Cup of Cheer…in your mailbox.

Want 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly? Me too. I have no excuse…for in five years of marriage and two (going on three) children I have yet to sent out a Christmas card to our friends and family. Sending out and receiving a Christmas card is not the highlight of the holidays by any means, but there is something very warm about seeing the faces, or just hearing news, of the people you love at the close of the year. When I was younger I used to hope I could be the first to make it to the mailbox after school. I was always anxious to see how familiar faces had changed, grown.

I found some very, merry designs browsing through their big collection…

{Sweet Scalloped Frame}

I think I prefer the folded greeting cards for some personal handwriting space. (However, I’m not sure if Andy would enjoy copying this pose for me with Daisy.)

{No Mistletoe Necessary}

I also have never sent out any birth announcements for my kids. What a sweet and simple little bird!

{Little Bird Blue}

Now I just have to choose from one of millions of pictures taken of the kids!

I found them!

Cinderella’s slippers. Don’t be deceived, I’m not referring to her glass dancing shoes. To be sure, she did all of her chores wearing these darling little black flats. For only 12.99* at Target, you too can hide your ever-un-manicured toes. Unfortunately, upon arriving at home and walking in them some, I discovered that the pair I bought is actually a bit too small. Alas.

*Cheery, sing-song spirit in spite of bad circumstances not included.

Titus 2

Titus 2:3-5

3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

I really miss our “Titus 2 Time”. We (the girls at Memphis, Rhodes, and other ladies in our college group) met at Jen’s house and sat under the wise panel: Debbie, Nancy, and Jen. These wonderful women came prepared with answers for many of our big questions. How to you get through a dry season with Christ? What kids of lessons did God teach you about Himself through singleness, through dating? How did you know your husband was the one? How do you spend your time with the Lord? These are just a few examples. I thought I needed Titus 2 Time at that point in my life, and I did. But I’m certain I need it in this season of life. (It’s probably silly to say at what point I need it more.) How much I appreciated having three (older and wiser) women from which to glean. What I wouldn’t give for one! I remember Jen saying that sometimes, when there isn’t a physical mentor to be found, you can always “listen” to women who have taken the time to thoughtfully record with a pen their knowledge and love for God.  Elisabeth Elliot is one of those people. Any suggestions?

Girl at the Mirror, 1954
Norman Rockwell

like this…see?

I always bring a photo when I get my hair cut. I bring several pictures. I show him and hope what I want is obvious and clearly communicated. But I think what I’ve really been wanting is for the hairdresser to not just give me an identical cut, but to somehow make me look like the person in the picture. How many bad hair-days equals a bad haircut?