As I’ve said before, LPM always throws a great celebration. Jackson and I drove down to Houston last week to be at our annual Christmas party. The morning began in the office with a little send-off for our sweet Sherry, who will be on maternity leave for the next few months. LPM Baby Boy #4 will be making his debut very soon! Sherry and Jen are both expecting their second boys and I have no doubt that I will one day (not yet) follow in their footsteps. They are a wealth of knowledge and encouragement to me in motherhood. Every time Jackson comes to an LPM lunch or party, they reach into their purses and pull out all kinds of toys and fun things for him to play with. They even consider in advance what they could bring from their homes that would help entertain my toddler. What amazing friends and Titus women!
Next, we headed to The Galleria for shopping and eating. We decided to change up the gift exchange this year. As soon as we arrived, we each drew a name and had 45 minutes to go find that person a Christmas present. At LPM we have several sisters who are known for the high quality of the presentation of their gifts. I had a feeling that it would be hard for them to present their gifts in store bags. Sure enough, Jennifer (whose mom is a retired art teacher) told us it took superhuman self-control not to stuff her purse with some special ribbon that morning. We scattered throughout the mall in groups of three and four for some intense shopping. In that time, Beth – surely one of our most gifted shoppers – bought a different gift for all twelve of her co-workers. That is some talent.
When the 45 minutes were up, we enjoyed a wonderful lunch at the Cheesecake Factory (which is inside the Galleria). Jackson quickly decided he hates the Cheesecake Factory and he and I ended up leaving by the time our meals came. It was a good thing we had appetizers or I would have been so bitter! He fell asleep in his stroller a few minutes after that and I enjoyed getting to shop in peace. I bought my dad a shirt that says, “Texas – It’s bigger than France.” But don’t tell him.
Susan, Beth, and Sabrina at Cheesecake Factory.
I should have known it would be one of those lunches.
My sisters got dessert to-go and met me at Starbucks. It was the perfect place to have our gift exchange and enjoy coffee and wonderful desserts. Once Jackson woke up I was able to appease him with some strawberry shortcake.
Linda, Nancy, Sabrina, and Jennifer. This jacket, which was on sale at Gap, was very popular with our group. It was given as a gift to one person and three others bought it for themselves!
Kimberly, Susan, Evangeline, and Kimberly Mac
Jennifer and Kimberly
Diane and Kimberly
Evangeline and me. That cute, faux fur purse held all kinds of goodies from Bath and Body Works.
Sabrina and Diane
Sabrina and me. You can find really fun umbrellas at J Crew.
Bethie and her new jewelry.
My beautiful sister.
Our lovely Nancy is sporting a lighted brim baseball hat from Eddie Bauer. What in the world? Nancy is an early morning jogger and this will help light her way. 
Shhhhh! Santa is taking a nap!
By the way, the glasses Beth wore in the blogaversary video were purchased during our Christmas Party Extravaganza in 2001. We all had a pair. Nancy was in an extremely short “hair season” and she looked exactly like Harry Potter in hers. We love you, Nancy!
I am absolutely cracking up at the shirt you bought your dad. And I also love the color of those Gap jackets!!
Thanks for sharing!! What a fun mall gift exchange idea! The pictures of Jackson a/k/a Santa are precious! Also, they make great fried pickles in NC! To those fried pickle skeptics – give them a chance!! Merry Christmas!!
I’m so glad you all are providing some levity during this Christmas season. Santa looks so cute while he’s napping!! (and while he’s awake!)
Keep having fun,
Warm in Alaska.
Wow. It’s been one year of blogging. You so invite us into your hearts. You so invite us into your ministry of the Word of God. You don’t have to do this—how many ministries blog? But, you choose to let His Beauty pour out from you—that “Christ be formed in us.” Gal. 4:19. All of you at LPM are the fragrance of Jesus to us—II Cor. 2:14—for you are chained to His chariot. And you are moving forward, going with your good God, and taking us with you. Can’t thank you enough for this blog. And my verse back to you on this blog-a-versary is Malachi 3:16-17 – “Those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard.” He has heard every post, every comment. A book of remembrance has been written in His Presence. Thank you for reminding us post after post after post that we will be His in the day He makes up His treasured possessions.
