Shutterfly Christmas/Holiday cards!

Hey you all! As you probably are well aware... It's getting close to Christmas time! In my family, Christmas time means Christmas cards! Every afternoon, Mom would pull out from the mail anything that looked like a Christmas card, and we would open them all together at dinner. Then Mom would use them as part of the Christmas decorations, and hang them all over the house in the windows. Our favorite cards were always the ones with photographs in or on them! Last year, I got married AND had a baby, so this is the first year for my own family to send out Christmas cards, AND we have an important reason to include a photo! But I don't have a lot of time or money to spend on cards, so I need an inexpensive, easy-to-use way of making them, and some way to include a picture of my cute son. Shutterfly is perfect for me! It is a photo sharing website, and they have an array of Holiday cards in lots of designs, with great options for different ways to include your photos! Go here to check it out!

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards

And if you're a blogger yourself, and want to win 50 FREE Holiday cards from Shutterfly, go here!

http://bit.ly/sfly2010

Because I probably need a recent post...

What I love about Today:

Using this link:
http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/
to try to receive 50 free Christmas cards from Shutterfly! Check it out!
Marky sleeping for about 4 hours in a row (twice!) tonight!
Marky patiently letting me know he's awake without screaming
my giant Mercy waterbottle/pitcher/jug
pinkish red sweater wraps
macs
pumpkin muffins
fall weather
CHRISTMAS MUSIC!
choir last night
snuggling with my sweetie boy(s)

Verse of the Day:
"Behold, I tell you a mystery; We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed." 1 Corinthians 15:51

Picture of the Day:


Recipe of the Day:
Butterbeer
That's right, folks- Harry Potter's favorite drink ;)

1 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tablespoons water
6 Tablespoons butter, cut into chunks
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar
3/4 cup heavy cream, divided
1/2 teaspoon rum extract
4 (12 ounce) bottles cream soda

In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar and water. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat; cook, stirring often, until the mixture reads 240 degrees on a candy thermometer.
Stir in butter, salt, vinegar, and 1/4 cup cream, until butter melts. Let cool to room temperature, then stir in rum extract.
Transfer 2 Tablespoons of the sugar butter mixture to a medium mixing bowl. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup cream. With an electric mixer, beat on medium-high until just thickened, but not completely whipped, about 2 to 3 minutes.
To serve, divide brown sugar mixture among 10 small glasses. Add 2 tablespoons of cream soda to each glass, then stir to combine. Add the remaining cream soda, dividing evenly, then spoon whipped cream over each.
Yield: 10 small servings.

Blog Fail. Again.

What I Loved About Thursday-
actually blogging
coffee with my oatmeal
calligraphy
the nice Mr. Barnes at Eureka Auto Body
my sad bumperless car
putting 211 wedding invitations in the mail!
pink scarves
rainboots and trenchcoats
getting phonecalls from my Love in the middle of the day
Mexican food and oreo truffles
tea in a pumpkin mug
making my bed
folded laundry
rocking chairs
having a power cord for my laptop
checking lots of wedding things off of my list
getting my costume for Saturday all put together
researching fall recipes online
looking forward to hanging out with Seminary friends on Friday night, and Church friends on Saturday night!
the contrast between purple lint from dark loads of laundry, and grey lint from whites
sharpies
registering at Hope Depot with Phillip
walking to Lion's Choice
puddles, and no rainboots

Thursday Again. Blog fail.

What I Love About Today-
one of those rare sleeping in days
laundry!
pumpkin spice latte wanna-be
realizing that I'll only do about 25 more loads of mine and my sister's laundry... then mine and husband's!
registering for wedding gifts :)
emailing my future mother-in-law!
completing the list of guest addresses to be sent to the calligrapher
talking to my one and only Love!
lots of phone calls
finishing my to-do list for today!
non-greasy hair
rain boots and cute scarves
tea, apple crisp, fellowship and prayer with the church girls!
Ami Anderson's adorable kitchen!
PHILLIP!

Saturday (getting married in 98 days!!!)

Things I Love About Today-
getting up with time to spare
therefore having time to sit on the porch with my coffee, read my Bible, and write a to-do list for the day :)
Women's Connection Brunch at Covenant Seminary!
meeting new people
the awesome Kristen Casteel
hearing Mrs. Chapel and Seminary ladies speak to encourage us
fellowship and discussions
egg casserole, cantaloupe, and a muffin
more coffee!
the lady next to me wearing a skirt that I have, and accessorizing it in the exact same way I do!
people from Alabama
taking a walk and swinging on the front porch with my dear fiance :)
laughing at our almost-arguments
the awesome Mac Genius fixing my near-unfixable iphone!!
not having to pay $200- yay!
mm chicken salad
cooking and cleaning
lots of soup
wearing an apron with my cute mom-ish outfit
Phillip coming over!
swimming with all my siblings
being freezing cold
eating vegetable soup & cornbread with Phillip
Connect Four ;)
singing sweet songs with and to Phillip
organizing syllabi and schedules
us hanging out with Jeremy and Bailee!
their funny/cute meeting/dating story
my parents coming home from out of town
reviewing my Sunday School lesson for tomorrow
being able to text again!

