The Shafferland Shuffle

* Last Sunday night, Hallmark aired the movie based on the Karen Kingsbury book, The Bridge, and my friend Sandee had invited me to watch it with her and some of her friends and family. Ryan assured me he could represent us in watching the Colts game and told me to go watch and have a good time. So I did! I enjoyed the movie {though not waiting a year to see the end of it} - and it was extra fun to see my book on the coffee table in the host's home!!

* Monday morning was fine - and then I looked up while I worked on our podcast and noticed it had suddenly gotten foggy. That's odd! It's odd for fog to settle as far in town as where we live, so I can only imagine what it was like out in the country! I spent the day polishing our "new" dining room table and chairs - and I thought they turned out quite shiny and lovely!

* Tuesday's task was addressing Christmas cards - a huge job, but definitely easier when I had an entire day to do it! Ryan and I got a new gift from his mom - a coffee Christmas rug. How perfect is this!?!?!? Not perfect was the help we received while working out. Bench press that, Braeya!! LOL!

* Wednesday I mailed my cards, and I ended up sitting in the Walgreen's parking lot with a washcloth, sealing them all in the front seat of the car. I'm so classy!! Ryan asked if I would buy him some gum - and I had to make a big deal out of it because as you may or may not know, I hate EVERYTHING about gum. {I'm so weird.} That night Ryan FINALLY got the alternator off his truck. He's been working on it for about a month but kept running into issues. He was pretty happy it was done.

* Thursday I had a HUGE treat: I got to watch our friends Nate and Jenna's kiddos for a little bit. They are adorable and we had a good little time. Apparently our house was the coolest because we had all the cartoon channels. :)

* I started wrapping gifts on Friday - and it was fun to do with Christmas movies playing in the background! It was SO WARM on Friday that we walked the light display in the park without even wearing hats or gloves - or very warm coats! It was the most fun date. I'm so glad we had a good night to go. {The first two years we went, it was snowing when we arrived, and we had to drive it!}

* Yesterday we got to SLEEP IN and eat breakfast at home - which was so lovely! We went to a birthday party for a friend's kiddo who turned one, and then we set out to finish as much of our Christmas shopping as we could! It was a good all-day date day! And can I tell you how much fun that is to do when it's almost seventy degrees IN DECEMBER?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?

Podcasts and Such

I interrupt my own anniversary vacation coverage to bring you today's post. :)

* First of all, happy December! We have not fully {read: remotely} decorated, but hopefully within the next day or two, we will remedy that! I've been completely enjoying everyone's coverage of their own decorations as posted on all forms of social media. Very inspirational!

* We are also excited to start reading His Advent: Still His Greatest Gift today. While on one hand, it still feels very strange to me to read my own writing, I really enjoy this tradition with Ryan! Whether or not you have a copy of the book, I hope you'll do some sort of reading for the Advent season, so I wanted to remind you that today is December 1!

* THANK YOU for all the really kind words regarding last week's podcast. {If you missed it, you can catch it here.} It was a scary thing to hit publish on that and then sit back to see what you all thought about it! But you have been kind, and we are grateful. Our work has been well-received, and that relieves us. We are committed to making it better and better every week, so we hope you'll feel we succeeded with that this week! {Please overlook a couple of audio hiccups. Apparently I'm new at running a board.}

* Which brings me to my next point...without further ado, here is our second round at podcasting:

Click here to listen.

* In one of the stories we tell, there is an opportunity to vote to name Ryan's metal wall-mounted rhino head. {If that doesn't complete your day, I just don't know what will.} I promised in the podcast to post a picture of said rhino head in action as a coat rack, in case this influences your decision in any way. {Name options are found in the podcast.} Here is the rhino head and feel free to vote in the comments if you like.

* I don't intend for every Tuesday's blog post to be devoted to the podcast, but who knows. Maybe it will be. I'm new at this. {Also. I just typed "I'm knew at this." I think that means I need more coffee.}

* I shall now get more coffee.

Celebrating Five Years of "His Advent: Still His Greatest Gift"

I just realized a few days ago that this year marks the fifth anniversary of publishing my first book. I kind of wish I would have paid attention to that little milestone earlier and planned a party of some sort. I do love a party.

