check this out...

Emily, my amazing sister-in-law (although I prefer to think of my SILs as simply "sisters" - the in-laws part seems so unnecessary) has started a blog!  I knew she had the voice of an angel, two of the cutest girls you'll ever see, the perfect brother (ha, ha), a heart for the Lord, and now her talents as a writer are shining through.  Head on over to her blog and check it out!

P.S.  She's absolutely beautiful too!  :)

check it out...

I have a signature on my blog now.  Wow!  :) 



Do you like it? I'm not sure I do just yet...it may change, we'll see.  If you would like to create a signature for your blog (most folks have probably done this already - you might say I'm a little slow), check out Becca's simple tutorial here.

nothing fancy, just the facts...

There are no fancy pictures or funny stories to share.  There are no gifts to speak of or gatherings to discuss.  Instead...

"I celebrate the day

that You were born to die

so I could one day

pray for You to save my life."

That about sums it up!  It's all that TRULY matters in life!

Merry Christmas.

oh, how i've missed her...

Laura came into town last week, and it's been so nice to catch up.  Although we talk to each other several times each week, it's so much more fun to spend time together...in person!  So far we've enjoyed some sushi, done a bit of shopping, designed and created 50 invitations (for a friend of hers in NY), watched some movies, lounged around, enjoyed a night out on the town (complete with a late night dinner/early breakfast at Denny's), and we even managed to get 1 picture together.  I need to be better about using my camera.  At least we've got Laura's cell phone picture.  :)

It's not the best picture in the world, so I'll do my best to ensure that we get a few more before she leaves!

a Christmas recipe unlike any other...

"Literally heaven on a stick!"

- Hillary's response to this little gift

1. First, you take a delicious recipe found online at Giver's Log...along with some television for background noise (as a teacher, I struggle with absolute silence - it's not a naturally occurring thing in my classroom)...

2. Toss in a dirty sink, full of nasty water, lots of dishes (several of which aren't pictured)...

3. Add some popsicle sticks, candy canes, yummy chocolate and a few other important ingredients...

4. Finally, it's time to gently mix in frustrated cook who is trying to channel her inner baker.

Swirl it all around, add a bow and some sort of tag and here's what you get...

Some yummy hot chocolate on a stick...with a touch of white chocolate and peppermint.

I decided to take the first batch of marshmallows and throw them away.  They were a pain in the booty and they turned out a little too funky.  Instead, I just melted down a bag of small marshmallows and then added in some peppermint.  The end result was a little better than my first attempt.  However, I don't know that I'll be making them again.  They just appear so sloppy and the stickiness is not much fun to work with either.  I had to toss these in some powered sugar to be sure they would actually leave my fingers.  Together though, I think it's a pretty sweet little gift.  :)

we wish you a...

anyone else enjoying this song?

I've posted the lyrics and a picture of the woman whose voice is so incredible!  I'm listening to it over and over...it's such a calming Christmas song.

Winter Snow

- Audrey Assad & Chris Tomlin

Could've come like a mighty storm

With all the strength of a hurricane

You could've come like a forest fire

With the power of heaven in Your flame

But You came like a winter snow

Quiet and soft and slow

Falling from the sky in the night

To the earth below

You could've swept in like a tidal wave

Or an ocean to ravish our hearts

You could have come through like a roaring flood

To wipe away the things we've scarred

But You came like a winter snow

(Yes, You did)

You were quiet

You were soft and slow

Falling from the sky in the night

To the earth below

Oh, no, Your voice wasn't in a bush burning

No, Your voice wasn't in a rushing wind

It was still

It was small

It was hidden

You came like a winter snow

Quiet and soft and slow

Falling from the sky in the night

To the earth below

Falling

(Oh, yeah)

To the earth below

You came falling

From the sky in the night

To the earth below

Audrey Assad - Photo From Here

this is a nice little article...

I thought you might like to read about an incredible young man who was taken from this world just a little too soon.

Thank you to the folks at the Seattle Times who wanted to include a more personal side of Luke's life.  I think they did a fine job.  See for yourself...

While you continue to pray for Luke's family and friends, please remember to lift up the two hikers who are still missing - and their family and friends as well.

christmas cooking...

Over the last few months, I've found myself searching for projects to complete.  However, these projects all have one thing in common...they require a bit of creativity (I'll post a few over the next couple of weeks).  So, preparing for Christmas has been more fun than ever.  Along the way, I've made a ton of messes.  Take a look at last night's project...

This is what my kitchen looked like - nothing creative or crafty about it!

This is what I created.

Now, these are supposed to be peppermint marshmallows.  At this stage they are done, but not yet settled.  In a bit, I'll be cutting them up into squares and hoping they compare to Martha's...

Yeah, we'll see.

Thankfully, this minor set-back won't slow me down.

Next up?

Hot chocolate on a stick!

Sounds silly, huh?  It should go well with my marshmallows though.  :)

christmas cuties!

Look who we saw today!  :)

Ella

Evie

They are getting soooooo BIG!  And at this stage, they are constantly making the most entertaining faces...enjoy!

Ben thought it would be fun to demonstrate Evie's silly smile.  She has a mouth full of teeth (at least 6 or so) and she likes to show them off when she grins.  Oh, and her nose scrunches up too.  Could this be any sweeter?

We went to dinner with Emily, Ryan and the girls...this was our Christmas present to each other.  While we sat there waiting for our food, Evie and Ella showed off some of their communication skills.  Ella (above) is really good at using her sign language.  This is her most favorite sign, "please."  She's smart enough to know that when she uses this sign, she'll be given something.  :)

Instead of using sign language to express herself, Evie loves to repeat the following "pease, pease, pease, pease, pease..."  Listening to her throughout dinner was hilarious!  She likes to eat and as a result, she finds herself saying this over and over.  Too funny!

It's so much fun to see my husband with these two!  He loves them so much (so do I).  It's a side of him I absolutely adore.  He'll be a great dad someday (not anytime soon though...this is not an announcement).

I must say, our time with them today was far better than any gift!  It will be so much fun to see them again on the 26th.  Oh, and next time I'll be sure to take some pictures of their mom and dad too (sorry about that Ryan and Emily).  :)

i give up...

I want to take a graphic design class...seriously!  I have given up on creating my own cool, unique, and amazing blog background.  Instead, I have opted to use someone else's for the time-being.  There are these visions in my mind that I simply wish I could find a way to create and implement.  Someday.  Until then, this will do.  At least it's festive.  :)

really?

Today...

A new student arrived.  She is now a part of my 5/6 block - Language Arts & Social Studies.  This 7th grader seems nice enough.  She's rather quiet, sweet, and attentive.  Oh, and did I mention that she speaks NO English?!?!  However, I'm supposed to get her to the point where she can pass all standardized tests.  (I'm also going to hope and pray that her scores don't bring down our school average - otherwise we run the risk of being labeled a "failing school.")  Really?  Welcome to public education, my friends.  In so many ways, it's a great system...and in other ways, I can clearly see the need for improvement.  :)

P.S.  I now have 31 kids in my 5/6 block.  And I'm the one with the smallest class...hence, I'm the one who receives the new student.  (Nevermind the fact that our district will likely be making cuts again this year...)

Solutions & suggestions gladly accepted.  In the meantime, I'm praying!  :)