Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving


Happy Thanksgiving!
Ok, so I'll admit that I've never really liked Thanksgiving. Maybe it's all my negative associations (my brother almost died on Thanksgiving, the horrible incident happened around Thanksgiving, I spent many Thanksgivings alone in my dorm, eating ramen noodles...).
Now that I am married maybe we can start some fun traditions!
What are some of your favorite traditions? Do you eat anything out of the ordinary? (I know a family who bakes a ton of enchiladas and has a Mexican feast for Thanksgiving!).

Mon Cartable

This is a cute little French poem about "my book bag" smelling like "a million smells"

Mon Cartable a mille odeurs.
Mon Cartable sent la pomme,
Le livre, l'encre, la gomme,
Et les crayons de couleurs.
Mon Cartable sent l'orange,
Le buisson et le nougat.
Il sent tout ce que l'on mange
Et ce qu'on ne mange pas.
La figue et la mandarine,
Le papier d'argent ou d'or,
Et la coquill marine,
Les bateaux sortant du port.
Les longs cheveux de ma mère,
Et les joues de mon papa
Les matins dans la lumière,
La rose et le chocolat.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

"These Are a Few of My Favorite Things.."



MUSIC FROM INDIA AND BELLY DANCING!

Only One More Month

It's a Christmas Survey!


1.Wrapping paper or gift bags?
I love to wrap presents with wrapping paper and bows!

2.Real tree or artificial?
I couldn't imagine getting a fake tree, I love the real ones. They smell great and they look better!

3.When do you put up the tree?
I don't know when we will do it, maybe a week after Thanksgiving. This is our first Christmas as a married couple so we are just establishing our traditions!

4.When do you take the tree down?
Maybe on New Year's

5.Do you like eggnog?
I do! I love eggnog lattes

6.Favorite gift received as a child?
Probably my barbie dreamhouse! We woke up to a sea of pink!

7.Do you have a Nativity scene?
Brenden has a small one. Eventually we will get a new one.

8.Hardest person to buy for?
I can usually figure it out

9.Easiest person to buy for?
My mom

10.Worst Christmas Gift you ever received?
I really can't think of a bad gift!

11.Mail or email Christmas cards?
If I did Christmas cards, I'd mail them. I think an actual card is more personal than an email.

12.Favorite Christmas Movie?
I don't have a favorite movie but I do have a favorite play (Christmas Carol) and a favorite ballet (Nutcracker)

13.When do you start shopping for Christmas?
As soon as I can. I've never done the "black Friday" thing and I hate shopping when it's crowded with grumpy people!

14.Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
I don't think so...I usually get pretty good gifts

15.Favorite things to eat at Christmas?
Salmon (it's an old tradition to have fish for Christmas), petit pain au chocolat (French dessert), monkey bread, and les crepes!

16.Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Clear lights look so classic. I love them!

17.Favorite Christmas song?
"Carole of the Bells" I love singing it!

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home?
This is a hard one because we have family here and in Iowa. Tickets are SO expensive around the holidays, I don't think I will see my family for Christmas again.

19.Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Yes...only because I know the song

20.Angel on the tree top or a star?
We don't have anything yet...I think we should get an angel

21.Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Morning, I love the anticipation throughout the night before

22.Most annoying thing about this time of year?
All the toy commercials

23.What is the "silliest" family tradition you do, or miss doing?
We were raised playing Santa and we used to try to trick him! One year, along with the milk and cookies we left him a note asking him to write something so we could analyze his handwritting...CAUGHT YOU MOM! Haha! I really can't wait to have kids and play Santa with them!

24 Ugliest christmas ornament ever invented?
There was a reclining chair ornament at Hallmark last year.

25.Which looks best, theme trees or homey trees?
Brenden and I are going to do an antique toy-Norman Rockwell type of decor!

26.Gingerbread or sugar cookies?
Gingerbread although I love all cookies!

27.Do you like Fruitcake?
I've never had it!

28.What is the most important part of Christmas?
Remembering that our Savior was born and giving love to one another!

"If God Made You, He's in Love With Me"

I woke up this morning and stumbled into the kitchen to tackle last night's mess. I noticed that my husband had gotten up early and cleaned all the pots and pans by hand for me. Then as I was running out, I grabbed my book (that I haven't touched in weeks). And tucked inside the book was a little love note.

I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Pax

Peace- A state of tranquillity or serenity; silence, stillness
"May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace."
-Philippians 1:2
"Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
-Philippians 4:7
"May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord."
-2 Peter 1:2
During a time of economic hardship, political worries, and my friends falling away from the faith, I need peace. I've been called "hateful" and "narrow-minded". My beliefs have been called "hateful" and "archaic". How can I express that the heart of God is LOVE and acceptance? Man is turning further and further away from the truth. Like it says, they have replaced truth for a lie. My heart grieves and there is nothing I can do...
Lord, give me peace.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Statistically Speaking

Following alongside my previous post, I found this cool site about each state and it's various statistics (employment rates, education levels, crime rates, etc).

And I found a list of the best places to live. Here are the top ten:

1. New Hampshire
2. Minnesota
3. Vermont
4. Wyoming
5.Virginia
6. Iowa
7. Mass.
8. New Jersey
9. South Dakota
10. Nebraska

To see the different lists, go here:
http://www.statemaster.com/graph/lif_bes_sta_to_liv-lifestyle-best-states-to-live