merry christmas and happy new year.

from us and our joy baby in Michigan!

I never really prayed that for her like I wanted to before she was born. but I've recently been praying that strength and dignity would be her clothing and that kindness would be on her lips. that she would laugh at the days to come. (proverbs 31, I'm sure you know it well)

and she is just that. so much joy. so I am thankful for the joy I don't even ask for and continue to pray over this beautiful girl. I also pray this holiday season is a special one for each of you. love you all!

here's to another great year.

beautiful cards : artifact uprising | beautiful photo : Trevor Mark Photography

love..

I said I would be back to share more of our time in Michigan, so this is that. but there is a lot so it may take a couple days.

anyway, you read the really exciting part- when we found out this little one is a girl. pretty special. but that was just the beginning. below is the day of our ultrasound (twenty weeks), also the day before we left.

^ excuse the face.

our December in Michigan was nothing short of eventful. eventful in the sense that a lot happened, but we were also stuck inside a bunch too.

we had a beautiful drive up; not even one drop of rain. and I was much less uncomfortable than I expected I'd be, thank you Jesus. we got to Michigan, celebrated our nieces birthday (real fun. so much personality, those two.), opened that suspenseful envelope one morning, and that night a massive ice storm hit. massive in the sense that almost the entire county and some of the surrounding areas lost power for many days. with ice and low temps, it was a tad dangerous. the ice took out a lot of trees and power lines. but as usual, God was taking care of us. we went out to breakfast the next morning at one of the few places with power, sat in front of a fire for a day, a generator was lent to my parents, and Chad and his Dad drove to Ohio to buy one of the last and closest generators around for their house. the electricity came back on Christmas evening after four days of listening to the hum of a generator.. which really didn't bother me since I'm a white noise person. hardly noticed it, ha.

then a few inches of snow came and rested on all of the ice and it was the most beautiful I've ever seen Michigan. all of those evergreens! I know I'm crazy, but when I see trees like that I get the feeling that most of you get when you see a photo of the beach (and don't give me that, "you don't have to live here or have suffer through it" junk. I lived there for over twenty years. I just like it, okay?). don't get me wrong, I'd love a trip to the beach. but, I mean, this..

for Christmas, we bought the girls ice skates (per their request). so a few days later we all went to try out the new skates with Uncle Chad, since he is the pro. (; it was so fun seeing him in his element again and also really fun watching the girls figure it all out. I cherish those family days, since they are few and far between. and don't worry.. I was behind the camera most of the time. no skating for pregnant Ali.. she's no pro.

^ after probably five minutes. (; hard worker!

^ one for the books, am I right?

the rest of our trip was full of some exciting wedding festivities for good friends and a polar vortex blizzard, so that's fun. I told you it was eventful. (: I'll post more about that next time. hope you're having a great day!

love..

some of you already know, but here's a little snippet of what we've been up to since arriving in Michigan.



//beautiful bird gift tag c/o Kelly Murray (free printable gift tags if you click here!).

love..

it's so funny to me that these are December photos. also funny that I can see my belly in photos of my feet now. this baby is done hiding. (;

in just a few short days, we'll get to see this little dancing one up on a screen. last time was such an amazing experience, I can't even imagine how much more amazing this time will be. we will be finding out the gender, but not at the appointment and actually, not until we get to Michigan with our families. so just hold your horses.

I'm mostly writing today to ask you all for some reader participation about Advent.

what does it mean to you? do you celebrate? and if so, what does that look like?

anyone do something daily in December? is it with your kids? or just your spouse or by yourself? or just at church?

do you have any favorite books you like to read about the real story and meaning of Christmas? you know, other than the Bible. I definitely have that one.

let me know!

love..

sitting here at the table.. it's suddenly really sunny and starting to rain. and all of these little yellow things start flying around, which is sort of exciting when you realize they're leaves. but then my brain gets a little confused when I remember it's December. and it's supposed to be snowing.

even after two years.

christmastime is here.

and I'm pretty happy about it.

Chad so graciously let me decorate before Thanksgiving this year so I started adding a few things here and there. I go for simple.. to avoid lots of clutter in our tiny house that already has enough. we'll be in Michigan for most of December (yes!), so I've really been wanting to enjoy our own Christmasy home for a bit before we leave. especially since every Christmas from here on out is probably going to be a lot different. (: 

and this is our sad, little tree. we never could figure out which pesky bulb was making that whole middle section not light up. I ended up turning the whole tree a little to an angle that doesn't really show it as much so I could actually decorate. can't really complain too much about a seven dollar pre-lit tree (after Christmas clearance!) that has been a champ for the first few years of our marriage. maybe it's time for a big girl tree soon. (; or maybe even venture into the real trees. haven't had one of those since I was little and it made our whole family sick, ha. but really, seven dollars? hard to beat.

I'm also planning on making these little cinnamon ornaments in the next few days because, well.. CINNAMON. am I right? and I found a little pine scented soy candle at Target that surprisingly makes our house smell like a real tree. I haven't even had to light it yet. cinnamon and pine.. if you close your eyes, you just might think you're in Michigan.

and just for fun, here's a video from our first (married) Christmas in our first tiny apartment in Michgian.

so, what are your favorite holiday traditions?

love..

wednesday without words: snow.

 

love..

shop update.

there have been a few requests for the birthstone bird nest necklaces in my shop. which is funny to me; I didn't realize people were still liking them. so I just wanted to tell you all that the shop is back open. I haven't had it open for a bit as I was adjusting to working a bunch again and still being a wife. (: I will be taking orders until December 17th (to assure delivery by Christmas). I am currently working on some more bridal hair pieces that will be available next year. which is so very soon.. crazy. time is flyinggg by.

also, if you're reading this and you are interested in ordering something, I'm offering ten percent off of your holiday purchases. use the coupon code MERRY at checkout. offer is good until January 25th. feel free to contact me with any custom ideas you have.

be back soon..