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Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Rejoice: Love was born on Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and The Day After. I have a feeling I won't be blogging any of those days so I wanted to cover my bases! 

I want to wish all of you and yours a WONDERFUL Christmas. 

Remember the Reason For The Season!

Tuesday and Wednesday we will be celebrating with my husband's side of the family. I will be singing with some ladies from church for Christmas Eve Service which is one of my All Time favorite times to be in church surrounded by so many loved ones and celebrating Jesus! 


Another one of my favorite things about this season is Christmas Cards. I love to send them out {also love getting yours} and have been doing so for many years! Here is a little look back of all the cards I have sent out over the years. Starting in 2008, back in college when we lived with Steve's cousin! Enjoy and don't mind the poor quality, screen shots was the only way I could get most of these images! PS anyone recognize the Tree in the first card, back when it was brand spankin' new and had all it's legs! 






This year we had two cards, only for the simple reason that I realized I needed more and decided to go with a different style so below are the 2013 Editions!




Do you love giving Christmas cards as much as me?!


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Friday, December 20, 2013

Bison Vlog Like a Boss

Short and sweet post here for you. On the way to my parents for Christmas and cheering on our Alma Mater in the Football Semi-Finals.

Linking up with the always lovely Ashten so watch my video below ... or don't whatever your little heart desires!!



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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

The Christmas Story Tradition

Today Erin and Amber want to hear about everyones Favorite Christmas Traditions. 

This is one I hold near and dear to my heart and it just doesn't feel like Christmas if it doesn't happen.

Let me start out by asking you, what is the One most important thing that makes Christmas possible?

Yep, you guessed it -- Jesus!! Without that little Mr. in the manger we would have nothing to celebrate! December 25 would just be December 25, another day of the week and nothing else.

Source

Christmas with my Dad's family was always filled with a lot of people but it was bound to be when we are talking about a family of 9 and everyone still lived in the area! Yep, you read that correctly, my dad grew up with 5 brothers and 1 sister {my poor Aunt and Grandma with all those boys} all of whom now have a spouse and at least one child; are you doing the mathOur family celebrations are huge! 

Anyway, I just wanted to give you a little background and an idea of how large my immediate family of Aunts, Uncles and Cousins is. Now ever since I can remember this was something we did at every Christmas with my dad's family. Before we could even think about opening presents we had to read The Christmas Story. Now, the best part is someone new got to read it every year. 

Starting with the oldest, the aunts and uncles took turns reading the story, then the cousins, year after year a different person but the same words, those wonderful words that never change. The words describing Our Savior's Birth!! 

I was so excited {and nervous} the year it was my turn to read the story. I couldn't even tell you how many times my Dad went over it with me before that night, but it was a lot! Making sure all the names were pronounced correctly, helping me to understand what I was saying as a read those very important words.  

I love love love this tradition. I know it is something we will pass on, something that our children will grow up hearing every Christmas before we open gifts. A time to remember the Reason for the Season. A story to give you goosebumps, and bring tears to your eyes. A story with Shepherds and Angels. A story about the most important little Mr. to ever be born!!

Source

Luke

The Birth of Jesus Christ

In those days la decree went out from mCaesar Augustus that all the world should be nregistered. This was the first nregistration when1Quirinius owas governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up pfrom Galilee, from the town ofqNazareth, to Judea, to rthe city of David, which is called sBethlehem, tbecause he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,2 who was with child. And twhile they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son anduwrapped him in swaddling cloths and vlaid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in wthe inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord xappeared to them, and ythe glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all zthe people. 11 For aunto you is born this day in bthe city of David ca Savior, who is dChrist ethe Lord.12 And fthis will be a sign for you: you will find a baby gwrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel ha multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 i“Glory to God jin the highest,
jand on earth kpeace lamong those with whom he is pleased!”3

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby mlying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But nMary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, oglorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.


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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Do you have that group?

Do you have that group of people in your life? 
You know, the people you can tell anything to. 
The ones you laugh with.
The ones you cry with.
The ones you vent to.
The ones you sit in silence with. 
Do you have that group?

I hope so.

Do you continue to make friends throughout your life? 

I hope so. 

But what if you didn't? What if you were content with the friends you had?


