Looking Ahead

What a full, beautiful year it has been. I'm thankful for the year it has been. I'm not sure I have the energy to repeat it...but I wouldn't change a thing about it. And I'm grateful to have captured its memories so I can look at them later and be reminded of the blessings.

This past Saturday, Ryan's extended family had a huge Christmas party, and as we put on our coats to leave, his Aunt Becky hugged me and whispered in my ear, "Who knows where you'll be this time next year!?"

God knows. And He's not telling. At least not right now.

Ryan and I stand on the edge of a future that could go in a thousand different directions. We fully expect that by this day next year, life will look very different from how it looks today. We just don't know the details of that different. We are trusting God to take us right where He wants us to be. We stand with hearts and hands as open as we can unfurl them...waiting to see His plan.

Back in 2009, I stood on this day, glancing over the new decade arriving with 2010, and I had no idea that in the span of one year, I would fall in love...get my heart broken...and publish a book all in the span of one year.

I rang in that new year, from 2009 to 2010 - at a church that once had been my home...with dear friends...playing games and feeling 1000 kinds of insecure. {Case in point - drove around town for an hour just working up the courage to actually WALK IN to the party. You can see it in that picture there on the left. Fake happy.}

And look at the smile on my face just one year later - in the photo on the right. God had taken me through the biggest trials and brought me through with the biggest blessings. I spent 2010 New Year's Eve with friends at their home...enjoying being an aunt and enjoying LIFE.

And on that New Year's Eve in 2010...looking ahead in to 2011, I had NO idea what would transpire in THAT year. That God would allow me the opportunity for a huge career change. That I would say goodbye to Financial Aid and say hello to WBCL. Say goodbye to a 1 minute commute and say hello to a 1 hour commute. That I would blossom even more and let the new inside Bekah match the new outside Bekah. I had no clue.

In 2010, I was with one group of friends...and on 2011 {on the right} I was with my friend Faith. We had a garish shirt Hawaiian party...and went to see a movie...and reflected on our year and wrote out hopes and dreams for the new year. And had a grown up slumber party. And I wondered, just like I did every single year - if 2012 would be the year I'd find Mr. Missing.

And boy did I ever. Yes. Indeed. In that picture in the crazy Hawaiian shirt, I wondered if maybe, just MAYBE, I would find a date in 2012. And God let me find a date...and a fiancé...and a husband...all before the next year rolled around. {Good thing Ryan didn't see this picture, right?}

And that's how the difference from New Year's Eve 2011 going into 2012 and New Year's Eve 2012 going into 2013 ended up looking a little something like this:

So here I am...on the brink of 2014....and all I know is that last year, I sat as a newlywed, beside a New Year's Eve date for the first time ever. Ahead of me was a year full of home renovations, weekend trips, and learning to be a wife.

And this coming year? I don't know. But I know the same God who has been faithful on the brink of each of those unknowns is still walking beside me and I can count on Him!

Dried Beef Cheeseball

When I married Ryan, I found myself part of a family that loves to fellowship...which means they also love to cook and to eat! It's a perfect match...since I love all those things too!

As the first round of post-wedding holidays arrived, I patiently awaited my first family meal assignment...and it turned out to be...a cheeseball!

I was excited about that, because I love making a dried beef cheeseball...it is actually one of the first recipes my mom gave me when I moved out on my own after college. I've been making them ever since!

There are several versions of this general recipe floating around...so I'm adding mine to the mix. If you're headed to a New Year's Eve party this week and need something to take with you, try this one!

Dried Beef Cheeseball

* 2 eight-ounce packages of cream cheese
* 2 two-ounce packages of thinly sliced beef
* 1 bunch of green onions
* 1/2 teaspoon of liquid smoke
* 1 teaspoon of garlic or garlic seasoning blend

Soften the cream cheese to room temperature. Chop the slices of beef and the green onions into small pieces. Combine all five ingredients until well blended. Roll into a ball and serve with crackers.

A Few Tips:

* I use 1/3 less fat cream cheese...always looking for ways to save fat grams and calories!

* If you forget to get the cream cheese out in enough time to soften it to room temperature, you can leave it in the foil wrapping and place it in a bowl of warm water until it softens.

* You can use a stand mixer to mix the ingredients, but in the end, you'll find that it will mix better by hand - just to make sure everything is evenly distributed.

