Skiing into the New Year!!

Hello from North Carolina. Our family is having such a great time!!! So much so we decided to stay until New Years. And this Florida girl is having a blast with the snow!!! Just wanted to jump on here real quick!



So here's to skiing myself into the New Year!!! Pretty sure this is before I wiped out!!

Talk to you in 2011.

:)

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!

Okay, so I lied when I said this would be my last post.

I couldn't resist.

I'm going back in time here.



I may or may not have this on repeat today!!!!

Don't judge!

Merrrrrry Christmas, Merrrrry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!!!!!!!

Ok, now I'm really leaving! Ha!

He chooses who he uses and he uses everyone!

This past Saturday night our whole family went to go watch my 5 year old niece in her Christmas program at church. It was about the most precious thing I’ve ever seen.

There was one particular song they sang and my niece was belting at the top of her lungs (seriously, a majority of the time you could hear her over the other kids, ha), “He chooses who he uses, and he uses everyone.”

To hear that coming out of her mouth blessed me to core. There is no doubt in my mind that God can use a 5 year old just as much as he can use a 100 year old.

He can use you.

He can use me.

I know as I was sitting there in the pew of that church, God used my 5 year old niece to remind me of that.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Mary this morning.

I can’t even imagine how scared and confused Mary must have felt when the angel of the Lord appeared to her saying she’d become pregnant with the Messiah, and he would use her to bring forth the savior of the world, who would them come to save all of us from our sins.

She was just a simple girl.

So why her?

But I suppose God was asking, why not her? And I think he also says the same for us, why not us?

So many times we question God and the way he uses us in our lives. Sometimes he gives us a clear picture of how he is using us. And other times, he is using us in unseen ways.

In Mary’s instance, we all see VERY clearly the way in which God used her.

But in your own life today, it could be VERY VERY visible the way in which he is using you, me, and all of us. We just have to look hard enough.

This holiday season, look for tangible ways God can use you. Whether it’s just to smile at the stranger passing by, bless someone that might have fewer items than you by letting them in front of you in line (happened to me last night), give someone that great parking spot that might just need it a little bit more than you, etc..

This is all really small stuff, but goes a long way.

Don’t be in such a hurry or so self-consumed that you miss how God is trying to use you during this season and ALWAYS.

He really does choose who he uses, and he uses everyone! Big or small!

This will probably be my last time posting until the New Year. Hope y’all enjoy your last few days leading up to Christmas. I have one more day of work and then I’ll be enjoying my family and we’re all leaving for North Carolina the day after Christmas.

Be back soon!

:)

Twas the week before Christmas....

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! Mine was a great but a very packed one. Many great things happened over the weekend.

I could count my blessings one by one.

It really is the little things though.

One particular thing took the cake and surpassed all the other events of this weekend.

Have I built up the suspense?

Wait for it.

Twas the week before Christmas....

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear…..



But a Betty White Calendar to get me through the year.

And yes, I bought it, don’t judge!!!! Hey, this will so be a collector’s item one day!

:)

Oh, this just makes me want to pull out the cheesecake and tell St. Olaf stories!!!

Happy Monday!!

Dear Santa...

I know you’re busy at the Northpole getting everything together for the big day. But this is Lauren from Florida and I know it’s been awhile since I’ve written you since my childhood days, but I’m all grown-up now and as we age, our list and requests change.

And I’m here to say that all I want for Christmas is a new Fed-Ex guy for our office. Preferably one less creepy, flirtatious (I wouldn’t mind this if the age wasn’t concerning), and really just one that doesn’t make my skin crawl.

That’s all!

Think you can handle it??

I know all I have to do is "Believe" and Santa, I do, I do believe!!

And I won't even tell you about my Mailman, Santa, at the house.. I will save that for next Christmas!

So Santa baby, hurry down the chimney tonight!!

Love,
Me

Christmas Disco Fever!

Isn't this the cutest elf you've ever seen????

If I do say so myself :)

I am a whimp when it comes to the temp!

I don’t know about you, but I am one who gets cold very very easily!!!

I was listening on the radio and heard this on the news that your normal house temperature should be set at 68 degrees.

My first thought was holy smokes, there is no way. I am just that thin blooded.

But all in the name of saving money, I had the temperature last night set to 68.

I wish y’all could have seen me. I went to bed in sweat pants, shirt, hoodie over that, and found the thickest socks possible.