I went to college without any of my best friends. I was terrified. I knew I had to meet new friends but I really liked the ones I already had. I was afraid I was going to lose touch with my best friends, the group of girls that I had pretty much been inseparable with for 5+ years. 

Guess What?! I survived and our friendship survived - all while we made new friends along the way. 

These are still my Best Friends - Not sure much will ever change that

Friendship is a great thing because, the beauty of it is you can have more than one. 

I've made so many lasting friendships and I'm happy for each one of them and the different things they have taught me. 

As I get older and learn along the way, I have realized I'm happy to continue making friends because honestly how boring would that be or how rude would I look if I didn't want any more. I just think of the people I wouldn't know, the lovely smiles I would have missed out on if I would have turned the other cheek to a new friendship. 

Source
"Close relationships, more than personal satisfaction or one's view of the world as a whole, are the most meaningful factors in happiness. If you feel close to other people, you are four times as likely to feel good about yourself than if you do not feel close to anyone." Magen, Birenbaum, and Pery 1996

So go put yourself out there. Be a part of something bigger - care about someone and be cared for in return.

As this post is part of the #CheersNotJeers linkup I'd like to offer some Cheers to some amazing people in my life and our friendships {new & old}
: My High School Besties {pictured above}
: My College Friends 
: My Lisbon Friends
: My Lake Friends
: & Lastly my Happy Hour Blog Friends >>
:: Lexe : Ashten : Brit : Erin : Margaret : Nikki : Meg : Kate : Amber ::




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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Ornaments that I hold most dear

Remember my post about how I LOVED personalized gifts?! Well I have the same feeling towards my Christmas Ornaments.

I love the ornaments on my tree that couldn't belong to anyone else. Of course I have my favorite childhood ones too, ya know the fun ones for 'just because' but the ones that are just for me are the best! 

My tree theme is Reds and Golds and Browns … I'm so in love with all my accent ornaments but below you will find two ornaments that I hold most dear!


This is my favorite childhood ornament. Not sure who it was from {my mom could probably tell you} but I just think it is so stinkin' cute. A little baby {in the cutest pjs} riding a cow in 1988 for their 1st Christmas!



This ornament we got last year from my sister. I LOVE IT! No one else can have this on their tree {unless they are super creepy} and that is one of the reasons why I love it! The photos on this are also so clear and brings me back to that special day every time I look at it!

I can't wait to keep adding ornaments throughout the years, finding the beautiful ones with lots of meaning behind them!


Linking up with Amber & Erin :: Let me know your Favorite Ornament & Why!


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Monday, December 9, 2013

Our tree is struggling ...

The Tree is up!! 

I didn't think I was going to put a tree up this year in hopes we would be moving out of the apartment before Christmas, but it looks like it will at least be January before we move so the tree is up ... but really, what is Christmas without a tree?! 



We have had this artificial tree for about 5 years. It is a decent size and has some pretty nice full branches. One major selling point was it is pre-lit; makes for super easy setup and teardown! 

This year, however, our tree is struggling a little bit. 


When the tree made the move from the farm to the apartment somewhere along the way one of the base stand pieces went missing. Last year the hubby and I used random items to prop it up and this year is no different. The book, the box and the chair are all needed in aiding the balance of this little tree. A new hiccup has been added this year … A Black Hole. Just a tiny little section of lights that didn't want to come back on this year. I know if I found the one bulb that is out and replaced it, the black hole would disappear but that is too many lights to check so I'm okay with the black hole! 


Despite the struggles this tree has I'm so excited to see it up. Something about the glowing lights just puts me in the Christmas Spirit! {maybe next year a real tree will be in our living room}


Join me tomorrow to see what my favorite ornaments are and why!
{linking up with Amber & Erin}


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Thursday, December 5, 2013

30 Before 30 {Ideas}

So I'm almost 30 … Well not almost but closer to 30 than 20, and I've been thinking about my 30 before 30. You know that list of things you want to get done before you hit somewhat of a milestone age. I have 5 {almost 4} years til this milestone hits and I want your help. 
If you are over 30 what are some things you wish you would have done ... If you are under 30 what should I do. I have many ideas but would love some great input. I want to add things to the list I wouldn't have thought of, but things I couldn't imagine leaving undone! 

I want to say YES to things that will change my life. 

Please leave some ideas in the comment section! Thanks so much.



This Post Is Part Of The #SayYesProject


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