my winter wonderland

My mom sent me a special package in the mail for Christmas.  My very own antlers from our ranch in Nebraska!  I asked her to send me some and when the box came in, I felt like a little kid opening her first present on Christmas morning.  I'm telling you, I've never been so excited over antlers before in my life!  But now that antlers are making a comeback (stop shaking your head!  they are! I promise...), I've fallen for them.  And I knew exactly where I wanted to put them.  You should have seen me yesterday morning--outside in my pjs spray painting antlers...

 Okay, so maybe being outside in my pajamas isn't all that unusual for me, but there's just something primitive about wrestling with antlers.  It took all of five minutes for my honey to mount the antlers on some old wood for me.  And I'm loving the way they look in my living room above the sweater fabric trees I made.  I've been in a crafting slump lately.  Project ideas are constantly running through my head but I never seem to have time to do them.  Which is frustrating for someone like me who absolutely loves to craft.  But Christmas, oh sweet Christmas!  Christmas inspires me.

Here's what I used to make my sweater trees:

*patterned sweaters from Goodwill

*scrap fabric

*about eight styrofoam cones in assorted sizes for the trees and/or cereal boxes

*fabric pins

I simply cut out the fabric to fit the cones and pinned the fabric in place.  I also cut out trees from cereal boxes when I ran out of cones.  Easy enough!

And now, whether it snows or not (most likey not), we still have our very own winter wonderland.

This post is linked to Life Made Lovely Mondays over at the very lovely Blessed Little Nest.

i'm dreaming of a white christmas

a peek into my inspiration files of Christmas decor....

Vintage inspired Holiday Joy Banner from Alice's Looking Glass on Etsy

Romantic ruffled wreath from Alice's Looking Glass on Etsy

Small bottle brush Christmas trees from the Sugar Sugar Shop on Etsy

The fabulous home of dottie angel

vintage white reindeer from all things white on Etsy

The day after thanksgiving

....is becoming a favorite of mine.

We pull out the christmas boxes and pick out the perfect tree.  Christmas candles are lit and jolly tunes evoke spontaneous song.  We roll out batches of sugar cookies and brew a big pot of apple cider.  Cinnamon, spice, and sugar weave through the air while flour dusts noses and even our hair.

The excitement is unrestrained.  It's Christmastime!  The season we remember our Saviour and his birth.  The season we celebrate the Good News of Christ Jesus.  And it is such Good News to us who know Him!  Know Him not just as the baby born in a manger, but as our Risen King.  His birth began the greatest rescue mission this world will ever witness.  And I'm eternally grateful for a God that makes Himself so personal to me. 

I love watching the excitement of my kids during this special season.  With eyes gleaming, Thaddeus wants to experience it all, his joy unrestrained as he "gives Jesus the best birthday ever".  I never want him to lose that childlike awe, that thrill and wonder at it all.  

I do so love the day after Thanksgiving, because it's full of snapshots such as these:

Hark the Herald!  We'll be singing, Glory to the Newborn King!

an ode to thanksgiving past

While my blog has been quiet, my home has not.  Which is almost always the case!  What a flurry and whirlwind of a week it has been!

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving has come and gone and all that remains in my fridge now is one quarter of a pumpkin log.  Ugh, and I just can't bring myself to finish it off!

Last week was a wonderful staycation for us.  We've been so busy lately and time just seems to fly by.  But last week we slowed down and stayed home as much as possible.  It felt rejuvenating and we needed it. Since Joel was home, I even got to venture out of the house to spend time with a few of my girls.  It was a good distraction for me, because whenever the holidays start rolling in, I find myself missing my family up north.  Even Thaddeus talks about "Grandma's ranch" and how much he wishes we could go there.  In his mind, all we have to do is get up and go and we should be there in no time.  I do wish it was that easy!  I tried explaining to him that we have to save our money and plan a long trip like that.  His response to that was, "I'll save all my money, mommy, and then we can go!"  So now he is filling his two piggy banks up to that top so he can go to Grandma's house.  How precious is that.

We spent Thanksgiving Day with Joel's family.  It was perfect-- warm, sunny, and relaxing.  The kids enjoyed playing with their cousins in Mimi's backyard while Legend had a blast eating grass.  Okay, well he almost ate some grass and even a few leaves.  He's been crawling for almost a month now and he loves his newfound independence.  And I love watching his tiny toes slide behind his busy little bum.      In fact, I love everything about my littlest boy.  I even borrowed a camera because I just had to have pictures of him and he's too quick for my iphone (my "real" camera is broken. yeah, again... sniff.)

I really love these last photos:  Astair being pulled in the wagon by Abigail, Thad stuffing rocks in his pockets, and Boston snapping twigs.  What can I say?  My kids are easily entertained!  

Good bye, sweet Thanksgiving.  You were wonderful.  And you didn't fail to remind me of all I have to thank God for.  In fact, there's so much to be thankful for, I think I just might keep celebrating you...