And when I got under my warm sheets, it felt like perfection. I was snug as a bug.

I am one who has always set my temp above 70. But not anymore. I need to save money in every way that I can.

But if you were like me and clueless about it, I’m here to let you know.. 68. Ha!

Your electric bill will thank you.

Speaking of the cold… I received a sweet package yesterday from my wonderful blog friend Rebecca and she sent me this scarf (that she made by hand) among a few other things.



Perfect for this cold day!!

Stay warm y’all.

And promise my next post won’t be about the weather, ha!

Oh, and I'll be going to North Carolina the week after Christmas with the family and our friend who we'll be visiting sent me this picture.



Brrrrrr. But SO SO beautiful!!!! Looks like we'll most likely see some snow!!!!! :)

Oh the weather outside is frightful....

Picture taken this morning.

I'll pause a moment for this who wish to do so, may laugh....... And I'm talking to you northerners, ha!

What can I say, us Floridians were not made for the cold!

So let it snow, let it snow! Or not, ha!

But baby, it's cold outside!!

I'm a little confused, so I will leave you with one question. My poor thumb, how will it ever stay warm??

A little love list!

There are 5 things (among MANY) I love about the Christmas season:

First and foremost, the birth of Jesus. By far the best gift we'll ever receive.

Christmas cards.

The precious time spent with family.

Christmas songs:

There are a few Christmas songs that I just LOVE LOVE LOVE.

We sang this at church yesterday. So beautiful!

Labor of Love


Mary did you know?


Christmas offering


Grown-up Christmas List


This song is so beautiful, and our lists definitely change as we get older, huh?

Christmas Shoes.

Let me just say that I know a majority of the human population do not like this Christmas song because it’s sad and depressing. But it makes me cry EVERY time. This song just says so much about the human spirit and what Christmas is all about.



And lastly, but certainly not least.



Oh, it's going to be a SAD day come the end of December when this is no longer on TV.

Nothing beats some good Christmas movies.

But you know what.... ALL this stuff is wonderful, but doesn't compare to the peace and joy we find through Jesus Christ during the holiday season and ALL year round.

Pray you are taking the time to slow down, take in everything, and not letting it pass you by!

From heaven we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philip. 3:20

So funny and cute!!

We all have that gag gift idea we have to come up with for that office party or some other holiday gathering.

This year our family drew names and we're exhanging gifts but we also are doing a white elephant/gag gift exchange, whatever you want to call it.

I was stumped, and also we put a $5 price limit on it.

Then my friend Holly came up with a wonderful and great gift idea that she had seen before, so I have to give her the credit and I decided to go with it.

Snowman poop.

Yes, you heard correctly. Snowman poop.



Get some small marshmellows, and I got this container to put them in.

Adding this.



Brilliant, eh????

And I also went under my $5 budget!

Go me, ha!!

Signed, sealed, delivered!

I got my Christmas Cards sent off, and so I wanted to share. I am VERY pleased with how they turned out!

Love spreading Christmas cheer. (And the dog is pretty cute, too) :)

I'll be linking up with Faith's Christmas Card Carousel on December 15th as well. And you should too. It will be fun!





But being the impatient person I am, just couldn't wait to show y'all. Ha!!

This truly is the most wonderful time of the year!!

Cracker Barrel + Blog friend = Good Times!

I have met some of the sweetest and most amazing people through the blog world!!

When I get together with a blog friend in Florida, most of the time it’s because they are here visiting the happiest place on earth, Disney World.

I always love when I have a chance to connect and spend time with a blog friend. And in this case, now turned IRL friend!

I briefly met Courtney back in April when we had a big blogger meet up in Atlanta at the Beth Moore conference. Courtney and her family were here for a week visiting Orlando, and this past Saturday on her last day here we met at Cracker Barrel for breakfast.



Our time wasn’t nearly long enough and she is the sweetest person ever. Enjoyed our time together Courtney, talking over a yummy breakfast. And hope we can connect again real SOON!!! So glad we were able to make it happen.

Come back to Orlando again, please :)

I just have to say again that the friendships that can be made through the avenue of blogging is a crazy and beautiful thing!!!

And for the record, if you visit a Cracker Barrel in Florida, this is what you shall find!! :)

Wordless Wednesday- Happy December!!!

My nieces just wanted to say Happy December!!!







It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!! :)