So in honor of a beautiful thing in my life and in mourning of the fact that I don't have a real-life party, will you have a blog party with me today?

I know many of you have started visiting here in the last five years, so you didn't get to be part of that early journey with me.

His Advent: Still His Greatest Gift is a devotional reading for the Advent Season, and it was born out of a Christmas season several years ago when my heart struggled to find a desire to celebrate. I went through all the outward motions, but I didn't really care. Throughout December, I did a personal study on the lives of people who were impacted by the moment Jesus arrived in their lives, and the next year, I braved sharing my thoughts with a few friends.

They urged me to publish my work, and I set about trying to find an agent to help me find a publisher for my book. It was discouraging when that part of the journey didn't work, but right about that time, I learned of WestBow Press, a publishing house that offered self-publishing packages to authors. I decided I wanted to share my devotional, even if the reading crowd was small, and in 2010, I submitted my manuscript and began the publishing process. You can read a timeline of that part of the process here, but here's a picture of fluffy Bekah with her manuscript:

The book became available in July of that year, and throughout the early fall, I mailed out copies to many friends {THANK YOU!!!} and even had some book signings...at my church, in my hometown, at Indiana Wesleyan. It was such fun.

And a bonus: I had the opportunity to be a guest on a little show you might have heard of: Mid-Morning on WBCL.

That's where it all began. That little interview with Lynne eventually led to my job at WBCL! A totally unexpected part of my book publishing journey!

2010 was a hard year in many ways, but this opportunity to see my name on a book was such a joy.

Some of you have asked recently about the book...where to get it...things like that. So....

Who: Just a reminder that I published this book before I got married, so if you're looking it up online, you'll want to search under Rebekah J. Freelan.

What: The book is only 108 pages long, and each day's reading is just two or three pages. You can use it for your own personal devotions or for family devotions. One of my friends used it with her under-ten-years-of-age daughter and said she really enjoyed sharing Scripture with her this way. 

When: Though you can read it anytime you like, the book was designed to be read each day through the month of December. So if you order now, it should arrive in time for you to begin on December first.

Where: The book is available on Amazon and if you're local and know me, I do have a few copies on hand and can save you some shipping.

Why: My goal in writing this book was to look at unique ways Jesus met the people of His day, and I hope you learn something through the pages. If you read, thanks so much for letting my words {learned from His teaching} be part of your season!

Bekah's Bookshelf: Fall Reads

A few months ago, one of my Facebook friends asked if I would do a post of book recommendations. So I did this one at the end of May to offer suggestions for summer reading, and it JUST occurred to me that I should offer you an updated list for the fall. You know. Since fall is half over and there's something like a single digit number of Fridays left until Christmas. Free time, I'm sure, abounds for you.

Nevertheless...here is my suggested fall reading list.

One.

Source

A Place Called Home is my pick for vintage fiction. I chose this because last time I told you I cut my fiction reading teeth on Janette Oke's books, but my co-favorite author was Lori Wick. Lori doesn't write for publication anymore {that I'm aware of anyway} but I still think her works from years ago are worth the read, and this is the very first one I ever picked up.


Published back in 1990, this first of four books in the Place Called Home series, this book is set in the late 1800s in Wisconsin. Christine Bennett escapes to the small community of Baxter, Wisconsin to begin a new life after the death of her only living relative: her grandfather. She meets the Cameron family, who all seem to be drawn to her, and she hovers between fitting in with a new community and friends...and the mystery of her old life that seems to follow her everywhere.

I think you'll like the book so much, you'll have to read the second, the third, and probably also the fourth books in the series. And you'll probably want to marry one of the Cameron boys. Not that I ever wanted to...

Two.

