there is beauty in letting go.

Eucharisteo is how Jesus shows us how to fully live – take all as grace, give thanks for all, & all transforms into joy. Eucharisteo! #1000gifts

Just a heads up.. I’ll be moving everything HERE from now on! Sorry for any confusion. I may come over here for some random tumblr findings, but I will mostly be at the new space. I hope you all have had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I’m off to make some dark chocolate and mint chip cookies with sisterlove (yum!).

love you all! xo. ali

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Within the first hour of being in Michigan, we had already had a tea party, a dance party, and got chased by a monster/lion/bear (Uncle Chad). Life here is never dull.

In the middle photo, they were taking turns being the waitress and writing down my order. My options were salad, salad with green, ice cream, water, and/or pop. The tea party turned into a restaurant. It was adorable.

Unrelated side note: If you’re sending cards from New Orleans to Michigan (or vise versa), do so at lease a week in advance. It seems to take so long when I mail cards. We sent the girls a birthday card a week ago, hoping it would arrive on their birthday (the 19th), and it got here Thursday after we were already in town. Maybe that’s why so many call it your birthday week. They were still super excited, to say the least. It came with stickers.. So I guess the wait was worth it.

{peppermint bark recipe found here. oreo truffle recipe found here.}

Today I spent the day with my Mom and Aunt Karen (and B. Elliott) listening to Christmas music and making these yummy treats. Delicious and super easy.

Have a merry Christmas Eve!

let heaven and nature sing. ali

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Four years ago today, these two little girls stole a piece of my heart. I’m letting them keep it.

We love technology!

Happy birthday, dollfaces. Nice work, sisterlove.

xo. aunt ali

Can I just say this? I’m going to.

Driving in sixty degree weather with my window down in December, listening to Christmas music, just isn’t the same.

Anyway.

Today, Hub and I celebrated Christmas a little early. The church we’ve been going to gave away sixty bicycles to families in need. No catch. The families didn’t have to go to the church. They don’t ever have to go if they don’t want to. It was such a blessing to see the kids get their bikes. There were children old enough to know how to ride a bike, that didn’t know how, and got a mini lesson before they left. It was eye opening. I bet it would be a great gift for kids that live in the city. Many of them don’t have yards to play in like I had growing up. You could see the parents holding back tears as they told the volunteers that without these bikes, they weren’t going to have anything to give their kids for Christmas.

So we decided to buy one of these kids a bike as our gift to each other this year. Last week we gave the money, and this week we got to watch as a little boy excitedly rode his bike around the parking lot. It was a very special gift. With the little money we have this year, it was refreshing and encouraging knowing that we brightened the lives of those that are in an even worse place, financially, than us.

Our parents are very generous parents. They have already blessed us this year and have asked us multiple times the big question, “What do you want for Christmas?” So we figured we didn’t “need” to get anything for each other and how fun is it to see a happy kid? I’m just going to answer that. It’s really fun.

And it got me thinking.

It was like a slap in the back of the head this morning-cue Gibbs smacking DiNozzo (that one’s for you dad). We (the world) have turned Christmas into the complete opposite of what it’s meant to be. It is so focused on gifts. And not so much giving them, as recieving. As an adult, I get a LOT of joy out of giving gifts. I LOVE giving gifts to our nieces. But when I was a kid, it was focused on getting excited about what I was going to open on Christmas day. And I’m not blaming that on anyone specific. It just made me think about the true meaning of Christmas and how I seem to forget that; the most important part.

I pray our kids will be excited about giving. Like, so much that it’s what they think of first. I hope and pray that they know the real Christmas story.

This will be hard for me, I’m sure, because I will want to get them everything they ever want. But I also pray that I can stay focused on Jesus so much and that I live it out so our kids will have an example set before them.

I’m not pregnant.

I feel like Christmas will be a hard thing to balance, though. Because as much as I like to give, the focus is still on gifts, even though I’m the giver. Hmm. I’m just glad I have these revelations now, before the kiddos come and I have time to pray and ponder.

We’ll be on our way to Michigan on Wednesday. We’re driving. I know. We’re crazy. But it will be worth the drive. (:

Pray for the Jetta. She’s a trouper, but she’s also old, and when we moved down here we had to get a new starter, so..

