Wordless Wednesday---Pictures Patrick took at my parents'

It looks lovely on canvas...

Since I did a photo shoot with Adeline when she was 6 weeks old, I wanted a special picture for Camille with her mommy when she was a baby.  I used this one from the photo shoot with Becky, and I think it turned out really well.

Do you see them?

In a few years, she may look like this...

I always wanted a little girl with curls, but I didn't really expect to get one....let alone two!  Thank you Lord!

A review by Patrick

I am not a fan of modern Christian music.  I think that most of it is anthropocentric, trite, cacophonous noise, lacking a sense of reverence and transcendence.  Alas for Rich Mullins (RIP).  But for all his lyrical artistry, even he is starting to sound worn (and, lets face it, so 1990’s).  Sara Groves is very, very good.  (Real men indeed listen to her all the time, then tell the world on blogspot.)  But one gets the impression at times that her God is some mystical entity, with fuzzy borders, more often named “Hope” than “Jesus.” 

            And I have never been a fan of Steven Curtis Chapman.  I think his lyrics have always been sound, but there was always something just a little too Nashville about him, like we should all get funky and jump around to guitar music (e.g. “so sink or swim I’m divin’ in,” etc). 

            A month or so ago I happened upon a favorable review (somewhere) of Beauty Will Rise, and I decided to download it.  I had already heard the tragic story.  Chapman’s 6 or 7-year-old daughter accidentally struck and killed by her teenage brother backing the family SUV out of the driveway.  As a father of two girls, I cannot imagine.  The grief ended Chapman’s music career, though, as it turned out, not permanently.  He’s re-emerged and blessed us with these 12 songs, all speaking to the tragedy and his and his family’s journey through it.  They all speak poignantly to the journey through the valley of the shadow of death.   Has anyone not been there before?  Is anyone there right now?

Out of these ashes, beauty will rise

We will dance among the ruins,

 we will see it with our own eyes

            The first song is Chapman’s admission that right now heaven for him is reuniting with his daughter, plain and simple. 

Heaven is the sound of her breathing deep

Lying on my chest falling fast asleep

As I sing

He later tells the story of his daughter’s becoming a Christian just days before her death.  He speaks of his family’s reuniting with her in heaven, and how in that moment, her brother will finally realize that everything is okay.  Then he speaks to the modern day tax collectors and sinners.  If God can meet him where he was, then you are most certainly not beyond his reach, though you may be lying in a bed you made for yourself in Sheol.

God’s love is all over this album.  It has been a great comfort for me.  I highly recommend it.

-----Patrick

Gotta have...

Do you know about these?  They are silicone reusable muffin cups, and they.are.FABULOUS! ....and by fabulous, I mean you should get some.  They are worth it just to NOT lose half your cupcake/muffin taking off a paper liner.  Did I mention that they are reusable?  You don't even need to use a muffin pan.  You can put them on a tray or just put them directly in the oven.  That means, I can make Jiffy cornbread muffins while only using 6 of them instead of a whole muffin pan and have MUCH less of a mess to clean.  It also means you can freeze muffin batter in them and then....are you ready for this?....pop one in the toaster oven in the morning for a fresh baked muffin!  Add these to your birthday/Christmas/Mother's day/just because I'm nice list.  Unless you never make cupcakes or muffins....then don't.  You can find lots of choices for them here, but you can buy them at any kitchen store.

Gift giver extraordinaire

My dad has evolved as a gift giver over the years.  When we were kids, he would ask "What did you get?!?" as we opened each gift.  We knew our gifts were technically from him and mom, but we also knew he didn't do any of the shopping.  I wonder how many dads DO participate in the buying of Barbies and bigwheels, Cabbage Patch dolls and cradles.

Well, as I approached adulthood, perhaps when I was in college, dad started getting us "dad gifts."  One year I got a new set of hubcaps, since my car only had three (you know you're a country girl when...).  Another year it was floor mats for my car.  The first year I lived in my own apartment, he bought me a toolbox with some basic tools (because it drove him CRAZY when he needed to fix something at my house and I couldn't find a screwdriver or wrench).

