Peace, Grace, and Hope

Here at the MacNeill home, we celebrate Christmas. We celebrate it because we believe Jesus was sent to bring peace, grace, and hope.

However, I realize not everyone celebrates Christmas. But we can all join together to celebrate and strive for peace- we could use more of that in our world. Grace- couldn't we all stand to give each other the benefit of the doubt more, forgive more easily, and let go of past hurts. Hope- hope for brighter days, hope for an end to poverty, cancer, sex trafficking, and prejudice.

Whatever holiday you celebrate,

May you cling to your family,


Kiss your loved ones,


Cuddle the furry ones,


Drink some spirits (or non-spirits),

Eat lots.


Be merry.



Be thankful.

And may you find and give more peace, grace, and hope in 2010!

Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

Much Love,
Abby and Josh

I have a secret....

Do you have a secret place you go to that you don't want anyone else to know about because you want it all for yourself? Well, I found mine. And because I love you, I will share what it is.

One evening while eating dinner I noticed how much fun the cats were having lying under the Christmas tree. Like this:

Ok, they're clearly not having fun, just sleeping. But they also like to play with the lights and look up at the tree.

So I wanted to try it. So Josh and I finished our dinner and scooched under the tree, heads all the way under on the tree skirt, and let me tell you.... it is magical. It's like you're in an enchanted forest, or Narnia. It's like the whole world goes away, and it's just you, the person next to you, and green and lights and Christmas galore. It's really breathtaking.

So the next night, Lydia was over and Josh and I told her about it. So all three of us got under the tree (yeah it was a bit tight), and she LOVED it. And that's when I knew I needed to tell you about it. Do it. You won't regret it. Oh and you have to turn the rest of the lights out to get the full effect.

Ok, now you think I'm really weird and you might stop following my blog? Well fine then.

What I've been doing, besides not blogging

I haven't been blogging. Duh. I feel guilty, but I shouldn't, because it's supposed to be for fun and fun only. So there, I'm done feeling guilty.

Here's what I've been up to:

1. We had Thanksgiving in the good ol' US of A last week. I made mashed potatoes and two apple pies. I still have half of an apple pie in my fridge if anyone wants to come eat it! We had quite a potato peel incident right before we had to leave for T-giving- someone (ahem, Lydia) forgot to run the disposal until there were 10 lb. of potato peels in the sink. Let's just say we had to use the toilet plunger in the kitchen sink. Yuck.

2. Being a kitchen failure. It all started with the potato peel incident of 2009 (I blame Lydia only to take the real blame off of myself- I know, I'm a saint). On Tuesday, I was boiling a whole chicken, and while trying to take it out (with two large spoons) of the hot, greasy, gross water, it slipped and fell back in the hot, greasy, gross water and splashed ALLLLLL over me, the floor, the wall. Well, me being a genius thought that would just be a once and done thing- so I tried again. Slipped again. Tried again. Slipped again. Humph. Greasy, gross, chicken water all over me and my kitchen.

3. I started a fire. In the kitchen, no less. I think remnants of the greasy, gross, chicken water incident of 2009 were still on the burner of the stove the next day. I was trying to boil some rice, but I turned the wrong burner on. There was a lid to a pot on the [wrong] burner that I turned on, and while I'm doing dishes, Josh yells, "ABBY!" I turn around, and there is a flame coming from the burner. Yes. I caught the metal lid on fire. Oh, you didn't know that metal could catch on fire?? Me either. Welp folks, she's done it again.

4. Decorating for Christmas. Hopefully I won't catch our Christmas tree on fire with my mad kitchen skills. We got our tree this past weekend. I think it is the earliest I have ever gotten a tree in my life. Growing up we always got it about the week OF Christmas.

Also, Josh broke my kitchen scissors trying to cut the top of our Christmas tree off. I will be expecting a new pair in my stocking!

Dancing and [not] being a hipster. My sisters and I (minus Lydia- sorry Lyd) and our husbands/boyfriend went hipster bowling and dancing this past weekend. I'm REALLLLLLY good at bowling. I think my score was 54. Here's a pic of my great form:

Best picture ever:

I clearly didn't get the no smiling memo.

Love these girls! (I love you too, Lydia!)