One of things I managed to accomplish last week that was not related to work was creating invitations for an upcoming party. I use ribbon a lot in creating invitations because it delivers a big impact without a lot of work. I also use ribbon when I wrap gifts - not the plastic stuff especially for wrapping gifts, but the real fabric stuff.
The problem is, the real stuff frays. I know there are things you can buy to stop it, but I found a super easy trick online that didn't involve me actually buying anything - I burn it. I just used one of those lighters most people use for candles, and held the ribbon up near the flame for a second or so. It took a few tries to get the hang of it, to learn exactly how close and how long to hold the flame, but once I did - so easy!
Go here for more Works for Me tips.
Meanwhile, I'm going to enjoy watching TV and eating room service from the a big king-size bed in a southern California hotel room. And occasionally glancing out the window to the harbor and the sailboats lit up with Christmas lights.
wake up call.
The problem with traveling in California, is that when people on the east coast don't know you're traveling in California, they call you really early in the morning and wake you up.
I'm in California this week on business, delivering Phase 1 of a project I've been working on for the last year. Its the reason that I've been so busy with work over the last few weeks, and I can't wait until its done and I can take a collective breath.
I desperately wanted to come home to at least some Christmas decorations, so I decided to put up my Christmas tree Sunday night. I have an artifical tree, so I dutifully sorted all the branches into the piles according to size, fluffed them, and started putting the tree together. I figured out a few years ago that if you actually string your lights as you go, the process goes much faster. Its much easier to maneuver this way when your tree is in the corner, and if you wrap the strands a couple times on each layer, you actually end up with a lot of depth to the lights, which I love.
The problem was, 3 of my 4 light strands aren't working. And since it was late at night and I couldn't exactly leave all the piles of branches laying on the floor for the dog sitter, I had to put it up anyway. So, I have a tree. Just no lights or ornaments yet.
I'm in California this week on business, delivering Phase 1 of a project I've been working on for the last year. Its the reason that I've been so busy with work over the last few weeks, and I can't wait until its done and I can take a collective breath.
I desperately wanted to come home to at least some Christmas decorations, so I decided to put up my Christmas tree Sunday night. I have an artifical tree, so I dutifully sorted all the branches into the piles according to size, fluffed them, and started putting the tree together. I figured out a few years ago that if you actually string your lights as you go, the process goes much faster. Its much easier to maneuver this way when your tree is in the corner, and if you wrap the strands a couple times on each layer, you actually end up with a lot of depth to the lights, which I love.
The problem was, 3 of my 4 light strands aren't working. And since it was late at night and I couldn't exactly leave all the piles of branches laying on the floor for the dog sitter, I had to put it up anyway. So, I have a tree. Just no lights or ornaments yet.
behold the lamb.
Last night, I drove to Richmond to see Andrew Peterson, Bebo Norman and several others perform Behold the Lamb live. Its been about the only non-work thing I've taken the time to do over the last week, but it was so worth it.
For the first half of the concert, each person sang a couple of their own songs, then they brought everyone out to do the entire CD, straight through. The music and the musicians were absolutly incredible (the two percussionists each played a ton of instruments, and sometimes more than one at a time). But even more than that, it was just wonderful to be remember exactly what Christmas is about - To remember the entire story, the one that started way back in Genesis. To remember that the entire Bible, Old and New Testament, is about Christ. To remember that in the midst of a dirty, smelling stable, something absolutely miraculous occurred. Emmanuel, God with us.
It stirred my soul.
For the first half of the concert, each person sang a couple of their own songs, then they brought everyone out to do the entire CD, straight through. The music and the musicians were absolutly incredible (the two percussionists each played a ton of instruments, and sometimes more than one at a time). But even more than that, it was just wonderful to be remember exactly what Christmas is about - To remember the entire story, the one that started way back in Genesis. To remember that the entire Bible, Old and New Testament, is about Christ. To remember that in the midst of a dirty, smelling stable, something absolutely miraculous occurred. Emmanuel, God with us.
It stirred my soul.
more on the waiting.
I just read this post about the darkest time in Jewish history - the 400 years when God was silent. It reminds me of the some of the things I was thinking about last week.
christmas decorating.
I've been dying to start Christmas decorating, especially as I'm seeing all kinds of pictures of it lately - in stores, on other people's blogs, on TV and in catalogs.
BUT - in just a few days I fly to southern California for a work trip, to deliver phase 1 of a project I've been working on for the last year. And there are still so many little things to take care for this project, so I've been staying busy with that. I keep telling myself that if I can get so many of these things finished, that I'll actually be free to do what I really want to do.
In the meantime, I've contented myself with burning a Christmas scented candle (Jack Frost by Yankee Candle) and pulling out just a few things that were easily accessible - a new kitchen towel and pot holder, the wire card holder tree I found at a thrift store, and the sleigh I repainted to hold small Christmas gifts.
Hopefully, I can really get into it later this week and start taking pictures.
BUT - in just a few days I fly to southern California for a work trip, to deliver phase 1 of a project I've been working on for the last year. And there are still so many little things to take care for this project, so I've been staying busy with that. I keep telling myself that if I can get so many of these things finished, that I'll actually be free to do what I really want to do.
In the meantime, I've contented myself with burning a Christmas scented candle (Jack Frost by Yankee Candle) and pulling out just a few things that were easily accessible - a new kitchen towel and pot holder, the wire card holder tree I found at a thrift store, and the sleigh I repainted to hold small Christmas gifts.
