Elf Hat

I gave Asher his elf hat on Saturday. I am happy that he loved it! He smiled as soon as his mom Kristi put it on his head. It was very warm and fit just right!


See previous elf hat post.

New Family Blog!

Dan and I have started a new family blog, titled "Off the Map". http://www.danandmargo.blogspot.com The new one will be news and such... and the occasional random thought (a must for a blog!)

I have yet to decide if I will continue to post here or move over to that one. I'll keep you posted!

The Reason for the Season

This song describes it so well...

And the first time
That You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior
And the first breath that left Your lips
Did You know that it would change this world forever...

To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me
In the hope that what You did
That you were born so I might live...

And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pray for You to save my life

Relient K, I Celebrate The Day

Sleigh Bells are Ringing!

A few of my favorite Christmas things!

• Christmas socks
• Nala's reindeer antlers
  
• Starbuck's peppermint mochas
• Christmas trees
• Big red bows
• Warm sweaters
• Warm blankets
• Scarves
• Mittens
• Christmas candles
• Stocking stuffers
• Christmas songs
• Giving generously
  

What are your favorite Christmas things?

Knitting 101

I've always been a crafty person. I learned how to cross-stitch in elementary school, and followed with needlepoint, then later on scrapbooking and quilting. But, I tend to start projects and not finish them. I have a whole bedroom exclusively for crafting. It's full of unfinished projects. So, when my mom offered to teach me how to knit, I was hesitant at first. I felt that I already had enough crafts on my plate. But I went for it, and through some ripped out rows and starting over I finally finished my first project, a scarf. Not the prettiest scarf but it's a start.

Inspired by my mom and my friend Erika, I decided to make another project. It was way more fun. It's a tea cozy crown (aka knit cap) that I made for my friend's baby.


I found the pattern in my new knitting book, Charmed Knits: Projects for Fans of Harry Potter.

Breathe You In

Tried so hard to not walk away
And when things don't go my way
I'll still carry on and on just the same

I've always been strong
But can't make this happen
'Cause I need to breathe, I want to breathe You in
The fear of becoming
I'm so tired of running cause I need to breathe You in

Breathe You In, Thousand Foot Krutch

Fall in Arizona

It has been a hot fall this year, with way too many record high temperatures. But thankfully my roses are doing well! Here are some pictures of the first fall bloom.

November is also National Adoption Month! This link has great ideas and information!

Blessed Be Your Name

This is a wonderful song...
Matt Redman
Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
- - -
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

Yikes! I've been tagged!

I was tagged by Sarah.

Here are the rules:

1. Post these rules before you give the facts.
2. List one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog for the rules.

My middle name is Jean.

J - Joy. Relating to the most important Person in my life, Jesus! He gives me joy in my suffering and sorrow, and joy in my happiest moments too. (James 1:2)

E - Evening. My favorite time of the day. The sunsets in Phoenix are beautiful, I get home from work and get to relax with my second favorite person in the world, Dan!

A - Ask. I love to talk about myself, so ask! I will share what is going on in my life and what God is doing in my life. (And I love to hear about your journeys as well!)

N - Nala. My third favorite person in the world. Nala is a boerboel, the best dog breed in the whole world. She is just a bundle of joy (there's that word again!) and a big huge teddy bear.

I Tag:

Erika
Terylee
Christy G.
Jen S.

Back in the swing of things

Yesterday the weather was beautiful, so Dan and I worked outside. Dan scalped the yard and over seeded it (it's an Arizona thing, if you want more detail let me know), while I worked in the garden.

I marked out lines for the different beds I want to plant, and also to show where the flagstone path will go.

The roses are starting to bloom again!!

Nala thought it was too sunny.


Other plants are blooming as well.

Profundity - Is that word?

It is, according to Free Dictionary. profundity - intellectual depth; penetrating knowledge; keen insight; etc. I sometimes feel as if I need to post something profound. But some days are just normal days!

Here is a photo that I thought was cool. I'm kinda into women being powerful and taking control of their lives - I suppose a little bit like women's rights but I don't know the correct word that would describe it. I suppose it would just be women appreciating themselves and their freedom! Take Eleanor Roosevelt for example. She was a strong woman and one to emulate. She has some great quotes as well. Here is one I recently found: “I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall.”

