Miss Wisabus » Holidays

Christmas in Our Home

Elizabeth — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:04:19 +0000

Forgive me for being a bit late with this, though still appropriate I suppose since we’re in the middle of Christmastide, but I did want to share it sometime before July. I wasn’t as quick to put up our Christmas decorations this year due to health issues. They’re still up though. Ornaments have been removed from the tree, but that’s about as far as I’ve gotten. (The packing up and putting away I leave to my husband.) Our tree next to our fake fire made for a cozy scene this Christmas. With John Rutter music playing in the background it was a peaceful time.

This year we kept it pretty simple, however, I did manage to set up my new nativity that I bought at a craft show a few months ago. I got a white pearl version of the same set that my granny had while I was growing up. Next to it I placed the hymnal that I grew up with (got one for myself a few weeks back). All together it’s very nostalgic for me and perfect for Christmastime.

The shepherds and animals are out of sight in this photo.

Merry Christmas to You

Elizabeth — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:05:01 +0000

This is our…uh…much talked about Christmas card. To clarify — we are not currently expecting a baby. Sorry for any confusion. I just liked the card!

And here is Mom and Dad’s Christmas card. Wishing you all the best this season!

Link up with the 4th Annual Bloggy Holiday Card Exchange!

Family Photo Outtakes

Elizabeth — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 04:13:02 +0000

While we were back home for Thanksgiving, I handed off my camera to my cousin Jessica so that we could attempt to get a decent family photo. Something that hasn’t happened since my wedding and before that probably not since…well, since my youngest brother decided to start making faces. So, like 1992.

Please note that my dad is not actually choking my mother.

He is, to her horror, picking her up.

I am doing the same thing I did at my wedding rehearsal.

Then it looks like my husband thought about picking up my mother. I don’t think he actually did it. Probably in his best interest not to.

Meh.

Trying to get out of the sun.

My little brother, Ryan, doing his best to ruin family photos since 1988.

Oh, so that gets a laugh out of you guys.

We eventually got a couple of good photos. The Christmas cards are finished and ordered and should be here in a few weeks. When I mail them out I’ll post the finished product here! Thanks again to Jessica. These wouldn’t have happened without you.

Shutterfly Holiday Card Giveaway – CLOSED

Elizabeth — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 06:04:42 +0000

Last year for our Christmas card we went with a beautiful Shutterfly design and I could not have been happier. They have added so many new designs that I am really excited about and I know it’s going to be difficult to narrow it down to one this year for our card. What I love most about Shutterfly’s holiday cards are how easy they are to put together. You simply pick the layout you like best, upload and insert the photo or photos that you would like to include on your card and in just a few minutes you are done. You may personalize your card with a verse or your names. Last year ours was a very simple card, but this year I am hoping to go with a design that allows me to include a little more text so that I can add a verse from the Bible about the birth of Jesus.

The designs are clean and elegant — nothing overdone or cluttered. They are perfect for me and my style. Another great thing about their cards is that you can choose designs by color. Last year I wanted one that evoked a sense of peace and calm. I think the muted tones I chose did just that. So it’s not only your typical reds and greens and frosty blues that they carry, but a wide assortment of colors to fit every taste and style.

Now we just need to have a new photo taken so I can get the ball rolling!

This year I’m excited to be able to give away 25 FREE holiday cards to three (3) of my readers!

TO ENTER:

Hop over to Shutterfly and check out their Christmas and holiday cards.

Leave a comment here letting me know what your favorite design is.
Tweet about this giveaway.

That’s all! You’ll be entered to win one of the 3 free packs of cards that you get to design yourself.
One comment per entry! (Two entries available per person)

Are you a blogger? Want a chance at 25 free cards this holiday season? Register here: http://goo.gl/DDw7Q

Note: Comments not meeting the criteria for an entry will be deleted to be fair to the rest of the entrants.

Shutterfly provided me with a free pack of holiday cards in exchange for this honest review. But I love the company and how my cards turned out last year so I was planning on ordering from them again anyway Thanks, Shutterfly!

If we make it through September…

Elizabeth — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:32:16 +0000

This song has been running through my head ever since Kevin said, “If we make it through September, everything will be fine” a few days ago.

Of course, he didn’t know that it would ignite a fire in my memory and bring back lyrics that had been stored for such a time as this. I doubt Kevin was even aware the song existed, but that didn’t stop me from singing the first couple of lines.

