Ooops. Missed a day. 🙂 It’s hard to update when you’ve got five girls in your house for the weekend! A sacrifice I am glad to make. I have a short Advent reflection today. I read the whole Christmas story the other night, in both Matthew and Luke. My favorite part (in the Luke version,… Continue reading my song

 I grew up going to a Lutheran church, baptized and confirmed into the faith. As much as I hated my confirmation classes (on Saturday mornings from 8 to noon! I can’t believe I didn’t get on my coffee kick when I was 12!), I think they provided a solid foundation for me in terms of my… Continue reading Advent by way of Wikipedia

Advent Day #2: Cody and I subscribe to Relevant, but I also get their emails. There was an article about Advent that I really liked: “But perhaps an even greater reality lies just beneath the surface. In many churches the first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical calendar—the church calendar that divides… Continue reading A Relevant quote…

It’s advent. December 1. Only 24 days until Christmas. And I’ve decided this year I actually want to take the time and recognize each day of advent. In my ideal mind, I will have a little something…even if it’s just a smidge…to post on my blog each day until Christmas. I’m not sure what I… Continue reading Advent calendar…but without the little chocolates

If I weren’t a Christian, I’d probably believe that the holidays came around once a year just to renew our sense of hope and the fact that life is special and for no other reason. I always thought the people who set up their tree before Thanksgiving were crazy. But the older I get, the more… Continue reading Walkin’ in a winter wonderland…

This weekend was a big family day for Cody and I. We met my family…mom, dad, little bro, big bro, big bro’s girlfriend…at one of our favorite italian restaurants, Buca di Beppo’s. It was in celebration of my momma’s birthday. We sat and ordered tons of food and two pitchers of Sangria and multiple desserts… Continue reading the proof is in the pudding

Tuesday night, I went with my friend Jess to see the iHeart Revolution movie (click here to see preview). I have always wanted to travel, and this movie whetted my appetite even more. I know that I am shielded from so much because I am blessed to live here, but a part of me feels like… Continue reading a lot of somethings can add up to everything…

It never fails. Everytime the holidays get close, I decide that this year, I will GIVE more to charities…I will NOT buy into the consumerism by going to that cesspool of a mall and I will NOT buy completely unecessary items for people who will just take it to Goodwill the following spring. *victoryfist* (It might be a little… Continue reading There is much beauty to be resurrected in the world…

I read a blog entry by a singer I really like today, Betsy Walker. It’s short so I’ll post it:  The second is like it – Betsy Walker Oct 21st, 09 “Don’t stretch up your hands to God in worship if you are not willing to stretch out your hands to the world.” Aaron Keyes   In… Continue reading Nothing more than yourself…

Recently, I took a much-needed-ladies-only trip to Chicago with my mother and big sister Jennifer. It was a typical fall weekend, mostly sunny, cool, a little bit of rain and clouds, and the first splash of color on the trees. Two things happened that weekend: I grew closer to the women in my family AND… Continue reading City lights and romantic nights