Source

Last Chance Hero is my pick for brand new fiction, and if it sounds familiar to you...it's because I just reviewed it here. Maybe I like it so much because it, too, is in a series titled A Place to Call Home! Written by Cathleen Armstrong, and released just this fall, this is actually the FOURTH book in this series, but even if you haven't read the first three, you'll enjoy this tale. {Confession: after reading it, I wanted to immediately go out and buy the first three, though.}


I picked this book because it is set in the fall, which makes it a great fall read. It tells the story of Dr. Jessica McLeod, a young physician who sets up a private practice in the small town of Last Chance, New Mexico. She finds the community a bit more difficult to fit into, mostly because they're leery of strangers, and she has no interest in football, which is all the folks in Last Chance live for - at least during the fall season.

Filled with small town love, a good taste of romance, and a lace of faith, I found this book to be a delightful read, and whether or not you understand football, you'll enjoy this town and its people.

Three.

Source

For my memoir pick this round, I present to you {again} The Road to Becoming by Jenny Simmons. {My review of it can be found here.} Jenny Simmons was the lead singer of the band Addison Road, which you may have heard on the radio a few years ago, though they have since disbanded. Jenny still travels as a solo artist, but she is also a gifted writer, and this book was birthed through hard labor pains that gave way to incredible success.


I first learned about the book months ago, when Jenny initially published it through a Kickstarter campaign. It was so profoundly backed that she wildly exceeded her goals and was able to use the excess to do further ministry surrounding the book and her music. Baker Books picked up the book and republished it traditionally, and that's how I ended up with a copy of it.

Jenny tells stories of life on and off the road that you simply wouldn't believe until you read them. And even though the details of your life may not match hers, the lessons she learned and the truths she gleaned will be remarkably familiar, and she tells them with such refreshing vulnerability and honesty. I am so proud of Jenny for this book {look at me talking like I know her} and I think it's a worthy, worthy read.

Four.

Source

My inspirational read this round is another one I've reviewed before, but it's been a few weeks, so I wanted to put it in front of you again. Your Sacred Yes by Susie Larson is a must-read guide if you are guilty of taking on obligations out of sheer obligation and not out of God's prompting on your soul.


I thought since we were fixin' to head into the holidays again, it might be worth revisiting. How many of us take on wayyyyyyyyyyyyy to much around the holidays? If that's you {and I'll meet you halfway by telling you it also tends to be me} - you need this book. Let Susie teach you how to say no without being undone by guilt and shame, seek the Lord for what He wants you to say yes to, and discern His invitations vs. man's obligations.

Susie has a beautiful heart for the Lord and for people, I trust her words, and I appreciate her challenges.

Five.

Source

I promise promise promise I didn't do this post with the underlying intention of putting this book in front of your face. Truly. But when I saw it sitting there on the shelf with my other books, I wanted to remind you about it because the season is almost here! December is a little over a month away, and I still sit in awe of this little book that started out as an impression on my heart and then found its way into binding behind a cover. Such good memories of the year this book was a blessing on my broken little heart.


If you're new to the blogaroo and don't know, back in 2010, I published this book called His Advent: Still His Greatest Gift, which is a 25 day devotional reading for the month of December. It was born out of a Christmas season when I'd lost my zeal for the holiday and God used these lessons to bring my heart back to where it needed to be. Each reading takes you into the life of someone from Jesus' life who encountered Him in the flesh and left forever changed because of His presence.

It's been such a joy to hear people say what this book means to them each Christmas as they read it on their own or with their family. I know many of you who come here day after day already have a copy - and I hope if you do, you'll dig it out for another Christmas season. But if you're new and haven't seen it yet, I wanted to tell you about it. I'm not one to be ridiculous with self-promotion, but on the flip side, I am appropriately proud of this work and want to give it a little pre-holiday bump!

Looking Back

I have a post forming in my mind that I will write...but it's another month or so in the making. But the mere thinking of it took me on a little trip yesterday. A little trip through the last five years and what was happening in Bekahland on that day in each year.

2010.

January 11th, 2010 found me reading through my yet-to-be-published book. Again. Editing, editing, editing. Reading through familiar words and trying to teach myself to be willing to chop some out. {My main gift is not the revision process.}  That particular day, I was trying to read as a reader, not a writer. I was trying to imagine what my mysterious readers out there would find worth underlining. The book was still a screen-dream that day.

