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A NEW YEAR, A NEW BLOG!!

it is official. i'm coming home in January! {new post below}

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!!!

1. a really wonderful set of vintage bird postcards
2. a little birdie journal
3. seriously hip earrings
4. the coolest design book ever (comes with a one year magazine subscription to DOMINO!)
   
5. a " funky scarf!! (so european)
   
6. the greatest book for boys
7. my favorite apron (it is actually green, like mine!)
   
8. the sweetest cup and saucer, sure to make your coffee & tea taste better!
   

in case you didn't know.

this is Christmas. Emmanuel. God with us.

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

merry Christmas!

giving

and that you aren't spending every free second buying more stuff you don't need.
and won't use.
that you will have to dust.
or organize.
or store.
or keep put up only to use once a year.
or put in the back of your closet.
or under your bed.

that stuff is a lie.
it won't make you feel better.
it isn't really even a gift.
more of an obligation.
or a false sense of responsibility.

think about it.
what are you doing.
how are you spending your time.
have you had hot cocoa yet?
egg nog?
a glass of wine?
a christmas cookie?
have you made a list of what you are thankful for?
instead of what you are buying?
or what you want bought for you?
have you stopped to think about why we have lights on trees?
why we buy gifts?
why we sit down to a feast?
why we use evergreens?

lots to think about.
lots of hot tea to be sipped pondering.
enjoying.
but your purse away.
take a deep breath.
take a sip.

Christmas is beautiful.
it's about the greatest gift.
Jesus.
wrapped up in skin, to live.
heaven's king born as a babe.

remember that as you think about your family.
what can you give them that is most precious?
your time.
your heart,,, open and full of love, joy, peace, patience, self control, kindness, goodness, and gentleness...
that is what they need.
that is what your friends need.
that is what your neighbors need.
that is what the world needs.

i know that part of Christmas is about giving... God gave us the greatest gift in Jesus and the tradition of gift giving began with the hopes of truly communicating joy and thankfulness-
and we can still do that today with the right heart.
there is hope.
we can take the retail madness out of this season.
it begins in our hearts.

my favorite thing about giving is giving away what i really want to keep.
seriously.
if i give you something and don't want it for myself... it probably isn't too hot.
i love finding the most incredible things for people i know and love.
(i love some really cool people and true to form... they require really cool stuff to be tickled... so when i find something that will make them excited, most of the time i want to keep it... and secretly pray that some of the cool factor will rub off on me through this inanimate object)

i found the coolest gift for my nephew today.
i want to keep it/them.
seriously.
i even asked brandon if i could by two of each one to start a toy collection for kids we don't even have.
that is how cool it is.
i hadn't bought him anything for Christmas, and really wasn't planning to... until i found the perfect gift.
i found it... yay!!, and i can joyfull give it...
because he will use it, learn from it, love it, and it will last.

you are going to laugh, but really- everything in that giveaway... I WANT.

one of my favorite things to do is give things away.
sometimes it is hard.
but i don't want to treasure stuff.
sometimes, i confess, i do.
i have gotten really ticked off over some silly things being broken.
or lost.
or stolen.
or dirty.
it always breaks my heart when i realize it.
none of this "STUFF" matters.

the point of the story.

you are more of a gift than anything you can BUY your family.
so,,,
get some rest,,,
drink some cocoa,,,
listen to Mariah Carey sing O Holy Night...
meditate on Jesus,,,
the light of the world,,,
heaven's king,,,

and give with a joyful heart.
much love to you.
may your hearts be filled with peace.

Bernkastel Magic for you!!

meet the browns

look what's coming... the january newsletter!!

bordered proofs {product information}

GERMANY FOLKS:

my office has thrown up.

GIFTtag rep cards {product information}

Labels: 411 cards, gift tags, marketing, photography, photography business, portrait photgraphy, rep cards

my favorite this monday!

Deck your Halls!!

sweetest neighbor award goes to....

BILLIE.

she has to be the sweetest. she always draws me pictures, gives me hugs, eats my snacks (even when i know she thinks her mom's are better), tells me stories, introduces me to great movies (i don't care what you say, high school musical is good.), teaches me things about Jesus, makes me laugh, and encourages me to be creative. she is so great. i love you billie!!

she called me today because she made me something at school and wanted to bring it to me. they were working on a snowflake project (the one that you make a huge snowflake out of a piece of construction paper) she decided to do a mini-version and make them INTO EARRINGS!!! HOW CLEVER IS THAT??? BRILLIANT... talk about a designer in the making... i just thought i would share my sweet surprise with you guys today. Merry Christmas to me... and to you!!!

you are the greatest billie!!! (i replaced the goldfish that brandon ate and they are waiting in the snack cabinet for you!!

creative campout... you in???

hola.

Christmas ordering info!