That is a super kewl idea of how to do a gift exchange! I will have to keep that in mind for next year. Looks like you ladies had a ton of fun…even if Santa was a wee bit cranky.
Aside from all the other comments I could make about you adorable girls and the obvious amount of fun had by all, I am compelled to bring chief attention to the fact Melissa has achieved hair perfection.
Perfection.
I’m just sayin’.
🙂
Merry Christmas!
Lisa
So fun…I think we all want to be invited to your party next Christmas!
Amanda,
Your son is so cute! Thanks for sharing all the pictures.
I do not like to shop unless it’s at a garden store and I am buying flowers for my yard, but your description of the day and pictures made it look fun.
Merry Christmas!
Annette
We mothers of boys must stick together! One of my favorite pictures of one of my boys is in a Santa suit-reminded me so much of Jackson. Glad you clarified Beth’s fashion glasses-they did seem a little out of character. Good you all had so much fun with your shopping outing-for those of us who don’t like to shop the 45 minute limit is a great idea.
Merry Christmas-
bestmom
Merry Christmas to all of you!
I really like the 45 min shop-a-thon idea. My best buds and I will have to try that next year.. Followed by a good ol’ foot soaking afterward amen.. Shopping is hard work.. Love you all dearly. Tina B.
Loved being with you at the Christmas party! The pictures and your words made that possible. Thanks for thinking to include me!
Love & Merry Christmas to all.
you girls are too much 🙂
1. Melissa=rockstar. BEAUTIFUL.
2. Jackson…those baby blues slay me every time…I don’t know how ya’ll stand it..
3.HAIR–so it’s not just a Mama B thing…ALL of you have amazing hair..
4.Amanda, I need to borrow that necklace..
5. Nancy, when I grow up I want to be spunky and cute and run in the morning like you..
6.That umbrella ROCKS!
7. Mama B’s got skills…hair skills, Jesus skills, shopping skills… 🙂
(Napoleon Dynamite anyone?)
What a blessed group of ladies! Thanks for allowing your blessings to spill over onto us.
Merry Christmas!
Kelli in Ohio
Thanks for sharing…sounds like a Texas size blast was had by all. And Miss Beth…the power shopper…now who would have thought it…lol
Merry Christmas to all and thank-you for all you do for us and to further the kingdom of Christ.
This is my first official post to the blog although I have been a regular visitor for almost a year. I couldn’t pass up a comment on the Cheesecake Factory (my favorite restaurant). The closest one is 2 1/2 hours away from home. Sunday was a “milestone birthday” for me (hint: I was born the same year as Beth) and enjoyed lunch there, with what else for dessert?!? but Adams Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple!!
I praise God for such an awesome group of ladies to fellowship with online.
Happy Birthday JESUS
What great fun. Sounds like it was worth the drive. What a tight knit group you are. You know that we’re all semi-jealous. And then we remember times in our lives that we played well with our friends too. Merry Christmas Amanda.
Amanda: Thank you for explaining the blog-aversary glasses your Mom was wearing. I really NEEDED to know that – whew!
Love the idea about swapping and shopping – how clever.
You girls are all so precious. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PICTURES! I loved seeing you all!
I am also the proud mom of 2 boys – mine are 23 and 26 years old.
Don’t BLINK – you will be there soon. It is a WONDERFUL journey.
You will love this quote, Amanda:
Little boys love:
– their sweethearts first
– their wives the most
– their mothers the LONGEST!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Jan
Your Georgia Siesta
MERRY CHRISTMAS AMANDA, BETH, ALL OF LPM STAFF!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU OUT HERE IN SIESTAVILLE!
Thank all of you for being open and honest and sharing your love of GOD with me!
Thank you more than you know for keeping serving and loving GOD “real” so that we can see what it looks like!
“Real and humble to the bone” and it’s what it’s all about! Thank you for never ever pretending to be the “Christian superstar” but letting us see your world – even the times when you could hide it.
Do you guys have any idea how much that encourages all of us who love HIM so much!
Thanks a million for the gift of Yourselves…all of you out here in Siestaville!
Blessings and Love,
Teri
Very cute jacket and good deal too! Great party idea to start at the mall then make it a shopping spree then food then Starbucks….how wonderful! Every good adventure should end with venti hot chocolate, no fat with whipped cream!
