Christmas: Greetings From Canada

By Katrina Taylor
ohh CHristmas... it's such a funny word in my mind. My family has a tradition of no traditions. That's right. No traditions. We never do the same thing. Do I like it? hmmm, sometimes! It's a bit of an adventure. You never know WHAT will happen. One year we'll have duck dinner, turkey, chicken, and when that all gets boring we try spaghetti! I'm not sure if we do this on purpose, it just happens. Most memorable Christmas was two years ago. I made cookies and went into a couple nursing homes. You'd cry if you saw the amount of folks that didn't have a place to go for Christmas, and no one cared to go see them. I adopted them, all of them. Specially the ones that tried to hook me up with their ever single grandsons.

So this Christmas, whatever you do, remember what it's all about. Family, friends, laughter, Grandsons you hope you never have to meet, and Jesus... the greatest gift...

Merry Christmas!

Christmas: In Florida

By Gail Umperovitch

My Favorite Christmas Memory…

My favorite Christmas memory is not about a specific Christmas but Christmases when

my children were growing up. My son, Casey, has always been about “traditions” a

nd

establishing “traditions.”

At Christmas time after all the outdoor Christmas lights and the Christmas tree was

done, Casey would want me to make some homemade hot chocolate and we would go

outside and look through the front windows at the Christmas tree lit up in the house (even

in Florida there have been many Christmases chilly enough to warrant a warm cup of

cocoa).

As simple as that might sound, it still warms my heart to think of that simple little act. I

know it was all about our little family being together and working on a project that was

so beautiful when finished.

Memories are something that can never be taken from us. I lost my mom this past

September, 2010. She loved Christmas! For the last several years, my husband and I

would go over and decorate the outside of my parents home and my mother delighted in

having all the beautiful lights, manger scene, angels and reindeers outdoors to enjoy and

for others riding by to enjoy also. She spoiled all of the grandchildren with mounds of

Christmas presents every year and lots and wonderful food!

This Christmas will not be the same with my mom gone but I am so THANKFUL that

I have so many years of wonderful memories from Christmases when I was growing up

to many wonderful Christmases as an adult with my children experiencing Christmases

at “Mema’s.”

Our family is having a “special” family Christmas at my Mom and Dad’s. There will be

lots of presents under the tree but these presents will be extra special. They will be my

Mom’s “treasures” being given to her children and grandchildren for them to enjoy in

their homes.

Our heavenly Father has blessed us so much and we thank Him for our wonderful Mother

and all of the wonderful memories that were created with her.

Live each day in love, peace and harmony. Treasure what God has given you and do not

take advantage of a single day to let those you love know how much you love them.

God bless everyone at this very special time of the year and may we ALWAYS

remember the real celebration of the season.

Merry CHRISTmas… Gail

Christmas: The Newlyweds

Tick tock,

tick tock....The clock is ticking to that favorite time of year, and I can't believe it is here so soon! I am so very excited to celebrate the very first Christmas with my new husband! Last Christmas, the wedding was definitely on the brain, so this Christmas I look forward to focusing on shopping, decorating, parties, presents, memorizing parts in Christmas plays, family and FOOD. The Christmas traditions that I grew up with are so special to me and definitely something th

at I look forward to continuing with my very own little family

. Its been so fun taking the traditions of two different families, mixing them together, and coming up with our very own Christmas traditions!

So...here are a few of the traditions that we have instilled, year number one. They are traditions that I pray my children look back on as sweet memories, just as my husband and I do. They are traditions that I hope do not fade away with passing years, but stand the test of time. They are traditions that are forever ours, and that is what makes them so special!
*Photo tree. I am a photographer and absolutely love photographs with a passion! I believe that there is beauty all around us, and photographs are forever captured moments of that beauty. On our Christmas tree, we have assorted frames of all shapes, colors, and sizes with pictures from special memories throughout that year. I love this tradition because it is a fun, unique way for us to reminisce on all the memories and all that the Lord has done for us throughout the year.
*Christmas letter. One of my favorite things about Christmas is getting all of the Christmas cards in the mail! I love seeing everyone's picture and reading about how they are doing! This being our very first Christmas, its as good a time as any to begin our Christmas card tradition. In this past year, we have learned and experienced so much! My husband loves to write, so we have decided to always have a letter to go along with our picture, just to update our family and friends on what in new with the Goetsch's this year :)
*Christmas Story. It was tradition for my husbands family, as well as mine to read the Christmas story before Christmas dinner. I LOVE this tradition because I believe that it is SO important to keep our holidays Christ-centered! After all, it IS Jesus' birthday!
*Birthday cake. Speaking of BIRTHDAYS :) In my family, it was always tradition for us to make Jesus a birthday cake on Christmas, and yes, even sing "Happy Birthday" to Him! This may seem a bit silly to some, but to me, its the tool that my parents used to teach us, when we were young, what the Christmas Holidays are truly all about! And the tradition stuck! And it stays :) Yay for birthday cake!
*COOKIES! Can you tell that I am a huge fan of food? Growing up, my mom would always break out the baking about a week before Christmas day. We would bake so many cookies and set them out on our "Christmas cookie plate". I know that this is a simple tradition, but it was the one time a year that I was allowed to be messy with my mom(ha!) and the laughs, messes, and conversations while baking Christmas cookies with my mom are some of my sweetest memories! I am not a mommy(yet), but this is definitely a tradition that I want to continue with my husband and future children. I realize that this tradition is crazy dangerous on the waistline, so I have decided this year, our Christmas cookies are going to the homeless shelter! It is a way for us to develop these memories, and spread the love with others. (Although, I am quite sure that we will save a few for ourselves). ;)
So, here is a sneak peak into our upcoming Christmas as newlyweds. And whether you are a seasoned "tradition maker" or a new-bee like me, keep your traditions alive! You never know who's life you could be impacting...maybe even your own! Happy Traditions and a Merry Christmas to all! :)

