Keeping Christmas

This Christmas season God has been revealing something to me. It isn't pretty, nice, or festive. In other words, it doesn't give me ANY warm fuzzies. :P He has been showing me how selfish I am, and how Christmas is so not about me. 

Isn't it so true? That we find out how tightly we are clenching our fists around something exactly when it starts to get pulled away? That the things we would never call idols are revealed to be just that, when God starts to gently lift them from our lives?

I went into the holiday season with MY expectations, MY wants, MY hands open looking to be filled. There was nothing of Christ's serving and sacrificial spirit in the way I pouted when things weren't going "my way."

At the worst of it all, my mother lovingly showed me the small printing about Christmas that our church's bulletin had on the back this week. She simply said, "Read it." I read it. And cried. It was exactly what I needed. In fact, it seemed to have been written for me specifically! :) It's by one of my favorite authors, Henry Van Dyke, and you can read it here.

It's all about forgetting yourself and seeing what you can do for others. Make someone else's holiday bright this year. Put a smile on someone's face, even if it costs you something. What is sacrifice without cost, anyway?

I'm here this morning writing this to encourage you, but also to thank you. I cherish you, my friends! You have done that service for me. You have blessed me and made me smile even if it didn't bring you some reward or blessing in return. I thank you, and wish you the very merriest of Christmases! :) 

Last Chance...

Less than two days before this giveaway ends! Be sure to enter! :)

Chicago

Yesterday Mom, Charlotte, and I went downtown all day to see the Christmas decorations. Along the way we saw two of these kiosks that were taking free pictures of you in the city and then let you email it to yourself. Just thought I'd share. :P

We Won!

Last Saturday was our church's annual adult Christmas party. Chris and I participated in both the gingerbread house making contest, and the puzzle contest, and we won both! (Along with some awesome teammates!) Here's a pic of our (fantabulous) house! 

him

I just adore him. :)

november sunset

(I kind of love e. e. cummings.)

Thanksgiving from One

I don't typically think of this passage during Thanksgiving, but when I read it this morning, I saw myself and my tendencies and was convicted.

And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at this feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

{Luke 17:11-19}

 I see a lot of similarities between these lepers and myself. 

1. The lepers had a problem. They were physically ill and desired relief. I have all kinds of "problems," be it sin issues, emotional issues, struggles in attitude, etc. 
2. The lepers cried out to God for help. "Have mercy on us." Often I pray that God would help in a certain situation, maybe even relieve some stress somewhere or make something "go smoothly." 
3. God answered the lepers' prayer. So many times God has answered what I've asked of Him. Even my selfish prayers wanting relief from some pressure somewhere.

Here's where it gets really convicting. Nine of those lepers held out their hands, got what they wanted, and never gave Christ a second thought. Who knows where they went from the priests. Back to their friends? Back to their families? Back to their jobs? Back to the way they had lived before their affliction? Back to their unthankful thinking. When living unthankful is such an ingrained habit, it doesn't take much to fall back into that rut and into that way of life. 

Not all ten lepers neglected to give thanks, however. One came back. One. This one's remembrance of thanksgiving made such an impression on Christ and this book's penman, Luke, that its account was included for us all to read for hundreds and hundreds of years to this day. It was put in there for a reason. This leper asked, received, and came back to give thanks and to glorify. This was a Samaritan whose life was given back by a Jew. This leper now cleansed was in a state of utmost humility, indebtedness, and gratitude. We are sinners now cleansed by the almighty God. Is "falling down on our faces" and "glorifying" and "giving of thanks" our life habit? Does God know us, that when He gives us what we ask, we are sure to glorify and thank Him for it? 

This is a passage of thanksgiving with which we all can identify and grasp. Everyday we ask, we receive, we are showered with blessings. We are given beautiful, redeemed lives by One who loves us and has given everything for us. Be the one out of ten. Go back and give thanks.

grateful

This year it has hit me harder than any other - that when Thanksgiving rolls around, I kind of pop into the "oh yeah, it's that 'give thanks' time of year" mode. Suddenly I'm aware of how often I complain and how, really, if the things I didn't give thanks for disappeared overnight, I'd be left with ashamedly little. How when someone says "thanksgiving," I more often think the day as opposed to a manner of life. I long for thanksgiving to be how I live, not just something I celebrate. 

If every breath I take, every moment, is grace, my life should be one big thank-you. 

And so here's a "thank-you" list. These are things I love and am grateful for. The list is dedicated to God, the Giver of all gifts, the Giver of all.

