... we wish you a Merry Christmas, and a broken leg too...

I haven't written a post in quite some time, but I have excuses, trust me! Not only have we been busy with the constant running around that is inevitable this season, but ever since Thanksgiving, life has been exceptionally crazy. We spent the day giving thanks in Virginia with my side of the family at my sisters house. By the time we came back home to Delaware from there, we had about three weeks to catch up on life, and we ran out of time. Before we knew it, we were spending nights up Christmas shopping, wrapping presents and cleaning the house. We stole some time to get our Christmas tree, but didn't get a chance to light it until a week later. And even then, we only got to enjoy it for about two nights since we were soon off to NYC. Bummer, huh?

NYC was wonderful, as always, until about 5:30 pm on Tuesday night. The day before was spent at the filming of The Nate Show. It was an awesome experience, and we just love his show. We went back to my sister-in-laws place in Manhattan to relax for the night playing games. Tuesday was supposed to be our night out on the town. We planned to go ice skating, see the tree in Rockefeller Center, go tour the windows at Macy's, and have a wonderful magical time.

We got as far as ice skating. Specifically, two times around the rink, when our fun stopped us right in our tracks. Some anonymous girl, who will never realize what her short attention span caused us, slammed into Chad when she was staring behind her at her boyfriend, and knocked Chad over onto the ice. We thought his ankle was dislocated, and then perhaps broken. Once the ambulance went screaming through the packed streets of NYC at Christmastime and we arrived at the hospital, we learned Chad had actually broken his LEG and tore two ligaments in his ankle and needs surgery.

I know, Merry Christmas, right?

Everything happens for a reason. I believe that God is always trying to teach us something that will enable us to become more like the loving people He desires us to be. And while most would think this accident couldn't have come at a worse time, it actually had perfect timing. And really, because of medical insurance and work purposes, this actually couldn't have come at a BETTER time. He is so good at that, isn't he? Reason one to thank God in all circumstances.

While my husband sleeps quietly beside me, I am reminded that HE IS STILL HERE WITH ME. This could have been much worse if he hit his head, but He didn't, because God protected him and helped break his fall. I just learned of a murder suicide that happened recently in a friends neighborhood, and I can't imagine what those families are going through. I'm sure they would give anything for their loved one to have a broken leg and still be living rather than not, so who are we to complain? I am blessed with another evening, another CHRISTMAS, to spend with my husband. Reason two to thank God in all circumstances.

For the next week or two we will be staying at my brother-in-law's house in Pennsylvania. We have a warm bed, food on the table, and laughter and joy that surrounds us here. The basement is packed with nieces and nephews, having fun and doing what nieces and nephews do. And while the soft light of the Christmas tree stands between us and the frigid outdoors, I can't help but dwell on Christ, and what He gave, so He can be the One to stand between us and the pain of the world. Reason three to thank God in all circumstances.

Perhaps our Christmas this year will be more of a challenge than a time of rest, more about serving others than being served ourself,  or perhaps things won't go exactly how we wanted them to... I will be comforted in knowing that my Christmas this year is starting to resemble the entire life of who this season is all about, and maybe all our Christmas's should start looking a little more like that each year.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

PS- Pictures of our adventures coming soon. : )

Project: DIY birch branch candle holder

I'm not going to lie... I think this craft is fabulous. I have just been stopping to stare at mine because I love it so much! I hope you love it as well.

To make this craft, you only need a few things that most everyone has in their house ( or outside) already.

-cardboard-

 (or you can use paper towel or toilet paper rolls)

-a working printer-

-candles in holders-

-evergreen firs-

-scissors and an exacto knife-

 (if you don't have an exacto knife you can use the scissors or a regular steak knife but it will make the job more tricky and a little bit dangerous!)

-a stapler-

 (could be replaced with hot glue if you don't have a stapler)

One great thing about this project is that it is customizable. You can easily make the birch branch candle holder any size you want, as well as altering the size of the cut outs if you have big or small candles.

Let me show you how to do it! (It's super easy, really...)

1. Gather together all your supplies, including the birch paper. What birch paper you ask? Go online (I'm assuming you have the internet since you are reading my blog : ) and find FREE clip art birch paper pattern. Any pattern you like. (Don't want birch? You could just use a typical tree branch pattern as well.) Print that off on regular computer paper.

