Let Light Shine Out of Darkness


We've set up this garland of lights for Valentine's Day this year. 
The lights glowing in their doilied hearts bring to mind how, as 2 Corinthians 4:6 says, ..."God made his light to shine in our hearts to give us the light...of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

Lately I've been meditating on, and taking comfort in, the truth that God is light. 
 This world seems consumed by darkness with sorrow unbearable. 
Despair beckons.

But then, I look to Christ and "the morning star rises in my heart" (2 Peter 1:19) and I am filled with a joy and hope that cannot be taken away.


Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Hal My Pal

February is fast approaching and with it I begin training for the Indy Mini Marathon!  My freshman year of college my Auntie Laura convinced me to run my first Indy Mini with her (to *ahem* help ward off the freshman 15).  I'm not really a natural runner...I think I like the idea of it more than the nitty gritty feet-to-the-pavement reality of it all....but, having a definitive fitness goal like a mini helps me become more disciplined. So, here I go again! This will be my fourth Indy Mini and every time I've run I've used Hal Higdon's Novice Half Marathon Training Program. I thought I'd give Hal's Intermediate Program a try but am a little nervous because I've never done speed work before. 

Is anyone else giving a mini or full marathon a go this season? 


DIY Cake Platter

I've wanted to make a cake platter for years now. Over Christmas break my sisters and I decided we wanted to spend a day making something crafty. So we happily scooted off to Raven's Roost Antique Gallery to choose our plates and stands. 

Vintage plates, silver goblets, and glue. 

We used Gorilla Glue at first - bad idea. It bubbled and showed up as white against our cream plates and silver goblets. We had some epoxy on hand and I recommend this for any cake plate DIYers. 

Apply epoxy/glue and some heavy reading 

and voila! Pretty.

 I'm pretty sure my sisters were planning to gift their platters but then couldn't bear to give them up! My platter is holding clementines and shelled nuts right now but I'm looking forward to baking up some pretty little cupcakes some time soon. 

Reindeer Root Beer

You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen,

Comet, and Cupid, and....the others are taking the day off. 

We made a whole herd of these and gave them out as Christmas gifts this year to friends and family. Zade's Grandpa even "awed" when he got his. It was a really darling to see him sip away on his reindeer on Christmas Eve. I'm unsure of who originally came up with this idea otherwise I would give credit where it is due! Whoever it was, you are the cutest. 

The Twelve Dates of Christmas


My parents gave Zade the "Twelve Dates of Christmas" this year!  As his "true love" I'll get to enjoy the dates with him! What fun! 


Zade was given twelve cards each holding one of the "dates" of Christmas. As each card was opened we *attempted* to sing along to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas. 















I think it's time for dinner and a movie! Any recommendations on films to see in theater right now? 



Grandpa's "Live-Long Day"



Don't let the number of candles fool you, 
my Grandpa is 85 today. 
Over Labor Day weekend we threw two birthday celebrations for him and he got another today. When you turn 85 you should have more than one birthday party! 


On Labor Day afternoon we banished him to the back bedroom while we decorated the house in train theme. 



The table was decorated with little train car gifts (loaded down with Grandpa's favorite type of cargo).
{Aunt Laura added red eyes to her train to give it personality and I kept poking fun that it was a monster train...for the picture I placed a little animal cracker in its grate to be devoured}

We had a brownie train car decorating contest judged by Grandpa. 

and the winner was.....

{Debbie's square wheeled train from the Island of Misfit Toys, Mom's palatial car, and Stephen's alien usurped car}




 Stephen! 



We formed a line behind Grandpa as he followed a string "railway" around the house leading him to presents and cards decorated as train cars.

Then we shared a most scrumptious lunch, cheered on as Grandpa opened more gifts, and donned our bandanas to see this film.

He reported that this was one of the best birthdays he's ever had. We're happy to have shared it with you Grandpa!