• my husband, Christopher. my love, my dream come true, my example, my leader
• my family, both sides! love you all. you have made my life beautiful. 
• my darling friends. you trust me enough to share your friendship with me, and you listen to me and pray for me and laugh with me. I treasure you!
• salvation - full, free, forever
• grace unmeasurable, lavish, undeserved
• the beauty of golden sunlight at sunset
• laughter of little children
• the Bible, truth for every day, every situation
• beautiful books with beautiful stories that make me cry
• the ocean
• the brokenness before forgiveness, the restoration afterward
• kisses when he comes home :)
• warm, soft, enveloping light
• all those family inside jokes
• hot chocolate in the morning
• knowing someone understands you
• love, all of it - giving, receiving, witnessing...
• smiles
• a word fitly spoken
• Psalm 13:6
• playing violin and piano without reserve
• specific answered prayer
• the Thanksgiving church service full of Scripture, singing, and testimonies
• dinners that turn out perfect
• dinners that don't turn out perfect, but it's still okay :)
• candles
• that moment when you let all worries cease because you have given it to God
• when someone sings the last note of "Happy Birthday" off-key
• Faure's "Pavane"
• 4 days of no work for the husband
• baking cookies with no time schedule
• hearing a song for the very first time, and loving it
• driving with the window down and the heat on my feet
• the faithfulness of my GOD
• the beauty of His holiness
• EVERYTHING!

Thank you, Hannah Nicole, for inspiring me to write (type) out a list! Your blog goes on here as well. I absolutely love the beauty, poetry, and simplistic loveliness of your posts. :)

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." {Hebrews 13:15}

May your Thanksgiving, friends, be full of beauty, grace, and the goodness of our great God. Happy Thanksgiving!

All is Grace

This Thanksgiving season, would you consider reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp? It will change the way you see - and live - life. Make Thanksgiving thanksliving. All we receive from God is grace. This book has left me in tears and complete and raw conviction many times. While it must be read with Scriptural caution and consideration, it is an excellent reminder of how we should view our lives and how we should continually look for joy in the everyday and thank God for the abundant grace He showers upon us. 

Beware

more from the camping trip

I said I'd post more from our S.S.'s camping trip to the Quad Cities. Thankfully I didn't say WHEN I would post. :P Here are a few more I found on my family's computer.

Chris showing me how to shoot his .380. (I was very scared of it. :P)

I was the only one lucky enough to walk right into a fresh, and I mean fresh, cow pie. 

I had the opportunity to spend a bunch of quality time with one of my lifelong best friends, Laura.

On our way home, we stopped at the John Deere Pavilion in Moline, IL. Chris and I loved the huge combine.

My wonderful friends. :)

around my yard

 It stands tall and strong, despite the cold and wind.

Quiet and lovely.

The sun lights up our backyard!

Golden Cornbread

It's my favorite. :)

Golden Cornbread

Ingredients: 

1 1/4 C all-purpose flour

3/4 C cornmeal (I use yellow)

2 tsp baking powder

1/3 C sugar

3/4 tsp salt

1 1/4 C whole milk

1/4 C shortening

1 egg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease an 8x8 or 9-inch pie pan. Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Add milk, shortening, and egg and mix only till well combined. Pour into greased pan. Bake 25-30 minutes. 

Do NOT even THINK about making this without the HONEY BUTTER!!

Mix 1/2 C softened butter and 1/3 C honey on high speed until light and fluffy. 

Fall Party

Last Saturday marked the first party Chris and I ever hosted at our new house. :) We had our former Sunday school class over: the college-age singles. We had a wonderful time eating chili and desserts, drinking coffee, hot chocolate, and apple cider, making s'mores, riding the four-wheeler, playing charades, and just good ol' talking. :) Thanks for coming over, everyone! We greatly enjoyed it!

More Wedding Pictures

My photographer, Jessica Shae, recently released the album of our wedding pictures! To view them, click here. The password is clovesr. Enjoy!

Home Sweet Home :)

A few pictures of our house and backyard. :)

Some Pictures and WHERE WE WENT

We are finally back from the two weeks of crazy traveling, and are beginning the new "normal." :) Both of us are super busy once again, and have new things to think about and work on, but I wanted to throw this album of pics on here so you at least have SOMETHING to look at. 