Take your cardboard, and cut out a piece about 7.5 x 10 inches, making sure that the cardboard is 2. aligned with the ribbing on it. Essentially, you want the ribbing to go with the length of the final object. Also, make sure the cardboard is cut so it is a bit smaller than the birch paper dimensions. Bend and loosen each rib of the cardboard so you can easily roll it. Once you roll it, overlap one edge onto the other about an inch and staple. This allows for a flat base on the bottom so it doesn't roll.

3. Lay the cardboard flat, and line up the candles in front. I chose to use three standard size votive candles in holders (you can get a pack of 12 candles at the dollar store, as well as a pack of 12 votive holders). Once I lined them up where I want them to sit in the cardboard holder, I marked lines on the top of the cardboard and then later placed the votive holders over the lines and traced a circle. I did this for all three candles, and then used an exacto knife to cut out the wholes. Don't worry about being neat and tidy! If you accidentally cut a little deep no worries. The imperfections will be covered with the birch paper. (Note: this entire step can be done however you choose. If it is easier for you to take measurements and use a ruler to mark where to cut the holes, then that is just fine. For me, I don't mind imperfections or having the holes a few millimeters off... it would never be noticeable. )

Now you need to put your candles in the slots allotted for them. Next, take your birch paper,  4.

 position it appropriately on top of the candles so it wraps around to the botton of the cardboard and it where you will want it permanantly in the end. Tape the sides down so the paper stays put. Take a pencil, and trace the ridges of the candles. This can be a little tricky, since you can't see the candles. Just feel and trace. Again, it doesn't need to be perfect.

5. Untape the paper, and trace over the circles you traced when the paper was covering the candles. This just makes the circle a little more circular, and easier to cut nicely. Once you've done that for each hole, wrap the paper around the cardboard and staple it. Now you are ready to put the firs in. Position them wherever you like, especially focusing on covering up any imperfections. Once you've done that, place the candles in their spots, and light them! Your family will see them over the holidays and be surpised they were homeade! Just like my last project, this would make a wonderful gift!

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

-curve the excess paper sticking over the ends to give it a little more of a realistic look-

-add a little silver or white glitter to glam it up-

-before stapling the paper, spray paint the inside white so the brown cardboard doesn't show-

:::SLL:::

Project: Magazine Christmas Trees!

This project is fun, easy, CHEAP, and simple enough to do with your kids!

Ok, ladies (or guys)... I KNOW you have a stash of magazines laying around somewhere... and you can now put them to use. This is usually a Christmas decoration... but I can't help but think how cute they would look all year 'round in different colors. I found this project on Martha Stewart... it's a classic, traditional project people have done for decades, but Martha had never done one! I thought that was amazing, personally. lol Because I've been pressed for time lately, I'm blogging this somewhat unfinished. I plan to make several more, and completely finish the little details, but for now this will do. : ) (Also, I didn't have glitter... so sad.). I'm going to go through step by step (I did mine a little different), but here is the original video, explaining how to do it. The original didn't include feathers or sprigs, BUT I think it adds something special... ok, let's start.

Start by breaking the spine of the magazine. Don't be too rough, because you don't want the pages tearing away from the spine.

Keep the cover and back on the magaine. Start with the cover, taking the top right corner and folding it down to the left towards the spine, as the picture shows.

Then, take that piece and fold it once more towards the spine.

What you have left should somewhat resemble a tie.

Do this with every page of the magaine. Little magazines, tall magazines, and everything in between will work great with this project, because they create all different size trees.Once you've applied step one to every page you will see the "bottom of the tie" forms a little triangle. Flip the "tie" over, and fold the triangle up to form a

straigt line on the bottom. Once you've done this with each page, the object will stand up flat and straight, and the shape of the tree will be completed.  

Next, spray paint the tree whatever color you choose. Find some sprigs from an evergreen tree, and spray paint those as well. Both will need multiple coats. Make sure you let each coat dry completely. Once you've painted the tree, if you desire to put glitter on, you can either sprinkle it on when the paint is still wet, or once the paint is dry, you can spray adhesive on and sprinkle the glitter on that way.

Then, attach the sprigs to the tree with hot glue, and aff some feathers on the bottom so they stick out and cause a soft, snowy effect, and use for a table centerpiece, or Christmas decoration. Make a few trees with you children and give them as gifts! These really turn out wonderful, and I am adoring mine set up on the television stand surrounded by candles! Enjoy!

:::SLL:::