What a beautiful journey has come to fruition on that little book. I have loved each stage of the journey. I have loved the people I've me through sharing it. I have loved the chance to have book signings, the chance to read aloud to audiences, the chance to hear from those who gave and received it as a gift.

2011.

January 11, 2011 found me discussing the never ending E word: exercise. I was a few months on the other side of my unexpected weight loss, compliments of the love life drama I endured in 2010. I was still working at Indiana Wesleyan, and they had a wellness program incentive to try to increase healthy living among the employees. I was trying to introduce some variety into my exercise world...learning I was not a zumba girl and trying hard to find other DVD programs that might work for me.

Welllllll here we are in 2015, and it's still a source of contention! I have no more coordination now than I did then, so I'm pretty sure I'm still not a zumba girl - and I still struggle to find things that work for me. It's even worse now, because we have to factor in commuting, which takes the time I used to spend in the gym when I lived next door to work. This is an area where I have to continue to search for answers and ask God to help guide me to something that works for me in a commuter's world.

2012.

January 11, 2012 was a Q&A day in Bekahland. It was still Bekahland back then. Wasn't even dating on this day in 2012, and who knew that by the end of that year, I'd be married!?!?! I was, by this time, working at WBCL, and we were about to head into our Share fundraiser, and I think my brain was tired from gearing up for that! {Hence the Q&A.} In this little post, I revealed that as a child, I desperately wanted to be named Brittany, and the most unfair punishment my parents ever bestowed upon me was the drama of the peaches.

I still don't know if I ever told you that story, so here it is. We were a clean your plate family, when I grew up, and one night, when I was probably somewhere between 5 and 8 years old, Mom served fresh peaches for dinner. I don't know that I'd ever had peaches before, and I did try them, but I did not like them, so I elected not to finish them. What ensued was a battle of the wills between me and the Mama, and the bottom line became...I would eat those peaches. Period. In fairness to Mom, it probably became a matter of principle because I probably had a little fit about it. After sitting at the table for a couple of hours, stubbornly refusing the peaches, she let me get up, and I thought I won.

I was wrong. When the next meal rolled around, the only thing on my plate was that bowl of peaches, which had been hiding in the fridge since the aforementioned dinner. I cried, but I ate them. She never asked me to eat them again. And I probably haven't eaten them of my own accord, either, unless encased in a pie or cobbler!

2013. 

January 11, 2013 was recap day for our honeymoon!!! We'd been married for over a month at that point, but with all the holiday recaps in December, I still hadn't fully told you all about our honeymoon! This was the day I recounted our adventures on the tandem bike. Ryan so wanted to rent and ride a tandem bike, and this girl, who once broke her leg riding a bike, was a little more cautious. He was fully engrossed in the joy, ringing the little bell twice and shouting Hellooooooooooo! to everyone we passed. We rode into Siesta Key, ate some lunch, shopped in town, watched a sunset on the beach, and then rode home at the edge of the water, which was packed down hard and was something like a road desperately in need of filled potholes. Oh how I miss that honeymoon - and today, those temps!!!

2014.

January 11, 2014 was a Saturday, so it featured the Saturday Six. But in it were some pictures of little Braeya Jo Jo, drinking milk out of a glass. I know we're the crazy cat people, since we don't have kids, but my goodness. That little bundle of fur brings us more joy and more frustration than any one little bundle of fun should. Her little personality is so much fun, even when she's leaning more toward naughty than nice. She will turn nine this year, and I'm so thankful for her little life. {Even though the little traitor is completely a daddy's girl now.} 

Thankfulness, Part 1

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I wanted to spend today and tomorrow sharing some things that make me extra thankful. I'm thankful for much more than these two lists say, but in honor of Thanksgiving, I wanted to share these this week!

1. Ryan's big family.

I grew up in a pretty little family. My dad is an only child, and my mom only has one sister. And I'm the caboose. So our holidays gatherings were pretty small - and even smaller once my grandparents died and all the cousins scattered across the U.S.A. So you can imagine my joy when I married into a family full of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews! This picture is probably a quarter of the whole crew - and I do think I've learned everyone's name now - but it's a joy to be part of a big family! 

