Life Changes

Life is all about change, I know this, but sometimes it doesn't make the change any easier. Our dear friends are moving to Arizona and while I'll see them when I'm visiting my parents it isn't the same as having them 5 minutes away. And, although I am very sad, I am happy for them and their new adventure. I pray that this path leads them to all the happiness they can stand.

Here we are at their going away party. A great night to celebrate their impact on our lives.

Here's to you, D+J! May only the best head your way.

Christmas at Home

We finally made it home at 2:30 am on the 26th of December, slept in and had our Christmas together. Just the 5 of us. It was a wonderful time for us.

Jared and I don't really do big gifts any time of the year. We like to spoil each other little by little all year long, sometimes for no reason at all except we love each other. With that being said, we all huddled up downstairs around the tree and opened our stockings. The pups were so overwhelmed they didn't know what to do...treats and balls and babies galore! So we played with their toys and just enjoyed the time together. J's stocking was full of peppermints, gift cards and lottery tickets! He immediately scratched off the tickets and was bummed when he didn't win. Mine had some goodies, too!

Aside from our stocking, we only get 3 gifts. If Jesus only got 3 gifts from the wise men, why should we get more? He got new fun t-shirts for work, a new desk calendar and some sleep shorts. I got a pajama set, a desk calendar and slippers. He surprised me with a Hallmark ornament when we were decorating the tree. It's a quiet tradition that he continues each year.

I think this celebration was my favorite. Just us, at home, enjoying each other and basking in the beautiful twinkle lights from the tree. The pups even got a special treat from grandmaw and grandpaw...an edible holiday card!

You got an IPad??

I was blessed enough to unwrap an IPad this Christmas. I told you it was a techie Christmas full of Apple TVs, IPods, IPads, Nooks, TVs, XBox360s, etc. We were all very good this year, it seems.

Anyway, I unwrapped an IPad this year and my mom added that she had a very special gift for my 11 year old nephew, too. After all he had opened, I was thinking, really, you got him an IPad, too?

She whips this out....

We all started cracking up, as I hope you are doing out there, too. Apparently he saw them on Oprah with my mom and when she told him that she got me one he was so bummed that he made himself an IPad. He had forgotten about it so my mom knew she had to give him the "IPad" at Christmas so he would have one, too. So funny! I love that kid.

Merry Christmas!

We are traveling through Michigan, Indiana and Illinois before heading back home to Wisconsin this Christmas weekend. We hope you are enjoying the holiday.

We are in the midst of our "techie" Christmas, spoiling one another with goodies, baking and icing cookies, cooking Christmas dinner, watching Christmas movies and just enjoying being together.

 

Here's to a blessed and safe holiday for you and yours!

Holiday Freebies

For those of you scrambling to finish Christmas cards or gift tags, you need to check these out! Download, print, trim and viola... instant tags or cards!

http://www.kevinandamanda.com/whatsnew/freebies/free-christmas-cards-and-matching-holiday-gift-tags.html

http://www.beckyhiggins.com/freestuff/

http://www.mcpactions.com/blog/2010/11/15/free-photo-card-paper-pack/

Here is our beautiful Christmas card 2010... straight from the Costa Rican rainforests. :) We thought our family and friends might like some fun this year!

Christmas Lights

I love Christmas lights. Everyone I know should know how much I love Christmas lights. I make it a point to hunt them out wherever I am. Today has been a dark day in my family and I decided that what I needed was a Christmas light display. A Christmas light display to remind me of the light that Jesus is in my life even in this dark day. I especially love the lights that are set to music (like the ones below). Here are a few of my favorites.

 

I hope you are a light to others in your corner of the world.

Here is a link to a great show that J sent me one afternoon! Enjoy.

Happy Baking

This advent, J and I have been focusing on the reason for the season and trying to be more like Jesus. J has helped load a TV in a woman's car, bought juice for little boy who otherwise wouldn't have had any and supplied his whole office with a sweet treat just because. I've been spending time putting others ahead of me by spending extra time listening and caring for those who need it this Christmas, I've been doing small things trying to make the season brighter for those who need it brightened and I've been refocusing the holidays on giving with love -- staying within our established budget but buying and making things that seem just right for those that I love. I give gifts this time of year because God has given me the ultimate gift and I pass that along in my own small way.

One little way we helped out was by creating some holiday baking packs for struggling families. Cooking baking together is such a special gift that many don't get to enjoy in this economy so what more fun that to be given that back. Our life group all pitched in and we gave two baskets full of holiday baking goodies from the cookie sheet to the sprinkles. I hope that these go to families who need a pick me up this year.

I've been reading 25 Days, 26 Ways which is a book on the advent and it has provided some wonderful back stories to the holiday traditions. Knowing the history -- biblical and more recent -- has helped me shape and mold the traditions that we have in our household. I don't think our jingle-a-thon is going anywhere soon but it is fun to see how it has shifted and changed between cultures. What some people view as secular, isn't secular at all. It's putting a whole new spin on things for me.