FRIDAY!!!

Walking in a winter wonderland! Woke up to SNOW! It was awful driving to work (my amazing mister drove me). But felt magical just an hour later when I walked across the street to the post office.

I was really bummed as we were supposed to head to Grammy's this afternoon, but decided to wait until morning and hopefully better weather. I guess I will just enjoy a cozy afternoon at home instead.

Finally mailed the rest of my Christmas Cards! 

I started my bullet journal last night! I LOVE it! It going to become a new obsession I can feel it already!

I surprised Mikayla with a pair of sushi legging that came in the mail yesterday! Lula Roe leggings are soooooo soft! Thinking I might be wearing mine on our road trip to Grammy's tomorrow morning! The bulk of my lula roe I get from my cousin;-) but got invited to a local party and couldn't resist these for Mik! :P I bought a pair from Erin last night that I will get tomorrow at Grammy's...now to decide which girl get them ;-) they have music and trumpets on them...

Finishing up my Tis the Season journaling <3 =)

I can't wait to get to PA and hang out with my Snyder Crew!

new journey

I love New Years. The fresh possibility of it all.  The hope that good things are just around the bend. A time for reflecting back over the last year and thinking about how to do better in the new one.  Like most people I tend to fall off the resolution band wagon pretty quickly. Usually it seems all too soon reality begins to set it. Life continues on as it always has.  Maybe this year will be different....maybe it will be just the same. But if you don't even try...

This January I am kicking off the new year as with this 21 day accountability group. Yup, I even broke down and ordered the 21- day fix challenge pack. I have done a handful of the "teaser" type (free) 5-day challenges.  But this is something I have looked at over and over. I always back out because I couldn't justify the money.  I decided it was time to give it a try and see what happens. I am hoping that it will get me off on the right foot. That at the end of 21 days I be feeling and seeing results that will keep me wanting to make healthier choices. I even signed up as a coach to get a deeper discount. We'll see how that goes...:P

I'm excited for some of the recipes. I just looked really quickly at the first week last night. Zoodles were one thing that caught my eye. I loved the recipe I made before which was Caprese Chicken Zoodles and have been wanting to try them again but haven't gotten around to it. Looking forward to a chance to use my Veggie Spiralizer again (or you could also use the less fun but also less expensive Veggie Strip Maker).

  

And of course my trusty mason jar set as well ;-)

Planning to get a head start today doing some yoga...inspired by a friend... hopefully get some runs in this weekend in PA.  Then starting the plan next week!

12.28 Daybook- the one with Christmas

For Today  {December 28, 2016}

Looking out my window every now and then there are snow flurries in the air

I am thinking about New Year's... I can't believe there are just a few more days in this tired old year. I am looking forward to 2017. Fresh starts and a blank slate.

I am thankful for my family. I am so very blessed.

One of my favorite things- a new planner. I got a new one for Christmas and started using it this week. =) It always gives me a bit of a thrill.  Planning out how to start off my new Bullet Journal too.

I am wearing

Ready for Church Christmas morning =)

I am creating 3 more blocks done last night! Hoping to get border and backing fabric tonight.

I am reading Prayer Warrior ... still. I do have a new stack of books from Christmas to read now too =D

I am hoping to do a lot more reading in the new year. To put down the phone and pick up a book instead!

I am learning I am so thankful He has the answers- if only we ask (& listen).

In my kitchen tonight is frozen pizza, tomorrow Mikayla is making stuffed shells.  Friday we will be going to my grandmother's for New Years.  After New Year's I'm starting a 21 day fitness/healthy eating challenge.  Not sure yet what that menu will entail.

Board room 

Pinned: Planner/BuJo <3

Source:Sublime Reflection

A moment from my day Christmas!

The Fam- after Church

The kids all got blanket kits from JJ on Monday which the whipped up as soon as we got home while we watched How to Train Your Dragon.

Chancey under the tree

Christmas Eve!!!

We started our Christmas celebration at Mom and Dad's Christmas Eve morning. Our usual Christmas Eve fare and family gift exchange.

A great time. Lots of laughter.  A game of Dutch Blitz- its been ages since we played.

I treasure our family time. <3

Cousins are fun!

Our Eats-

Selfie w the Mr

My niece took pictures of me opening my gifts.  I also got goodies to start a bullet journal. I am super excited to try that out.

