her mommy and daddy to the appointment. She is so sweet talking about her new brother! She says she is going to "beat him up!" She probably will! CONGRATS, Amy!
Second...I am not going to stay here for long. I just have to say TWO quick things. You know where the world is headed when:

1. Tommy Bowden is offered a FOUR MILLION dollar settlement package to leave the University while staff members are looking at being laid off due to "budget cuts!"

2. Our tax-dollars are probably going to bail-out a local bank while the CEO steps down with an EIGHTEEN MILLION DOLLAR retirement package!!

What in the world is going on?????? Maybe I can talk Scott in to moving to Guatemala. It may be a third-world country and dangerous in some parts, but things are SO MUCH more simple there! We need to get our priorities in order!

Too cute NOT to post!

I did not ask for permission before I posted these...oh well, WHO CARES! They are really cute!

Taylor and Mary E. were jumping in the leaves outside....Peyton wanted OUT!! How unfair! The big kids get to do EVERYTHING!!





It's hard to jump in the leaves when something THIS cute is watchin'....

Peek-A-Boo

The picture BEFORE he started eating the pumpkin.

Randomness and Prayer Requests

On the Beam-front: We are just hangin' out. Not too much to report. This week has gone by very fast for us. I am sooo glad that tomorrow is Friday. We are going out with our extended fam (Terry/Shannon & Co. ) tomorrow night. Saturday the Gamecocks will play Florida, so I'll give you three whole guesses as to where Scott will be planted! Sunday has become my most favorite day. We go to church, come home for dinner and JP, mommy and daddy ALL sleep for about three hours! I'm glad JP came to this country with an understanding of the SABBATH! hehehe :)

Prayer Requests: 1) Allen Meadows - family friend of Kathi and Dave (my friends) Allen has been in the hospital for a week and will remain there for at least two more. Short version: Broke arm/had plates put in/caught weird infection/kidneys shutting down/high blood pressure etc. He's being followed by infectious disease...Pray for healing and strength for parents, Mitch and Vanessa!

2) Bob Dobbins- long time friend of my family...Bob has cancer, but was just given a good prognosis from Oncologist after a surgery. Pray, again, for healing and for his family.

3) Scott - conducting some interviews after some much needed changes in his staff at work. Pray for good/dependable workers. Pray that these possible staff members will provide a better work environment for Scott and the rest of the crew.

4) Me - I just recently signed up for some online classes thru a University in Florida. I won't go into the details, but I am working towards another degree in a TOTALLY different area. Also, a few years ago, I began writing a children's book....I feel God leading me to finish it up. I am looking for an illustrator and have some good leads. I just need your prayers in juggling everything and STILL keeping up w/ my NUMBER ONE job as wife/mother!

Thanks...everyone have an AWESOME weekend!

More Mountain Pics...very random!

When I uploaded these last few pictures they did something weird...you know my laptop always decides not to cooperate. I realized after uploading them on the blog that one of them repeated itself...just ignore it!