Merry Christmas to all the siestas! Thanks for making us a part of your day of joy.
<|:-) Jill PS. Get well Beth. Can’t start ’08 sick!
wow, Melissa’s got GREAT hair!!
Amanda, your jeans are really cute!
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Lisa in RL, IL
I look forward to “my” time at the computer each day (with 3 teen-agers arguing over whose turn it is, I have to wait my turn!)to see if there are new posts on the blog. I was so excited when I saw that you all had your party at the Galleria. I live in Atlanta, but went to Houston several years ago for my neice’s wedding. The night before the wedding, we went to the Galleria and ate …..at the Cheesecake Factory! Thanks for taking the time to keep the blog going. It is a treat to read all the messages from the “Siesta’s”
Loved your post!! I’ve been reading since the very beginning and your blog has been a wonderful blessing to me…I’ve only commented a few times as anonymous but I must say that I’m getting so excited for your visit up to see us in February in Vancouver,B.C.!! Your last visit here to Cedar Grove Church was so timely for me…what a wonderful intimate venue that was!!! We love you all up here in B.C. and are jealous for your Cheesecake Factory (Seattle is the nearest one…3 hours away). Love the shopping staff party idea…what a blast!! I love that adrenalin rush you get when you land a great bargain!! I love finding that perfect gift (especially for my kids) that will just make them so excited!! One of my kids favorite things (ages 10,12,14,and 16) is buying gifts for each other. We started when they were VERY young and let them secretly pick out and buy what they wanted (thank goodness for dollar stores). They wrapped everything themselves and Christmas morning was a big surprise for everybody. I think they’ve learned to really enjoy the giving and not just the getting. Blessings on you all…you are an amazing delight to us all. Leanne
*Sigh* A Christmas party at a mall. Complete with food, coffee, shopping and desserts. Could there be a higher level of perfection this side of heaven? I think not.
It makes me want to gather up all my friends and do the same thing!
God bless all of you :0)
I want to work at a place where EVERYONE is EQUALLY BEAUTIFUL!!!!
You guys could have been on a photo shoot for all I know… how pretty all you gals are. 🙂
I am so glad you posted about the glasses Beth wore in the Blog a versary. I thought she was absolutely blind and had been caught on a day without her contact lenses. hhahaaa
I am so glad to see the comment about Beth’s glasses because I just thought that my computer was doing weird things and that htey were ACTUALLY her glasses. Here in SD we are sometimes a little behind on the times so for all I know they were a fashion statement. Thanks for clearing that up. Looks like you all had a fabulous time. I too had to leave my older son’s Christmas program (by the way was about the birth Jesus and it is a public school, we live in a wonderful community)because my almost 3 year old “had to poop” and announced it too the entire audience, Oh the horror!!
Angie in SD
How precious are ALL of you! I hung on every word about the Christmas Party! I wish I worked for LPM! I love how you all have so much fun! I pray everyone at LPM will have a Blessed Christmas! (and that you will feel better sweet Beth) God Bless!
P.S. Oh Amanda… how precious is Jackson! Those eyes! Beautiful! Emmy : )
I know it’s totally off topic but I wonder how tall you are Amanda. You seem to be taller then the person next to you in all your photos.
What a great group of ladies! Thanks for sharing this. And I love your gift exchange idea; I’ll have to keep that in mind! 🙂
I can’t believe I am writing. From the distant land I live in the sweet pleasure of just seeing the mall in the background and thinking of past gift exchanges with fellow co-workers in restaraunts brings a smile and admittedly a sigh. We, a group of missionary women, have enjoyed 4 years of DVD studies (especailly the comments about Africa where we live). Honestly I read teh LMP blog on occasion just for a dose of another world, sometimes a laugh, most times tears, every time a sense of “I am not alone in my thoughts, desires and recognition of God’s amazing love”. He shows me His love often through the relationships I read at LMP blog. Authentic community. And yes I am even a part! Will have to wait until heaven to enjoy with you all (I’m from California origionally) not ya’ll. But it will be worth the wait. Thanking God again for YOU ALL! Barka da sabo shekara. (Blessed new year).