Christmas Break Fun~

This has been such a full month of fun things that I don't want to miss posting it..since this is my current method of scrapbooking right now :) The month started with our 21 year anniversary and although he was working in Cali, I did get some beautiful flowers and he got a basket of fruit..ha! He has no interest in flowers, candy or anything like that and he seriously loves fruit, so it was the best I could do :) When he came home for Christmas break, we were able to sneak away to the beach for a few days. PRICELESS~ We hurried home from that trip to celebrate our 20 YEAR OLD son's birthday..say what? How can that be!? We just got married..ha! It was perfect because my brother and sis n law had just gotten into town so we had a big family dinner together. Somewhere in between all of that I ran a half-marathon and Molly went to her last Christmas formal. It was a fun night of "CandyLand" theme party! Once my bro and sis arrived the week was filled with baking, eating, shopping, movies, playing games, celebrating my mom's bday by painting pottery together ending with Christmas Eve service in a barn, communion and a sleepover at mom and dad's! SUPER FUN! Dad read the Christmas story, we prayed together and dug into the presents! I am so beyond blessed by my family and sad to see the season end! I love it..all of it! 

Christmas 2011

 What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories. ~George Eliot

Christmas Eve

feelingfrosty

It's here!

Presents are wrapped, grocery shopping done,

heading to bake some more with my fam

then off to Christmas Eve service in a barn :)

With the ones I LOVE THE MOST!

That's what's it's all about!

Thank-you Father for sending Your Son~

MERRY CHRISTMAS~

Love the last line..AND IT TURNED OUT EXACTLY AS IT HAD BEEN TOLD~

Praise Your Name!

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.  Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!  Luke 2:16-20 Msg

I came across this picture taken

on Christmas Eve, 8 years ago!

SISTERS~

 

Christmas 2003

Christmas 2011

wehearit

it's been quiet here in this little corner,

much has happened in the last few weeks,

anniversaries, birthdays,

Christmas parties are behind us,

Candyland banquet done!

husband is home,

christmas is 3 days away and presents

are still being purchased,

it just took me some time this year

to get going this week

bro and sis are here

and these are the days we

talk about all year long,

the long lazy days of being together during

the holidays. late nights, late starts

to the mornings, movies, games

food and being together

it's taken me a little more effort

this year to stay focused on the meaning

 of it all~

The power of God will be displayed

this season,

we are forgiven of a debt we could not pay

we will glorify His name

thankful that we are saved

because of a baby, Holy child,

 sent to us

His law is love and

His gospel is peace~

All oppression shall cease

Hymns of JOY

with all our hearts we

PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME

the weary world rejoices

the weary world rejoices

we fall on our knees

O HOLY NIGHT!

tumbler



Oh, to be Normal~

This is my family

take 2,123

We just can't take normal pictures,

it would kill them to just smile

be normal

and snap a pic!

So MERRY CHRISTMAS

from our family to yours!

Hello Christmas~

I saw this over at Girlfriends With a Purpose and just had to share! This song makes me happy and want to dance and sing with children, make cookies, decorate, wear a santa hat, go caroling and drink hot chocolate! I love Hillsong and this song is AMAZING! Listen, sing with me and get out the tinsel! ha!



HELLO CHRISTMAS SEASON~

Wordless Wednesday

~I LOVE MY FAMILY~

I promised not to put this on facebook

but did not promise to keep it off my blog!

These people are CRAZY and this makes me SMILE!

(My hairy son rocks my world~ haha!)

ON MY LIST~ red letter words

Red Letter Words~

I have this nativity scene, pieces of it and I've

wanted to complete it and hope to do so this year.

I love this sign from RED LETTER WORDS so much

I'm ordering it..Merry Christmas to me!

I love everything from RLW though..

like this

and this...........

and this...........

Blessed is the family who delights in the WORD

and study it day and night. They shall be like a tree

firmly planted. Ready to bring fruit in every season

and everything they do shall prosper

Psalm 1

(One of my favorite passages!)

I could go on and on!

Check them our for yourself

HERE

This Christmas~



This Christmas



Mend a quarrel

Seek out a forgotten friend

Write a letter..a love letter

Share some treasure,

Give a hug,

Give a soft answer. Encourage youth.

Keep a promise,

Find the time,

Forgive an enemy,

Listen!!!

