In the Storm

lovin' these days | my Christmas list

There are a few things I'm lovin' these days.

A few things on my Christmas list under the moniker of something I want, something I need, something to read, and something to wear  This blue and white lamp for my bedroom side table is more a need than a want because we have no lighting in our bedroom except the overhead light and it is a horrible light for reading in my chair or, really, anything.

I would love this mug with an S - of course. It's beautiful! Definitely, a want!

Under the something to read category, I loved Amy's Food Network show when I watched television and love her unhurried, for-real style and would like her cookbook. I don't just look at the pictures. I read cookbooks.

Under the something to wear category, one ring for each grandchild would be lovely.

  I need to buy a couple pairs of jeans. I have none. I thought these in a size 8.5 to wear with a pair of rolled up or cuff jeans would be swoopy.

one thousand gifts | a thrill of hope

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086. The Journey. Compassion Christian Church.

087. the tender hearts serving the special needs table at the Journey

088. hearts of sons - who serve

089. much needed rain

090. relief from toothaches

091. a thrill of hope; a weary world rejoicing

092. pre-lighted Christmas trees

093. a box of ornaments (some tattered and torn) reflecting years of Christmas joy

094. a concerned doctor who seeks to heal not just relieve symptoms

095. voices that sing a cappella

096. homemade Christmas cookies

097. and the memories that go with them

098. creamy, delicious eggnog

099. the prayers of saints praying for you when your sick

100. 'when I saw your name on the list that we'd be working together I was excited'

101. the Son given

102. a morning of low ceilings, low visibilities, light rain, heavy rain showers, thunderstorms and lightning, fog to keep me busy at work and make the time fly by

103. my grandson asking his mom to text me a picture of the sky and ask what kind of clouds; it meant he was thinking about me

104. those with the gift of words

105. carrying us through our exhaustion

 

Friday, with a cup of coffee | 15

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A thank you to veterans and a prayer for the military spouse. While Veteran's Day has passed for this year, as a retired Air Force veteran and as a former military spouse any day of the year is a good day to honor our veterans and prayer for the military spouse. And this is just good - especially that prayer! (Bring tissues).

In this season of Thanksgiving and in the broken and upside down we do not have to find the good to be thankful for because Immanuel, God with us. He is the good.

This.

Re-discover Jesus this Christmas.

While I don't have such oppressing woes after this election, mostly because I understand the truancy of post traumatic stress disorder and the people claiming post election stress disorder and the accompanying depression are suffering from a strong case of narcissism and seriously give a slap in the face to the real disorder, I do have concerns for America's future. This would have been if either candidate had been elected, not just Trump. Therefore, with my concerns, so as not to consume my thoughts and send me into rumination, I prefer to seek out a positive approach. Of course, first and foremost is seek first His kingdom...I go to the Word of God. Works every time. But, here's an interesting approach...learn something.

From a family we've begun supporting for their mission work in Honduras: gut-wrenching. inspiring. the hand of God

Bring a different way. As someone who struggles with this very meaty issue I was comforted and strengthened in my resolve to bring a different way to the table.

 

December Daily 2016 | Day 5

This one is all about the story.

Ian doesn't live here but he is just as much a part of our December stories as the four of us living under this roof. 

I've put this story in my December Daily because I wanted it recorded. Shared. Remembered.

These pages went together quick: I used an Ali Edwards December Daily 2014 overlay, a cut-up AE Jasmine Jones December Daily Journal Card and One Little Bird Designs sticker.

I used that beautiful AE JJ December Daily journal card (enlarged) to accommodate the 6 x 8 page and the font Type Right.

And the story.

December Daily 2016 | Day 4

Today's 2-page, 6 x 8 spread is all about Jeff (and John and Jarrod) as Roman Centurions for our church's huge interactive, outdoor Christmas production where more than 1000 volunteers are needed each of the 10 nights.

My husband, Jeff, gets giddy with anticipation at serving in the Journey and heading back into Roman Centurion uniform (both he and my sons love it so much they've purchased their own armor, helmet, guards, and sword) and getting back on any one of the Percheron horses on loan for the production. He loves being a part of the story on the road to Bethlehem and to a baby in the manger - Jesus.

Jeff loves riding these horses. He's their nanny during the Journey as their owners only trust Jeff with their livelihood - the horses. 

