A New Year

Usually, I don't plan a New Year's resolution, mostly because they never last past January. This year, however, I am going to commit to a couple. My sister, Katie, inspired me. She actually kept her resolution all year in 2011!!! No carbonated drinks the whole year! No Dr. Pepper?!? Poor thing. Hope January 1, 2012 finds you content with a big DP, Kate!
I have a few ideas for mine. I'm thinking they should be about my mental, spiritual, and physical health. What do you think of these?
1) Meatless Mondays -- no meats for Monday night dinner.
2) Seafood at least once a week -- As much as we prefer steak, fish is so much healthier for us than red meats.
3) Commit to running a half marathon in the summer -- this would keep me working out on a weekly basis...maybe just a 5k.
4) Study nursing content at least 15 minutes every day -- so by the time the big ol' NCLEX-RN rolls around, I'll be more ready for it.
5) Spend as much time listening in prayer as I do talking -- what God has to say is infinitely more important and beneficial than my own words.
6) Start volunteering at an organization -- giving time and love to others is one of the most fulfilling things in life.

I'll probably hone in on a couple. Number one would be simple. Five would be the most difficult.
In a few months, you can ask me how it's going. Hopefully I'll still be on track! 

What are your resolutions for this new year?

Blessed

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!

So I typed that last post in a hurry because it had been so long since the previous post. In doing so, I left emotion on the curb. I will remedy this.
When Matt came home with the Christmas tree, I was so surprised and excited. I felt so loved because of this small act of selflessness. I cried. I hugged him a thousand times and kept exclaiming, "BABY!!! We have a tree!! You got me a real TREE!!!" I had given up on the hope of a tree for our first Christmas together. Why is a little Douglas fir so important to me? Maybe because one of my favorite memories from childhood is going with my family to pick out the perfect tree. Of course, we're from Lubbock, so we went to Lowe's, not a tree farm. But it was still magical to sort through all the trees, raving about how wonderful they smelled, feeling so proud when you found the one your whole family would decide was perfect.
But back to the story, I think why I was so pleased with Matt's gift is because I know he did it just for me. He would have been fine without a tree, but he knew how much it meant to me. He amazes me with how thoughtful he is. Matt reminds me of my Savior in so many ways. He knows what I need or want without asking. The best thing is, he doesn't do this only for me. He sees other peoples' needs as well and fulfills them if he can. In this, he is generous and selfless, and I hope to become more like him.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:3-4

Did you all have a wonderful Christmas morning? I hope so! I think my family in Texas has had more snow this winter than we have in Pennsylvania! So jealous.

This poem was written by a wonderful man at our church. It was presented this morning in our Christmas service and I loved it! He gave me a copy, so I'm going to share it with you!!

Is There Still a Christmas?

Is there still a Mary, a virtuous young lady, whose faith is in her God? One who values her purity more than the mob?
Is there a Joseph; the fear of God running through his veins? A man God can entrust with his most hallowed, divine treasure to guard and to keep?
Are there any shepherds without hesitation, leaving all to follow the call to worship the eternal lamb with exuberance, telling one and all?
Are there still wise men under the directive hand of God who are willing to go the distance? Gifts and talents increased by being exercised; presented back to the giver, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Oh God; is there still a Christmas in me?

Author John Sensening

I love the call to present-day people to live as those at the time of Jesus' birth. If copies are made, please give credit to John.

Christmas Tree

It's official!! I am now a licensed practical nurse in the state of Pennsylvania!! Woohoo! Now the job search is on.

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Best part of my week so far? My husband brought home a Christmas tree for me! I didn't think we'd have one this year since it's only going to be up a few days before Christmas, but he surprised me! Isn't he the greatest? I'm so glad we have a live, little fir tree for our first Christmas together. It's a little scarce on the ornaments, but the ones adorning our little tree have special meaning. My mom gave all my ornaments from my childhood to me when I married Matt. Special memories are collected in them. Our sister Ali also gave us an ornament that contains a picture of us for our first Christmas. I love it! 

I'm hoping for snow this Saturday. Who knew that I would move all the way to PA and then still have the possibility of no snow on Christmas day?!? Fingers crossed..

Snow?

It's December and there is still no snow here. I thought I would be piled in snow by now, but all we have is homemade snowflakes. What's going on?

Aren't those just precious? It's possible I have too much time on my hands. I'm excited for the first big snow. Maybe I'll do some sledding on one of these Endless Mountains. They call the landscape around us in PA the Endless Mountains, but I think they're more like big hills. They do go on forever, though. I miss my wide open Texas spaces. There's no watching the sunset sink into the horizon here.

In spite of this, life can move on because my beloved egg nog is now gracing the shelves of grocery stores everywhere.

MMMMM!!

Because of this blog, I've asked Matt to teach me some lessons about photography. I've learned a lot. Hopefully my photos will keep getting better. These are his notes for me so I don't forget. :) Isn't he great?

This was a photo I took while learning a lesson about aperture and what-not. Brown eggs are so pretty aren't they?

Choose to Abide

Throughout the day, it is so easy to forget my Creator and Savior. Why? He is in everything. He supports each breath I take. Shouldn't it be impossible to forget Him?
But my little everyday things get in the way. I focus on myself more than anything else. It's human nature, sure, but that doesn't excuse it.
Today I resorted back to the necessity of tattooing my hand. I used to do this all the time in college (only with temporary pen ink, of course) and it helped me to stay focused on Christ. Today it has had the same results. When selfishness was creeping out, I saw my hand and remembered that I have a choice. I can choose to pretend I am the center of the world, or I can choose to let Christ use me in the world to show others his love.

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." 

Joshua 24:15 

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

John 15:4-5

I will choose to abide in Christ.

Our Thanksgiving

We were going to do the whole shebang this year with the Thanksgiving meal, but in the end decided we didn't want left overs for two weeks. So we made turkey legs, sweet potato casserole, and stuffing. I think they were all great for our first attempt. Of course, the sweet potato casserole was the best (as always) and I was pleased to have a bit of that for left overs. We wished we were with our families, but we had tons to be thankful for and we had a wonderful day together.

We also had a salad just to be healthy, but who's really counting on Thanksgiving? Our stuffing wasn't as good as Mamaw's, but we're learning!

Yesterday, we made chicken fettuccine alfredo and it was SO good! Probably because we used fresh Parmesan cheese. We had frozen chicken which Matt had lost faith in after it turned out tough and dry in our previous dishes. I looked up how to cook tender chicken breasts. This is what I found and I HAVE to share it with you. It worked!! http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/tips-techniques/kitchen-magic-how-to-cook-moist-and-tender-chicken-breasts-036891. It was the perfect chicken. Amen.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

These are our two sole Christmas decorations: our little one foot Christmas tree that Mom gave me when I started college and a Christmas candy bowl that was a wedding gift from the Bender family. I filled the dish with chocolate almond kisses, forgetting that Matt doesn't like almonds. Whoopsies! Guess I'll have to eat them myself and then fill the dish with Junior Mints.
We're so excited to get back to the South for Christmas!!

Happy Worship Day!!

Ear Warmers :)

I just made cute ear warmers!!

What do you think? It'd be cuter, but I made it with scrap fabric.

Also, what do you think of the new blog design? I think it looks more like me. Isn't Paint wonderful?

Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow!!! I'm so grateful for all of you!!!