Apologize if you were wrong

Think first of someone else.

Be kind and gentle

Laugh a little, Laugh a little more,

Express your gratitude. Gladden the heart of a child,

Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.



Speak your love,

Speak it again,

Speak it still once again!
anonymous



Two beautiful rainbows that graced the sky over the last week! The rain around here has been nonstop...I know, not a huge surprise for the NW

but it has been heavy and not letting up...and this right here is the blessing that

comes on those dark, wet days! God is good like that...just a reminder that His promises

are never ending, His love is everlasting! I love that about HIM!
HE IS GOOD!

Gingerbread Houses and a New Glue Gun~

OH MY GOOOOODNESS!!!!!!!!

Look what I found over at notmartha !! Little miniature gingerbread house! Oh my loveliness~Not Martha has the cutest little Christmas gifts that are handmade, darling and EASY! I AM NOT a crafty person at all but she is inspiring and makes me think I can do a craft...haha!

The process

Now to buy a new glue gun for that wreath project :)

Delicious-ness~

YES..I'm making these! How festive, cute
 and delicious do these look!!??
They are super easy too.  A cake mix and some cream cheese frosting!

Recipe over at Mckmama    

Check it!

What fun things are you baking this Christmas season? ALWAYS need ideas!

Advent Celebrations~

When I was growing up, this is what Advent Calendar meant to me.

Candy!!

My grandma would always get us each a calendar for the Advent season.

Our church has always observed Advent and this year they  aren't and

I really wanted find something to do together as a family.

I also teach an 8th grade Bible Class at school and very few students

were even sure what Advent meant or even heard of it. SAD!

So, I decided to change that and I did some research and have found

some great resources online.

"A Family Advent, Keeping the Savior in Christmas"

is an awesome book that my friend is using with her family.

I'm trying to find it in our local bookstores, no luck yet!

 A Family Advent Celebration: This is a wonderful children's book that I used to read to my 4th graders. It's a little too juvenile for my kids, but I think I might still pull it out and read it :)

The Purpose of Christmas, by Rick Warren. I know I have this book somewthere in my Christmas book collection. I really need to find it and read it myself.

I plan on making this Advent wreath this weekend with my girls.

I found this picture from Loving Christmas.

This site is filled with great ideas for small groups,

bible studies, or family activities to do together!  

Does your church observe Advent?

Do you do anything as a family to observe this Advent season?

SHARE!

To Wrap or Not to Wrap!!

While BLACK FRIDAY shopping today
 (yes, I did fight the insanely huge crowds)
I came across  some vintage looking wrapping paper.

I'm pretty sure this exact paper
was under our tree when I was little!

There is something nostalgic,
vintage and cool about it!





Now, if I just had some "mad" wrapping skills, I could have some

awesome presents under the tree.
(which will be up soon, I hope)

Here are some sweet gift wrapping ideas.

I would love to make some wrapping paper.
Martha Stewart and Country Living had
some great ideas for gift wrapping!

Secretly, I would love to throw
all presents into cool gift bag,

throw in some tissue paper and call it good!

 Country Living

from Country Living~

Paper + Cup owner Minhee Cho treats boxes as a blank canvas. She wrapped these gifts in tissue paper, added silhouettes from a clip-art book, and covered them with a glossy layer of cellophane. Speech bubbles stickers placed by reindeer makes a clever gift tag — and a nice final touch.

Cool, easy to make name tags!

Here

I would love all red and white wrapping under my tree..I just might do this! ; )

Until I find that cool, old school snowman and santa paper at walmart! ha!

Another cute hand-made wrapping from COUNTRY LIVING~

Choose Your Wreath!

I think I've found the perfect craft/gift idea!!
I love checking out apartmentherapy for fun ideas
and came across these fun wreaths~

Tea Wreath~
Take a look at some of the other wreath ideas...
Felt Ball Wreath, Bike Wheel Wreath,
Paper Doily Lighted Wreath, Yarn Felt Flower Wreath and more!  

What a fun, affordable gift idea for those co-workers, teachers, neighbors etc!

Last year I decorated glass Christmas ornaments and gave them away as gifts!

Do you "make" anything for gifts?

GIVE ME IDEAS!

Directions for Tea Wreath from Kojo designs!