Redeeming Love Christmas Collection {a review}

 

“Hope Begins Here”…

How simple, but yet powerful is that phrase?! Hope truly begins with the birth of Jesus Christ in a stable. His first night was spent in a manger. The definition from Merriam-Webster Dictionary says that it is “a trough or open box in a stable designed to hold feed or fodder for livestock”. To think that God humbled Himself to come to earth in the form of a human being and spend his first night in a trough that is meant to hold feed for livestock is very humbling to me. To know that He has gone before me and planned all my tomorrows is a very comforting and hopeful thought!

The message that this vintage-style wreath displays, reminds us why and shows those who enter our home (or come to our door if you choose to display it there) why we celebrate throughout the Christmas season.

 

The Advent tabletop devotional was another daily reminder throughout the holiday season that brought me back to the heart of the season, as well as God’s heart for us, every day I flipped a page. The calendar is a little large for the amount of writing on each page, but it is a very pretty and “Christmassy” piece to have in your home at this time of year.

I enjoyed adding these items to my decor this Christmas and want to thank DaySpring for providing me with the free product. All opinions expressed are my  own. You can find more information on other items in the Redeeming Love collection by clicking here.

Food, Faith & (in)Fertility....and Friday!!

{food}

I haven't made any new recipes this week, but when I was looking through some pictures this evening, I remembered that I forgot to post about the Girl's Lunch I recently was a part of :) Grandma treated us to lunch a few Saturday's back, at an Italian restaurant she loves and we had a great time laughing and eating good food:

Mom and Me

 Grandma and My Sister

 My awesome Chicken Penne Gorgonzola Pasta and Smoked Turkey & Bacon Panini (turkey, applewood smoked bacon, gorgonzola, mozzarella and roma tomatoes)!

Baked Potato Soup

Hungary anyone??? :-)-

{faith}

An awesome article I read this week about the "caves" of our lives and how they prepare us to fulfill God's purposes for our lives....click to read "Caves".

{(in)Fertility}

I am very excited to read this book this summer. I will post a review of it when I finish the current book that I am reading for a book review program I'm in. This book is motivation for finishing my current one.

But in just skimming through this book, I am very much looking forward to it.

"Falling for Eli: How I Lost Heart, Then Gained Hope Through the Love of a Singular Horse"

A true story (categorized as "memoir/pets") written by Nancy Shulins about her healing journey that began with a special horse named Eli.

 

Happy Friday!!! Have a blessed weekend!

Eagles

Today as I was sitting in my Jeep after I got out of work, I was enjoying the sunshine and comfortable temperatures, eating some cool watermelon that was leftover from my lunch, and just generally basking in my freedom. It's the simple things that I find myself gravitating towards and appreciating so much more in the past few years as I alluded to when I began my Joy Journal page (I know, I know, it needs to be updated).

Anyways, where I park my vehicle in the lot most days (my unofficial parking spot as we all seem to have), I have a surprisingly good view for birdwatching, even though I don't work in the middle of a forest, there are many younger trees planted in our newish business park and birds that have decided to make their homes there. So, I love watching them when I am sitting outside on my break or after work when I'm not rushing off somewhere. They peck at the ground or chase bugs. They swoop low to the ground and back up in the air, or just hop along. I have found lately that it's amazing when you take a moment to slow down and observe the world around you, what you'll see.

But today there was a very large bird, probably just a big hawk, but it was so beautiful as it had outstretched wings and glided high above the buildings, the dark blue sky and sunshine as a picture perfect backdrop. I watched the large bird for several minutes as it flew in a circle, once in a while flapping its wings and then gliding again. Sometimes I think it would be so cool to be a bird and just fly away (Psalm 55:6), high above the cares and worries of this world. To just glide though the air enjoying the breeze, what a thrill that would be! The beauty of the moment brought a few tears to my eyes and I was reminded of how God used the Eagle as a metaphor in Isaiah 40:31:

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

source

So, until I can truly fly through the heavens, I will cling to that verse and thank God for the beautiful reminders of his love that he places in my path daily.

Sunday Scripture

(my photography & editing)

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Linking up with Diedra's Sunday Community today:

Food, Faith & (in)Fertility....and Friday!

I just realized that I haven't blogged in over 2 weeks! It's been busy with various family gatherings on the weekends, getting a small garden planted late (I'll have a report soon!), and work during the week, plus all the other things that life entails.


{food}

I haven't cooked with it yet but I bought some of this (tofu) at the store this past week:


source


Any recipe suggestions are greatly appreciated! Please leave a comment or email me (food faith and infertility at yahoo dot com). It is something I have seen for years in cooking magazines but never been brave enough to buy! Well I have a chunk and I am ready to try it!


{faith} & {(in)Fertility}

I am currently doing this book in a summer small group and have really enjoyed it so far. The first week was on extraordinary hope and the examples given were of Hannah and the woman at the well. I was sort of dreading going to group this week because I knew we would be discussing it and I was tired and just didn't feel like going over our IF story, but I knew if I went I couldn't sit there silent because I have learned so much. So I went. And I wasn't silent. I felt blessed for going and sharing how God has worked in our lives while dealing with IF.

So anyways, if you are looking for a study to do over the summer months, even on your own, so far, so good:


                          source




Happy Friday! I hope everyone has a restful weekend :)