* I use the Buddig brand 2 ounce packages of regular beef. These are found in the refrigerated section with the lunch meat. The beef you can buy in a jar on a regular shelf is incredibly salty, so I prefer to not use it.

* If you have a food processor, you can chop the meat in there. It will speed up the process and give you finely chopped pieces!

* We have fallen in love with the Garlic and Wine seasoning from The Melting Pot. We use it on EVERYTHING, and I love it in the cheeseball.

* Because this cheeseball is sticky, I like to spoon the finished cheeseball into saran wrap and then form it into a ball and pull the saran wrap back off.

* If you want, you can roll the cheeseball in nuts, more onions and beef, shredded cheese, or anything else you like. You can also form it in different shapes for different occasions. I've made a carrot-shaped one for Easter and a tie-shaped one for Father's Day. My Mom made a snowman cheeseball for Christmas. Fun food for everyone!

The Shafferland Shuffle

* Last Sunday morning, our church had a combined service, and though packed, it was so nice to be in there with everyone together! Last Sunday was also Ryan's mom's birthday, so that evening we took her and Allen out for dinner and then invited them back to our house for dessert, coffee, and birthday presents! I'm so thankful for Nita and what a great mom she is to Ryan and what a great mother-in-law she is to me!

* Monday was my last day of work before Christmas, and I had a little gift exchange with Lynne. Does she know me, or does she know me?? A Cato gift card and check out this gorgeous Essie polish!!! Adore.  After work, my parents came to visit to see all our Christmas trees and then Ryan and I had a surprise date night to eat dinner and finish our shopping! I love surprise dates!

* Tuesday was Christmas Eve, and I had the day off, but Ryan did not. So I stayed home and scrapbooked, rested and did some last minute shopping and wrapping, and then that evening, we went to his Grandma's house for Christmas with his Dad's side of the family. We had a great time catching up with everyone - and I couldn't resist sharing this photo, taken by Ryan's 3 year old niece. She loves using my "camria." We went to an 11:00 candlelight service and then came home for the traditional sleeping-under-the-tree fun!

* Wednesday, was, of course, Christmas Day, and we started the day with our own Christmas at home. Then we went to Christmas at my parents' house, which you saw already resulted in the surprise of the season - and the very best kind of surprise at that! We stayed there until early evening and then went to another gathering for Ryan's family. We had a great time there as well; I appreciate how they've welcomed me!

* Thursday I had to get back to work...and so did Ryan. I miss long Christmas breaks! When we got home from work, we put away all our Christmas presents, and then I had a chance to work on my day planner for next year. That always makes me VERY happy. And then - best part of the whole day - my niece came over to spend the night. Our first overnight guest! We stayed up late talking to her and had the greatest time!!

* I was so blessed that on Friday, the station let me have a last minute vacation day so I could spend the day with Jeff, Lori and Cassie before they went back home. Ryan had to work, but the four of us went out to eat...went shopping...and had an AMAZING time together. I was so thankful!

* And yesterday was...another family Christmas! We had Christmas with Ryan's extended family, which is a great, fun group of people - and good cooks, too, I might add. Ryan spent most of the afternoon playing a game of Aggravation...and I...well I was making friends with this cutie!

The Saturday Six

One.

I'm SUCH A SUCKER for videos like this one. Military reunions = instant tears. It's less than two minutes long, but I bet you anything you'll cry.

Two.

Source

Christmas is over now, but there are always birthdays to consider...and if you need a birthday idea for a kiddo in your life, check out this idea to make a personalized coloring book using pictures of the kiddo you're giving the gift to! 

Three.

I've pretty much entirely replaced sour cream with yogurt in my world. And for Christmas Day at one of Ryan's family gatherings, we were in charge of the relish tray, so along with it, we took this cucumber dill yogurt dip...and we LOVED it. So if you like dill and saving fat grams, check it out!

Four.

And speaking of Christmas appetizers - check out this cheeseball that my internet-less, Pinterest-less mother made for our lunch! I was so stinkin' proud of her!!

Five.

Source

I've talked before about my friend Brent, who is a singer and ventriloquist and now a children's author. This month he had a party with one of his book characters come to life, which I think is REALLY cool...and the photos for the party were taken by a guy who was a student at IWU when I worked there! So I think this is pretty cool.

