DIY Scripture Advent Calendar

There's no doubt that this is my favorite time of year.  It's such a special & sacred time, & though the world would like to tell you otherwise, it's not really about the stores & the gifts & the Santa guy {though I consider myself  on Team Santa}, it's about the Savior of the world coming to us in tiny baby form on a mission from above to save us all.  It's incredibly radical & mind-blowing to think about, isn't it?  One way we keep Christ at the center of our Christmas is to stay in His Word & this advent calendar helps us do just that {& - added bonus - it looks pretty festive, too}.  Here's how to make it...

What You'll Need:
-a foam poster board {mine's from the Dollar Tree}
-wrapping paper or paint {or some other decorative something to cover your board in}
-small Christmas-y embellishments {think small ornaments, stickers, knick-knacks, etc.}
-tags {there are printable free ones here}
-twine
-pushpins
-hole-puncher
-hot glue
-these Bible verses

Cover your foam board however you'd like {I used book print wrapping paper for mine & wrapped it like I would a gift}.  Print {or create or buy} tags for each day {1-25} & add embellishments.  Print these verses out, cut, & glue to the back of each appropriate tag. {There are only 24 verse selections, so we chose 1 John 4:13-16 for the 25th {Christmas day} + we read the Christmas story in its entirety}.   Punch holes in your tags, add some twine, & tack onto your board with pushpins {add a drop of hot glue to the pushpin for extra holding power}.

I created this advent calendar when I was single & love now sharing the tradition with my husband {somehow it survived the move from TN to GA}!  The daily readings help us focus on the true reason for the season: Jesus Christ.  I think it's my favorite Christmas thing I've made ever {& that's saying something, 'cause over the years I've made a LOT}.

Do you celebrate the advent season in a special way?  Leave me a comment!  I'd love to know more!

Gifts // Vol. 19

1,246. safety & health

1,249. chocolate

1,257. Your forgiveness + his

1,267. taking the nature trail down by the creek & hearing the leaves go crunch, crunch, crunch

1,271. safe travels

1,273. my husband's love {always & forever}

1,276. how we went to the field where we got married after church & I told him, "I still do" + his "me, too"

1.280. a night time stroll together with a sliver of a moon

1,286. You, dear Lord, my 1st & truest love {always & forever}

1,295. that You gave us creativity

Happy Thanksgiving from me & mine to you & yours!

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving & His courts with praise; give thanks to Him & praise His name."

-Psalm 100:4

Little Letters // November 2017

*These little letters are all from the same crazy/beautiful day when Dan & I decided to get back into our wedding attire & take some photos I'd been dreaming of but never got back when we were 1st wed a little over a year ago...

November 18, 2017

Dear Dan,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for not fainting on the side of the road with only me in my wedding dress to catch you.  I just don't think your little wife has that kind of upper body strength.  I'm so sorry you twisted your ankle while running towards the railroad tracks in your nice suit to get our pictures taken.  I'm doubly sorry it made you feel nauseous & see spots {again, thanks for not fainting}.  Thanks for rallying & taking pictures after a few minutes rest back in the car, too.  You are the bestest husband!  I think one day we will look back at this whole thing & laugh.

Your Loving Wife,
Laura

✉ ⏩

Dear Sheriff,

Thanks for not taking us in when you found our car parked on the side of the road + us in our wedding attire taking pictures out on the railroad tracks.  You were very understanding about the whole thing.

Kindest Regards & Sincerest Thanks,
Laura + Dan

✉ ⏩

Dear Elderly Couple Driving By,

Thank you for tooting your horn + calling out, "God bless you two!" as you drove past & saw the crazy sight of my husband in his suit & me in my wedding gown out on the side of the road.  Although you couldn't have known we'd already been married a year, you made us smile.  We pray to one day be that elderly couple with a lifetime of memories together, wishing another young couple best wishes, too.

Blessings,
Laura + Dan

✉ ⏩

Dear Sweet Photographer Lady + Daughter,

After the ankle twisting, then sheriff visit, we were a little unsure when we saw you get out of your car & walk towards us down the railroad track.  How grateful we were when we heard you call out that you didn't want to bother us, but just help us because you were a photographer!  Thank you for offering to go back home & get your camera, but the photos you took with Dan's phone were just as beautiful as any we could have hoped for.  You & your sweet daughter helped me move around in my bulky gown & capture memories that will last a lifetime {not least including the sweet memory of your overflowing kindness}.  You made our day!!!

Sincerely,
Laura + Dan

✉ ⏩

Click here to view a few of my favorite photos from that crazy/beautiful day!

Once Upon an Autumn Day...

 

I'd been dreaming of taking wedding pictures on this lovely piece of railroad track for over a year now.  Last Saturday, we got our wedding things back on & finally made it happen!  Click here for more of the story on the misadventure {& adventure} of that lovely autumn day!

Autumn Snapshots {Part 2}

DIY Thankfulness Tree

Whether you're hosting a gathering this week & need something simple + festive to spruce your place up, or you're just looking to start a new tradition at your house, this DIY couldn't be simpler. 

Gather small branches & twigs from outside, arrange in a canning jar, & hang decorative tags with blessings written on.  Place a small decorative plate or basket {or whatever you wish} with more tags + a Sharpie or two so guests/family can add their own to the tree.

