A Hometown Christmas in Marble Hill, Missouri

At the edge of the world, there is the tiny town of Marble Hill, Missouri - okay really we are not at the edge of the world, but that is what my darling husband likes to say.....yes locals, he is foreigner!  

Tonight we drove through McDonald's for some ice cream and did what my parents did years ago - drove around our "edge of the world" tiny town and looked at Christmas Lights!  

As we drove, my heart was proud of our "edge of the world"  tiny town and the love, cheer, and pride that is displayed for all to see.  

You see I live in a town that.......

Proudly has The Nativity on display at....

Our County Courthouse!  

This makes me smile that I live in a community that can share our beliefs without worry or fear! 

Across the street from the Bollinger County Courthouse stands Wicecarver Store; no longer open for business, but proudly putting smiles on the kid's faces with all the pretty lights and decor!  

I am not an expert on Wicecarver Store, but what I do know is the store front is decorated beautifully every holiday season by the loving hands of Ms Trankle and Ms Cooper!  

Secretly I drive by daily just so I can admire the lovely building! 

Farther up the road from the Bollinger County Courthouse, you will make a left at the stop sign and continue on High Street - you find this: 

So many pretty lights....

Decorated with care....

And hours of love and care - just for us to enjoy! 

The lights do not stop there! 

No direct route to this house, located on Gilmore Street (behind Marble Hill Medical Center) is this house!  Creative I say, these people must be related to Santa!! 

In the middle of town, Magnolia Park stands this lovely tree - I might be a bias, but only because this tree was decorated by the community coming together for the community!  

Tree sponsored by The Bollinger County Chamber of Commerce - all lights donated by community members

Other must see streets in Marble Hill, Missouri include - 

Graham Street - location of The Mustard Seed - beautiful lights! 

The Mayfield Cultural Center - the tree in the window is stunning! 

Twin City Park in the middle of town,

The Marble Hill Water Tower - you will not see it at night, but you will see the star!   

Holiday Light Displays at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri

 Disclosure:  My trip to Lake of the Ozarks was sponsored by TBW group, however, all thoughts, opinions, and photos are my own or the sidekicks traveling with me. 

Mom, have you ever seen so many lights? Well son, I probably have, but I have never seen so many lights with you!

This past weekend my gal pal and I made a special trip to the Lake of the Ozarks with our four kids, it was special because we actually survived those little monsters!

Now before I get too far into this and forget we did not make it to even half of the Christmas Light exhibits we intended to.  Unfortunately we filled our days/evenings so full that by the time dark came around we had sleeping or starving kids.  Side affects of  a good vacation.

The Enchanted Village of Lights in the City of Laurie, Missouri - of all the cities I have seen lights at, this place blew me away.   I will say as an out of town person this place was not the easiest to get to following our GPS, you have to watch the signs or you will enter at the exit and that is just dangerous.  After we found the correct entrance our eyes were amazed at all the beauty, and our kids were officially in a

Christmas wonderland.  

The favorite dispaly for us would be the American flag, of course the flag prompted our 5, 7, and 10 year old to do the Pledge of Allegiance right then and there, but it was memorable none the less. 

The drive through the park took us, now we went slow, about 30 minutes, you could probably do it in a lot less time, but I tend to stop the car and take lots of pictures.  

The Enchanted Village of Lights is located at the Laurie Fairgrounds and will be opens nightly at 5pm and will run through January 1, 2014.   

On our list, but we only got to see from the road was the St. Patrick's Festival of Lights also in Laurie, Missouri.  Something about a starving two year old had to come before seeing more holiday lights.....honestly, being a mom you have to make tough choices.

The St Patrick's Festival of Lights has been a holiday tradition at the lake for 30 years....you know it is good if it happens for 30 years straight. This festival is a bit different than many others, they focus on the true meaning of Christmas, Jesus and his Mother, Mary.

St. Patrick Festival of Lights will be open daily from 6 – 10 p.m. from Thanksgiving through January 1st. There is no charge to visit the display, and for more information call: 573.374.7855.

Another "lighted display" that I totally missed, but have heard are fabulous is the Versailles Unity Circle of Lights.   The Display runs from November 26 through January 1 and is located at the junction of highway 5 and 52.  

Grapevine Texas and the Reasons to ESCAPE there.

So sometimes in the midst of all this holiday hustle and bustle, you think about just wanting to escape, or at least I know I do.  What if you could escape and still take care of some your holiday traditions, holiday shopping, and kick back and relax. 

