sweet disorder

of christmas card past. . .

 

2003  (Pictures taken in Sara Westbrook's kitchen.  This was just the beginning:)).

 

 

2004 (Taken by Sara Westbrook--in front of a telephone pole covered with Virgina Creeper.  I was about 6 months pregnant with Davis).

2005 (Sara moved so I had to take my own pictures).

2006 (Roxy really is our first dog.  We "borrowed" Twinkle, Tim's parents' dog--so the kids would sit still.  Pictures taken on the Heber Creeper tracks).

  2007 (The talented Sara Westbrook came back to visit Utah.  Pictures taken at my Grandpa Wayne's farm).

 

2008 (Candice Stringham.  We were very happy to "help" her out with a photo assignment.  Pictures taken across the street from our house.  Thanks Agrens for letting us borrow your truck).

2009 (Thank you Donna Holland). 

missing

One baby Jesus.

 

. . . from this set.

and one baby Jesus.

from this set.

Pray that they may be found before Christmas.

what i can buy for $2

i bought davis' christmas sweater when it was still t-shirt weather.

i love my boys in sweaters.

i dream in argyle, stripes, and brown buttoned necklines.

davis hates wearing sweaters.

like his father.

he prefers t-shirts.

and things that don't itch;  like tags.

at thanksgiving tim convinced him to wear his harvest colored sweater by promising freedom from it as soon as grandma had seen it.

he greeted her at the door and then took it off.

i hung it on the back of his chair, so the rest of the family could see his handsome sweater.

so. . .

i told davis  i'd pay him a $1 to wear his christmas sweater to my mom's annual christmas eve shindig.

he said, "$2."

i said, "deal."

he then said, "$4."

i said, "we already said deal."

and then we shook hands.

"gifts that give"

"If you can't feed 100 people, just feed one."  Mother Teresa

Last night Courtney had her "pinning ceremony" for her nursing school.  Congrats Ms. RN!!

When she walked across the stage they had a picture of her--a darling picture from her trip to an orphanage in Ghana and one of her favorite quotes from Mother Teresa. 

(Here we are with Florence.  As in, Nightingale.  The keynote speaker sculpted Florence while he gave his speech). 

I gave her Stones for Schools (the second book by Greg Mortensen, Three Cups of Tea).  Three Cups of Tea was one of her favorite books.  I wanted to include something else with her gift.  When I read about sending two girls to school in Afghanistan (for only $20) I made a donation in Courtney's name and printed out the certificate.  

As we were driving home I thought about all the books I had tucked under the tree and how I could find a charitable gift to accompany them.  Here are just a few of my ideas from "Gifts that Give More"--a printable certifcate will be emailed to you after your purchase is made!

Fire: High-efficency Stoves for Darfur Refugees

Sold (mature themes & haunting): Liberate Girls from Indentured Servitude

The Secret Life of Bees: Beekeeping Traning in Central America

A Thousand Splendid Suns: Pay a Teacher's Salary in Afghanistan

Charlotte's Web: Fund a Microloan for a Pig

Twilight Series: Protect Amerian Wolves (like the ones that almost ate up my dad last week hunting in Northern Idaho)

Left to Tell: Feed a Rwandan Family for a Month

The Curious Garden: Plant a Garden for Health in Rwanda

Brown Bear: Bear Hugs for Children in Need (and you might just need to include a Build-A-Bear)

The Hunger Games: Ending World Hunger

I could think of a book for almost every one of the charitable organizations.  A girl who loves horses?

Riding Freedom and Feed and Care for a Rescued Horse.

I remember my "horse phase."  I also remember wanted to adopt a wild horse.  I think that is often the power of great literature, it motivates you to do something.

Now that we have Roxy, I think that Sit, Stay, Read would be great paried with Because of Winn-Dixie. 

But my heart will always be with educating women.  I believe that is the key to development (and I hope to think that I learned something from my major at BYU).

