Do you have any holiday blunders that you'd like to share?? :)
Re-thinking the Card Display...
Who knew that behind the dry-wall was a sheet of metal??? I think I hear the sound of our "security deposit" being whisked away as I type!!
Happy New Year!
I've been MIA for a few days now...just hanging out with my hubs and enjoying our Christmas holiday together! It was wonderful, by the way! Chris took off for a few days, and we had NO plans...it was awesome. We watched tons of movies, lounged around the house, enjoyed our new goodies, and tried to do as little as possible. On Christmas Eve, we attended a service at out church and then came home to start up the birthday celebration! Since we were going to have dinner with some friends on Christmas night, we decided to celebrate Chris's birthday on the 24th. I made him steak (his fave!), and some yummy apple turnovers (he's not a cake guy). We then caved, and decided to go ahead and open our stockings...I mean, why wait?? I think stockings are my favorite! You have to find small, meaningful gifts that will fit into, well, a sock! I always love what Chris finds for me, and this year was no different.
Christmas morning we woke up and opened our gifts from each other & our families. I told our parents that I got Chris the Wii, and WOW, they really took that to heart. We are set with Wii stuff, and everyone is officially invited to come play at our house anytime you want!! This year, since we were away from everyone, we decided to take a picture of ourselves with each gift so that we could send them in with our thank-you cards. It was pretty fun, looking back, to document who gave us each gift. I'm glad we did it that way, and definitely plan on reviving that trend next year! The rest of the day was spent talking to our parents via Skype. We watched my mom's family open our gifts to them, and then did the same w/ my sister's family. It was so much fun! That night, we went to a friends house and enjoyed a wonderful Christmas spread w/ two other families. Ahh, the food! It was incredible...and the leftovers were just as amazing the next day!
So now we're slowly getting back to reality. The decorations are put away, I've rearranged the house for the millionth time (I'm feeling restless lately!), and Chris goes back to work tomorrow. 2009 is sure to hold some big changes for our little family. We've already said good-bye to several very good friends, and there is a huge possibility that we will leaving good 'ole England this year too. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us!
Hope your Christmas was awesome, and that you have had a wonderful start to 2009!
Amy
Chris ~ A Steak & Potato Man!
Before...
After!!
He Will Bring Us Goodness & Light
Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! What a thrill it was to wake up this morning and know that there is only one more day until Christmas!! I love this day for many reasons; baking goodies for tomorrow's dinner, finally trying my hand at my Nana's pecan pie recipe, celebrating Chris's birthday tonight w/ a fancy-pants dinner that I will lovingly prepare, singing in worship at the Christmas Eve service, watching Home Alone & snuggling w/my sweet husband, and sneakily (is that a word??) filling stockings tonight so that Chris will be surprised tomorrow morning! But, all of those things pale in comparison to the real reason that tonight is special!
Now, I love surprises. Sometimes I love them so much that I can't stand to wait for the actual surprise, and I have to sneakily (there's that word again!) peak at whatever it is that is supposed to surprise me! Hey, at least I can admit it! But I can't imagine the glorious surprise that Mary must have felt when an angel told her that she would be the mother of Jesus. And on this day, so very long ago, the tired couple must have been huddling close in that inn, awaiting His magnificent arrival. The world changed the very next day. Nothing would ever be as it was. Instead of darkness and sin, God sent His only son so that the world could bask in "Goodness & Light".
"Glory to God in the highest, an on earth peace, goodwill towards men."
Luke 2:14
On this Christmas Eve, I wish for all of you the peace, joy, & love of this very blessed season.
~Amy
Abundant Sunday
Another week has flown by for us out here in England. The weather isn't quite as cold as it is back in Texas, and we actually had 3 consecutive days of sunshine (I know, VERY shocking!). The stores are starting to get busy, and the air is starting to hum with Christmas excitement! It's getting so close, I can hardly stand it! Here are my blessings for the week, along with some pics our home...thanks again for the suggestions about the card display, I LOVE it :)
1. That there is a Chili's in Cambridge that we can just pop on down to if we're feeling a little homesick!
2. Ben & Jerry's "American Dream" Ice Cream.
3. Skype...I just figured this out, and I love it! It was so fun to get to talk to my dad this afternoon "face to face"!
4. Heart-to-hearts w/ good friends.
5. Our first month of being completely DEBT FREE!! I'm telling you, Dave Ramsey ROCKS!
6. The movie "The Holiday". It came on AFN yesterday, and I loved it just as much as the first time I saw it.
7. Hot Chocolate on a cold day...nothing beats it :)
Our mini-tree w/ presents! AND, the cute card display!!