Happy Thanksliving!

and a Happy Thanksgiving to you!

{image source}

the joys

Just a few pictures of the greatest joys in my life....

a family album of sorts

(this page is still *under construction*)

Family Photo Shoot:  June 2010

Boston, Thaddeus holding Legend, Astair

me and my man

Legend at 3 months

New Years Day 2011

Thaddeus, Boston and Astair

May 2011

random and wonderful

...from the weekends before last

random wonderful #1:  polka dots and purple boots

random wonderful #2:  the little man pose

random wonderful #3:  vintage dress and free thrifted boots

random wonderful #4:  spontaneous jam session with my man and our friends Chris and Erin

random wonderful #5:  getting to see one of my best friends and roommate from college!  Erin flew in from my home state of Nebraska and spent almost a week visiting.  It just felt really good to be around a close friend that has known me for years.  There's nothing like that feeling--the comfort of being exactly as you are and knowing that you will always be accepted.  I was exhausted from motherhood, but Erin was such a breath of fresh air.  Joel and I got to meet her boyfriend Chris, too, and we enjoyed our time with them.  Ummm, I'm not sure if I can say the same for them! They certainly got to see our crazy life up close and personal--they couldn't sit down without our kids piling on top of them and attacking them with random toys!

 It really was wonderful.  It was one of those weekends when you don't plan anything, you just enjoy the day as the moments define it.  Those are always the best.

Giving Thanks in the everyday

This day,

I am thankful for motherhood.

For dirty dishes and full tummies.

For my imperfections and my constant need for Jesus.

For warm pink sunsets that linger in my rearview mirrors.

For grace that keeps me moving on a few hours of sleep.

This day,

I will not take for granted

Tiny arms that wrap around me and sticky kisses in my hair;

That shoes need tied, books need read, bottoms need wiped 

and mouths need fed.

This day,

I will give thanks for

My husband's love and admiration.

His dirty boots leaving smudges on my living room rug.

The way he plays and works and gives so tirelessly.

This day,

I appreciate

Late blooming roses and fair autumn weather,

Rare quiet moments when God's love is spoken,

Friends and family and unexpected treasures of wisdom.

Seeing the invisible power of prayer 

in the faces of answered ones.

This day,

I give back to God.

Because I'm humbled by the gift it is.

love moves oh yes it does

Since I started doing graphic design for our church, I get to see our series ahead of time.  And I was sooo excited to hear about this one!  And even more excited when I heard how we were going to move in love!  In simple ways.  In the everyday.  By being available and attentive to the needs of people around us.  In kind gestures and thoughtful actions.  Paying for the person's coffee in line behind us.  Carrying groceries to a mother's car.  Delivering meals to the hungry.  Filling someone's car with gas.  The list goes on and on there's no end to the possibilities of love.  There's no stopping love when it's on the move!

When our pastor announced it this Sunday, I just couldn't contain my excitement.  This is what the church should look like!  This is how the world should define us.  On Saturday, we are all meeting at the church and then splitting off into several different areas in our community to show the love of Jesus in real, tangible, practical ways.  This entire month is going to be full of love on the move.

I can't wait.  And I shouldn't wait!  Everyday I'm surrounded by opportunities to give love.  Even if I never leave my house.  My husband comes home seeking a sanctuary of peace, my children are testing my love with their attitudes and actions.  My neighbors may be lonely.  My friends may be hurting.  And I want to be a vessel of God's love.

But can I be honest?  Sometimes I don't feel like my love tanks are full enough.  Sometimes I feel exhausted from the amount of love four kids and a husband need.  Sometimes I'm too focused on my own struggles to see someone else struggling.  Sometimes I just don't feel very loving.  And that's when I realize how much I need God's love.  It's HIS love not mine, that changes hearts and fills souls.  Nothing I try to do in my own power will have any effect on His Kingdom.  I NEED JESUS.  I WANT HIS LOVE to MOVE through me.

"Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.  Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat."  2 Corinthians 5:14 MSG

P.S. I just read the lyrics to an awesome song here right after I posted this.  

i give up...

This is the same man who throws firecrackers in the bathroom when I'm taking a shower.

And laughs when I nearly jump out of my skin.

He's lucky he's such a good dad and so good looking.

autumn loves

gray tights...I think I might love you this year.

last year I tried but failed.

pregnancy + tights = not so hot

a tea picnic with my tiny people

mmmmm...apples.

apple cake, apple pie, apple cider, apple butter, apples dipped in caramel...

curls, plaid, and cowgirl boots.

love. love. love.

autumn confetti cupcakes that i didn't make but got to eat anyways.

nuff said.

camping....in the great indoors.

Legend looking stellar in a tweed vest for his dedication.

tis the season of eggnog!

and yes, that was me drinking a quart of eggnog at the red light yesterday.

i just couldn't resist.

what are you loving this autumn?