Ornaments

Love making these ornaments with the help of some little hands.





Just get some little hand prints on them, upside down for the reindeer, fingers close together for the tree. Once dry, add details with paint markers then fill with sequins, beads, tinsel, or other Christmas cheer!

Christmas

Kelly's "Show Us" on the 18th is Christmas decorations. I LOVE the sights and sounds (especially the sounds) of Christmas. And in honor of a snow day today (12/8), I decided to participate in Kelly's "Show Us" (it's been awhile since I last joined in!). Welcome to our house, with a little Christmas O'lishious thrown in.
(I know.... I can't believe we don't own a nativity scene either. We only buy Christmas decorations on clearance and I've yet to find a nice, clearance one).

Merry Christmas!

Freeset

Need a new bag? Want to help set women free?

Check out Freeset. Read their story. Buy a bag.

(You know, if you want to.)

The Ridge has the above style for $10 this week.


"He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God." -Micah 6:8

A Month of Blessings

Remember this post? We had a great time (most of the month) recording our daily blessings. Some days it was hard to choose just one to write down (so we didn't). I know there are days it can be difficult to find just one blessing amidst the pain. Lord, we are so grateful for all of the blessings you bestow on us everyday!
It was so much fun to reflect each day on all of the great things He does in our lives.
Without further ado.....

A Month of Blessings (in November)
1- H- Sunday TV, R- Good friends
2- H- Work day at school, R- A good job
3- H- Free pizza, R- My wife
4- H- My husband, R- Early out of school
5- H- 1/2 work days, R- Time to get work done at school
6- H- Time with Rusty, sushi, & ice cream; R- Dinner with H & bubble gum ice cream
7- H- Great weather; R-Great November weather
8- H- Free Scentsy, good friends (Jen, Mary, Kari, etc.), good weather, great husband, great worship music; R- God, church, wife, Dakota, good weather
9- H- Mondays @ Ron's to connect with Rusty. God's Grace. R- good counsel
10- H- Biggest Loser, R- Good job
11- R- Our military, H- ditto (and free Pampered Chef & a husband that wants me to have everything)
12- H- My amazing husband & the delicious dinners he makes. R- my wife
13- H- Shutterfly, Jen, Holly, Rusty, Dakota. R- Basketball
14- H- Shopping with Jen, R- Iowa State win
15- H- Church, God, lunch dates with R, lazy time on couch. R- A great church service
16- H- Health/dental insurance, Esther study. R- My wife because of her faith.
17- H- Great students, ISU student (that got groceries today!), dinner with Rusty. R- Dinner- made by my wife, food in our cupboards.
18- Good kids at school, Husbands attempts to help in the kitchen, my custodian Launa. R- My wife's meals because I can't cook.
19- H- Game night & great friends! R- Wife's awesome cooking.
20- H- Friday nights on the couch with R. R- Payday!
21- H- The Peasleys and the laughter they provide! R- Fellowship. Special guest I- "Hawkeyes wun." (He's 6 and came straight to our house after the Iowa football game. Yes, you know that wasn't ours for the day!)
22- H- great church service, God's forgiveness, God's healing. R- Our house and my creative wife.
23- H- $5 book store sales! R- 2 days off coming soon
24- Pampered Chef freebies! R- My understanding wife
25- H- Break from school! R- Dogsitters
26- H- mom's Thanksgiving cooking, R- Good food and family
27- H- naps, online shopping. R- Time with wife bowling, she dominated.
28- H- our kitchen, R- H's chili, seeing old friends.
29- H- My VERY generous husband, R- good Christmas gifts
30- H- Esther study and the fabulous women there. R- First Ballard W.

PS- I don't expect that any of you (all 5 of you that read my blog!) read this, but it was so fun to do and now so fun to go back over them and remember all of the good things from the month. It's so easy to focus on all of the hardships and pain a month can bring and so easy to forget about all of those moments (big and small) that make us smile and laugh. I definitely want to do this every year, and maybe more than just in November!

Coming Soon

My camera strap is dressed and ready to go.... Never thought I would be looking forward to a Monday!

Oh Christmas Tree.....

....oh Christmas tree,
how ever fake your branches.....
Sorry, R. I know you love real trees, I just cant bring myself to do it yet!
So we settle for our fake ones.



Check out Kelly's Christmas Trees "Show Us" for lots of trees (real and fake!).


This little tree was our main tree in our first apartment together. We didn't really have any Christmas ornaments (I only buy them on clearance, remember?) so we used our wedding photos (the frames were used at our wedding to label the cheesecake flavors) and wedding bouquets. The garland is beaded garland we had as decoration at the wedding.


Our living room tree is a collection of all our miscellaneous ornaments (just married, Hawaii, new dog, first year in new home, etc.). Again, I (usually) wait until after Christmas to buy them. This year I just had to get Rusty's early though... the John Deere riding mower from Hallmark. Because.. you know...
Throughout the house we have little trees. Some lit, some decorated, some not.

While it's hard to see (I took this picture from my phone), one of my favorite little trees is the little one in the kitchen with Christmas cookie cutters on it! I decided since I don't bake much I might as well use the cookie cutters in another way! :)


Merry Christmas!

Cuteness

Between

Amy's video of Drew "reading" 'There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly'

and these twin smiles

I had as much cuteness as any one person should be allowed in one day.

I'm blessed!

Hope

"We have learned that, with grace and forgiveness, there is hope; even in the situations that feel the most hopeless. Believe me. We have been there. And hope is not found by wallowing in guilt. Nor is it found by making light of our wrongdoings." -MckMama

PS- Go Bombers

I cant log off without mentioning my fabulous friend (and fellow coach's wife) Meredith! I had a great time (as always) with her at the game. Her husband is the head coach at Carlisle so we have two games each season to sit together! They are expecting their first baby boy in January (yes, in the middle of basketball season!).


(I had to matte it to crop out a face over her shoulder. Although I should have kept it in to make myself look better than at least one person in the photo! :) She is one of those pregnant women that most women don't like, look how beautiful she is!)

Happy December!

I have a lot to say, but should be getting ready for tomorrow and going to bed at some point tonight...
Just an update to let you know that basketball is officially in full swing. Both the JV and Varsity boys now have their official first win of the season out of the way. While R is out watching game film, I stuffed Christmas cards.
Not that it was a big job (we are only sending out freebies from Shutterfly, Thanks Jen!). But another thing off this week's to do list.
(Yes, I'm trying to get my to do list done this week so I have time to play with my new toy next week before leaving town.)
Is your 'to do list' full this week?