Praying your Thanksgiving is full of moments where you stop & count up all your blessings!

"Every good & perfect gift is from above..." -James 1:17

31 {Random} Things About Me

I celebrated my 31st birthday earlier in the month, so I thought I'd share 31 completely random things about me.  Here goes...

1. I became a Christian at age 16 & Jesus is my sweet Savior & most awesome Lord.  I am still amazed I get to call the Creator of the universe Dad!

2. I own a Hello Kitty toaster {& my husband is just fine with that}. 😻

3. Dan & I went to Arizona for our 1st anniversary this year!

4. I met my husband online.  Something I said I'd never ever do.  Ever.  Ha ha.

5. I'm a TN girl through & through.

6. I have a thing for Dollar Trees.  Strange, but true.

7. Autumn is my favorite {followed by spring}.

8. Romans is my favorite book of the Bible.

9. My favorite verse is Psalm 27:13, "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."

10. My husband turned me into a Star Wars fan!

11. I once got locked in my apartment's swimming pool & had to crawl/squeeze under a fence to escape.

12. I traveled to Scotland completely solo when I was 20.

13. I went back again to visit England {again completely solo} when I was 24.

14. I've waded in Loch Ness.

15. I shopped Notting Hill's Portobello Road Market in London.

16. It's on my bucket list to solve a mystery, ride in a hot air balloon, & swim in a fountain.

17. I grew up on Disney, & Ariel & Rapunzel are my favorite princesses.

18. Last year, one of my Christmas gifts was tickets to see the Broadway version of The Little Mermaid.

19. I don't like seafood or salad.

20. I'm the youngest in my family & my husband is an only child.

21. I have 3 sweet nephews + 1 sweet great-nephew, & I 1st became an aunt when I was 4!  P.S.: This means my oldest sister is a grandma!  Say what!?

22. Target's Dollar Spot is my fave!

23. Ice cream is my weakness.

24. Sara Groves' songs are my favorite.
25. My 1st paying job was at my city's downtown public library.
26. We spent our honeymoon at the happiest place on Earth.
27. My Crock Pot is my kitchen bestie.
28. I played the violin from 5th grade through the end of high school.
29. Christmas is my favorite holiday {hands down}!
30. I have an elementary education degree to teach grades K-6th.
31. I love the retro TV show That Girl with Marlo Thomas.

Autumn Snapshots {Part 1}

Date Night Ideas // November 2017

💑 Make a list separately {'cause you both might need some thinking time to get your feelings down} of things that make you thankful for each other, then get together & share them over coffee {or whatever you both like}.

💑 Go fill a shoe box together for Operation Christmas Child {Nov. 13th - 20th}!

💑 Find more ways to get out & serve together.  Soup kitchens, nursing homes, churches, & children's hospitals are always on the lookout for fresh volunteers.

💑 Get in the kitchen & bake a pie together for Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving.

💑 Go check out something theatrical together.  Investigate what your area has to offer.  Whether it's a play, poetry reading, or concert... make it a date!

💑 Have a fancy dress up date & get all dolled up.  You don't have to spend tons, just 'cause you're dressed snazzy.  Sometimes just walking around downtown hand-in-hand in the evening & making all the passersby wonder what you 2 are up to looking like you do is enough. ❤

Random Rambles {11.02.2017}

▶ "Control" by Tenth Avenue North - man, this song is speaking to me deep today.  This is my new anthem.  Take a listen here.

▶ I confess, all the Christmas things hitting the stores are making me kinda giddy.

▶ McCormick's slow cookers chicken tortilla soup seasoning mix I randomly picked up at the Dollar Tree the other day, helped me make the most delicious soup ever.  Highly recommend to all my fellow Crock Potters!

▶ My birthday is just 3 little days away.

▶ Dan won a homemade chocolate cake in our church's fall festival, & needless to say it is serious deliciousness {+ I've now claimed it for my birthday cake}.

▶ I want to be wise with my time always, but especially this time of year when WHAM everybody's schedules & to-do lists just grew exponentially over night.  I want to be less rushed & frazzled & more present & rejoicing this holiday season.  Sounds lovely, now to actually go & do it...  God, grant me Your strength + peace.

▶ Last year it did not happen, but 2017 is the year we send out our 1st Christmas cards...  I hope...  Or, at least, I'd like to...  We'll see.  Definitely... Maybe.

Monthly Recap // October 2017

➴   ➶   ➴   ➶   ➴   ➶   ➴   ➶   ➴

➵ Traveled to TN to catch up with some family time + we got to stay a night in my mom & stepdad's cabin.

➵ Visited stunning Cloudland Canyon & hiked around a bit.

➵ Wandered around Prater's Mill Country Fair with Dan + my family {+ we might have kissed on a tractor}.

➵ Went pumpkin shopping together + came home with a couple baby gourd pumpkins.

➵ Celebrated Dan's b-day with cake, gifts, & a fancy date out to a new restaurant for dinner then ice cream after.

➵ Hosted a Star Wars movie night + dinner at our place.

➵ Dressed up together for the 1st time this year for our church's fall festival {+ I DIYed the costumes}.  We were an Oreo cookie!