lots of love from my inbox this morning

Chris,
This is your special day, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR CHRIS, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Enjoy your day,
Love and miss you lots,
Mom (Adair)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR CHRIS!

May you have a very Special Day!!!!!

We love you so much,

Mom and Dad (Adair)

Happy Birthday Poem

It's Chris' Birthday'

Hip, hip hooray!

It's Chris' Birthday

Have a great day!

It's Chris' Birthday

You know she'll be blessed

It's Chris' Birthday

I hope she gets a new dress:)

(I know..I couldn't think of any thing to rhyme with blessed!)
Anyway have a great day:)

Love,
Deb

shhhhhhhhh....

today is our secret trip. by the time you read this, we will already be on the train traveling. wish us luck and safe travels through the snow.

Please Help Save Homemade!

Handmade children's item may become a thing of the past. While we do not currently have children, we were looking forward to purchasing toys and clothes from mothers who run their own small businesses and wood toys from years past. But new legislation is threatening this. I'm not asking for you to make phone calls or write letters (I know that these things take time), but please spend the moment to vote on the President Elect's site (https://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia).

If you feel strongly about this, you can find more information here:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/handmade-childrens-items-unintended-consequences-consumer-pr-3056/
http://www.rescuemarketing.com/blog/2008/12/15/cpsia-and-homemade-toys/
http://www.coolmompicks.com/savehandmade/

This legislation was intended for good and will keep many children safe. But the unintended victims (sellers of homemade toys and handmade clothing) will be severely crushed.

Thank you.

little update

We are having ourselves a very Merry little Christmas. Christmas is more than just a day for us, it is an entire season. Our tree came home on the first and will stay up as long as the needles stay on. This week we are getting our cards out (each one handwritten and full of love) and the care packages have already been sent.

Each year, Christmas is a treasure, never getting old, never getting tiring.

It can be easy to fall into the "must get everyone a perfect gift" - "must attend every function" - "must make this the best year ever" mentality. But we've avoided it each year. There will always be something I don't get to (whether it be baking, visits, phone calls), but this time of year is about so much more than that.

The wise men brought extravagant, but fitting gifts for the newborn King. Things that Jesus deserved, but wasn't going to ever get for himself. I try to follow this pattern when giving gifts to Eric. There are things that he would love and deserves, but never get himself. So I try to put a few of them under the tree each year. I believe that this is in the spirit of Christmas. (and yes, I generally try to do three) Our tree doesn't need to be packed full or overflowing. There only needs to be kindness, love, and thoughtfulness.

We've been blessed this month with being able to see friends and enjoy great company. Christ came so that we may have LIFE! Life here on earth and eternally. And the month of December has brought much life into our lives.

Praises and Prayer Requests:
-A woman interested in the apartment below us came for a visit this morning. It was wonderful telling her about our great neighborhood and house. She seemed genuine and kind. We would be lucky to have her as a neighbor. (Plus, our floors would be heated again!)
-Eric's interview has been pushed back another month. So we'll see what January has in store for us.
-We are counting down to my birthday!!
-Every single angel on the tree at church has been taken. This means many much needed gifts going to children who would otherwise go without. Thankfully, a guy working at Target helped me with the colors for my gifts for the teenage boys we chose.
-Sushi's spot on his belly has completely healed and his hair is growing back.
-Eric and Friends did Christmas music at church this past Sunday. They sounded great! (sorry, no pictures or video this time, practice started at 7:30 am and I stayed in bed)

It is especially important at this time of the year to count our blessings. And we have so many!

family

a strong marriage

great friends

our health

jobs

a wonderful place to live

a church family

knowing the King that was born

never seen before (at least online)

this is the 'spare room' which we have labeled our studio. after a few months of being filled with boxes (the only ones left in the new home), Eric spent hours sorting and setting up this special room. it was such a wonderful surprise to come home to!

the studio is a great place for:
his guitars

sewing (we got the sewing table at a consignment shop)

crafting

reading next to the sunlit window

being away from the rest of the house (i.e. kitchen, television, computer)

we love having the luxury of an extra room and plan to make good use of it in the upcoming months

secret girl stuff

on nights Eric works, I always tell him that I'm doing Secret Girl Stuff

it sounds much better than Sparing You Things You Wouldn't Like To Do

my latest night included ciabatta bread pizza in the toaster oven (and foil so I wouldn't make a mess)

and painting my nails for the first time in over four years. during high school and college, painting my nails seemed normal. and then sometime in college (in between classes and work) it seemed like too much work. so I stopped. and hadn't done it since. I didn't realize that Eric had never seem my nails with color. it is a lot of fun, but even after two days, they are showing wear.

other Secret Girl Stuff includes:
napping

taking a long bath

reading

baking

watching movies

crafting

writing letters

making packages

what do you do when you have the house to yourself?