Six.

And speaking of photography...this blog post is pretty cool...offers some prompts for being consistent and improving in your picture taking skills! If you're looking for some hints for the new year, check it out!

A Shafferland Christmas

Loved being able to share with you the fun of our Christmas surprise...but I also wanted to give you a peek into the Christmas we shared at home...just Ryan and me. So here you go!

We went to an 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service, and when we came home, we made our little nest in the living room under the Christmas tree! This was a tradition I've done for many years and Ryan has been a good sport to join in since we've been married:

We got up Christmas morning with the fireplace going, the trees lit, and cooked our breakfast. Just like last year, I whipped up a batch of quick cinnamon rolls the night before, and we baked those that morning - along with a pot of coffee, of course. :)

Ryan drank his coffee while watching the yule log station on TV. LOL!!!

And Braeya guarded the gifts.

Before we opened the gifts, I read the final Advent reading from my book. It has been such a joy to get to share reading that with Ryan this season!

And then we dug into stockings...Braeya first.

Yeah she got so into that gift that eventually she threw up. Lovely.

Then we exchanged our stockings...which I love.

Ryan got me some Essie polish {my favorite} - and the hilarious part was, the color he picked out was the same one Lynne picked out for me - and I was wearing it!! Good taste, huh?? 

 I opened some pens - which reminded me that was the OTHER thing I was going to put in his stocking!! WHOOPSIE!!!

 Among other things, Ryan received new chapstick to make up for what I have washed and dried...and a new plug for his phone when he's in the car.

 And his favorite coffee flavored Werthers!

Then it was time for real presents!

Ryan is such a thoughtful gift-giver. He got me this little flip calendar adapted from the Holley Gerth book You're Already Amazing and told me he wanted me to put it on my desk, read it, and believe it. Yeah. He's that sweet. 

 And then this little sign, which made me cry actual tears.

 Of course I had to get him Colts gear!!

 A photo collage from our cruise...he loved it.

 For me...a heated seat cover for my car. There aren't any bun warmers in my car, so this was AMAZING.

 And then it was time for his "big gift."

 I'd made him a little sign of explanation, and int he photo above, HE THOUGHT IT WAS A PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENT. {It was one of those you+me kinds of things.}

But THEN...he figured it out!

 You plus me plus Pentatonix!! Yep! Concert tickets!!

 I asked him...when you thought this was a pregnancy announcement, did you think I was giving birth to the five fully grown humans in the bottom photo??  LOL!!!

He was SO excited. I love it.

And then my last big gift....

A gel manicure light so I can do my own manicures at home!! He knew I was planning to save my money for it...so he beat me to it!

We had a great morning together - yay for our second Christmas together!!

Christmas Surprises

So yesterday was Christmas...and Ryan and I enjoyed a morning at home together - and for those of you who have been aching to know what we got each other - I'll have a recap for you on that soon.

Then we loaded up the car, stuffed the hash brown casserole in the 9x13 insulated carrier and headed out for Christmas with my parents. It's usually just my parents, my sister Julie, and me...and now, of course, Ryan too. We miss the days of big Christmases, so Ryan and I invited his mom and Allen to join us...and Mom rounded up my Aunt B and my brother-in-law's mom, and we decided to have a big, fun Christmas with everyone!

Ryan and I headed out a few minutes early so we could make sure Mom had the Christmas dishes she was borrowing from me. {No hostess wants guests showing up to a partially set table.} We backed the car up to the garage and were in the process of unloading the first round of stuff, when a dark car pulled into the driveway.

It didn't quite look like Ryan's parents' car...and it was a bit earlier than we were expecting, but we waved anyway...and they waved back.

Except...it didn't really look like them.

At all.

As I waved, Ryan said to me, "Is that your sister?"

It was. My sister from Kansas. And my brother-in-law. And my niece. And the dog! All of them came tumbling out of the car at once...

the best Christmas surprise EVER.

They drove all the way from Kansas, on Christmas Eve {Cassie's birthday, no less} to surprise our entire family on Christmas day. Not a single soul knew they were coming.

I was crying and trying not to cry...and hugging them...

...and then I called my parents inside the house. I said, "We have SO MUCH STUFF to lug in. Any way you could open up the garage doors?

So she did.