2. The desert.

It's been four full years now since I walked the desert road, and while it was a long, hot, dark, and exhausting season of my life, I remain thankful for it. I'm thankful for the dependence on the Lord it taught me, I'm thankful for the strength in me it uncovered, and I'm thankful for the way it taught me that God can redeem even the most desperate, hopeless times. I am the girl I am today because of that desert, and I am thankful for it. 

3. The long home sale journey.

Ryan and I never DREAMED, almost two years ago, when we put his house on the market, that it would be the ordeal it has become. We put it up for sale on our own and immediately got a bite and we believed that family would make it their forever home. A year later, they'd moved out, and we were heartbroken and burned by the debacle it became. We spent months cleaning and repairing the damage and put it back on the market. A few months in, we got an offer and had no idea it would take FOUR MONTHS to close on the offer - and that is HOPING it actually happens within a few days like we've been promised {again}. This has been the longest, most exhausting, faith-testing walk of our marriage, and we are tired and so ready to be done. But I'm thankful for the hard season, because it's showed us both what the other is made of in a trial. And for the man my husband is in a trial - I'm grateful. 

4. My book.

In the past couple of weeks, I've had orders come in for the book I published four years ago - in the heart of that desert. I'm still so thankful for the opportunity to publish that book and thankful that I still hold to the words I wrote. I'm thankful for the lessons I learned in the writing and the waiting, and I'm always grateful to hear from others what the book has meant to them. This book has been a blessing to me, and I'm glad its words have reached out to bless others too! 

5. Answers yet to come.

There are so many areas of life that remain a mystery to Ryan and me. And by so many, I mean all, and by life, I mean our immediate future. We pray long and often for answers and direction...and I know they will come...in time. Clearly not in MY time, but in time. And so for these mysteries of the future that are elusive to us right now - I'm grateful. 

6. Ryan.

The fact that he's #6 on the list is in no way a reflection of his importance in my heart. I am so crazy grateful for this man and the fact that he showed up on my porch and in my life. I'm thankful for the way he loves me, prays for me, supports me, and does life every single day with me. For all the people who told me that I needed to know that marriage wasn't really like I dreamed, I present Ryan. He has proven that marriage can be a daily joy.

7. Loves who said no.

Yeah. You'd LIKE a picture on this one, wouldn't you?? I liked a lotta guys in my day. Some never knew it, some didn't return it. And you know what? Some of those guys were really great, upstanding guys with good jobs and a wonderful heart for the Lord. And I asked the Lord OFTEN why He was withholding a yes...because it wasn't like I picked a bunch of deadbeats! But looking back, I'm so thankful for all the guys that didn't work out. Because of each no, I got my very best yes.

8. Heritage.

As thankful as I am for Ryan's big family, I'm also thankful for my own heritage. My siblings and parents and niece and grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins who all, in their own way, contributed to my life and laid a foundation for me. So thankful for the heritage I call mine.

9. Grace.

When I think about what I actually deserve for some of my past choices, actions, and sins, I'm so grateful for grace. Grateful for God's grace and the grace of those around me. Those who allow me to be a human who sometimes messes up. Those who are willing to look past my blunders to see my heart. Oh how thankful I am for grace.

10. Friendships - Forever and Seasonal.

I used to really beat myself up over friendships that changed or ended. I love all my friends, and feel somewhat like a failure when something changes. But God has been teaching me that some friendships are intended to be permanent life-gifts, and others may just be there for a short season, but both are poignant pieces of my life. I am who I am today because of all the friends I have had and still have...and I'm thankful for each one.

The Shafferland Shuffle

* GREAT church service last Sunday. Loved the sermon and the time with our Sunday School class. After church,we realized we hadn't filled the provide-Thanksiving-dinner-for-a-needy-family box that we committed to do, so we hurried and did that so we could drop it off at the church. Then we went home and watched as the first snow of the season {at our house} began. And so begins measuring the snow in the bird bath! That night, while Ryan watched the Colts game, I signed a new round of books some people have ordered for the Advent season!