Enjoy your normal days!
(P.S. I love quotes!)

What are you waiting for?

"Our deepest fear is not that we're inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond all measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world."
~Marianne Williamson

Get out there and take the first step! Failure is not bad, it's a way to learn. I am doubting my decisions but I have to keep plugging along because I know I am smart enough to do what I want!

What are you waiting for?

Mountain Biking

Last Saturday, Dan and I got up early to go mountain biking with our friends Larry and Kristin. We rode at Papago Park. We had so much fun! I fell off my bike twice - the second time was a hard fall and I scraped up my hands. So, on our way home we got some gloves for me!

Dan's creation!

Here is Dan putting the bikes into the rack he made.

Dan testing out the tires.

Beautiful Sunrise (don't get to see a lot of those!)

Me at 7:30 in the morning ;)


Dan smiling! :)

Decisions

I am applying for graduate school this Fall. I hope to get my masters' degree in Communication Disorders (Speech & Language Pathology). I am applying to Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, University of Oregon, University of Colorado - Boulder, and University of Texas - Dallas. Depending on which schools accept me, we might be moving! It is an exciting prospect but one filled with anxiety and uncertainty. Recently in church Sunday School class our teacher, Dick Nangle, proposed his ideas for the decision making process. They will come in very handy during the next 6 months as we decide where God is taking us!

Principles for Decision Making:

1. Match up the opportunity to the Word of God.

2. Saturate the opportunity with prayer.

3. Think through assumptions, implications and consequences before you act.

4. Get advice from godly people.

5. Do not violate the personal boundaries you have set for yourself.

I have particular difficulty with #2, not only praying about a decision, but allowing time to hear God answer!!

At the end of your rope?

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."

--Theodore Roosevelt

Favorite Quotation

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to write a "personal profile" for my new job. At the bottom there was a place to include my favorite quote. I first read this quote in high school, and it reminds me that even though I may feel small and insignificant, God can still use me for something!!

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.” ~Helen Keller

Summer means no gardening (outside at least)

I'll spare you the picture of the dry yard and dormant plants! Not much is happening outside these days, with temperatures in the 110's. It's a chore just to run an errand! You have to shower when you get back home :)

Instead of working outside, I have been working inside, inside myself that is. Time for some self-improvement, or rather, God-improvement (since He does all the work!) Summer is a great time for reading, which I have been doing a lot of lately, and I am learning more about Christ and myself in the process.

This summer I will turn 26 years old. Time to be an adult! One of my goals = spiritual maturity. It is a goal not ever accomplished but I can certainly move up the scale and become closer to Christ in the process.

Desert Bee

Desert Bloom

Dan and I hiked through the Mogollon Rim, north of Payson, AZ. It was a beautiful sunny day, around 85 degrees. Here is a photo of a cactus's flower growing up through some rocks.

Happy Dog

Nala was a happy dog after we played outside. She is tired out!

Summer is coming, the vincas are blooming! This is a photo of a pot on our back porch but I can pretend that I took it in Italy...I love the contrast of textures of the pot and wall.

Heating up

Even Cindy McCain joins the nose fun.

What happened to your nose? "I can't remember" (Steve Nash)

Lavender Kitten

Here I was practicing my up-close photos with the digi camera. I think it turned out well.

I love this picture of our cat, Belle. She drives us crazy in the morning by getting behind the blinds to sit in the sun. She thinks she owns us.

The Ethereal Beauty

Most people would say roses are their favorite flower. Why? Because they are pretty. But that's not why I like roses. I like them for their strength - they thrive in the sandy desert soil. They protect themselves with their thorns. Yet they are delicate on the inside - they need the right amount of water and sunshine to grow strong.

Every spring, my hard work of mulching, trimming, watering, and feeding is rewarded by that first bud. The first bud that will bloom into a beautiful rose. But they are fickle. They tease you with the first rose then go dull for weeks. I hope and check every day for new buds, peeking through my bedroom window. Finally, the day comes when they all show up, silky petals stretching towards the sun and loving me for my care. And they only get better with age.

My first garden (+Nala!)

My first garden in our first home! No roses in this picture yet, but I was so proud of my first attempt to create a garden. It bloomed so lush and full, and I genuinely enjoyed all the compliments from neighbors and friends!