-Ashley Goetsch

This Thanksgiving

I know traditionally at this time of year, our focus is on food. Whether it be the hours spent preparing the mounds of mashed potatoes, green-bean casserole, golden turkeys, and pumpkin pies or the consumption of said food. Either way the focus is on food. Also we might see pictures of of little happy women in black dresses holding a bit of "Traditional Thanksgiving Day Food" while men smiling in tall strange black hats stand next to their so very friendly looking Indian buddies. If your a little bit more of a history buff of paid attention to history in school, you might know more about the Mayflower and its occupants. How the Pilgrims came over from Holland, how so many died that first winter, the trials they had to endure and how at the end of the "Thanksgiving Story" God blessed the Pilgrims with a bountiful harvest.

Today however, I don't want to focus on those to two points. But rather how the Pilgrims set off to brave the dangers both known and those yet unknown, to advance the kingdom of God here on earth. The following is a quote from Bradford's book Of "Plymouth Plantation", after going through a list of reasons why the Pilgrims decided to leave, he says "Last and not least, they cherished the great hope and inward zeal for laying good foundations, or at least of making someway towards it, for the propagation and advance of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work." The Pilgrims where willing to lay down their lives even if it was to be but the stepping stones to so great a work as the advancing of God's kingdom. When told about the dangers they might encounter "It was replied, that all great and honourable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and must be both met and overcome with answerable courage. It was granted the dangers were great, but not desperate, the difficulties were many, but not invincible...and all of them, through the help of God, by both fortitude and patience, might either be borne or overcome."

So this Thanksgiving I want to ask, Do we view the task of advancing God's kingdom, a high and honourable calling as the Pilgrims did, one that we would be willing to give our lives for? No, its true that most of us will not sail to uncharted lands and help to birth a new country, or have to risk our lives in doing so. But is not letting go of our own wants and desires and giving our time in a way, the same thing as giving our lives for the advancement of God's kingdom? I believe so. I encourage you to bravely trust God in whatever trials you may encounter, while being a stepping stone in the in the great and truly honouable task that God has set before all of His people of advancing His kingdom here on earth.

Happy Thanksgiving

10 Fashion Myths

Have you ever wondered about wearing more than one print? Do your belt, shoes and purse have to match? What about wearing white after Labor day?

The following link to TLC's What not to Wear, tackles 10 of the most popular fashion myths.

10 Fashion Myths

It's the Traditions

Christmas time, who doesn't love it. For many people there are special memories or traditions that come to mind, like big family gatherings, decorating the tree, reading the Christmas story by the fire, a special Christmas morning breakfast or maybe caroling with friends... Whatever it is, it those special things that we remember and cherish all through the year. Not the freezing cold, the chaos or the wallet that always seems to get slimmer while while our waistlines seem to grow in the opposite direction.

That's why I have asked a few people around the country, all different ages, and all in different stages of life, to write a paragraph or two sharing with us their favorite memories and traditions. I will be posting one every Monday, starting after Thanksgiving and leading up to Christmas. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

From Martin Luther

Yet that wisdom is not of itself evil, nor is the law to be evaded; but without the theology of the cross man misuses the best in the worst manner.

It is certain that man must utterly despair of his own ability before he is prepared to receive the grace of Christ.

Here I stand I can do no other

Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no inward repentance which does not outwardly work divers mortifications of the flesh.

Light and Refreshing

The perfect combination of water and mint is here. The makers of Metromint water, have artistically combined the two to come up with a new twist on bottled water which is unlike any other. This all natural drink, has no calories, and no artificial additives, just mint extracts and fresh spring water. Not only does it taste good but peppermint extract is known to help clear the brain, refresh the body and sometimes sooth stomachs...not to mention give you great breath and that just brushed feeling.

The Metromint water comes in many different flavors. My favorite is the chocolate mint and, quite oftenit can be found at your local natural health food store, or sometimes at a bigger chain store like Jewl-Osco.