* The snow that fell on Sunday meant that Monday morning kicked off a new season of crazy early commute times. It was a white-knuckle drive, but I was thankful I made it safely! Work was good - and then that evening, we enjoyed quesadillas and naps by the fire. {Is it bad when you have to take a nap on MONDAY???} And Braeya helped me with the second half of my workout...I encouraged HER to work out as well, but she walked off at that suggestion. Can't say as I blame her.

* Tuesday was not as bad as Monday, weather-wise, but people got a little overconfident on the roads on the commute home, and I was a whisper away from being hit by a fishtailing truck. {Tip: don't cut off drivers on icy bridges when you're hauling a trailer. It doesn't end well. Sincerely, the cut-off driver.} Ryan and I had a blast that night at Starbucks, meeting up with my friend, Olivia and her little girl. She kept us so entertained!! We hardly ever get to see them, since they live out of state, so this was a treat!

 * Wednesday was my second turn working at Habitat for Humanity for the station. BEYOND thankful that the weather held {snowstorms and bad wind were the forecast} and thankful for some tasks I was actually capable of doing! I got to help with some office work and cleaning! It was a c.o.l.d. day, though, so I was equally glad to come home and snuggle under the covers!!!

* Thursday, after work, all the WBCL ladies gathered to celebrate one of our own, the lovely Dana. {If you ever call in to Mid-Morning, you've talked to her, because she answers our phones for us! She and her husband are expecting a baby, so we had a shower for her! It was a lot of fun - and then I scurried home to make it to a Mary Kay Christmas open house before I finally got home! Ryan took time to help out some friends at their house - and to deliver books for me. He's a good author-husband!

* Friday, Lynne worked at the Habitat site, so I had the office to myself and knocked out a WHOLE BUNCH of work that day. That night, Ryan and I had grand plans of getting all kinds of responsible-adult chores done - like grocery shopping and list making. OR...make tacos and curl up on the couch to watch movies!!! There's something about a Friday night at home with candles burning, the fireplace on, and movies playing. Can't beat it!

* Yesterday was SO FUN! we were looking forward to it! We spent the whole day together and did 90% of our Christmas shopping! We were shopping MACHINES!! We had a blast - and we even squeezed in a movie in the afternoon, which is something we rarely do, but it was fun. The weather was pretty decent, and we enjoyed having fun together!

Dreams and Such

Back in the days before blogging, I "blogged" via a weekly email. It was something I began as a discipline to write something besides journal entries each week. My mom {who has always been a champion of my writing} told all her friends to sign up to receive it, and that was my start at blogging.

One of my work friends {in the 5% of those signed up to receive the email outside of my mother's influence} said I really needed to put those emails into a blog so I could reach more people.

Truth?

Reaching more people terrified me. Each week, when I wrote the email, I would craft it with the entire email list in mind. I deleted and edited sentences based on specific reactions I was afraid to receive. But blogging? That would mean I might have no idea who was reading. How would I edit then? So I ignored my work buddy.

Then one day, he called me into his office, told me he'd set up a blog for me. He handed me a paper containing the blog address and my password.

And that's how I started blogging.

For a while, I did both. The weekly email and the blog. And during one of those years, I offered my email readers a little bonus at Christmas: daily emails containing an advent devotion. They could sign up if they wanted, but they didn't have to. Much to my shock, several did. And every day I'd send out an email with this writing project I'd worked on a couple years before that.

And they said what a lot of people say when they read the writing of someone they know and love:  You should write a book.

You thought being bold and brave enough to blog was a big deal. BOOK WRITING? Oh hives.

Finally, with a couple of writing conferences under my belt and a rare surge of courage springing from within, I pursued publishing that book. And every door I tried...closed. So I put it aside.

And then...along came WestBow Press. Thomas Nelson {major Christian publishing house} began a self-publishing arm. Pursuing publication with them meant digging into my own money to finance the project. It was scary, but I wanted to try, so I did it.

As always, God's timing was so perfect. The year I published the book was the same year I had my heart broken in love...and I needed something good to happen.

The first day I saw the first copy of my first book...was about a million dreams come true:

The first copy came in July, and throughout that fall season, I had a few book signings, mailed many copies, and even had a radio interview on a little show we like to call Mid-Morning.