Grapevine Texas, the Christmas Capitol of Texas, also sits right in the heart of the fifth largest wine producing state in United States; I know need I say more?  Well now probably not, but I am going to give you a list of six reasons that will make you itching to escape to Grapevine Texas. 

Well I did say Grapevine Texas was the Christmas Capitol of Texas, so of course we need to first think about escaping for some holiday fun.  With over 1400 Christmas events, the possibilities are beyond your imagination, but I can assure you they have imagined it for you. 

Take a ride on the North Pole Express, or leave the kids at home and get ready to pop the top the Grapevine Christmas Wine Train. 

Take a brisk walk through the arctic, or ICE! Featuring DreamWorks “Merry Madagascar” this is not only a beautiful display of sculptured art, but also a fun way to “chill out” as a family. 

Christmas on Main Street, every weekend until Christmas, on Main Street you are sure to find something for every age and taste on your list.  

Schedule a tour of VETRO Art Glass a take the opportunity to make your own ornament, pick up some classic treasures, and meet the unique artist behind this beautiful artwork.  

Once you have celebrated your heart out or find yourself begging to relax Grapevine Texas offers so many fun choices of relaxation.

While Texas is the fifth largest wine producing state, this Missouri Traveling Mom had to taste some Texas wine to see if it was as good as our Missouri wine, well the verdict is still out.  However, I will say I found Texas has some delightful wineries rather you just want stroll along Main Street and stop off for some tasting or if you want a more intimate setting and want to escape to a country setting. 

Texas style shopping, well you cannot go to Texas without seeing some cowboys, some cowboy boots, and well you need to fit in or at least take some home.  Grapevine Texas has plenty of unique little stores and shops that while you have escaped you can knock out some of that holiday shopping.

While fun, wine, and some shopping gets you excited, check out the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine Texas…this is not a hotel it is well, I don’t know what it is.  Now seriously folks, I was headed to the gym inside the hotel to burn off my Texas size burger, took the wrong turn, and ended up getting more of a workout wandering through the hotel.

During the holiday season, the Gaylord Texan spares no expense at putting you in the holiday mood…seriously!  With one-and-a-half million twinkling lights, 12,000 ornaments, an amazing 52-foot-tall rotating Christmas tree, a life-sized gingerbread house made from real gingerbread, and you cannot forget to mention Santa’s giant pair of boots.

So seriously, friends, if I was going to escape between now and New Years, I would pick a town like Grapevine Texas as I could combine relaxation, holiday shopping, enjoying some fine wine, and fun all in one stop!

Have yourself a Fun Holiday Season!

~Becky

The Gaylord Texan in Grapevine Texas

VETRO Art Glass

Cross Timbers Winery

LA BUENA VIDA VINEYARDS

Disclosure:  The Grapevine Texas CVB sponsored my trip to Grapevine Texas and a big thank you to them for giving me the opportunity to visit, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bethlehem Village of Hope in Delta Missouri

Every year I gather my flock and head down highway 25 south to Delta MO to visit Bethlehem Village of Hope at the First Baptist Church of Delta.

Several years ago, I stumbled across an ad in local paper for this event and it caught my eye, so I told my Mom that I was taking her there for her birthday, well she went along, as she really had no choice.  Then the next day she went back taking a dozen or so people with her, and we all have returned year after year. 

The First BaptistChurch of Delta, MO builds a small replica of Bethlehem, and what it might have been like the night that Jesus was born.  As you enter, you will receive a bag of shillings, with the bag of shillings, you are to pay your taxes upon entering the city, then you have money (shillings) to buy trinkets and treasures from the local Bethlehem merchants, and of course, as you are leaving the city you pay your respects to the Newborn King Baby Jesus.  While Jesus is cute and the reason for the season, D-man insists I tell you that you get to pet the sheep, the donkey, and see some camels. 

Treasures from Bethlehem

This event is free, with donations accepted, on December 1 & 2^nd 2012 from 4 to 8 pm, while it is only a 20-mile drive from my house to Bethlehem, people often asks me is it worth the drive?  Here is my response it was worth the drive to me, it was worth me taking my out-of-state guest last night, and it was worth me writing a post about it, so yes to me it is worth the drive! 

For more information about Bethlehem Village of Hope in Delta, Mo visit their website, or just drive down there and check it out you all. 

Have an Adventurous Day!

~Becky

Merchant in Bethlehem

Merchant in Bethlehem 

Wisemen in Bethlehem

6 Ways to Give Back this Holiday Season

The Salvation Army logo (Anglophone Version) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Well folks, it is no lie that my household has been turned upside down, backwards, and well just plain messed up over this past year.  However, with all that has happened in my life it has made me think harder about what is important in life.  Not to toot my own horn, but I have always had a passion for charity, heck that is why I started Adventures Among Us in a roundabout way, to give back to those who needed knowledge and ideas of cool things to do as a family. 