So, I think giving the gift of literacy and education can be paired with any book you give this season--and donations are currently being matched at RoomtoRead.

more ways to give books

"Do give books. . . for Christmas. They're never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal." --Lenore Hershey

give books to charity:

my friend, ally, has a christmas tradition.  every year her children take their family "coin jar" (you know you all have one) and gives the money to a charity.  they have given to the heifer foundation (so much fun for the kids to choose an animal gift for a family) and pennies for peace.

i think this is such a great idea.  this year, i am going to take the kids to the coin counter machine and donate the funds to firstbook.  firstbook is an organization that donates books to children in need.  i love that only $2 gets a book into the hands of a child.  right now (until dec.31) the donations are being matched by random house.  

here is another oganization that i will be passing some of my ya titles to. 

give books to teachers:

last year bronwyn gave her kindergarten teacher her favorite picture book of the year, pinkalicious.  she wrote a personal note inside.  her teacher mentioned how adorable she thought that was several times throughout the year.  so this year we are doing it again.  i sent a set of chapter books to bronwyn's teacher.  for davis' preschool and speech teachers we are giving a favorite picture book and a gift certificate to amazon.

give books to neighbors:

our neighbors are receiving a favorite winter picture book, with our family christmas card.  a few years ago i gave out this one.

here are a few more ideas for book giving from rachel and ally--you may notice we love some of the same books.

heard in the home

bronwyn to her friend while feeding roxy: "my mom and dad said that taking care of a dog would be hard work--but actually it's fun."

and well, i never thought i would be the type that would buy an elf costume for my dog.  but i did.  and it has bells.  

be still

"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak."

-Hans Hoffman

. . . and now the hustle and bustle is behind me and i look forward to hearing the necessary. 

pictured: my grandmother's sewing box and divine twine.

remember

"This is a beautiful time of year. . .all of these spectacular displays and decorations that compete for our attention can be beautiful and uplifting, but if that's all we see we are missing something that is in plain sight.  Sometimes despite our best intentions we become so preoccupied with responsibilities, commitments and the stress that we fail to see with our hearts, that which is essential and sacred." --President Dieter F. Ucthtdorf, First Presidency Christmas Devotional 2009

"Let us see the Christ in Christmas.  I promise if we unclutter our lives. . .we will see Him, we will find Him."

--President Dieter F. Ucthtdorf, First Presidency Christmas Devotional 2009

A weekend of snowflurries, Blue Lemon's butternut squash soup, Garth Brook's "Magic of Christmas," Lego Batman XBox, wrapping presents, cuddling with Roxy, Christmas lights, decorating Grandma's tree, hot chocolate, snickerdoodles, Christmas choir (for Tim), the fire, Christmas Devotional, books, snuggies, and an amazing live nativity in 20degree weather. 

Perfect.

a dog for christmas

we watched a little hallmark movie called, "a dog named christmas."

and then we adopted a dog.

we are in love.

head over heels.

in love.

with roxy.

and somehow it seems like we are a real american family now--three kids and a dog.

details: (roxy is a shorkie--half shitzu half yorkie. hypoallergenic.  11.5 pounds.  house trained. 11 months old.  raised with lots of kids.  so soft.  jumps like a deer.  loves to sleep on my lap while i am editing pictures.  barks at strangers--so don't be scared when you come to visit us).  

being still

(beautiful print by my ever-favorite SarahJaneStudios)

last week i had a panic attack.  as in a real panic attack.  a i had to go in to the doctor and get an inhaler because i couldn't get a full breath panic attack.  two weeks of the swine flu, and a myriad of other pressures left me without breath. 

i long to be still.  to breathe.  i finished my photo shoots early (and if the two-weeks of flu hadn't stepped in) my goal of being finished with editing and printing would have been met--but I am getting there.  i am perhaps by nature a high-string perfectionist procrastinator.  this christmas i didn't want to do that.  this year i wanted to enjoy the fire.  read books.  drink hot chocolate with the kids.  not be too busy to make christmas sugar cookies.  visit temple square.  after my computer work is finished i think i am going to take a break from the computer for the month of december.   just a few more odds and ends for clients and young women and then no more big projects for december.  my christmas shopping is done.  my cards are printed and most have been addressed and mailed. now, it is time to be still.  i loved this idea of the "week of being still" written on inchmark and her post, "a letter to mrs. gray" will make you cry and want to raise good boys.