Everyday Unwrapped

Emily over at chatting at the sky is hosting a party today. It is called Everyday Unwrapped - noticing the little things that happen everyday. Noticing...


your son walking out of your bathroom wearing your shoes.
noticing... the future rock stars might be in your four year old class.

noticing bright pink lipstick created by frosting...

noticing... the way a two year old loves his blankie...

noticing... the way your son's eyes stare at the world trying to take it all in.

Lord, do you notice?

1 Praise the LORD. ^[a]
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.

2 Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.

3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.

4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,

6 who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

8 he seats them with princes,
with the princes of their people.

9 He settles the barren woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD.

You have to stoop, but Lord you do! You do look... you notice all things!

Come Visit my Christmas Tree

From college through my first five years of marriage, all of my Christmas decorations fit into this small tupperware box!

Last year, the day after Christmas, mom and I hit Walmart and bought everything we could find at 75% off! This year, I was ready to begin my Christmas decorating!

Until I unpacked my new Christmas tree and started laughing out loud!

After a little fluffing (and all of our personal ornaments) our Charlie Brown Christmas tree looked just perfect in our study.

For my birthday, James bought me my first ever REAL Christmas tree! But, unfortunately, I had used all my ornaments on our Charlie Brown tree. Below, I will show you how I decorated our new 7 foot tree for less than $20!

I bought lots of wooden stars and letters (J, E, A, and Q - for our family) and went to town spray painting in my garage.

Then I modge podged some of our favorite family pictures onto small wooden plaques ($.99 for four at Hobby Lobby) for some new ornaments.

Then I filled in all the gaps on the tree with floral that I bought at Hobby Lobby! Here is the trick. Don't buy the Christmas decorations. Buy the fall decorations! They are 90% off!!!

And our tree was done - all for less than $20!!!

Don't worry, I went crazy on my garlands as well. As I stuffed things into my garland, I kept thinking, "girl, you have lost your mind. This is too much! But you know what? I love it!"

Berries? oh, yes! Feathers? You bet!

Is that an empty area in my garland?

It is... I have a huge gap...

oh, don't you worry. There is stuff laying around my house just waiting to be used as Christmas decorations.

After all, just look at my stairwell...

the wreath... well, I left the wreath a little bare...

but there are three of them.

I love Christmas! Thank you for coming to my Christmas open house!