Family Tree

Kid Picture 2011

(photos courtesy of me and the tripod)

 Seth (19) Kellie (24) Katheryn (27) Karis (14) Stuart (12) Scott (17)

 We do see our cats as part of the family. =)

 The Men.

 The Women.

No matter what happens, remember to laugh and hang loose.

Christmas Tree Extravaganza Two-Thousand-and-Eleven

The line in the famed ode that say of the Christmas tree "thy leaves are so unchanging" unfortunately is not true concerning the lucky tree that is chosen for our living room. We heat our house by wood-burning stove, and since our tree is in the living room, the heat from the constant fires in the stove rapidly and I mean, rapidly dry out the tree. By Christmas, usually our tree is a brittle sagging sight to behold (although no less loved by us!). And so this year, instead of getting our tree the first weekend in December, we resisted all temptation and waited until the second weekend. (Note: we decided that fire hazard or no fire hazard, next year we going back to the first weekend!)

Saturday afternoon found us trundling on over to the nursery/seasonal Christmas tree lot owned by good friends of ours (you know who you are!). Lo and behold, shining forth from the leafy grove, we found...the Chosen Pine. In the record timing of 5 minutes, I might say.

(The tree behind is was not our Chosen Pine; it was merely a good place to stand.)

A Christmas tradition of taking a picture of three sisters poking their heads out from behind a Christmas tree. It originated with our oldest sister Kristine (now married), Katheryn, and I. Now that Kristine is married, Karis has taken her place.

Stuart's awkward smile. =)

Karis.

Drum roll!! The moment of no return as Mom tears off the buyer's tag from off the chosen tree!

Scott, mustache, and soul patch. =)

Poinsettia's may not be my favorite Christmas tradition, but I'll admit they do make brilliant settings for pictures.

You never know what you'll find in a pointsettia bed.

Lights, tree....and definitely time for ornamentation!

Dad began the Ornamentation Ceremony by putting on the first ornament - carefully chosen ornaments that depict the true meaning of Christmas.

And then we all descended on the tree...

One of our crazy traditions is that each year, one person puts on The Star (yes, that's in caps!). It goes from oldest to youngest, and so with a big family, it can be years before you get your turn to put up The Star. The Star itself is just a paper, glue, and glitter star that Mom made long ago as just a make-shift tree topper. And you know, that's usually how life-long traditions begin. =) It was Scott's turn this year to anoint the tree.

Our good-lookin' Dad and Mom. Yah, you should be jealous. =)

We love our tree!!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas...

Amazon, Oh Amazon

I mentioned a few days ago my affinity for Amazon and Ebay. Well, I'm going to brag on Amazon.com a little this morning, because franklyl, I am IMPRESSED. Check this out:

I ordered something on Saturday afternoon. It came at about 6:45am this morning. Today is Monday. Have you considered that the only day inbetween Saturday afternoon and Monday morning is Sunday, a no-mail-day?? Incredible! And you're probably asking how much money I spent to get such expediant shipping. You wanna know? Well, I'll tell you! I spent nothing. Not a cent, not a dime. With purchasing from Amazon, when you spend over $25 you get FREE shipping. So, I got super-power-fast delivery for FREE. That's worth talking about!

Can I hear it for Amazon.com, folks? Amazon, you are my hero.

Note: the picture is merely to illustrate my devotion to Amazon.com...not the Kindle family sold on Amazon. This is not as subtle Christmas gift hint. I personally would not want a Kindle. =)

Katheryn:

My sister Katheryn.

I have a weakness for sunsets and silhouettes.

Presents 'Neath the Tree...

I LOVE Christmas.

Christmas shopping has got to be one of my all-time, hands-down favorite things to do in the whole world. My love-language is "gifts," - I feel loved when I recieve a gift and I LOVE expressing my love for people by giving them gifts. And so naturally, Christmas holds alot of love for me. I do alot of my shopping online, not because I don't like going out to the stores personally, but because most of my gifts are found online - Amazon and Ebay being my territories. I usually start plotting my gifts months before December, sometimes keeping a list tucked away at my office throughout the year so I don't forget a good idea. And when it comes time to start buying, hitting that "Confirm Purchase" button sends a thrill through me that feels like magic in my veins.

Our Christmas Tree 2010

And I just bought my last online purchase, completing the purchasing of all my "main" gifts! And I've got to say - I do believe I scored this year on presents. I can't wait til everyone can open them! The suspense kills me so much that I usually go around and tell all my family that I just bough their present, but can't tell them what it is...because I'm so excited that I have to at least let them know I bought it. My family chuckes along with me because I guess it is pretty laughable that I get such a thrill out of gift buying.

But I don't mind. =)

One of our two navity scenes.

S + A = Love

Since I don't post that often and I'm actually here at the computer, I figured I'd go ahead and post some results from a recent photo shoot I had! I dabble in photography and although can only be called an artist-by-accident, I can at least boast of shooting fully in manual. =)

(Note: I love my friends and I love my pictures. Please do not take the liberty of copying any of my pictures! Thanks!)

This beautiful woman has been one of my absolute best friends for over a decade. We became fast friends over a common love of the old musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at a slumber party. Since then, we've done everything together and been there for each other through good times and bad. I had the extreme priviledge of shooting her engement pictures back in August, as she was preparing to marry this man:

A is a mid-west boy to the core!

Cute couple!

I think A could conquere the world with S on his arm. =)

Definitely my favorite photo prop!

Congratulations to my best friend and her husband! Happy 2 1/2 months of marital bliss!

A New Me

Tonight I began reading over my journals from the past few years. I'm so glad that I kept such a detailed chronicle of those long months, even thought most of my entries consisted of despair and pleadings with God for what proved to never be His will (a fact which I am forever grateful for now!). The reason I look back with such gladness is that I can see how God used all that in my life as stepping stones to bring me to where I am today. And I am SO thankful!! It's like seeing two different people - me then and me now. I would never go back to who I was then. Who I am now is far from the potential that God wants me to be, but wow, what a change from the old me.

I have so much to praise God for!

Sad.

Some days the rain just has to fall. Some days all you can listen to is sad music. Some days were just meant for sad. Calm, quiet sad. Not because you've lost something. Not because something is gone. But maybe...because it never came? I believe that grief is part of life, an important part, and grief must not be stuffed, but rather allowed to be felt for an appropriate time. Repressed grief often becomes suppressed bitterness. Expressing and feeling grief does not mean despare or discontent towards the lot God has given, but rather an acknowledgement that we are weak creatures in need of heavenly help.

"Casting all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you."