project: forgotten christmas

Back in January, my sister Clara and I helped plan for Gospel for Asia’s Forgotten Christmas video. This is the second year GFA has done this project – and its purpose is to challenge the way we think about Christmas. This 2 minute video forces us to think, to look at Christmas differently.

Have we lost the meaning of Christmas? Have we covered it up with “stuff?” Has Christmas become about the decorations, the gifts, and the celebrations, rather than JESUS? We’ve let these things steal our focus.  It’s not the way it should be.

As Christians, we are to be in the world, not of it. It’s hard to fix our focus on the one thing that does matter – Jesus. It’s hard to tear ourselves away from this world, and to look at Christmas differently.

Put Christ first this Christmas.

Go watch this video here: www.forgottenchristmas.org

Last weekend I created this with my friend.

Time-lapse .gif of it’s making:

And just for fun:

You might notice the “gfa.org/gift” written in chalk up there. GFA’s Christmas Catalog is a way that we can help people who are lost and without hope. The Dalit people group in Asia is the Forgotten People (go to this link to learn more). We can remember them this Christmas, and share with them the love and hope of Christ. Not only can we tell them of the God who loves them, but we can help them in practical ways as well. With a goat, a sewing machine, a cow, some chickens – these people can make a new life for themselves, and learn of the One who died to save their sins.

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learning to make lattes

That’s what I’ve been doing lately. Gotta keep practicing frothing my milk!

Don’t  you love her sweater?

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Thanksgiving Prep

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day! And  you know me, I love to bake. So there has been lots of baking going on :)

Clara made a berry pie yesterday, this morning I made an apple pie, Mom made Mema’s cranberry jello, I also made rolls, and I made a pumpkin cheesecake pie. (Graham cracker crust pies, by the way, are the very easiest to make.)

Oh, and this apron. I made it in Mom’s sewing class!

*Photo credit to my sister Clara

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we saw armadillos this weekend

While we were camping! My family and I spent our weekend at Cooper Lake State Park, and had a lovely lake view from our campsite. The weather was beautiful, and we enjoyed the fall colors, the stars, and time as a family.

Armadillos are so cute. When they’re not roadkill.

We forgot to bring a broom, so Clara made one.

Family photo

Photoshoot with Clara – waking up in the woods

The lake view from our campsite

Potatoes for breakfast burritos

Delicious hot chocolate and marshmallows

We can never see this many stars in the city. God is amazing.

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lunch on the square

Summur and I went to the Historic Downtown square in McKinney this afternoon. And had a lovely time! On the drive, trying to figure out where we are (121 really does just turn into 399 which really does just turn into McDonald) and blasting the 80s music and rocking the vintage shades. Walking around the square, eating delicious food, spending long amounts of time wandering around antique stores, taking photos.

We had lunch at Spoons Cafe. It was fabulous. Pink lemonade, black pepper fries, and a bacon-lettuce-avocado sandwich. Summur had Pumpkin Soup and a Mandarin Orange Salad.

We enjoyed perusing the shops, even though some of them were closed…

Just off the square and down a little side street was this staircase.

I got this skirt at the Denton Square antique store last week. Wool + plaid + pleats + 70s!

I definitely enjoyed my afternoon! Thank you dear : )

And when I got home, Mom reminded me that it’s my half birthday. So, I can convince myself that the Fiestaware teapot I got at the Antique Mall was a birthday present. And that Mantovani record. And… that’s all.

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dressing up in grandma’s clothes

Square dance dresses to be precise! These were passed down to my sisters and I from Mema, who loved to square dance with Grandpa. With a few tucks and pins, they fit!

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the sunset was pretty tonight

we were shopping at kroger, and then i wanted a picture, so i stood on the roof of our car. and then clara also took a picture of me doing so.

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fourth of july weekend :: monday

This was actually the Fourth of July. And, we didn’t do a lot. Most of our celebrating was done earlier that weekend.

I played around with that new lens, the 24mm macro, taking pictures of our mailbox-garden zinnias.

This (below) is currently my favorite photo. I think.

I worked in the morning, so I took these pictures in the afternoon. The sidewalk was super hot. I didn’t go put shoes on, so my feet were burning off.

That evening we went to see more fireworks, the Castle Hills ones. This time we were much farther away, but some other friends ended up being there too.

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fourth of july weekend:: sunday

Our Sunday festivities started with going to church (and wearing patriotic colors.) In the afternoon, Clara and I went to a pool party with some friends (where I did not take many pictures.) But we had lots of fun and ate lots of good food. The watermelon I brought was demolished in a matter of minutes. (That is only a slight exaggeration.)

THIS IS ROOTBEER.  Please believe me.

Then, when I was sort of supposed to be taking a nap, I was out in the backyard trying out a lens and taking a multitude of pictures of Ginger. 24mm for a nice wide angle, eh? Sadly because this is a legacy (from film-camera) lens, it is limited in the focusing range. Like only a foot away. But for the things it can do, it is wonderful.

Then, we went to see the Farmers Branch fireworks. Very fun. We were so close, we would lay down on our backs and they would fill the sky above us. Loved it.

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fourth of july weekend :: saturday

Today we celebrated Fourth of July by having friends over for a cookout. Shish-kabobs are soooooo good. So are grilled peaches.

Fresh-cut, homegrown zinnias from the mailbox garden in the front yard. In sarsaparilla bottles.

I made some patriotic pretzels, just putting glaze on yogurt pretzels that I had. We had no red food coloring, though… so I used beet juice. You couldn’t taste it though; they were pretty delicious.

I also made a garland out of paint samples from Lowes. And some garage-sale-found white Christmas lights, and a homemade heart bokeh filter.

And a bunch of these crazy people were playing Ninja. Super intense and super fun to watch. Also, I’m getting a little better from being so bad at it.

And, my super cute sister!

And one of my other super cute sisters and her not-so-bad-looking boyfriend.

Even more plans for tomorrow! Happy Fourth of July, everyone.

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