In the evening of course we were at Church for the Christmas Eve Service.  This year we had Fireworks after. We served chili, hot cocoa and coffee outside. It was so fun!

Our Tree- after the service, and the kids were in bed, presents all wrapped, breakfast prep done and stocking stuffed- the mister and I sat in the glow of the Christmas Tree and enjoyed a glass of wine. <3  Just sitting with him in the stillness- one of my Christmas Highlights.

* - * - * - *

It's Christmas Eve Eve! I am ridiculously excited! Christmas festivities begin tonight with my best friends.  We have a pancake pajama party every year and a Christmas sock exchange. =)  Tomorrow  starts off celebrating with the Nemitz Fam. I can't wait. Finishing up the evening at Church. <3 Then of course bring on Christmas Day! I still have loads to do but have decided to just go with it and enjoy the weekend.  Whatever gets done does, whatever doesn't... oh well.  I will celebrate my Savior's birth, enjoy my family and friends and bask in the moment.

I will be glad and rejoice in your love,

for you saw my affliction

and knew the anguish of my soul.
Psalm 31:7

I'm not entirely sure this is the verse I would have chosen for the prompt- omniscient. But I am thankful all the same.  That He knows all, sees all and yet still loves and cares for little ole me!

I have really enjoyed this kit and November's where it was basically a verse and a word to journal and meditate on for the day.  I'm looking forward to getting a peak at the January kit!

Last night I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with my oldest.  She is so precious to me.  Hard to believe she is nearly grown.

We were able to do some Christmas shopping. Which was insane.... who waits until 2 days before Christmas to finish Christmas shopping.  Always-- this girl. In fact if I didn't have plans tonight I would probably be shopping more but I'm calling it done.  Except for food, which I will either do late tonight or really early tomorrow morning.

It took much longer than I expected due to my own indecisiveness as well as Christmas crowds. I had told Ryan I would be home before dinner time...we were already past our normal dinner time.  As we rounded the turn to go to Barnes and Noble, KFC caught our eye.  We decided to take home a bucket of chicken for dinner.  In B&N I treated Mikayla to her promised hot cocoa.  Consolation for the shot she had to endure.  This experience only further confirmed we are not Starbucks girls...give us good ole Dunkin' Donuts anytime.  Anyway, we got our gifts at the bookstore, picked up our dinner at KFC (where we were mistaken for sisters ;) and headed home.  Ryan confessed he was starting to worry about us.  We watched Mik's favorite Christmas special Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer while we ate dinner.  Savoring every crispy, fatty, delicious bite!

Later, she and I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2.  There are probably a million more productive things I could have been doing but it felt so good just to sit on the couch with my girl, watch a movie and laugh!

Happy Christmas Eve Eve!

Here's hoping you have a glorious holiday weekend!

ToL- Christmas Survey Edition

I got this survey off Amanda's blog. Looks like maybe its supposed to be a daily thing but doing it all in one shot...also baffled as to why its called 25 days of Blogging Christmas and there are only 24 prompts???

1.  Your favorite Christmas Movie?  Definitely White Christmas, followed closely by The Polar Express, also get a big kick out of The Santa Clause movies.  Elf is pretty up-there too....Really I just love Christmas movies!
   
   
2. Your Christmas List
   
   
   
   
   
3. When did you learn Santa wasn't real? While I love the myth of Santa and all the stories and movies and "magic" of Christmas- I don't know that I ever truly believed in Santa.  My parents never made a big deal about Santa. He was just a fun side note to Christmas.
4. Favorite Christmas Song? All time favorite would have to be O Holy Night. After that I love them all except I don't really care for The Little Drummer Boy or Do You Hear What I Hear
   
   
5. Best Gift I have ever received? Probably my Blue Kitchen Aid Mixer... then of course there was the one year I had a baby exactly two weeks before Christmas.  She was/is a pretty great gift.

   

   Hannah Mae Christmas 2007
   1 year and 2 weeks

   
   
6. Your favorite tree ornament? It'd be hard to pick one, I have a couple my mom made me as a kid, plus oodles of ones the kids have made over the years.  I love ornaments that have memories tied to them.
   
