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Thursday, December 23, 2010

Christmas Card Display

I was trying to think of something fun to do with our Christmas cards
Normally I put them on the refrigerator and they end up
food splattered and wrinkled after a few months.

So, I took a black frame that was around my $3.00 Fall Wreath
and added string in a zig zag pattern to the back
painted some clothes pins red and added red glitter

and I love the result! 
Perfect for the Christmas season

this is a picture from the first few weeks before Christmas

now the day before Christmas Eve and I can't fit anymore cards on it!







Friday, December 17, 2010

Felt Wreath

I was looking for something a little less traditional 
for our front door this year..
disregard the fact that our front door is pink salmon

I found this tutorial online and loved it








linking to the Weekend Wrap Up Party

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Radical

from the book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream

"Just imagine going to a worship gathering in one of those
house churches. The Asian believer who is taking you gives you 
the instructions. "Put on dark pants and a jacket with a hood on it.

We will put you in the back of our car and drive you into the village.
Please keep your hood on and your face down."
When you arrive in the village under the cover of night, 
another Asian believer meets you at the door of the car. 

"Follow me," he says.
With your hood over your head, you crawl out of the car,
keeping your face toward the ground. You begin to walk with your
eyes fixed on the feet of the man in front of you as he leads you
down a long and winding path with a small flashlight. 
You hear more and more footsteps around you as you progress 
down the trail. Then finally you round the corner and walk
into a small room.

Despite its size, sixty believers have crammed into it.
They are all ages, from precious little girls
to seventy year old men. They are sitting either on the floor
or on small stools, lined shoulder to shoulder 
huddled together with their Bibles in their laps.
The roof is low, and one light bulb dangles from the middle
of the ceiling as the sole source of illumination.

No sound system
No band
No guitar
No entertainment
No cushioned chairs
No heated or air conditioned building

Nothing but the people of God and the Word of God

And strangely, that's enough

God's word is enough for millions of believers who gather in
house churches just like this one. His Word is enough for millions
 of other believers who huddle in African jungles, South African
rain forests and Middle Eastern cities. 

But is his Word enough for us?

What if we took away the cool music and cushioned chairs?
What if the screens are gone and the stage is no longer decorated?
What if the air conditioning is off and the comforts are removed? 

Would it still be enough for his people to come together? 


Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Christmas around the house

We are not putting up a tree this year
since I don't have the energy to battle two babies
two cats, and a Christmas tree...

But we have two small trees set up
and alot of fun Christmas decor.









this funky lantern was a garage sale find
every other season its out on the patio filled
with acorns, shells, candles, etc.









I just added garland and some red ornaments
to our normal decorations 

these are from our wedding
I have saved them for 4 years and still love them
they look great every season





these ornaments are from when Russ was little
each one has his name and the year
a tradition I would love to continue with our girls

Merry Christmas! 

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Knit Stockings


My cousin made these adorable stockings for the girls
I love them!
It almost makes me want to learn how to knit...










Friday, December 3, 2010

Thanksgiving

Lilly and Elise and Great Grandpa Langerak

Well..this is by far my favorite picture from Thanksgiving..
Maybe because its my only picture.
I was SO busy running around that I only took one picture
the entire time.
Oh well..we had a great time home with family, 
the girls slept great in the car on the way there
We cozied up at the cottage with warm blankets
and hot chocolate

We spent a lot of time with family
One of my favorite moments and one that I desperately 
wish I had thought to take a picture but I was too busy enjoying the moment
was on Thanksgiving day, after a nice lunch
we all relaxed for a nap at my grandparents
and Lilly fell asleep on her Great grandma Langerak
It was just such a beautiful perfect moment

We also headed to Muskegon to see Uncle David
who is more like a Grandpa do the girls 
and their only cousin Tyler



We always try for the group picture..
impossible to get three babies to look at you

Aunt Katie and the girls..



Uncle David and Elise 

Tyler giving Lilly kisses


Little beat box band
(thank you Suella for getting out metal pans and wood spoons..ha ha)


Even though Elise got sick and Lilly fell down a flight of stairs
I would not trade the business and chaos for coming home
for anything.
There is nothing like family! 


Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Soap Dish Update

I was looking for something updated to put on my soap dish
(other than just buying a bar of fancy soap)
I had these 4 ivory bars 
stood them up
wrapped them in burlap ribbon, velvet ribbon 
and then added some ornaments for a festive look








Monday, November 15, 2010

First "Major" Injury

We had our first injury that was not just a head bump or red spot
We had blood.
Traumatizing.

Elise and Lilly were playing under a blanket and Elise fell and 
bit into her lip


There she is with her little swollen lip


and with in minutes she forgot all about it and was back
to playing with Lils..




Friday, November 12, 2010

Sweater Pillow

I am in the process of trying to dress up our beige couch
but I still want to have some neutrals as we are planning on 
moving in a few months and I am not sure what the walls or floor
will look like

So I decided to cover an existing pillow with a sweater 
The sweater is a soft thick creamy material that I knew would look great 
Apparently Pottery Barn had the same idea as me 
ha ha.


except theirs is $39.00 and mine was practically free
I just cut my sweater into a square the size of the pillow
turned it inside out and sewed three sides
turned it right side out, stuffed my pillow back in
and hand sewed the last edge

paired up with the Poinsettia Pillow
and an awesome throw from TJ Maxx










cozy and perfect for winter! 















Thursday, November 11, 2010

Tissue Paper Votive Holder

We made these votive holders in m.o.m.
(Moms on a Mission)

We started with glass votive holders
added velum word pieces with Mod Podge
and added either pieces or strips of tissue paper
and dabbed a final coat of Mod Podge over top

This would make a great gift
with or with out the words added in