here's to the new year!

1. goodbye, 2010! you were an awesome year for us, but i'm also excited about what 2011 will hold. although there are so many things that will, Lord-willing, be happening in the coming years, i wish time would just slow down. i love right now. even though right now isn't perfect and is difficult at times, i love seeing Him at work, and love what He is doing.

2. Colin and i have had Sufjan's Christmas albums for years, but for some reason i've never really noticed this song. i love it. i love it. i love it and i can't stop listening to it. It's on Vol. V of his Songs for Christmas albums.



3. this article about David Bazan and his walking away from the faith/first solo album (he used to be a part of Pedro the Lion) Curse Your Branches (which is described as a, "harrowing breakup record—except he's dumping God, Jesus, and the evangelical life"). really sad. raises a lot of questions in my mind..

4. so, i love world market. we've talked about this before. most of all (well, besides their rugs, throw pillows, and curtains... haha), i love their glass moroccan-style lanterns. i picked up a few in various shapes, sizes and colors this past week since they were on sale, and am really excited to find a spot for them to hang in our little place! if only i had a back patio, i would string the smaller ones up outside.


5. Also, i made this last night for Colin and I... and we can't stop thinking about it, it's that good. this Spicy Shrimp recipe is a meal fit for the summer, with good friends sitting around a newspaper-covered table. highly recommend you make this! don't forget the toasted french bread with it!

via the Pioneer Woman Cooks.

6.. thank you, all, for the affirmation we have received on this blog (whether it be in person, personal messages, facebook, comments...). it has surprised me that people like to read our thoughts and about our life and find it interesting and encouraging, but we are so glad! i think the next post we write together will be on why we blog. anyways, thanks guys!

grace and peace!

cool.

i just have to share this.



how fun is this? this is, of course, my personal favorite. such talent, love it! i also really like his renditions of "dynamite" by Taio Cruz and Rihanna's "only girl".

enjoy!

brrrr.

1. this week has been so busy, non-stop! typical holiday season. between applying/interviewing for jobs (pretty sure i landed one!), seeing friends (and their sweet babies!), Bible study, Colin's work Christmas party (where we won a $40 giftcard to Arizona's steakhouse at Sandhills! yay date night!), a graduation party, a wedding, and tonight our church's Christmas ball... whew. it's been a lot of fun, though!

2. two nights ago, at a graduation party, i was standing around with a few guys and one other girl. we soon realized through talking that there is a great disparity between what women men find attractive and what women think. It almost reminded me of the Office episode where they have a debate on whether or not Hilary Swank is "hot". In my opinion, these are some of the most beautiful women i've ever seen:

a. Camilla Belle.


b. Emma Watson.


c. Zooey Deschanel.


anyways, i'll bet most of you can guess some of the women that the guys named. what do you think? agree, disagree?

3. Saw this article this morning on A Cup Of Jo. How fun! A columnist for the NY times and his son did dough art. here are some of my favorites:

via.

4. also, peppermint mocha coffeemate creamer > anything else. i still like black coffee, but this creamer is delicious and so festive!

6 days until Christmas!

the wife.

Colin here.

Apologies for the long absence. Much has transpired and blogging has been on the far distant burner.

1. Currently at coolbeans musing on James 2. What a shocking and provocative passage for protestants of all shades! Every once in a while I'll read scripture and come out of the experience winded. Pneumatic workout.

If you got that last one, you're a geek like me.

2. Radiohead: yes. If you haven't ever listened to "optimistic" or "in limbo" together, you lackin'!
I do think they almost pulled off a masterpiece in these two songs. It's rock with a pillow under your tush. I jet off into a far galaxy when I listen to the whole album (Kid A).

3. Watch this and then let's talk about it.



Call social services. Other than the irony of these "ladies'" extreme singleness, there's not much to grin at in this one, folks. Rachel brought a great point over dinner about this video and in light of the "Whip my hair" song by Willow Smith, who is 10 years old. The issue is that our media-centric culture is luring children into social, emotional and physical development faster than ever. In short, we're growing our kids up too fast. In reference to the "single ladies" we just viewed, they are seven years old. that's right. siete anos. When I was seven years old I was playing street hockey everyday after school. These girls are playing with barbies in the afternoon, then going to striptease-esque dance lessons after dinner. hhmmm. What's worse is that any person who speaks out against this video on youtube (like one guy we saw, with a vlog) is consistently called a "pedo" or "pervert" for saying the video is sexually charged and inappropriate. REALLY?

not trying to be uber critical, just...GOMMORAH, people!