7. Most memorable Christmas?  The one year my sister and I woke up super early.  We hung out in her bed for a while until we heard mom up and then came down stairs to sit in front of the tree by the heater.  We made up our own Christmas carols. We had to wait until 8 am for my grandparents to get there to open gifts.  So we sat there together laughing and talking and singing. One of my all time favorite memories <3
   
8. Post a picture of Christmas Decor
   
   
   
9. Easiest person to buy for? Mikayla, in so many ways we are the same <3
   
   
10. Favorite Holiday Scent? something cinnamon-y... or Eskimo Kiss from Scentsy
    
11. Favorite Christmas Tradition? Toss up between Christmas Eve at my mom and dad's and the Candle Light Service at Church
    
    
12. Wrapping Paper or Gift Bags? Wrapping paper for the bulk of it.  Especially the kids, they each get their gifts wrapped in their own paper.
    
13. Favorite Christmas Book? the Best Christmas Pageant Ever
    
    
14. Real or Artificial Tree? Real. We had a fake tree- we got it our first Christmas together (actually living together, it'd be our 3rd married Christmas) when we lived in Arizona and it served us well for many a year.  I'm happy we have a real tree these days.
    
15. The best gift you have given? Not sure if this is a gift per say but a great memory. One Christmas Day (2009) we told the kids we were finally (after 5 long years) getting our *own* home again.  We had been living for with my mom and dad since Rhett had gotten out of the Marine Corps.  All three kiddos sharing one room. My mother-in-law was ready to down size and do some traveling which = us moving into her house the following summer.  It was a tremendous blessing, I love our home and not a day goes by that I am not profoundly thankful for it.
    
    
    
    
    
    
16. Hardest person to buy for? I have a terrible time buying gifts. I overthink everything! Probably my parents are hardest because really they have everything they need. I wish I could give them back even a fraction of all they have given me.
    
17. Post a picture of an old Christmas Card? I think this may have been the last time I made Christmas cards--  Christmas 2011
    
18. When do you open your gifts? One gift on Christmas Eve, the rest on Christmas morning.
    
19. Favorite Stocking Stuffer? I just love stocking stuffers in general. Lip balm, pens, candies, perhaps a DD gift card ;-)
    
20. Favorite Christmas Meal? Christmas breakfast- usually I make overnight sticky buns, an egg dish and/or breakfast pizza, scones...
    
21. Do you travel on the holidays? For New Year's we go to PA to visit my mom's side of the family.
    
22. Eggnog or Hot Cocoa? Hot Cocoa...I don't really get Eggnog. Though I did try it for the first time this year.
    
23. What are your plans for Christmas 2016? Christmas Eve celebrating with my family at Mom and Dad's. Christmas Eve service in the evening-- this year they are doing a fireworks display, I guess its a colonial tradition. Christmas morning we'll be opening gifts, church, then dinner.
    
24. Favorite Christmas Eve Tradition?  Christmas Eve is the best. Church on Christmas Eve is one of my favorite things ever! Its one of those times you hate to leave.  I love lighting the candles at the end of service and singing silent night.

Happy Christmas! Answer a question or two in the comments. =)

exraordinary

Do you ever read a devotional and feel like it might have been written just for you.  I don't know if you struggle with identity and purpose.  Seems like I do.  All. The. Time.

But God keeps gently reminding me he has a plan. A purpose for me. For my little life.  I am here for a reason.

I have particularly enjoyed this week on SheReadsTruth. Reminding me again that there is a bigger plan.  I may not be able to see the whole tapestry yet, and what I do see may look like a mess. But in the end it will be a beautiful masterpiece.

My heart is filled with gratitude. I'm so looking forward to Christmas this year.
   

I am so thankful for God and his Word. His love. That nothing can ever separate me from it.  From Him. May His Grace and wonder of Christmas will always be extraordinary in my eyes and heart.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, 

neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, 

nor any powers, neither height nor depth, 

nor anything else in all creation, 

will be able to separate us from the love of God 

that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 NIV

On a little side note:

Mikayla sang with Kenny Rogers and Linda Davis on Tuesday night (with the rest of the Select Choir ;)

Puppy pic to brighten your day!  Love this guy. And that he puts up with our shenanigans! 

daybook ~ 12.20

________________________

For Today 
{December 20, 2016}
Christmas is a mere 5 days away! FIVE!

Linked up with
The Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window
Sunshine but COLD!

