One Word 2012 ~ "Courageous"

After much going back and forth and trying to decide on a word for 2012, I have decided on "Courage/Courageous".

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” 

Joshua 1:9 (NASB)

Those of you who have followed my blog know that I struggle with depression and anxiety.  When I am going through a rough season, sometimes the only thing that keeps me pushing forward is courage and knowing that God is with me always.

So this year, I will strive to be courageous.  As a Christian, a wife, a mother, a woman, a person who struggles.  With all that I am.

"You Are For Me" by Kari Jobe

 

I just discovered Kari Jobe earlier this week so I thought I'd listen to some more of her music.  This song struck me and I knew I had to share it here on my blog.

Have a great weekend!

Feel Good Friday & {this moment} ~ 12/30/11

 {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo (or 2, or 3) - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 

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"Just make a list. List 5 things that made you really happy this week. No matter how bad or boring you think your week was, I bet you can find 5 things."

1.  Watching the girls' faces on Christmas morning!

2.  Christmas Eve with the family at Steph's!


3.  Having Doug and the girls home with me all week!

4.  Rearranging the kitchen to give me more counter space!

5.  Watching Doug and the girls play the Wii!  (Thanks again, Dan!)

"Just Fishin'" by Trace Adkins

This song reminds me so much of my husband and two daughters.  He spends more time putting worms on their hooks and taking fish off for them than doing any fishing of his own.  He LOVES it!

We're already looking forward to going fishing come spring.





Enjoy!

~Reminder~

The "Winter Celebration Giveaway" ends Monday at noon, EST.

Make sure you comment on the Giveaway Post to enter.  ( Not this post)

There aren't very many entries so far, so you have a really good chance of winning!

"We Are" by Kari Jobe

We are the light of the world.  Is our light shining?




Enjoy!

Crochet Kindle Sleeves

My dear brother got us a Kindle Fire for Christmas.  Yep!  A Kindle Fire.  The girls have hardly stopped playing it since.

I decided we'd need a sleeve to protect it from the falls that it will undoubtedly have to endure.

 The first one I made out of Red Heart "Monet".  I basically made it by trial and error, measuring as I went.  I think it turned out pretty well.

The Kinde/Nook, etc slides right in.

There is a loop to hook on a button to hold it closed.

For a little fun, I added a flower to the loop.

I also made a manly version that I gave to my brother for his Kindle.  It is made out of Red Heart "Camoflauge".

On this color I used a black button to blend in.

No flower on this one!

I've added these sleeves to my ETSY shop under the Cozies/Sleeves section.  I can make them in any of the colors seen in my shop or solids of your choice.  Come on over and check them out.

Please see my sidebar for the great places I'll be linking to!

"God Gave Me You" by Blake Shelton

I absolutely love this song!  I bought the CD as soon as it came out.

Everytime it plays I make Doug come dance with me in the kitchen.

It is so beautiful.  The words and the music.




Enjoy!

"One Word for 2012"

Last year I started choosing "One Word" as my goal for the year.  For 2011 my word was "Conquer" and the following was my "verse for the year".

"But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us."



Romans 8:37

Now I have the task of deciding what my "One Word" for 2012 will be.  Some thoughts are:

Rejoice  (even during hard times)
Fear not  (sometimes hard when dealing with anxiety)
Faithful  (God is faithful, I need to be faithful)
Pray  (before speaking or acting)
Courage/Courageous (Joshua 1:9) 
Encouragement (encourage others)
Seek (Matthew 6:33)

Oh, I don't know!!!  Any and all ideas and supporting verses are welcome.  I would like to have a word picked out before the 1st.

I'll be praying about it but would like to hear your ideas.

Do you have "One Word" picked out yet?

"Blink" by Revive

I friend from high school recently asked me where the last 16 years have gone.  They went be so fast.  A blink and they are gone.  Here's to the next 16 years, Danielle!



Enjoy!

"Rolling in the Deep" by Adele

Listening to the CD "21" today as I clean up from the weekend.  Just try not to feel the beat with this one!




Enjoy!

Winter Celebration Giveaway - Enter here!

This is the official celebration giveaway that I have been talking about!

I've reached 60,000 hits and 300 followers on my blog!

So, as promised here is what the "Winter Celebration Giveaway" will include:

1.  "Meadow" Triangle Shawl with  Flower Clip

2.  "No Safe Haven" by Kimberly and Kayla R. Woodhouse

3.  Two dozen homemade "Chocolate Chip Cookies" (with or without bacon)

4.  Box of Bigelow "Vanilla Chai Tea"

5.  Mug Cozy or Cup Cozy (your choice of color)

I tried to think of things to brighten up your winter.  These are some of my favorites and I hope they are yours too. 

So to enter:

+1  - Comment on this post telling me what your favorite winter pass-times are.

+2  - Be a follower or become a follower and let me know.

+2  - Go to my Etsy Shop and tell me what your favorite item is.

+3  - Blog or Facebook, etc. about this giveaway and let me know that you did.

+10  - Purchase an item from my Etsy Shop. 

That makes a total of 18 possible enteries into this giveaway!

The winner will be drawn on Monday, January 2, 2012 at 12pm EST.

I can't wait to see who wins!!!

"Silent Night" by Taylor Swift

This was the first time I had heard Taylor's version of "Silent Night" and I think it is just beautiful!  I like the different arrangement.



What did you think?

Enjoy!

60,000 Views!

I am at exactly 60,000 views at this moment!!  Thank you to everyone who reads and follows my blog!

I'll be putting together a "Winter Celebration Giveaway" tomorrow.

Stay tuned.

This Week's Memory Verse ~ 12/25/11

Memory Verse ~ 12/25/11-12/31/11

"Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 

1 Thessalonians 5:11

(First Place 4 Health, "Better Together", Week 7)

Hide these Words in your heart and they will be with you always.

     

Please see my sidebar to see all the wonderful places I'll be linking up to.

Less Than 200 To Go!

Less than 200 views to go or 1 more follower until I start the giveaway.

I've been planning what to to give away and here is what I am thinking so far:

-Shawl
-A good book
-Batch of chocolate chip cookies (with or without bacon)
-Vanilla Chai Tea
-Mug cozy

All things to see you through a long winter.

I'll let you know when the official giveaway starts!!  Keep watching!!

"I'll Be Home for Christmas" by Josh Groban

 

I'll be home for Christmas.  Will you?  The videos in the background are reall tear-jerkers so watch out...

Have a great weekend!

Studying the Psalms with Wendy Pope 2012

Wendy Pope has led the online study "Walking With Women Through the Word" and reading through the chronilogical Bible for 3 years.

This coming year, 2012, she has been led to slow down and study more in depth the Book of Psalms.

Click HERE to go to Wendy's information about the study and also a video giving more details.

The study begins January 2, 2012.  There will be a weekly Psalm assigned and then questions given throughout the week.  It is all done online.

Here is a sample of one of Wendy's teaching videos.  Today's actually.



The Psalms contain some of my very favorite passages in the Bible so I'm very excited about this study.

If you'd like to join along go over to http://www.wendypope.com/ and sign up for her mailing list.  So easy.

"White Christmas" by Bing Crosby

The movie "White Christmas" is one of my all-time favorite movies and definitely my favorite Christmas movie.  (In fact I hear it on the TV right now.  I've turned my husband into a fan!)

Therefore, the song "White Christmas" is my absolute favorite secular Christmas song.  Especially when Bing sings it.



Enjoy!