 I have loved this little book - and the journey it gave me that year.

I began to read, after I wrote and published the book, more about the world of self-publishing. There were pros and cons and it seemed writers were very divided on how to do it. And even more than that - it seemed that those who had ever had a chance to publish a book traditionally had no desire to step away from that forum.

Until now.

This week, I read a post and watched a video {by two different people} who have both had good success with multiple books published traditionally, but published their most recent book on their own. Their reasons were different, but their choice was the same.

I've had some ideas swirling in my head for a while now - for more books. And as they swirl, I think about how I might go about writing and publishing them. {Time to write is the first huge hurdle!} But I'm realizing my dreams are becoming far less about the number of copies I might sell and more about the impact in the lives of the people who read however many copies sell.

We're taught to dream big, but what if we dreamed small? I would rather have God accomplish lasting things in the lives of a few people through my words than have my words reach millions but make no difference in them.

So that's where I am in dreamland. Praying for the right words and the right doors to transport them to those who need to hear them, regardless of how many it might be.

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!!
 

Our First Christmas!

I had SO been looking forward to my first Christmas as a wife...and last year at Christmas I had NO IDEA it would happen this year! I wondered what it would be like...and it was absolutely everything I could have dreamed about and filled with even more surprises!!

As has been my tradition for many years, Ryan and I spent Christmas Eve sleeping on the living room floor with the Christmas tree lights on all night. (And the fireplace running.) I appreciated him being a good sport about that! I just love waking up to the tree and all the beauty on Christmas morning!

Here was how it looked before we invaded it:

Isn't it lovely?

We took an official "first Christmas" picture with our trusty chalkboards:

We started the morning with breakfast. I'd made quick cinnamon rolls the night before, so we ate those with (of course) coffee to start our day. (We were trying not to eat TOO much because we knew we'd be eating for the rest of the day!) 

 Then (and I LOVED this so much) Ryan read the last chapter of my Advent book before we started to open our presents. I can't describe to you the feeling of hearing my own husband read words I wrote before we were together...as he led us in devotions. It was unbelievable and so very redemptive.

Then it was time to dig into the presents! This was my first time ever to fill a stocking and it was such fun. I loved watching him open it and love what he found inside.

 (He found it comical that the mini Reese's cups came in a king size package.)

 I gave him some themed gifts...and in there was a coffee set: two mugs and this wooden tray. Coffee in bed, baby!!!

 We had to take a break to give Braeya her stocking. She was most interested in the treats. And since she let us sleep all night for a change, I was willing to give her one.

 My turn!! My first time to have a stocking not filled by my parents!!

 Another break...to give this one her toy....

 Among the treasures...a very cool travel mug. :) We love our travel mugs.

 Another of Ryan's themed gifts - five boxes of Zingers. (He's not a pig. I just had to get them before they stopped manufacturing them!)

Ummmmm did I not just give her treats??? Yes, I thought so.

Ryan's last gift - a big clock for our living room. He's been wanting one for months and I stressed over which one to give him. He really liked this one, so apparently I made a good choice!!

My turn for presents! A book I saw at work that I wanted...Praying the Promises of God. My devo book for 2013!!

 LOVE this sign he found for me. Quotes Genesis - "May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent from the other." I loved that so much...we HATE being apart, even for our commutes and both of us always worry about the safety of the other one on the road. This is perfect!!

 WORKOUT CLOTHES!!!! I so appreciate the way he pushes me to do what I really don't want to do - and he does everything he can to make me feel cute while I do it!

 My last gift turned into a scavenger hunt!! I was so excited! I love scavenger hunts! :) A clue right by...my Christmas flowers!!

 Aren't they gorgeous? My GOODNESS I love flowers.

Another clue in the bathroom. (I had the wrong bathroom at first, so this one took me a while.)

 The last part of my gift - a necklace hanging on Chuck!!!

It was such a lovely Christmas morning. Loved it SO much. Thank you, my Love, for making it such a memorable and beautiful day. I loved sharing it with you!