Hopefully, I can really get into it later this week and start taking pictures.
back home.
Well, the pumpkin pie was a success. And even though Katie told me that she liked it, I really believed her when she ate the leftovers.
Jake and I spent all day Friday together - passing out Starbucks coffee to people at Best Buy who had gotten up before dawn to deal with crazy people, helping Grandma clean out the basement, playing Mario Party and eating pizza. I introduced him to a whole bunch of fun Christmas songs, and we ended the day by seeing Bolt at a really, really late showing - so late we were the only people in the theater.
I'm back home now, desperately wanting to start my Christmas decorating, but knowing that I still have a ton of work to get done to get ready for my trip to California for work next week.
Jake and I spent all day Friday together - passing out Starbucks coffee to people at Best Buy who had gotten up before dawn to deal with crazy people, helping Grandma clean out the basement, playing Mario Party and eating pizza. I introduced him to a whole bunch of fun Christmas songs, and we ended the day by seeing Bolt at a really, really late showing - so late we were the only people in the theater.
I'm back home now, desperately wanting to start my Christmas decorating, but knowing that I still have a ton of work to get done to get ready for my trip to California for work next week.
advent.
I love Christmas. If you've read anything I've written, you already know that.
Lately I've been thinking about the years before Jesus was born, of what the Jewish people must have thought as they waited for God to deliver on his promise of a Savior. I was reading through the copy of the Jesus Storybook Bible (which I love and very highly recommend, not just for kids, but adults, too), thinking about some things to read in the Christmas service at The Bridge.
I love this part so much that I just had to record it here - this is from Ezra and Nehemiah and Malachi, where the Jewish people are celebrating the things that God has done for them.
Lately I've been thinking about the years before Jesus was born, of what the Jewish people must have thought as they waited for God to deliver on his promise of a Savior. I was reading through the copy of the Jesus Storybook Bible (which I love and very highly recommend, not just for kids, but adults, too), thinking about some things to read in the Christmas service at The Bridge.
I love this part so much that I just had to record it here - this is from Ezra and Nehemiah and Malachi, where the Jewish people are celebrating the things that God has done for them.
They remembered how God had always, all through the years, been loving his children - keeping his promise to Abraham, taking care of them, forgiving them. Even when they disobeyed. Even when they ran away from him. Even when they thought they didn't need him.
Then God told his children something more...
I can't stop loving you. You are my heart's treasure. But I lost you. Now I am coming back for you...I am going to send my Messenger - The Promised One. The One you have been waiting for. The Rescuer. He is coming. So, get ready!
It had taken centuries for God's people to be ready, but now the time had almost come for the best part God's plan.
God himself was going to come. Not to punish his people - but to rescue them.
God was getting ready to wipe away every tear from every eye.
And the true party was just about to begin..."
From The Jesus Storybook Bible, written by Sally Lloyd-Jones
occ follow-up.
Sunday was the last day for our church to turn in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and we showed this video of the kids filling their boxes:
(By the way, I love that song - isn't it just perfect? And you know my obsession with Christmas music.)
Altogether, including many boxes created by Dev and Joel's daughter and her friends at college, we donated 62 boxes.
(By the way, I love that song - isn't it just perfect? And you know my obsession with Christmas music.)
Altogether, including many boxes created by Dev and Joel's daughter and her friends at college, we donated 62 boxes.
a different perspective.
I'm visiting my sister Kelli at her (kind of) new place in Baltimore for the night, before heading to Frederick for the rest of week for Thanksgiving with my family. We spent some time walking around Federal Hill, checking out the Cross Street Market and stopping in the only store still open that looked interesting.
It was this little place with a French name and a British owner. We talked for a while about Thanksgiving, about the flowers we had bought for Mom and who was making what part of the meal, when he reminded us that Thanksgiving is an American holiday.
"Of course, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving," he said. "Well, we do, just on another day. July 4th."
Um, you know we're Americans, right?
It was this little place with a French name and a British owner. We talked for a while about Thanksgiving, about the flowers we had bought for Mom and who was making what part of the meal, when he reminded us that Thanksgiving is an American holiday.
"Of course, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving," he said. "Well, we do, just on another day. July 4th."
Um, you know we're Americans, right?
pumpkin pie.
I'm not a pie person. I'm actually not much of a dessert person, though once in a while I just really, really want some chocolate. Especially if it comes wrapped around fruit, like these:
I'll know Thursday if it passes my sister's inspection.
Here are instructions for making pumpkin puree (though I just kind of mashed it up with a potato masher, and it didn't turn out nearly this liquid-y).
And here's the recipe:
I'll know Thursday if it passes my sister's inspection.
Here are instructions for making pumpkin puree (though I just kind of mashed it up with a potato masher, and it didn't turn out nearly this liquid-y).
And here's the recipe:
Pumpkin Pie
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1 1/2 cup cooked pumpkin
1 2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp cloves
2 eggs
9-inch pie crust, unbaked
Mix all ingredients until smooth. Pour into pie crust and bake 15 minutes at 450°, then reduce heat and bake 45 minutes at 325° or until knife comes out clean.
Note: I actually ended up cooking this significantly longer - almost 30 minutes, in 10 minute increments.
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