What Winter Brings

Sometimes winter is breathtakingly beautiful.

Merry Christmas To All Who May Dwell Here

Countdown to Christmas

Christmas time is here

Happiness and cheer

Fun for all that children call

Their favorite time of the year

Snowflakes in the air

Carols everywhere

Olden times and ancient rhymes

Of love and dreams to share

Sleigh bells in the air

Beauty everywhere

Yuletide by the fireside

And joyful memories there

Christmas time is here

We'll be drawing near

Oh, that we could always see

Such spirit through the year

Zingerman's

Last weekend we visited Zingerman’s Restaurant, a little over an hour away and definitely a favorite of the locals.

Friends here in town had mentioned it to me a few times, raving about their bread and Reuben sandwiches, so when we were in the Ann Arbor area we decided to check it out.

Wow.  What a cool place!

Zingerman’s has also been discovered by Food Network, and their mac & cheese made the Network’s “America’s Top 10 Comfort Foods” list. So of course, that’s what I ordered when we were there. Let me tell you, this ain’t your grandma’s macaroni & cheese! Mine had pieces of (free-range!) chicken, diced chilies, and bunches of cilantro with a smooth cheesy sauce.

Mike had their ribs, which are smoked for 14 hours before they are served. The flavor was so rich & amazing that he didn’t even put BBQ sauce on all of it.

And their mashed potatoes? Well, those you’ll just have to try for yourself. To. Die. For.

We chatted with the bus boy, manager, waitresses, and hostesses, and each one was charming and pleasant. It was truly five-star service but with the atmosphere of a Roadhouse. It was absolutely wonderful.

So if you’re ever in the Ann Arbor area, look ‘em up and give it a try!

Calming the Storm

Some days I am overwhelmed with thankfulness.

Not necessarily for any particular reason but simply…because.

Today is one of those days.

The odd thing is, my life has had a few potholes in it this week, but somehow today that doesn’t seem to matter. Last night I was stressing out about them, but here in this moment I’m at peace.

The past several days I have read many stories (blogs) about couples who’s marriages have survived against the odds and about families who have faced immense personal tragedy, yet in the midst of it all they have stayed faithful.  Faithful to the ONE who can work it all out and who gives us the strength to make it through the worst of storms.  Ahhh yes, the One who spoke to the storm and calmed the rough waters. 

Through my teen years, there were some lyrics to one of my favorite Christian songs that said: “Sometimes He calms the storm, and other times He calms His child.”

Isn’t that just how it is?  In the midst of our life’s chaos, He can reach into our lives and place a peace in our hearts that is unlike anything else.  When the war rages on, it is an incredible feeling to be completely secure and at peace in the knowledge of His presence in our lives. 

To borrow a quote from Jo March in “Little Women”, I am hopelessly flawed.  And I always will be this side of Heaven.   But how I thank God that the process of sanctification continues on, day by day, inching me closer to the day when my heart is made new and the old things have passed away. 

I am a work in progress and how I thank God He hasn’t (and never will!) give up on me. Today, I think that is the biggest thing I’m thankful for.

On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. . .

Snow Flakes in the Globe of Life

It's Snowing!!!

But I'll get to that in a minute. . .

How was your Thanksgiving? 

Our day was full of family and much delicious food!

The table was beautifully decorated and filled with lots of happy faces.

Mom made yummy desserts, including an Avocado Key-Lime pie which
was really good, despite the oddness of the ingredients!

Mike & I after the day's festivities were over.

After enjoying a long holiday weekend, we are back to work and normal-life-routine.

Last night Mike snapped this picture of me with our little Gizmo.

He loves to cuddle up under my chin while I'm holding him...not sure why.

And last but not least. .  .

IT'S SNOWING!

Like, really.  Up to four inches today!
December 1st and we get our first real snowfall of the year. 
How appropriate.
I love snow from December 1 - January 1, and then it can go away, if it were up to me. 
But until January 1st, I'm going to enjoy it and pray for safety on the slippery roads. 
Like this morning.

But in the meantime, "All I want for Christmas is You" is playing on the radio, snow is swirling around out my window, and I'm nice & toasty with my space heater next to me and a steamy cup of coffee within reach. 

Hopefully we can put up our Christmas tree this week and may the holiday fa la la la la begin!

Happy December!



Psalm 27

This Psalm spoke mightly to my heart this week.  In the midst of life's chaos, it is a wonderful reminder that God is always with us and that He is our strength in all situations. 

Something else that struck me was that as David wrote this Psalm, he said that one of his desires was to "gaze on the beauty of the Lord."  Wow.  I want that to be my desire. 

The LORD is my light and my salvation—

whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life—

of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked advance against me

to devour me,

it is my enemies and my foes

who will stumble and fall.

Though an army besiege me,

my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me,

even then I will be confident.

One thing I ask from the LORD,

this only do I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze on the beauty of the LORD

and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble

he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent

and set me high upon a rock.

Then my head will be exalted

above the enemies who surround me;

at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make music to the LORD.

Hear my voice when I call, LORD;

be merciful to me and answer me.

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”

Your face, LORD, I will seek.