Anyways with our boat rocking, or some days sinking, the kids and I have become more grateful for the things that we do have.  No matter where we are in life, there is always someone that has less than us, and while our world was upside down there are others that did not have shoes to put on their feet, food to feed their children, and many other basic needs that we are well blessed with. 

My first real HOLIDAY post of the season is a focused on places that GIVE BACK to the communities around them.  While my kiddos have a Christmas list longer than the San Francisco Bay Bridge (which I must disclose will be narrowed down greatly) we also have a list of places that help those with a list of needs!    

• Samaritian’s Purse Operation Christmas Child- my kiddos and I have packed shoe boxes for boys and girls several times over the past few years.  Our GaGa, got us started on this project a few years back and believe it or not at the beautiful age of 94 she is still packing her shoe box.  Operation Christmas Child sends shoe boxes filled with goodies, basic needs, and the Word of God to children all over the world.  While it gives me great joy knowing some other little boy and girl is receiving a gift, it is a bigger joy watching my little man and sassy woman pack their shoeboxes with care and love!  You can check out their websitefor more information on where to drop off shoeboxes, how to pack your shoebox, and even better you can follow your shoebox to the person that will be so happy you packed it!  

• Support our Troops with theAmerican Red Cross- I think we all can say we admire, love, and support those brave men and women that sign to defend our freedom.  However, if you are like me once they are out of sight out of mind you often forget the comforts they have left behind to protect our freedom.  By accident, okay not really, but I was doing some research for something else I happened upon the Red Cross Support our Troops webpage, and folks there are so many ways you can give back to our Military Men and Women.  Military Comfort Kits, Phone Cards so they can call home, and caregiver training programs that help teach those who care for our wounded soldiers when they come home.  You can visit the Red Cross websitefor more information about how you can help.    

• More than just the Red Kettle withthe Salvation Army - we are faithful in our house to dropping our change into the Red Kettles all over town and folks I am strong believer that every penny you give is a good cause.  Last week while I was doing a little research on my own and snooping around on websites, I clicked over the Salvation Army’s more ways to give link.  They have so many ways that you can give your time, talents, extra goods, and much more to those in need.  If you are interested in seeing, where you can put yourself to either work locally or internationally check out their website for complete details.     

• Toys for those Tots- with complete honesty here folks, while I attempt and work hard to teach my kiddos that material needs are not the most important things in the world, I cannot imagine my kids waking up without Christmas Gifts under the Tree.  I think that is probably every parent’s biggest fear and every year many moms and dads face the challenge of either food or presents for their babies.  Toys for Tots have been putting smiles on boys and girls faces since 1947 and are operated by the Marine Corps.  You can visit their website for more information on how to donate and what is in need. 

• Keep those kiddos Warm with Coats for Kids- you know those old coats, mittens, vest, hats, and well all that winter wear that is just laying around, grab them up and help another little person keep warm this winter.  Coats for Kids Foundation has events all over the USA and many local ones, you can also directly donate to their foundation online, visit their websitefor more information. 

• It Starts with a Gift and an Angel Tree- something that is foreign to me, but one of my faithful readers sent to me was a link to the Angel Tree Organization.  This program is a prison fellowship program that helps connect parents in prison with their children through Christmas Gifts.  While it may seem foreign to help someone that is in prison for who knows what reason, you have to think about that you are gifting to the child in the situation, and you are showing them that no matter what you have done forgiveness is always possible.  I know I am a quack, but I believe everyone deep down inside has good in them and can be reached through kindness.  For more information, visit their website.  

Now before I leave you friends, I am going to take a moment to tell you that these are just a few ways you can give back to your community.  While clicking through websites and making list of those places to that are super cool to give to I also saw ways that you can donate your unused airline miles, adopt military men or women to be your pen pal, send Christmas Cards to Veterans, donate pet food to help those who have pets, and the list goes on.  If you have a special talent, idea, or gift that you feel on your heart to give don’t hold back give it.  A gift from the heart no matter how big or small is the biggest gift we can give.

While our year has been topsy turvy, I feel so blessed to be able to not only give our gifts, but to also have the opportunity to share with our community ideas, stories, and the love that over flows in my heart. 

May Each and Every one of you have a Blessed and Merry Holiday Season!

Love Always,

Becky & Her Rotten, yet Adorable Sidekicks 

Christmas 2011