From the Inside Out

We celebrated Christmas today with the Powers family in Forney. 

For a few highlights from the celebration at my house yesterday and the festivities today with Gary’s family, check out the video below. 

NOTE:  For those of you who know that I got a hi-def Flip camera for Christmas, don’t judge it by this video.  I uploaded the low res version to YouTube.  I’ll probably swap it out for the HD version when I have more time for uploading. 

Now it’s time for a Christmas flashback video…check out this one from 2006.  It’s fun to see how much the kids have changed, especially Jackson.  He was only a few months old when this vid was shot.

Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house,

Something was stirring, but it wasn’t a mouse.

The presents were placed under the tree with care.

A sense of excitement hung in the air.

The coming day would bring smiles and cheer.

Families would be reunited with those they hold dear.

Gary was nestled all snug in our bed,

While I crafted this blog poem from thoughts dancing around in my head.

I had just settled down to reflect on the day.

The cares of this life seemed so far away.

I knew in a moment His presence had drawn near,

as I remembered why Christmas is my favorite time of year.

I shut my ears to the noises on tv and the laughter;

There was only one thing to do before I closed this chapter.

With a grateful heart, I began to celebrate my Lord and Savior,

Who came to earth and changed the world forever.

The birth of this babe brought peace, joy and light.

It is because of Jesus I can say, “merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.”

With only 19 days until Christmas, it’s time to get serious about shopping for gifts. For those of you who already have your Christmas shopping done, I hate you. No, I’m kidding. I applaud you. I wish mine were done, but it’s not. For the procrastinators like me, I’m going to share one of my pre-Christmas shopping tips.

Last year, I discovered a great tool on Amazon.com called “Gift & Wish Lists”. The Wish List lets you build a list of the gifts you’d like to receive for Christmas so you can share it with family and friends. You can add items from Amazon.com or from any other site on the Web. The Wish List works like a registry. When people buy items, they are marked as “purchased” so others don’t buy the same gifts. Purchased items are hidden from you, keeping the surprise intact when you open gifts on Christmas morning. Gary and I both have our wish lists here, and it works great.

The Gift Organizer lets you build separate idea lists for everyone on your shopping list. Amazon.com can even provide future gift recommendations based on your current list and past shopping history for each individual. It’s a great way to keep track of your gift ideas and online purchases. It can also save you from becoming one of the many frazzled shoppers at the mall since many of the things you need can be purchased from the comfort of your own home — no lines, no screaming kids, no bad parking spots, no crowded malls. Ah-mazing!!

To create your wish list, start here. Use the Universal Wish List to add products from any website to your wish list.

To create your gift organizer, start here.

Do you have any Dallas Cowboys fans on your shopping list this year? Well, you might be in luck. Neiman Marcus revealed its annual Christmas Book today, and it includes a significant piece of the Dallas Cowboys’ history. For only $500K, you can bring the entire Dallas Cowboys’ end zone to your own back yard.

No, I’m not kidding. This year’s fantasy gift is 530 square yards from the Texas Stadium end zone. According to an article in the Dallas Morning News, “the purchaser of the fantasy gift will get VIP treatment and a postgame party with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. After the game, crews will cut out the end zone, roll it up and install it in the purchaser’s yard.”

Hurry up, though…I’m sure it won’t last long!

If you’re not a sports fan, the Neiman’s Christmas book also offers a variety of other gifts for consideration including:

• “His and Hers” life-size likenesses in Lego bricks at $60,000 each

• Harlem Globetrotters on-the-court experience for $110,000

• 35-year collection of 45-rpm records for $275,000

• A limited edition 2009 BMW Individual 7 Series sedan, plus a vacation on the French Riviera for $160,000. Only 31 of the vehicles will be sold, representing the 31 years BMW has been in the United States. The black sedan with champagne-leather interior features an illuminated Neiman Marcus logo on entry sill and the glove box.

• Custom designed Jack Nicklaus Backyard Golf Course for a cool $1 mil.

For other gift ideas, check out the online catalog and get your shopping done early this year!