Both of my sons joined my husband serving as Roman Centurions in this years Journey. Our boys aren't riding the horses but they are in the Bethlehem city marketplace. They, all three of them, helped build pieces of the city where much of the Journey takes place. It's just an amazing time for them. One they'll always remember.

December Daily 2016 | Day 3

It was a good day.

It was a painful day.

 

Even through the pain we could celebrate the season.

Jeff went alone to his company Christmas party. The company held their party on the Savannah River Queen - a floating restaurant. He had a really good time. He is well liked within his company so going was a nice change of busy pace.

I stayed home because my mouth was in pain. It began earlier in the day and didn't let up until after he left for the party. Up until then we'd had a good morning. Jeff and I shared a hearty breakfast and I read this days advent reading from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp. 

For the left half of the two-page 6 x 8 spread I kept it seriously simple and used a Paislee Press template. I did enlarge the photo and word art to fill more of the white space (as white space is difficult for me to handle).

I'm thrilled with the right side of the pages, using mostly One Little Bird journal cards and an AE Merry and Bright stamp and a photo of the River Queen (as he was departing).

December Daily 2016 | Day 2

Realized very quickly that keeping my December Daily album simple was going to be the way to go. We have begun our church's big production and all of us are serving in some capacity which means through the 11th our evenings will not be our own and to even keep up with this project I'll need to keep it simple. I'm good with this and relieved as well, because I struggle with embellishment placement - and rather than stress over my limited design skills I'll just highlight the stories and the photos.

I really love Ali Edwards' days of December overlays and will probably use quite a few of them for this project. With a few pieces of word art/brushes/stamps and an older piece of Christmas paper by Ali I completed the left side of a two-page spread.

I used an Ali Edwards template for the right side. For the journal card I was modifying, in PSE, the background color from black to the reddish color and usually I just individually fill in all the areas that were missed from the initial change but when I looked at again I thought I liked the look of the black specks within the letters and the red background so I left it. 

 

December Daily 2016 | Day 1

I am joining Ali Edwards and hundreds (probably thousands) of others documenting my family's December. For last year's December Daily I only completed 15 stories but realized after listening to Ali's Storytelling with December Daily 2016 class that, while I didn't complete the entire month, nor capture the entire month of stories last year, I did tell 15 individual stories of our month. This approach affords the storyteller - me - freedom. Freedom from discontent. Freedom from self-inflicted bashing. Freedom from unrealized goals. Simply - freedom.

So, this year I'm going to carry on.

I'm going to tell as many stories as I can tell without fear of reprisal - from myself.

And, I'm going to enjoy December and be present within my stories.

First up is my title page. A simple page for this simple girl. Ok, old(er) lady.

My album will be all digitally constructed and once complete I'll upload my pages to Persnickety Prints and have them printed. My title page is pretty simple. I used a Paislee Press 6x8 December You Are My Fave album template/page plus kit. Done, and done.

Behind my title page will be My Reason Why.

Our lives are shaping up differently this Christmas season with many changes in our home. Joan has moved out and into an assisted living home; John and Jarrod have graduated high school and have full time jobs (saving for college) leaving a void that seemingly should be filled. We are having to find a new rhythm. But, finding it is okay - even wonderful. 

As we move into these days of Christmas I want my reason why to be one of giving and loving mercy and celebrating the stories in our everyday - no matter how our lives are shaping up, or our new rhythm.

Giving and loving mercy is at the heart of Christmas and should be in our everyday and I hope to make this happen. And, it is those stories I want to capture - and many more.

 

And, finally, December Daily 2016  -  Day 1.

One of my reason why's is a season of giving. Before dropping the boys off at the church for The Journey (John and Jarrod are Roman Centurians), we went through the drive thru at Zaxby's to pick up dinner for the boys before they begin serving. I'd decided ahead of time I would pay for the car behind me. I kept checking my rearview mirror to see if a car would pull up as I made my way to the drive thru window. I was so excited to see a car come around the corner just as I was pulling up to the window. I paid for our dinner and then told the lady I would pay for the car behind me. I have no idea of the impact of my simple act of giving on the lady in the car behind me but the smiles on the drive thru ladies were tendered with excitement and my son John reached around my seat to give me a hug and my other son told me I have a big heart!

And, this first day of December I was/am sick. Battling the flu, on a new medicine protocol that surprisingly worked exceptionally well.

Digital Notes: I love this first page. I used various tags from various designers plus and Ali Edwards overlay. A couple word art pieces and called it good.