I hung a red ribbon between the two walls, and then used red/green/white paper clips to hang the cards...turned out super cute!
A Christmas Treat
Want a super easy, and super yummy Christmas treat recipe?? Well, here you go:
Ritz Cracker Goodies
30 or so Ritz Crackers (paired)
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bark (or you can use Chocolate Chips if you can't find bark)
Peanut Butter
Wax Paper
Put a little bit of Peanut Butter on your Ritz Crackers, and pair them up to make "sandwiches". Set aside. In a medium saucepan (I use a double boiler) melt your chocolate. When completely melted, dip your Ritz sandwiches in the chocolate until they are covered on both sides. Use a fork to remove, and set on wax paper to cool. Let them sit for about 30 minutes so that the chocolate can harden, and serve! Yum!
Books, Glorious Books!
I'm a bookworm, did ya know it?? Give me a good book, a snuggly place to sit, and a mug of hot chocolate and I'm in heaven! I've been known to read an entire book in a day...Jodi Piccoult can do it to me every time! So, I thought I'd throw out some of my favorite "feel good" books so that you might enjoy them during the holidays. Some of them are my favorite children's books, some are novels...but I promise that they will all bring a smile to your face, and a tear to your eye (a happy tear, of course!). There's nothing like transporting yourself to another place & time on a snowy (or in my case, foggy) evening.
This is a definite "must read". It's about an share-cropper (a modern day slave), and his physical, emotional & spiritual journey. He ends up in Ft. Worth (another reason I love this book!), where he meets his very own, personal angel. It's a true story, and I promise that you will LOVE it!
It looks like a Children's book, but really...it's not. It's a classic, and is full of Christmas truths. This is one I can read again and again...oh wait...I have!
This one is a Children's book, but it's so sweet that I just had to include it. The pictures are beautiful, and the story is precious. If you're a military family, like we are, I guarantee that you won't be able to get through this one without shedding at least one tear of gratitude :)
Another great Children's book. Can you tell I worked w/ kids for a LONG time?? If you've never read this book, you're missing out. It's such a good story about how we, sometimes, are the best "vessels" of Christ by just being ourselves, and recognizing the blessings that we have to offer.
Such a good "feel good" book. It's about a little girl who is searching for the mother that her heart longs for, and the wonderful women that she meets along the way. I can't wait to see the movie, too!
And, last but not least...this is the true story about a professor dying from Lou Gehrig's disease who shares his wisdom with his former student, the author, Mitch Albom. It's sad, and sweet, and a wonderful tribute to a great man.
Happy Reading and, as always, I'd love to hear about some of your favorite books!
Favorites
Have you ever wondered how those "Tag" emails/blogs get started? Who thinks up all of those fun questions? Where do they originate from? Hmmm, am I the only one who thinks about these things?? While pondering this perplexing question today, I decided to start one of my own! {I'm ignoring the groaning from the party poopers out there :)} Since I love Christmas (obviously), and I'd love to find out a few fun things about my friends, I thought I'd just combine those two things. Feel free to comment me back, or in true "Tag" form, you can just copy and paste my questions on your own blog! There's nothing like embracing the holiday cheesiness at its best :)
1. Favorite Christmas Song? (Thought I'd start out with an easy one!)
O Holy Night from "Home Alone"
2. Favorite Holiday Treat?
My Nana's Rocky Road Fudge...oh my gosh, my mouth is watering just thinking about it!
3. How many Christmas's do you celebrate?
This year...1. When we're back in Texas...7 (yes, you read that correctly!)
4. Real or Fake Tree?
Fake, all the way baby! I'm don't have much of a green thumb, and a dead Christmas tree on Christmas morning just kind of puts a damper on the mood.
5. Anyone in your family have a Christmas birthday?
Yep...my sweet hubby!
6. Favorite holiday side dish?
Sweet Potatoes with cinnamon/pecan topping. No marshmellows for me, thanks!
7. Does it snow at Christmastime where you live?
Ehh, if we're really, really lucky we might see a few flakes (in Texas)
8. Wrapping Paper or Bags?
Little bit of both...I lean more towards paper though (not very green of me, I know!)
9. Favorite Christmas Tradition?
Reading the Christmas Story on Christmas morning, and going to the Candlelight Christmas Eve Service.
10. Favorite Christmas/Holiday memory?
Working at the Christmas Store for Mission Arlington w/ my Mom & Nana. They taught me the "true" meaning for Christmas.
Hope you enjoyed it! I can't wait to see your answers too!
~A
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