Saturday, December 31, 2011

Auld Lang Syne



The words 'Auld Lang Syne' literally translates from old Scottish dialect meaning 'Old Long Ago' and is about love and friendship in times past. The lyrics in the song Auld Lang Syne referring to 'We'll take a Cup of Kindness yet' relate to a drink shared by men and women to symbolise friendship. Happy New Year!!!!

                    the thing that excites me the most about the begining of 2012, is this...

                               my super cool new planner i got for Christmas. its awesome!!!

                                               and my super cool matching phone case :)



 

 

 

Friday, December 30, 2011

more Christmas



you know you are officially OLD when you have to start having the family Christmas parties at your house.  how did this happen?  i don't mind, i love it actually.  its just that grown ups are in charge of that kind of thing.  my birth certificate claims im 30, but at what point do you start to feel like a grown-up? like all the 30 year olds seemed when i was 15?  because im not there yet. none the less we all gathered in our little house for Christmas Eve...and it was great.  I didn't burn the ham, but i did forget to put the glaze on it.  luckily i smothered it in honey and brown sugar in the beginning.  i don't think anyone noticed. it was still good.  the best part is all the fixins that the "old" people bring anyway.
im so thankful for all of them.  one day when your 30, you realize what a huge blessing we have in the special people we call family.


my 93 year old Nanny who has a serious addiction to angry birds! hilarious.

we look like mature grown-ups right?

yeah, i think so too.

the letter that Presley took to the mall and put in the mailbox for Santa this year consisted of pictures she drew of the things she wanted.  the pink retro refrigerator from pottery barn that while looking through the catalog we received in the mail, she realized she had the stove and sink but was missing this crucial part to the set. we didn't think she would miss it but nothing gets by her.  all of the rest of the drawings were of stuffed animals (specifically a deer and a bear, which she got of course).  she is the only kid i know that really plays with stuffed animals.  they all have names and she has quite an imagination.  its fun to watch her pretend. she got a ybike, "the big Lotso" and several other things but her favorite was the basketball goal that Lucas insisted we get her.  i was sure he really wanted it for himself but Santa brought it anyway.  and go figure it was her fav.

we dont wrap anything that Santa brings. he brings all of the big stuff and its layed out unwrapped.  all of the wrapped presents under the tree are from mommy and daddy.  this is how it was for my sister and i.  is this how you do it?  its always interesting to me to hear the different versions of Santa displays.

last year the ONLY thing she asked for was "for Rudolph to come in her room and give me a kiss and some reindeer cookies".  so she woke up with a red smear on her cheek where Rudolph kissed her and a trail of reindeer dust (confetti) leading up the stairs into her room with a bag of reindeer cookies.  she LOOOOOVED it!  so at the last minute this year she mentioned "i know Rudolph is coming in my room again this year" with a big grin on her face.  she came into our room on Christmas morning with a handful of dust and a little bag with a Rudolph ornament he left her, and whispered "mommy wake up, i think Rudolph was in my room".  so sweet, so worth the effort.




a special thanks to theses guys


Merry Christmas sweet girls


we made Christmas Bark
recipe:
line baking pan with parchment paper and a single layer of saltines.
melt 2 sticks of butter in the microwave and stir in 1/2cup of brown sugar.
pour that mixture over saltines and put in oven at 350 for 15 minutes.
top with chocolate chips and put back in for 2 minutes.
smooth chocolate with a spoon and add sprinkles, nuts ect.
VERY YUMMY

we also made gingerbread men
recipe:
see Betty Crocker gingerbread box mix
:)
also VERY YUMMY

we take special care to remind Presley that, in her words, "Jesus put Santa in charge of giving presents to little children to remind them of the gift He gave us".  that the reason we celebrate is because God sent a baby named Jesus, who would one day grow up and sacrifice himself, the Lamb of God, pure and blameless, so that we can one day be with Him again in paradise.
love this picture

Happy Birthday Jesus!







Thursday, December 22, 2011

Pampers Peace On Earth: Celebrate Peace on Earth With Pampers



i looooooooooooooooooooooooooove this commercial!!!!

oh Christmas tree


we are holiday people.  we love the festivities. we love Jesus, whose birth we celebrate. 
love the perfect plan God orchestrated to bring a savior to earth to redeem his fallen creation. he made a promise in genesis that he would come, prophets pointed to him for years and years before he ever laid in that manger.  yet some still miss him.  disturbed by comments recently telling Christians to get a life and worry about bigger things on the news than "those saying happy holidays instead of merry Christmas" and how Christan's should focus on walking the walk.  that much is true.  but don't miss the point.  being a christian doesn't make ME perfect, it just means i know the ONE who is. and there is nothing wrong with saying happy holidays, but lets face it, there IS no point to the holiday with out Jesus.  we wouldnt throw you a birthday party and not invite you right?

our first real Christmas tree (and Lucas' muscles)

our annual Christmas dinner with the Hambrights

love those guys.  thank God for them everyday.

we made cake balls

party at Karens house with the very cool people i work with

had soooo much fun...ran out of memory on the camera or there would be more pics

while helping decorate the church, Presley paid $6 for a poinsettia for us
she has a ginormous heart
i love her so much
she was so excited to give it to us after the cantata at
Nana and Granddaddays church


Mary Did You Know

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

Read more: http://artists.letssingit.com/mark-lowry-lyrics-mary-did-you-know-hc1xwsv#ixzz1hF5WTR22
LetsSingIt - Your favorite Music Community

I love this song!  Mary was never meant to be worshiped.  All glory belongs to God. But I do think about what it must have been like to be in her shoes.  To be a pregnant virgin!?! To watch your baby toddle around at Mileys age and the awe and wonder that must have consumed her. Wondering what God was up to, why he chose her, the overwhelming humility it must have stirred.  The protective instinct of a mother but fully knowing God created him for a bigger purpose.  To want to jump in and stop him, but trusting his every move at the same time.  What an awesome privilege and responsibility.


lots of randomness, sorry.  i wonder if i have ADD.











Thursday, December 8, 2011

instagrams




                                          It's a busy, fun time of the year.  And thats OK.
                                       Thank you, God, for Jesus, Your perfect Christmas gift.

Heart breaking stories on the news today.  Young people and police officers shot and killed, children starving, and states fighting over changing the name of our Christmas tree to Holiday tree.  Wow.  Can you just see God, the creator of the universe, crying?  I can.