Verse of the Day-
Psalm 119:41-48
Let Your steadfast love come to me, O Yahweh,
Your salvation according to Your promise;
then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
for I trust in Your Word.
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my hope is in your rules.
I will keep Your law continually,
forever and ever,
and I shall walk in a wide place,
for I have sought Your precepts.
I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings
and shall not be put to shame,
for I find my delight in Your commandments,
which I love.
I will lift up my hands toward Your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on Your statutes.

Friday (that's two in a row, folks!)

What I Love About Today-
having my clothes all laid out so I don't have to think too hard at 6:45am
plaid jacket with rolled up sleeves
breakfast and the coffee maker all ready to go
carrying ridiculous amounts of stuff out the door with me everyday
no texting or calling while driving, because I have no phone!
my dear Phillip being right there when I pulled into Covenant!
laughing at myself for not being pulled together yet
drinking coffee together, and walking to class holding his hand
talking to two other engaged Seminary gals before class
writing notes on the same google doc at the same time!
sneakily writing notes to each other on it ;)
getting goosebumps during In Christ Alone in chapel
Jerram Barr's accent
Covenant Theology class
writing notes on handouts
the way Dr. Williams talks
all of my awesome quirky professors
seeing my Love again before going home
beaming at everything he says to me :)
having the kids eat up lots of leftovers
cooking chicken to make Elizabeth Wood's chicken salad recipe!
making trail mix
blogging!
my soft baby-pink scarf
talking wedding-stuff with my Bailee-friend
hearing from my Hanney-friend
catching up on facebook wallposting- 12 posts in all!
Pizza Hut with the kiddos
being able to talk to my dear fiance about serious, silly, somber, and stupid stuff
mail arriving so fast :)
reading the month-of-meals plan in Real Simple
hanging out with the little kids in their "beds" on the floor!

Verse of the Day-
Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
Their measuring line goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them He has set a test for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

The law of Yahweh is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of Yahweh is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of Yahweh are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of Yahweh is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of Yahweh is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of Yahweh are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward,

Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in Your sight,
O Yahweh, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Songs of the Day-
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

and
Sounds Like Life To Me by Daryl Worley
Got a call last night from an old friend’s wife
Said I hate to bother you
Johnny Ray fell off the wagon
He’s been gone all afternoon
I know my buddy so I drove to Skully’s
And found him at the bar
I say hey man, what’s going on
He said I don’t know where to start

Sarah’s old car’s about to fall apart
And the washer quit last week
We had to put momma in the nursing home
And the baby’s cutting teeth
I didn’t get much work this week
And I got bills to pay
I said I know this ain’t what you wanna hear
But it’s what I’m gonna say

Sounds like life to me it ain’t no fantasy
It’s just a common case of everyday reality
Man I know it’s tough but you gotta suck it up
To hear you talk you’re caught up in some tragedy
It sounds like life to me

Well his face turned red and he shook his head
He said you don’t understand
Three kids and a wife depend on me
And I’m just one man
To top it off I just found out
That Sarah’s 2 months late
I said hey bartender set us up a round
We need to celebrate

Sounds like life to me plain old destiny
Yeah the only thing for certain is uncertainty
You gotta hold on tight just enjoy the ride
Get used to all this unpredictability
Sounds like life

Man I know its tough but you gotta suck it up
To hear you talk you’re caught up in some tragedy
Sounds like life to me
Sounds like life

Thursday, a new beginning

Okay, I give up. I'm never going to catch up now, even if I go with the "week by week" idea that Amy gave me. Phillip and I are about to start video taping ourselves telling our meeting/courtship/dating/engagement story, then write it out in written form, so whenever that actually happens, I'll put it on here :) For now, let's start with today:

What I Love About Today-
getting to play "mom" for 3 days
coffee and pumpkin bread
treating the kids to hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls
perfectly shaped whipped cream
eating breakfast together
Real Simple magazine
recipes, cute clothes, crafts, and decorating ideas
wearing a short-sleeve sweater that I've had for at least a year, and only worn once
purple clothing
including, but not limited to, a giant purple Southern-style little girl bow, clipped in my hair
adorable cherry earrings that Daddy bought for me in Florence
blogging again
doing so in the schoolroom as the kids do their work
sweet emails from my dear Phillip
giving Benjamin his spelling test
most of the words being related to furniture, making me super excited about having my own home
renovating my blog a bit
feeling the warmth of my coffee trickle through my cold self
chunky sweaters
cute and elegant fall decorations
going to the produce stand and Walmart with the kids
the post office
peeling and chopping carrots, and cutting corn off the cob
making chicken pot pie for my Phillip
him surprising me by coming over, when I didn't think that I'd get to see him today :)
making chocolate chip cookies with Mary
"Mary Mack, Mack, Mack..."
watching Phillip's sermon on DVD with him
his arm around my shoulders
having such a gifted, studious, wise, and respected future husband!
encouragement to trust God, remember His goodness, and forget affliction
clean kitchens
scratching each others' backs with Marebear

Verse of the Day-
Genesis 41:50-52,
"Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house." The name of the second he called Ephraim, "For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."

Poem of the Day-

Holy Sonnet XIV
by: John Donne
Batter my heart, three-personed God, for you
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurped town, to another due,
Labour to admit you, but Oh, to no end.
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betrothed unto your enemy:
Divorce me, untie or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.