He said it because that’s what we’re looking forward to. The only rest we see on the horizon for him. The end of September will bring the end of one sport’s season, a short reprieve, a visit to see family, and then the start of basketball.

This coaching/being a coach’s wife thing is not for sissies.

A couple of weeks ago, a small spark grew into a flame and I felt the urge to return to my first love — writing. Not here (as you can tell from the sparse posting over the last little while!), but my fiction. It’s been nice to comfortably slip back into that place that I know so well. For me, writing is an outlet that I require — more than my blog here, the creative process outside of this place, where I build people and places and churn out the stories that are inside me.

So I try to view the night’s that my husband has to be away as an opportunity. I write best in a quiet house with no distractions. I might as well make the best of it, right? WRITE.

Lots of exciting things are around the corner. We just paid off a student loan (hooray!) and are just a breath away from being completely debt free. Then we can call Dave Ramsey and let him know! (I was skeptical about his system at first, but we took his Financial Peace course before getting married and I think it has saved us from MANY of the problems that lots of couples face.) The holidays are coming up sooner than I can believe and as anyone who teaches or works in a school will tell you, we look forward to the breaks just as much as the students.

Things are changing. We knew that this year would be a time of sharpening and learning. I think we’re going to make it.

Happy Mother’s Day

Elizabeth — Sun, 08 May 2011 13:09:24 +0000

May 2009

Happy Mother’s Day from both of us!

Merry Christmas!

Elizabeth — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 05:01:58 +0000

Merry Christmas!

We hope you’re able to enjoy time with family & friends
And remember the true reason for celebration.

Blessings and Joy to you all!

12 Days of Christmas Hymns – What Sweeter Music

Elizabeth — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 21:28:09 +0000

If you listen to just one of the songs I’ve featured here over the past few days, I hope that it is this one.

This is one of my new favorite Christmas hymns. Composed by John Rutter and featuring the words of Robert Herrick, this is one of the most beautiful Christmas tunes I’ve ever heard. It has the spirit of “The Little Drummer Boy” without the pa rum pa pom poms that, in all honesty, get a bit tedious after a while.

Such a sweet song. Think on the words below.

I hope you enjoy it. Merry Christmas to you all.

What Sweeter Music

What sweeter music can we bring
Than a carol, for to sing
The birth of this our heavenly King?
Awake the voice! Awake the string!

Dark and dull night, fly hence away,
And give the honor to this day,
That sees December turned to May.

Why does the chilling winter’s morn
Smile, like a field beset with corn?
Or smell like a meadow newly-shorn,
Thus, on the sudden? Come and see
The cause, why things thus fragrant be:
‘Tis He is born, whose quickening birth
Gives life and luster, public mirth,
To heaven, and the under-earth.

We see him come, and know him ours,
Who, with his sunshine and his showers,
Turns all the patient ground to flowers.
The darling of the world is come,
And fit it is, we find a room
To welcome him. The nobler part
Of all the house here, is the heart.

Which we will give him; and bequeath
This holly, and this ivy wreath,
To do him honour, who’s our King,
And Lord of all this revelling.

What sweeter music can we bring,
Than a carol for to sing
The birth of this our heavenly King?

12 Days of Christmas Hymns – What Child Is This?

Elizabeth — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 03:58:03 +0000

Another traditional English tune, this one using the lyrics written many centuries later. I’ve always loved this song, but when I researched the lyrics I realized that I’ve never heard or known about the fourth stanza. Maybe I just wasn’t paying attention.

What Child Is This?
Words by William Chatterton Dix
Music: Greensleeves (traditional English melody)

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

12 Days of Christmas Hymns – In the Bleak Midwinter

Elizabeth — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 05:39:02 +0000

Since I was a teenager I have been a fan of the work of Christina Rossetti. Her poem Remember remains one of my favorites. It really spoke to me when I was 14. That was the year that I tried to talk my mom into allowing me to paint my bedroom black and dark purple.

Uhh…thanks, Mom, for putting your foot down.

Anyway, Christina Rossetti. Love her writing and I love this song that sets one of her poems to music. Hope you enjoy it as well.

And I just have to squeal because I found this version of it by Julie Andrews. Sigh. Perfect.

In the bleak midwinter
by Christina Rossetti

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

(instrumental version by Loreena McKennitt)