Thursday, December 27, 2007

9 Days ~ Christmas pictures!

What's a new laptop without a new printer/scanner/copier??
The annual shoving-of-the-face-into-the-stocking picture


And Maia seems to be catching on to this whole stocking thing!


The girls gave him a Christmas card this year that was addressed "2 Our Almost Daddy"



They've always had a special relationship...I think Nali gave up trying after a couple of years.



The annual Sheltie calendar - and Maia informed me that she's much cuter than any of the models in the calendar






Christmas is exhausting...






Friday, December 21, 2007

15 Days ~ Two Girls Wishing you a Very, Merry Christmas

A certain someone found the time to put up my Christmas tree this morning and surprise me by sending me this picture at work. ~I think one of them looks like a little elf~ I hope this picture makes you smile, and even though things are crazy, we are thinking of all our dear family and friends this Christmas season. It's hard for me some days to focus on Christmas, as this year it feels more like a stepping stone to a big day that's just around the corner! However, listening to Christmas music in my car on the way to work has really helped me reflect. Here is my absolute favorite this year, and I pray that the Gospel truth resounds in your heart this year as you share in the celebration with your loved ones:

Today a child is born on earth
Today the glory of God shines everywhere
For all the world
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is our light and salvation
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is the King of all nations
Behold the lamb of God has come
Behold the Savior is born
Sing of His love to everyone
Oh Jesus born on this day
Heavenly child in a manger
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is our Lord and our Savior
Today our hearts rejoice in Him
Today the light of His birth
Fills us with hope and brings peace on earth!
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is our light and salvation
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is the King of all nations
Today a child is born on earth
He is light, He is love, He is grace
Born on Christmas day
(version by Avalon)

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

17 Days ~ Yes, two posts in one day

  • “At this time of year, sometimes it’s nice to pull aside from all of that and remember that what really matters is the celebration of the birth of Christ. I hope you and your family have a magnificent Christmas season. God bless you and Merry Christmas.”
  • "If we are so politically correct in this country that a person can't say 'enough of the nonsense with the political attack ads, could we pause for a few days and say Merry Christmas to each other,' then we're really, really in trouble as a country." ~ M. Huckabee
    Source: http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2007/12/18/mike-huckabee-in-new-ad-merry-christmas-and-i-approve-this-message/

Nothing to say except....

17 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

24 Days ~ "When sin becomes bitter, marriage becomes sweet"

I find it increasingly hard to believe that the big day is just around the corner. After all of this waiting, and currently still waiting, I find it more and more surreal that I'm getting to the end of all the wedding plans leading up to the moment when all of the "to-do"'s will come to fruition. We are continuing to setup house while I still have an apartment full of stuff (and there's a lot of stuff) which is quite indicative of how I feel tossed between two different worlds. There is the world characterized by my being a student (the end is finally in sight!) and living on my own, having items in my apartment that have traveled to each location these past several years and can finally be donated or completely trashed. The plastic trash can is finally being replaced with the sleek, stainless steel one, and the dishes are matching each other more and more everyday. Then there is the world of which I am still on the brink. I am so close to no longer living on my own, looking out for myself and my possessions, and yet I am still in the preparatory stage. It's as if I am looking out towards the horizon which is much closer than before, and yet still feels so far away at times. I am learning everyday that we will never stop learning about one another. As much as we know each other now, there are both daily quirks and deep emotions yet to be revealed. At times I know that my tendency to argue stems from stress and anticipation that I allow to build up. I am marrying a man who is open and honest when he is frustrated which has moved me to trusting all the more in the Lord's sovereignty for seeing fit that I become united with him. Because of this, my sinful tendency is laid bare. While quite uncomfortable, such exposure is both necessary and good for my sanctification. How wretched that we, poor sinners we are, put up a defense against something that is clearly intended for our good! Rather than accept such truth and encouragement from the one to whom I will soon wed, I actually spend time trying to justify my horrid attitude. Praise the Lord that even now, prior to the actual marriage, He is showing me just how crucial and instrumental my spouse is and will continuing being to my sanctification. Praise Him that such confessions and conversations are taking place now rather than ten years down the road...

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ~Colossians 3:12-17 (verses 18-19 happen to address husbands and wives)
"Saying that marriage is a model of Christ and the church places it firmly on the basis of grace, because that is the way Christ took the church to be his bride, by grace alone. And that is how he sustains his relationship with the church—by grace alone." ~ John Piper

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

31 Days ~ And the Real Countdown Begins...

Two significant things on this, the one-month mark before JANUARY 5:

We received our first dish yesterday - a beautiful, round serving plate. My fiance's words: "Well, I guess there's no turning back now!"




I have not had a Coke in over a week. This is HUGE regardless of whether or not you are aware of my affection for carbonated beverages.



That's all for now!

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

32 Days ~ A Week of Moving (or "A week in the life of a soon to be married woman who doesn't always seem to have her head on straight")

As requested, I figured I needed to at least post something on here. Unfortunately, this will be a post minus pictures since my camera is sitting at the apartment I am trying to move out of as quickly as possible. The more we got my fiance' moved into our townhome this past week, the less I wanted to be at my current place!


Here is a brief of some of the little events that come with moving that keep us laughing (or clenching our teeth in frustration):
  • Some people like shelf paper in the kitchen that reminds them of being in a bright white bathroom with rubber duckies. In fact, they like it SO much that they not only cover the cabinet shelves with such green and blue checkered paper, but they make it all the more blinding by covering the WALLS of the cabinets as well! I am not one of those people, but the residents before us apparently were.
  • Green and blue checkered shelf paper shows through beige shelf paper.
  • Dogs who have had to live with slippery hardwood floors for almost two years act as if they are in a world of eternal bliss when presented with a glorious apartment full of brand new plush carpet.
  • I will never again assume that I am as strong as I have convinced myself I am. This comes with breaking a perfectly decent desk while pulling for all its worth up the stairs as my patient fiance' is saying, "Wait, wait, wait." This is a lesson for anyone: if your fiance' is telling you to wait, don't pull one last time as hard as you can. The desk will break and send pieces of particle board, drawers, and nails flying in all directions.
  • Picking the perfect shower curtain for a bathroom is perhaps one of the most stressful jobs in setting up a new home. Who knew the choice between stripes and sheer would be so difficult??
  • Dogs who have grown accustomed to lounging on the bed tend to fall out of new beds that are twice as high off the ground (and that is assuming they actually get on top of it successfully - only one of them has made it this far).
  • Picnic chairs and barstools make for a cozy setup in the living room.
  • Some people like green and blue checkered shelf paper SO much that they incorporate it into linen closets and bathrooms.
  • It is always beneficial to go through cabinets to see if previous residents left any items behind. We discovered a white mug on the very top shelf of the kitchen cabinet last night. Not only does it serve as a rather unexpected memento of our first home, but it's also "Gibson" brand!
  • The most exciting thing for me was when our new bedroom furniture was delivered on Saturday. It's hard to believe that I am setting up furniture in my very own home that I am going to share with my husband.

Hopefully I will have pictures up soon, but I'm not promising anything! We still have my apartment to sort through and get moved over, which I am sure will take up the better part of this next month. One month?!?! Woohoo!!!