Pinecone Ornaments

Today I wanted to share these fun pine cone ornaments.  I had been thinking about making these after I saw some similar ones on a blog.  As God would have it, yesterday afternoon our friend from church who just happens to be one of the previous owners of our house dropped off a bag of pine cones.  Thanks Mrs. Sharen!!  We scoured our craft supplies to find small decorations we could glue onto the pine cones.   

We treated each pine cone as an individual Christmas tree.  Both kiddos decided on the placement of each special decoration.

I added the ric rac with hot glue to act as the hanger.  We have been blessed with two days of making ornaments that didn't cost us a thing. 

Paint chip Ornaments

This year we are trying to do several no or low-cost ornaments and activities with the kids.  Our goal is to keep this advent season fun but stress free.  It's a lofty goal but one we are taking on just the same.  I saw an idea on pinterest where paint sample strips had been used to make Christmas trees.  Yesterday we stopped by Lowe's for a few items so while we were there I visited the paint department and grabbed a few paint sample strips in various shades of green.  Later in the evening we used cookie cutters as a template and traced and cut out the shapes.  Then we punched a hole in the top and added some ribbon. 

Cute, free (we did buy paint at Lowe's so we didn't just take sample strips), kid-friendly and quick.  Quick seems to be key for us lately as we try to fit in an activity in the evenings before bath and bedtime. 

We are still working on our fine motor/cutting skills.

These would be fun to do with other cookie cutter shapes (angel, star, cross) in other color combos as well.  They could be laminated for durability if you so desired.  We made four total ornaments so each kiddo worked on two ornaments which was the perfect amount of time for us. 

. . . . . . . .O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

How richly God has decked thee. . . . . . .

Kasen Turns One

A while back I had the chance to take a few pics of the cutiest little one year old, Kasen.  He was so happy and smiled almost the entire time.  We tried out a few different locations and his sweet grandma was kind enough to carry him and chairs from place to place. 

Don't you just love the shirt that his mama Linsey got him for his special day? 

The green chair and white wall are such favorites of mine. 

His daddy is a huge baseball fan. I love that Linsey brought these props to personalize the pics.

Such an angelic little guy. 

Getting ready to twist his mama's arm so I can take more pics of this cutie.  ; )

Just a little Sass!

Our girl is always up for a few pics.  I am grateful that when I have an idea she is always happy to help me try it out.  Today the idea came when I saw the ensemble that she had put together to wear.  I have long since stopped fighting her on her clothing choices.  As long as she is appropriately covered and dressed for the weather I am okay with it.  This week, the first week in December, she wore her "happy Halloween" shirt.  Seriously, I have given up the fight.  Anywho, occasionally she puts together something really great and color coordinated.  This just happened to be one of those days so we drove downtown and snapped a few pics.

One of my absolute favorites.  The hole in the knee speaks volumes about this little gal. 

Set the self-time, just for fun. 

Christmas Photo Shoot

A few weeks ago I was able to convince my family that it was the perfect day to take a family photo downtown.  We were all dressed up and headed to celebrate the marriage of Grandbud and LA.  I figured it would be difficult to get everybody all matchy-matchy again and that I would probably be unsuccessful in getting everyone to agree to go downtown with me again to smile for a few pictures. 

It is always fun when I set the self-timer and try to get settled into the photo before the snapping begins.  Here are a few of the better pics from the 15 minute shoot.  I only asked for 15 minutes.  Didn't want to push it with my crew.  ; )

So excited to use the letters I picked up in Canton.  HOPE for a bright new year.

Bright wishes for a merry Christmas.

I like this pic even though BBP looks silly.

God IS with us!

I have journeled about the overwhelming feeling of fear in connection with my grief.  Today I want to write about the flip side of this which is the overwhelming feeling that God is with me.  This will be a rambling post of the thoughts in my head that are connected and make so much sense to me however, an outsider reading along may get lost.  I hope the pathway of my words is somewhat clear and understandable.   

Since my mother's death God has brought people to me to love, care and share with me.  Some of these people I have known my entire life.  Others for a shorter time and some I have only met since her passing.  These people have brought us meals, taken us to lunch, called to chat, shared scripture, played and cried with us.  All acts that have helped our hearts to heal in small and significant ways. 

At times, I find myself especially weepy for no apparent reason.  The place that I have been most tearful is at bible study.  I have been back at CBS approximately 6 times since my mother's passing and every stinking time I cry.  I usually begin crying before we even get there.  Maybe I know that it is a safe place for me.  A place that is being covered with prayer where the Lord is truly present and moving in hearts.  Whatever the reason, I feel the closeness of the Lord and I cry.  I can go the entire rest of the week without shedding any tears but I can count on that day to bring a good cry.  The kind you really only want to do in the privacy of your own home.  Anyway, this week during a prayerful time at bible study I was thrown full into one of these "good cries". 

When we began praying I had casually opened my bible to Psalms.  As we prayed, I read.  My bible had opened to the 23rd Psalm.  I realize that that can happen pretty easily as it's near the center of the bible and if you cut it and open you could end up there.  But then I know that God does not create coincidences.  He is purposeful in everything.  So there I sat on the 23rd Psalm crying my way through the reading. 

Fast forward to my time at home later that day and the grief books I am reading.  I just finished the first book last week and was ready to begin the second book.  I sat down in the living room and opened the book.   My heart grew warm and I smiled as I noticed the page right after the title page had the 23rd Psalm printed on it.  Wow! Twice in one day.  Certainly, the Lord wanted me to take hold of this word for myself.  He wanted me to grab it with both hands and own it.  It was mine!  A gift from Him.  A gift that He gave not just once but twice in the same day.

This Christmas season will be a difficult one for me without my mother.  Some days will hurt more than others and many of them will be hard to endure but I take hope in our God who provides comfort for us in the people he sends and in His word.  I am reminded of  Matthew 1:23 which says:

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel-which means, "God with us."

God IS with us.  God IS with me. He is near. He is closer than ever. He is alive and working daily in my life.  This year I get this more than ever before.  This year as I read this portion of the gospel in relation to the Christmas season it will mean something different.

Psalm 23

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 23

A psalm of David. ¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.