Do not hide your face from me,

do not turn your servant away in anger;

you have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me,

God my Savior.

Though my father and mother forsake me,

the LORD will receive me.

Teach me your way, LORD;

lead me in a straight path

because of my oppressors.

Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

for false witnesses rise up against me,

spouting malicious accusations.

I remain confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD.

Taking Time to be Thankful

It’s easy to get caught up in the world’s ways of wishing time away because things aren’t exactly how we might want them to be, or because life gets harder than we anticipated.

I get caught in that trap sometimes.

All those who are guilty say “aye.”

Aye.

One thing God is teaching me lately is to cherish today. A wise friend reminded me recently of the joy a 2 year old has in how they approach a new day. They aren’t worried and burdened-down about crabby bosses, bills to pay, or what to make for dinner. They wake up in the morning and are (usually) eager to face the day and see what it will bring.

With that little scenario in mind, I’ve been trying to start my days on a slightly more optimistic note. Perhaps starting by thanking God for a new day to be alive; another day to do His bidding; another day to be a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend. Learning to enjoy today for what it is and not freak out about having to go to work, or if the house is messy when I get home.

I love my life, my family, my marriage, our little home, but sometimes I simply need to stop and dwell on how tremendous blessed we really are! It’s easy for other people’s negativity to rub off and to start thinking about everything we don’t have instead of everything we do have.

So what if I can’t run to the mall on a shopping trip whenever the whim strikes me?

Big deal that we can’t go out to eat very often or that we have to save up in order to have car repairs done.

Does it really matter that there is only one sink in our bathroom and we have to take turns using the mirror?

We have been blessed with full-time jobs, good health insurance, reliable vehicles, a warm cozy home, families that love us, friends that support us, and a marriage that we think is the best-thing-ever.

We’re not promised tomorrow; all we have is right here and right now. Several weeks ago I posted about the car crash that Mike & I helped out at. That whole experience is with me wherever I go, follows me every day as I leave the house, drive to work, or kiss my husband good-bye. Our lives can change in an instant, and if this is my last moment, I don’t want to have spent it wishing it all away.

My advice to you?

Kiss your spouse a little longer.

Hug your loved-ones a little tighter.

Laugh a little louder.

Smile a little bigger.

Maybe even dance in the rain once in awhile. 

Count your blessings, because no matter what is going on in your life, we can always find lots of things to be thankful for.  We have been blessed beyond measure, and now I'm just trying to live every day remembering that.

Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.  

- James 1:17

Happy Thanksgiving, dear ones! Hope it is a beautifully blessed day for you all!



This -n- That

I have become the epitome of a bad blogger. 

'Tis sad, but true.

Can you spell: S-p-o-r-a-d-i-c?

On a *brighter* note, I saw this amazing rainbow the other day. 

And yes, it was right after I enjoyed an order of Qdoba's delicious Chicken Nachos. 

And speaking of food. . .

Do any of y'all ever go to FireBowl Cafe?

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of their food!

The price, however, was much less-impressive.

Did anybody watch Sarah Palin's Alaska on TLC this week?
#1) the scenery was amazing

#2) I find Sarah absolutely charming

Lastly, I have to mentioned our little guy here, who livens up our quiet house.

Gizmo is a solid two pounds of bundled up energy & fur.

And he adores us. 

That's all for now, folks!

Our Love Is

Our Love is:

Climbing the tallest mountains ~

Riding the biggest waves ~ 

Hockey Games ~ 

Football games ~ 

and Endless cups of coffee. ~

Holidays ~ 

Fun days ~

and Dress-up days. ~

Trying new things ~

Always having a date ~ 

Sharing every moment ~ 

And waking to every sunrise together ~ 

Our love was the opportunity of a lifetime
and it has changed my world forever.

Face Stuff

 

With cold weather upon us, my face is already starting to dry out and get flaky. 

Kinda like this:

So I have been trying to find a moisturizing routine that keeps my face soft and smooth (without making it oily), otherwise all you see is my makeup clumped up with my skin all flaking and dry. Oy.

This is the duo I have come up with:

Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub

Followed by:

Alba Aloe & Green Tea oil-free moisturizer

I do this before bed at night and sometimes rub a bit more cream into my face in the morning before I put my make up on, depending on how many dry patches I have.

Any other suggestions for warding away the winter dryness?

Life Lately

Helllllooooo!  Anybody still there?

*whew*

It's been awhile. 

Life has been hectic lately and my motivation (and inspiration!) to post has been pretty nonexistent.

But here I am.  Aren't ya'll excited?

Last week I took some pictures at a local park:

Worked a lot on the fundraiser we're doing for our friends.

Enjoyed some of Arby's new Inside-Out Cinnamon Bites.  (I don't know what the calorie-count is, but they're so amazingly delicious that I know it must be naughty!)

We spent a day with friends who made us Flurries and taught us how to play the card game, Hand & Foot. (I highly recommend learning how to play; it was great fun!)

My beloved husband surprised me and pre-ordered Taylor Swift's new album "Speak Now" which should be arriving on Monday!  

That's all I've got for now. 

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!