4. I love my job. Frenzy Screen Printers! I've posted about it before and told of God's providential grace in giving it to me after months of prayer asking for a job just like it. I enjoy going to work everyday knowing that, to a large extent, the fate of the business rests on my (and Savannah's, my co-worker) shoulders. It is a grand responsibility, but infinitely better than being a cog in the wheel at a factory. I'm in a new store on Harbison Blvd, right next to Chili's and Barnes and Noble. If you need anything printed on t-shirts, hoodies, sweat pants, etc., give us a call (781.3755).

5. God is so abundantly worthy. He is deserving of our devotion and obedience/trust/praise at all times. When we don't have intense religious affections for Him, I firmly believe in THAT time we can honor Him in a very special way, even if just by being with Him intentionally. May we never shrink away from Him because of self-inflicted shame.

Be with God this week. I'll be seeking to do the same.

Grace and Peace to you from the only glorious God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

it's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees...

winter is upon us! high of 37 on wednesday?? aah. moving our little space heater into our bathroom for when i get out of the shower was one of the best ideas i've had in forever. toasty. also, a sprinkle of cinnamon in your cup of coffee does, in fact, brighten your day, just a little bit.

this looks really good right about now.. 43 degrees. BLAGH.

via Oh Joy!

what. the. heck. what is this? so cool! when Colin saw it, he said, "No. no. NO." haha.

the Wood between the Worlds.


why have i not been listening to Joni Mitchell all my life? I love her! I'm finding more and more lately that I love the sound of music from earlier days. If anyone has good recommendations for other artists, please let me know.



James Taylor at Christmas, also. I will always have love for sweet baby James... always.

trusting in Jesus in the midst of sorrow does not go unnoticed by Him. As a sweet friend instructed me, "you just walk." I have found a compassion that is incomparable to anything else. It is such a sweet truth that He is near to us in our grief. i am hungry for His presence. thank you, Lord, for grace to trust You.

grace and peace.

rest.

"Then I said to you, 'Do not be in dread or afraid of them. The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place."

Deuteronomy 1:29-31 (emphasis mine)

the sleeptalking chronicles. (IV)

some of these sleeptalking chronicles almost seem made up, right? every time i tell Colin about them, i preface them with "i could not exaggerate or make this up if i tried." so..

Colin: "DIE.
gyuhyuhyuhyuhyuhyuhyuh. (kind of like someone is strangling him??)
...give me the bid, batch!"




don't really know what to do but laugh when my husband firmly says 'DIE.' in his sleep.

christmas came early.

Colin and I have never been the couple to give each other extravagant christmas gifts. To us, it has always been more valuable to exchange meaningful but smaller gifts, and then treat each other to a nice dinner out (usually sushi) and spend time together around christmastime. we're usually much bigger on spending money to do things together rather than just giving things.

Colin is a funny guy. There hasn't been a special occasion in our marriage or our dating relationship that he has held off on giving me my birthday/christmas/anniversary gift until the day of, simply because he is too excited and can't keep it from me any longer. it's really cute. i thought this year would be different for some reason, but of course i was wrong :)

last night, after telling me (twice) that my breath stunk and that i needed to swig (how sweet), i finally give in, walk in the bathroom, and there is a little tiny drawstring sack sitting in the sink. I had no idea what it was, but all of a sudden, Colin is behind me, grinning like a fool, telling me that my breath really didn't stink, and to open it. this is what was inside..

the bronze and gold river rock ring i have been eying on etsy for over a year, with four skinny silver bands to put around it! you may remember, i blogged about it here. it's so incredibly dainty, unique, and beautiful! he did so, so good. my mouth just fell open, i was almost speechless. very unexpected, especially since it was only december 5th (haha).

hope everyone's enjoying the chilly weather and the beginning of the christmas season!

the sleeptalking chronicles. (III)

Colin sleeptalking last night: (mumbles and looks at me) "oh. i thought we were talking about pay-raises. nevermind."





..yes, my dear, sweet Colin. because we typically do talk about pay-raises and other fiscal things at 1 am.