I guess he was running out of ideas or just wanted to take things to the next level.  One of the first years I was married, he wrapped a pick axe.  The shape was obvious.  I was dumbfounded.  He sat there with a smirk on his face as Patrick and I unwrapped an antique pick axe.  I tried to be appreciative, but I really didn't get it.  Turns out it was his way of giving us a gift card to his favorite restaurant, Tony's Mining Company....and he wanted the pick axe back.  The next year, he made me a birdhouse.  I had to rip open the top of the birdhouse to get my gift (a gift card to The Bluebird Inn).  It didn't take him a long time to make it.  I wasn't supposed to keep it.  It was just a creative way to give his gift.  Well, this has now become a tradition, and dad's gift is one of my favorites to open.  This was my gift this year...

He traced his own feet for a template and then cut them out of scrap wood.  He painted the toes and put them in flip flops.  The writing says, "Happy toes" and the other, "To Lynn, Merry Christmas, GN" (dad's initials).  I'm getting a pedicure!  Thanks for your thoughtfulness and creativity, dad...I LOVE IT!

What I Call Pretty

I did a plug for my friend Missy's new etsy store recently. Well, she added more stuff. You should visit. Really. Scarves, flowers for your girl's hair, new apron prints. She is crazy talented. I added a button to my sidebar to link you to her site so you can shop there any time without trying to find this post or remembering the site.

I love Joseph...

Talk about a fun mail day...!!!!  Woo hoo!!!  This, is yet another advantage to living in Korea (one those of you who are still there MUST take advantage of...).  Joseph is a portrait painter stationed just outside the BX on base.  HE. IS. AMAZING!!!  After my photo session with Adeline when she was 6 weeks old, I planned to do something special with her and Patrick when she was around 1 yo.  This was perfect!  Here is the picture we gave him...

and here is his painting...

and a close up so you can see the detail...

I LOVE IT!!!  Thank you to the Evans family for shipping it to us (let me know how much we owe you for the packing....I saw how much the shipping was).  We game him the print almost two months before Patrick came home, but he was so backlogged, he wasn't able to finish it in time.  Joseph emailed me to say he is starting a website, and it may be up by next week.  You can email him pictures, and he will mail your portrait when he is finished.  You can even send him multiple pictures, and he can combine them into one (for example if you wanted a family photo, but someone was missing...he will add them in OR you have the perfect photo except for the little cherub with their finger strategically placed in his/her nose, he can fix that).  This is my new favorite memento of life in Korea (yes, it's even better than the purses).  I will probably give him more business in the future, and I'll let you know when his website is up so you can take advantage of his talent (and cheap prices) as well.

Reading with mommy

Adeline shows off her dexterity

Happiness is...

I am following my friend, Sarah's, lead today...

Happiness is (a list from today's activities)....

...Adeline's face in the morning when I hear her talking, open her door, and she first sees my face.
...a hot shower with good water pressure
...dressing my baby girl in a cute outfit
...getting out the door on time
...Sta.rbuck's chai latte
...going to the flower market with a friend to help her celebrate her 30th birthday!
...Adeline having no break downs during above excursion
...getting a card from my aunt in the mail
...yummy left overs
...ice cream
...Adeline's laughter
...spending a few hours of quality time with Patrick before he had to go to work tonight
...Adeline crawling na.ked from her room to the bathroom squealing with anticipation for her bath.
...reading bedtime stories to Adeline
...having a quiet evening to myself after 7 pm (Adeline's bedtime) with the house reasonably clean and the dishes done

...Praise God...life is good.....

Purse Girl

One of my friends was joking after watching Adeline in the nursery at bible study, that she really knows a good purse when she sees one. She is facinated with purses and comes to this spot in our house several times each day. She loves the handles and tags. As long as she has a pacifier in her mouth, I let her play with them. Otherwise, she starts chewing on the handles. She rarely takes anything out of them, but she did manage to find a toy inside on this day.....

For those who are thinking..."What!  You let her play with a Coach bag!?!?!"  I'm in KOREA, remember!

Best Christmas Present

This big box arrived in the mail from Amazon the other day (courtesy of Patrick's mom). Adeline is having so much fun with it, that we just put it in the middle of our living room for her to enjoy. The box is just the right height for her to pull herself up without too much effort. She loves to bang on the top and walk around it. Little does she know the treasures that are inside! Christmas is coming! ...and yes, those are cute striped tights that match her very cute sweater dress...did I mention how much I love to dress up my baby girl? Hand-me-downs are the best!

Christmas meme

My good friend, Sarah, tagged me to fill out this (very fun) Christmas meme.  Hope you enjoy learning a little more about our family's holiday.