I am thinking

about Christmas! And Christmas Eve!
I'm getting so excited! I enjoyed texting with my sister and sister in law last night deciding on holiday fare for our Christmas Eve.

I am thankful
simply for time at the kitchen table.
Sitting. Chatting. Love that.
One of my favorite things

Christmas!

I am reading - currently- 
Prayer Warrior
I had a couple others started but they are overdue at library.
So I will return them and try again after New Year's perhaps.
Thankfully my card has finally been released from the Library Black List.

I am hoping
to do a lot more Christmas baking =)

In my kitchen

Christmas Cookies!

My goal this week is to make at least one different kind of cookie each evening.
Last night I made Raspberry Ribbons and peanut-butter swirl fudge.

Board room
Eggnog Latte Cupcakes 

Pinned: Christmastime
Source: Inside BruCrew Life

Post Script

I saw this on Facebook today. Kinda cracked me up and reminded me of the days we spent all day on Christmas Eve tracking Santa <3

http://www.noradsanta.org/

Shared Quote
"God loves to birth hope from the impossible. 
This is the Truth that lies in a manger."
-Kaitlin Wernet, SheReadsTruth

A moment from my day

Sunday night we had the opportunity to go Christmas Caroling with our Church.

It was cold (freezing) and it started snowing like crazy. But we had a blast. It was so fun and felt so Christmas-y. I think its the first time I have gone caroling since I was actually in the youth group.

Closing Notes:

Today I am especially thankful for crazy, impossible HOPE. And knowing that that is God's specialty. Never give up. There is always HOPE.

12.13

For Today {December 13, 2016}

Looking out my window oh how I wish I was out there running.

I am thinking R U N N I N G. Ugh! I am struggling so bad. I have to find a way to get out there. Longing for spring already and longer evenings!  I'm even considering running in the dark. But I'm afraid. I looked into joining a training run group at the local running store but its not a time I can do it. How do people do it? I'm at a loss.

I am thankful that my Church is open and having a service on Christmas Day. I listened to a little bit of a debate on the radio (a Christian Radio Station mind you) about whether or not churches should be holding services on Christmas Day.  We always attend Christmas Eve service- its one of the highlights of my Christmas.  I think its particularity nice when Christmas falls on Sunday and we get to spend part of it in church as well.  I remember the last time Christmas fell on Sunday- lingering in the overflow room visiting with friends, not wanting to leave.  My church as always been special to me. A 2nd home, an extended Family. I guess ultimately the choice is yours. Its between you and God. None of my business. But I am thankful I will be in Church Christmas morning <3 =)

One of my favorite things Bible Journaling

Its becoming an addiction. I've been doing the weeks out of order in the Tis the Season devotional, but I wanted to follow the theme for the week that our Church is doing.  This Sunday our Pastor preached on Joy.  

Today I'm trying to hold on to that J O Y.

It seems allusive.  Easy enough to come by while sitting at the table, steeping in His Word, sipping coffee... But then I have to face the real world. Things have gotten better I think. The days where I can stay focused and strong, out numbering the days of frustration and discouragement.

Remembering that His Joy is my strength.

But looking back at the journaling helps bring back the peace. The joy.

My Bible I love it. Every now and then I think about getting a separate Bible just for journaling. Shanna Noel who does the Illustrated Faith kits said yesterday in her video, she goes through one a year, and this last one is almost full after 6 months. I so enjoy seeing her and other's bible journaling.  Maybe someday I will take the plunge and buy a Journaling Bible but for now I am content to add little tid bits in my Bible. Journaling in the devotionals that come with the kit as well as sometimes in my  devotional journals.  The important thing is its a tool that allows my soul to quiet enough to hear the Lord speaking to me. When I look back I can remember and hear His voice.

I am creating {Christmas Jammies}

I am reading Prayer Warrior by Stormie Omartian

Board room *

Pinned: War Room

Source: angeldancing.com

Post Script: My sister in law shared this with me this morning.  On prayer, praying together, Goes right along with my post from yesterday and my focus for 2017. Thought I had pass it along here as well. -->> http://proverbs31way.com/agree-with-another/

Shared Quote Yes. Reminding myself of the things I should be thinking about. FOCUS on the GOOD.

A moment from my day {Hannah's Birthday} 

Birthday Dinner: Cheeseburgers and Curly Fries