Christmas in Our Home

by Elizabeth Posted on January 3, 2012

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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.

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

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Listening Lately

by Elizabeth Posted on January 2, 2012

My music listening happens in spurts. A mood will strike me and I’ll be stuck on one thing for a while. It’s sometimes based on what I’m reading or watching at the time (yes, occasionally I’ll have a reading playlist), but mostly the music I listen to is stuff that I happen upon. Like when I’m shopping and I hear some lyrics that make me stop and then I have to save them on Evernote so I’ll remember to Google them when I get home (happens more often than you might think).

Here are just a few gems I’ve been listening to lately. And some rambling.

EEE! So excited because we’ll be seeing Lady Antebellum in April with Darius Rucker and Thompson Square. Particularly excited about Darius Rucker because I have loved him since…


(So maybe I was 10. When I was a “tween” I listened to this. I don’t even think there was a Bieber-like alternative. Except maybe that Kids Bop stuff.)

…and this:

Gah. I spent a good chunk of my sophomore year of college crying silently while listening to this song.

Dear Darius, You have always been on the list of people that I intend to sing a duet with. Maybe someday whenever I get over my intense stage fright and fear of being laughed at, I’ll give you a call.

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One Word

by Elizabeth Posted on December 31, 2011

Last year, my word was open. (And LOOK, I did post the alone video before :) )

Isn’t it funny how the one word that I chose to focus on last year was the way I was most challenged in 2011? As in, “God sure has a sense of humor” funny.

Overall, I want to try to be more

OPEN.

Open to change. Open to people. Open to opportunities. Open to action.

It’s like when you pray for patience and are subsequently presented with individuals and situations that do nothing but try your patience and force you to either learn a very good lesson or act like a complete tool.

2011 will most likely go down as one of the most emotionally challenging years of my life. We watched on the sidelines as people we love dealt with health issues, found out that my husband lost his job, went an entire summer facing absolute uncertainty, thought my husband was getting his job back, had a door slammed in our face, saw God bring us provision in (what was to us) the nick of time, witnessed loved ones making heartbreaking decisions, and made it out on the other side.

When I look back on it, I can see that I did indeed learn to be more open about everything I planned on. And more importantly, things that I didn’t plan on. Which I guess is what the whole thing was about to begin with.

I’ve thought about my word for 2012 for some time now. I’ve turned to my thesaurus and Bible to find the word that I hope is demonstrated in my life this year.

STEADFAST

Please, God, let lessons that are to be learned on this subject be gentle ones. Or give me the strength to endure them.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  – Psalm 51:10

Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. – Psalm 112:6-8

Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways. – Proverbs 4:25-26

So. Here goes.

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