Merry Christmas, Chad Taylor. <3

let heaven and nature sing. ali

Hey there! I got an unexpected little treat this week. Kyle came home for a minute (one of our roommates, also our wedding photog) and he was really excited to take some photos for my Etsy shop! It was so nice because I’ve been wanting to get some shots of the scarves on someone so everyone can see how they will lay. He was only here for a few days so we didn’t get everything photographed but what he did get was, per usual, fabulous. He is so talented. SO talented. I’m not just saying that. Visit his website to see some of his work (and hey, you just might get [no, you will get] to see some of our wedding photos that I’ve kept hidden from Facebook Land). ;)

kylebonokaplan.com

We were so blessed to have him at our wedding. It’s such a special thing to feel comfortable with your photographer on that day. And he was so encouraging with this bride.. I’m better at being behind the camera most days. He made it feel like I was hanging out with my best friend all day. Then I got to marry my true best friend?! What? The perfect day.

I didn’t plan on talking about my wedding, ha, sorry. Anywayyyy. Another wonderful roommate of ours, Tina, was my model for the day and what a trooper she was (hey, rooms!). It was probably the coldest I’ve ever felt it here. I think it took the rest of the day for our bodies to thaw. So crazy how your body adjusts to different temperatures so quickly.

There she is in all her beauty.. and one of my headbands. (:

Someday, I’ll find someone that will let me borrow their little beauty for a day to get some shots of the baby headbands.

Visit the {shop} to see the rest. I’ll be adding a couple more items tomorrow. There’s still time to order Christmas gifts!

Hope you’re all having a great week! Talk to you again soon. love, ali.

Friends and family, I’m really excited to show you something. I know you’ve all been waiting to hear more about this. The trailer for GI Joe: Retaliation made it’s internet debut today! Here is a link to see it.. YAY!

I never saw the first GI Joe. I heard lots of mixed reviews, most of them, not so great.. So take it for what it worth. Whether you think it looks good or not, it’s still pretty exciting. I just know that my husband helped blow things up on this film (amongst many other very important things) and I could not wait to talk him up! So when you see things being blown to pieces in the trailer, chances are, he was there. You guys better be at the theaters when this comes out next year, even if it’s only to see his name in the credits (I mean, that’s the main reason I’ll be there). It’s possible I’ll be tearing up when I see it. Can’t wait!

I hope you’re all having a great week so far. I’ll be back soon for more of an update, this one just takes the cake.

Let heaven and nature sing. ali

Hey guys. Today will be a little different Friends post, as I’m not having someone else write. I just wanted to tell you about a friend’s company in Michigan. If you’re looking for a sentimental gift for someone that has had a rough year, or maybe they would just enjoy a special keep sake, or if you Michiganders up there are big on shopping locally, I encourage you to visit the Comforting Cross website. Each cross is hand crafted and no two are exactly alike. Which makes the gift even more special and unique. They aren’t stained, but finished with bees wax and orange oil. It really is the softest wood. For the olive wood crosses, the wood comes from storm damage and trimmings from olive trees in Bethlehem. Holy Land. That’s pretty special. The crosses can be carried with you or just set out, say on your mantle, as a sweet reminder of the peace that God brings (be it in the good or hard times).

“Our Comforting Crosses are made to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand so you can hold them in your time of need, during prayer or  if you just need to focus your thoughts.”

This is one that was gifted to me by the cross maker himself. He really has the sweetest family and I truly believe his heart goes into each cross he makes. When I think about it, it’s the sentiment behind the cross that is comforting the most. If nothing else, it is a great reminder that there are people in my life who care enough to let me know they see my struggles and are there for me. I like the vintage trinket feel it has too. I leave it on our bookshelf as a decoration and a reminder. :)

They have a Facebook page as well. {Comforting Cross on Facebook}

The deadline for ordering to receive one before Christmas is December 15th!

“We know that you will enjoy our products and we pray they will bring you comfort  and peace for years to come.” -Comforting Cross

Happy Friday, friends. Let heaven and nature sing. ali