Oh, by the way, we went to Sanibel Island, FL; Greenville, SC; and Asheville, NC. :)

All these pictures were taken by my mom's step-sister Stephanie. I love you, Aunt Stephanie, and can't thank you enough for all you did to make our beautiful day happen!!

Honeymoon Pictures :)

We thought you might enjoy seeing some of what we're seeing here on our lovely honeymoon. :) You're welcome.

The restaurant we've enjoyed twice now.

The beach we love walking on and scouring.

Bye for now! :)

Messy Twister

Thanks to Pinterest, I got this idea to play Messy Twister, where you pour paint onto each dot on the mat. It did indeed get messy...and slippery...but it was SUPER fun! :D Definitely a great last thing to do with the Three Musketeers. :) Love you guys!

His New Phone

Chris got a new phone, so we were playing with the camera while waiting for some people to meet us for lunch. :)

Another Shower Pic

Our Shower

Here is a picture of the beautiful shower Chris is building in our new house. :) (I'll have to get pictures when everything is done so you can see the whole bathroom. :D)

SS Farm Trip

Last month our Sunday school took a 3-day trip out to a farm. I plan on posting more pics soon, but here are two.

Our mini-golf outing. This was our group. :)

He tends to get crazy on these things.....

A Hymn I've Never Sung

I have never once sung or played this hymn, but Sunday as our congregation sang "Immortal, Invisible," my eyes scanned the following hymn and was immediately moved by the passion and depth of the words. I wanted to share it with you today.

Lord, with glowing heart I'd praise thee
For the bliss thy love bestows,
For the pard'ning grace that saves me,
And the peace that from it flows;
Help, O God, my weak endeavor;
This dull soul to rapture raise;
Thou must light the flame, or never
Can my love be warmed to praise.

Praise, my soul, the God that sought thee,
Wretched wand'rer far astray;
Found thee lost, and kindly brought thee
From the paths of death away;
Praise, with love's devoutest feeling,
Him who saw thy guilt-born fear,
And, the light of hope revealing,
Bade the blood-stained cross appear.

Praise thy Saviour God that drew thee
To that cross, new life to give,
Held a blood-sealed pardon to thee,
Bade thee look to him and live;
Praise the grace whose threats alarmed thee,
Roused thee from thy fatal ease,
Praise the grace whose promise warmed thee,
Praise the grace that whispered peace.

Lord, this bosom's ardent feeling
Vainly would my lips express;
Low before thy footstool kneeling,
Deign thy suppliant's prayer to bless:
Let thy love, my soul's chief treasure,
Love's pure flame within me raise,
And, since words can never measure,
Let my life show forth thy praise.

~ Ripley

The Wedding Shower!

Two notes about this post: it's SUPER long and full of pictures, and all the pictures were taken by my sacrificial brother who was the only guy around a million girls almost all night. :P

Friday night, July 20th, my friends Meghan and Laura hosted my wedding shower at IBC. The only thing I knew about the shower beforehand was that the colors were pink, light blue, tan, and white. That was it. The rest was a complete surprise. And what a beautiful surprise it was! Here are some of the first things I saw when I came downstairs:

The colorfully decorated tables. (It was a beach theme - my fave!! In the center of each table was a vase with live goldfish in it, shells, and a picture of either Chris or myself when we were younger.)

The "I Do" flip-flops on the punch table. :)

The pink lanterns were suspended over each table.

Each place setting had the adorable plate and napkin, plus a favor (some Hershey kisses wrapped in light green tulle and tied with a shell).

The dessert table before the desserts. (I had to include the cute pic of my fiance. :D)

Many ladies brought scrumptious desserts.

Mrs. Smith gave a challenge to me to benefit my husband by being content in the Lord. I was so thankful she was willing to do this for me on such short notice!

After Mrs. Smith spoke, her daughter Bethany sang an Irish blessing and her sister accompanied on viola. It was so lovely. I struggled to not get choked up! Love you, Bethany!

And then I told Chris's and my story.

Here are pictures of the individual tables and the wonderful ladies who took time out of their evenings to show how much they care and love. They are all such a blessing!

And the family table. :)

GIFTS!

My silly note-taker. :)

Meanwhile, my prince was arriving in his grand chariot led by 400 horses.

He didn't want to go downstairs... LOL

...but he made it. :)

With friends and family.

Many, many thanks to Meghan and Laura for putting so much time and thought into the beautiful shower. I LOVED it and am so humbled by the kindness and generosity everyone has shown to me and Chris.

Next big church event will be the WEDDING! Crazy! :)