In the Christmas Spirit....

Happy holidays, dear friends!  I've had entirely way too much fun getting our home in N.C. ready for Christmas :) Even though we'll only be here for two weeks to enjoy it, I'm really glad that I denied my inner thoughts of "bah-hum bug!" and went ahead with my decorating madness.  I blame it on the beautiful winter snow we received this past weekend :)  

 

Thanks to my years working at Strasburg and training from my momma-in-law, I can successfully tie a Christmas bow!  Looking pretty good, if I can say so myself :) I've posted some of my favorite ornaments below, too:

A few other touches of Christmas I've added throughout our home: 

Two Christmases ago, I found some beautiful crystal snowflakes to hang from the chandelier in our kitchen.  Roni loved to climb on the table and mess with them, but was NEVER to busy to stop and pose for a picture! :) Here is one of his best shots from last year's holiday photo session:

This year, I had to get really creative with where I could hang my snowflakes, but I finally thought of a perfect spot for them... what do you think??

 

No worries- I have already thought through the disaster that would occur if I were to turn our fan "on" on accident.  When I wake up in the mornings, however, this mobile of pure winter perfection lulls me back to sleep and makes me feel as though I am dreaming under a soft blanket of pure white snow :)

It's the little things that add so much holiday spirit... 

Merry Christmas, from our home to yours!

Let it snow :)

Happy December!

I can't believe it's been nearly TWO whole months since my last post!  I'm learning that with blogging sometimes you go through seasons where you feel like you don't have much to say and other times you feel so busy that you don't have time to stop and share what's on your mind... the lengthy hiatus between my last post and now is definitely due to the latter. 

Our last two months in North Carolina have been soooo good!  I started a new job as a kindergarten teacher assistant mid-October at this lovely school:

Sycamore Creek Elementary School in Raleigh

I am extremely thankful for God's provision and for really great people to work alongside! Sycamore Creek is a year-round school, so I work nine weeks at a time and then have 3 1/2 weeks off!  I am officially "tracked out" (year-round term- it was new to me, too!) for the entire month of December and I could not be more excited!  I am really looking forward to having several weeks to decorate our apartment, do my Christmas shopping, spend time with Nolan and Wake Forest friends, and then head home to be with family for the holidays. 

Nolan is wrapping up his first semester at Southeastern over the next two weeks with lots of reading, papers, and final exams.  I am so proud of the diligence and discipline with which he has poured into his first semester of seminary.  Seeing both the knowledge and spiritual growth that has taken place in Nolan's life and in his heart has been so affirming in God calling us here and has been truly inspiring for my own life, as well.  I know he is ready for some time off, though, and this month-long break will be just what he needs to feel rested and ready for the spring semester.  

We got our first North Carolina snow yesterday!  It was so beautiful... something about it that reminds me of God's gentleness and the peace that comes in trusting Him.

I had the lyrics to this song on my heart all day long:  

You could have come like a mighty storm

with all the strength of a hurricane

You could have come like a forest fire

with the power of heaven in Your flame

but You came like a winter snow

quiet, soft, and slow

falling from the sky in the night to the earth below

You could have swept in like a tidal wave

or in an ocean to ravage our hearts

You could have come through like a roaring flood

to wipe away the things we've scarred

but You came like a winter snow

You were quiet, You were soft, and slow

falling from the sky, in the night to the earth below

no, You're voice wasn't in a bush burning

You're voice wasn't in a rushing wind

It was still, It was small, It was hidden

You came like a winter snow

quiet, and soft, and slow

falling from the sky, in the night, to the earth below

You came falling from the sky, in the night, to the earth below

{"Winter Snow" by Audrey Assad and Chris Tomlin}