1.  Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Under the tree, I usually wrap boxes, but if something isn't easy to wrap, a bag is a great alternative.  Before going to a Christmas party, I usually grab a gift bag from the stash under my bed.  Kids presents should almost always be wrapped....better pictures for the blog, more noise, more mess to make it look like Christmas morning.

2.  Real tree or artificial?

Depends where I am living.  In Baltimore, it was really tough to take the (dried out, sharp, dropping tons of needles down my stairs) tree out of our third floor apartment.  I decided to be content with the fake tree and burning a pine scented candle.  In our house in MD, it was easy to get a real tree in and out, so we had a real tree the past three years.

3.  When do you put up the tree?

Usually right after Thanksgiving.  We aren't sure we are getting a tree this year because they are not very conducive to crawling baby girls.  We aren't sure how to go about getting a real one here.  I'm already burning my pine scented candle. :)

4.  When do you take the tree down?

So many tree questions!  I like to enjoy my tree.  Patrick and I decorate it together, and we enjoy the romantic glow it brings to the room, so I tend to leave it up until the middle to end of January.

5.  Do you like eggnog?

Yum!  Especially the totally not good for you, almost full cream, cinnamon packed version in the grocery store.  This is one of Patrick's favorite holiday treats.  I even have a recipe for eggnog pumpkin pie!

6.  Favorite gift received as a child?

We collected Precious Moments figurines as children, and we always looked forward to getting one at Christmas.

7.  Do you have a nativity scene?

I have one for almost every room (although I didn't bring decorations to Korea).  My mom collects nativities, so this has rubbed off into my holiday decorations.  As those of you know who know my mom or have seen my house, she is my chief decorator.

8.  Hardest person to buy for?

Adeline---she is just SO picky and wants things just her way (just kidding!)...

9.  Easiest person to buy for?

myself...oh wait...I'm not supposed to be buying things for myself when shopping for others...that is so hard to remember sometimes! ummmm....

My mother-in-law...she is good about providing a list, and I know her taste pretty well, so I can usually find things she will like.

10.  Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

Can't think of one.

11.  Mail or email Christmas cards?

Definitely snail mail!  If you send me a picture, it will end up in the back of my family scrapbook to be forever remembered.  I do one large album per year and this is usually the last thing I put in it.

12.  Favorite Christmas movie?

Hands down, A Muppet Christmas Carol.  So cute and amazingly well done.

13.  When do you start shopping for Christmas?

It varies from year to year, but I am almost always still buying something at the last minute.  I have a gift drawer where I keep things that I find through the year that I think someone will like.  I keep both "gifts for anyone" in there (candles, napkins, lotion) for last minute trips to a party, and I also keep gifts that are for a specific person there.

14.  Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Can't remember doing this.  I have returned gifts though.

15.  Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Breakfast made by my dad (just because it is a fun tradition) and chocolate cookies with Andes mints swirled on top.

16.  Clear lights or colored on the tree?

clear

17.  Favorite Christmas song?

Nat King Cole's A Christmas Song.

18.  Travel at Christmas or stay home?

I don't like to travel ON Christmas, but I love to travel to my parents' house and wake up there Christmas morning.  That feels like home.

19.  Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?

Yes, but only because of the song....and because my friend Sarah listed them when she filled out this survey. :)

20.  Angel on the tree top or a star?

Neither!  I usually have a giant bow with strands coming down the tree.

21.  Open gifts Christmas Eve or morning?

Morning!  Although, I did have a friend whose parents got everyone new pajamas to open and wear to bed Christmas Eve night, and I think that is a fun tradition.

22.  Most annoying thing about this time of year?

crowds and traffic everywhere........santa everywhere (it was never a big part of our holiday growing up, and I have never been a big fan)....don't send me hate mail, please.

23.  What I love most about Christmas?

Where to start.....I love baking cookies with my mom, decorating and watching the house transform, sitting in the living room with my husband in the evening listening to Nat King Cole and looking at the lights, being with family, Christmas Eve service, Christmas pins (notice I DID NOT SAY sweaters!), finding the perfect gift for someone, dressing Adeline in her pretty Christmas dress, the music, my anniversary (Dec 22), and all of the fun parties that happen around this time of year...just to name a few. :)

Okay, I am going to tag JJ, Rachel, and Jenna to do this survey.  Tag, you're it!

The World According to Adeline

One can never have too many paci's.