Not much renders my mom speechless. {I get it honestly.} But she sure did have some silent moments as she took in the scene...

 Dad...well...he went straight for the granddog.

 And then the granddaughter. :)

 Sorry these pictures aren't the best photography. It was sort of an overwhelming moment.

Mom spent the rest of the day saying, "This is the best Christmas ever."

All her kids under one roof.

I'm not a mom - but that's probably all they really want. And for the first time in over 10 years, she had it.

It's true. Best Christmas ever.

Merry Christmas!

In His great love, God gave up the One He loved most. His one and only Son. He prepared Jesus for a mission of love and compassion...a mission that would culminate in the ultimate love gift. A life sacrifice that made it possible for us to be called the children of God. He sent Jesus to meet the hurting and to change their lives in gentle tenderness. 

And as you celebrate the remembrance of His birth in Bethlehem, you cannot offer back to Him a greater gift than the offering of your own life as a sacrifice. Not in crucifixion, but as a holy and pleasing sacrifice of worship.

This same Savior who arrived to love and touch and bless...wants to be the Savior to you.

The first Christmas was so very different from the celebrations of this year. But it was no less cause for celebration. Whether it was day or night, hot or cold, a Gift of God came from Heaven's Halls to bring new life...not just to the arms that welcomed Him, but to hearts that would welcome Him for all time forward.

His presence...is still His greatest gift.

{From His Advent: Still His Greatest Gift}


Merry Christmas to you from both of us!!
 

These Were a Few of My Favorite Things

Since I'll probably be talking about Christmas until the end of the year, I thought I'd spend today showing you some of my favorite moments from 2013. It has been a busy, but beautiful year. So thankful for all the moments - good and bad, easy and difficult - that made up this year.

January.

 Our SHARE fundraiser week is always a lot of fun - but also takes just about everything we've got, emotionally speaking. It was a joy to have Ryan take two vacation days to join me for the last two days of it - and even to get to share the air waves with him for a few minutes...right back where it all started, baby!

February.

 My very first Valentine's Day - ever - to have a Valentine. We skipped the crowds, stayed in and cooked for each other and had dinner complete with flowers and sparkling grape juice. Won't ever forget this beautiful day!

March.

 Our at-home reception was in March, and it was so fun to crawl back in the wedding attire we loved so much and share our wedding video with everyone who wasn't able to be in Florida with us. Wedding...complete!!!

April.

 Never had a chance to spoil a husband on his birthday until APRIL!! What a great day we had - and I loved celebrating his life with him. Also loved that we could be the same age for 2 1/2 weeks. But I digress....

May.

 The winning photo of 2013...because nothing describes the two of us like what you see above. This also shows my bravest moment of 2013. What a fun trip this was...our birthday bash to the Creation Museum with a side trip to zipline.

June.

 This may be my favorite picture of us from this year. It was from Father's Day...and it shows how much I love having someone to take home for days like this. That has been one of the biggest blessings of this year.

July.

 Ryan planned some AMAZING dates for us this year and picking my favorite seems as cruel as picking a favorite child, but I think this one might be at the top. The movie night date. He picked me up at a baby shower with this amazing nest made in the back of the car, and a full supply of pizza, pop, popcorn and cookies - and we went to the drive-in and watched Monsters University. GOOD JOB, BABY.

August.

 Another of my favorite pictures from this year...from our first cruise!!! We happened upon a stretch of unoccupied beach in Nassau and had the BEST afternoon just enjoying the beach {and a photo shoot} before the sky broke LOOSE in rain!

September.

 I love being able to be a goofball with Ryan! This picture was taken during an evening when we entertained some friends and took over the game we were playing with the kiddo...and it was just FUN. Thankful to have FUN.

October.

 We love taking little weekender trips whenever we can, and this one was from our trip up near Chicago to visit my friends, Frog and Jenna. We went to Edwards Orchard and took full advantage of the photo opps. Have I mentioned I love having a goofy fun husband?

November.

 Loved our chance to get away for the weekend for our first anniversary - a very fun weekend in Indianapolis. This part was a highlight. Sure was better than the day we found a bite out of a donut we'd left in our room!!

December.

 And now we're to the first of our seconds...our second Christmas together. We've had a great month, decorating, shopping, celebrating, and looking forward to a new year!!!

Thanks, God, for providing such a lovely year for us!