Caution: Remove before Sipping

It's a cold afternoon in late fall, you and your friends have been out window shopping all afternoon and decide to pop into the local coffee shop to grab a warm cup of delight. As the barista hands you your drink and you take that first sip, feeling the hot liquid dance on your tongue then slide down your throat like a wave of warmth and comfort, little are you thinking about the lid particles breaking down with every sip, but its true. Most of us know not to leave our disposable watter bottles in the car, especially in the summer because the heat causes the chemicals from the plastic to leach more quickly into our water. So why would it be any different with our coffee lids? Its not. Every time the heat from your drink comes in contact with the lid, the lid deteriorates a little more and the leached chemicals then go into you and your system, causing other health issues down the road.

I suggest doing like I did, and buy a ceramic travel mug and taking that wherever you go, not only is it greener for the environment, your drink will stay warmer, taste better, and you won't get the unwanted leaching from your cup, or just pop the lid off before you drink.

When God ordains anything to come to pass, His purpose in doing so is altogether and absolutely good.

~ R.C. Sproul

Your Nails, a Statement?

Now a days there is SO many options for your nails.

You could get them artificially lengthened, have them blingged, sport your favorite NFL team logo, stripes, flowers, Christmas trees for the holidays... or if your not feeling so inspired, you could go the simpler route and choose from all the colors in the rainbow and their slight variations. With all the options out there you should have no problem in choosing a look to express your mood for that day.

Tell me, when has neon yellow, lime green, or sky blue nails ever enhanced an outfit (unless maybe your a clown)? What about the latest trend of using very dark colors, like Navy Blue, Midnight Purple or Black, your nails turn black when your dead.

Have you ever been trying to listen to someone talking but get distracted at every wave of their hand, with the thought "Woowh look, Nails!" your fingers are supposed to complement not distract.

Fingernails are a natural thing, lets keep them somewhat so. There really is a classiness, and simple feminine beauty to a woman's hands when she keeps them well manicured. That means hands with soft skin, and nails clean, trimmed and filed. Wearing nail polish is fine but make sure its a soft complimentary color, or even clear. Not one that shouts "Look at ME". I personally love the look of a French, or a soft pearl pink. They are both, very versatile with many outfits matching most anything you might wear whether formal or every day, and your hands look manicured without being way over done.

The New Mr. and Mrs. Scheuerman

This past weekend I had the honor and privilege to be apart of my cousin Joanna's wedding to the man of her dreams. After dating for about a year and a half in July, Daniel asked her to be his wife. The couple decided to enter into that wonderful covenant made between themselves and God, called marriage, on the 2nd of October surrounded by only family and a few good friends. The ceremony was short but sweet, held outside on a friends beautiful and newly refurbished patio. So wrapped up in each other and the

this special moment they didn't even notice it began to rain.

On the way to the reception both Bride and Groom thought the whole thing went off remarkably well, and said they couldn't have asked for it to go any better.

The reception was in the fellowship hall of The First Baptist Church there in Champaign. After the reception was done, pictures taken and good bye hugs given... the new Mr. ans Mrs. Scheuerman head off to spend a week in Hawaii

Below is a quick slideshow of the highlights during the past weekend. (I apologize ahead of time for its sad lacking of professional quality of both the slideshow and the pictures.)

The photographer Ashly Goetsch was absolutely amazing I can't wait to see more of the pictures she took and I defiantly plan on hiring her for my wedding.

Things We Say Wrong

On Orthomolecular Nutrition

I have recently added the book "Putting it all Together, The New Orthomolecular Nutrition" by Abram Hoffer, M.d, Ph.D and Morton Walker, D.P.M to my ever growing list of books I have read and found their content to be very informative.

In this book the authors discuss different vitamins and minerals, their benefits to us and some of the physical issues that result from our modern unbalanced diets.

Don't let the name "Orthomolecular" scare you off. Although Drs. Abram Hoffer and Morton Walker do discuss things somewhat on a molecular level, you don't need to already be a Doctor or Scientist to read and understand what they wrote. The authors' intent was to explain this information in such away that the everyday person could pick up this book and use the information they learned to help themselves and their families attain better health.

Two of My Fav Looks from Ann Taylors New Fall Line

I love both of these fall layered looks by Ann Taylor they both have an air of simplicity, versatility and comfort without sacrificing style, modesty or femininity.

The first with its simple lines and colors, the layering of solid sweater over striped long-sleeve tee not only gives dimension to the outfit but gives you the comfort of the "Big comfy sweater" that we all love in this cooler weather, without the bulk on your arms. A great everyday look... or add a long two string necklace, bracelet and and a black purse to dress it up for a trip to Starbucks or a day out with the girls.

The second look has much the same going for it as the first. The eggshell white has a fresh look, and the longer waistline of the sweater acts as a sliming effect smoothing out the illusion of the bold line drawn, when a shirt falls at the "in-curve" of the waist and meets the new color and texture of the new material of your bottoms, at the "out-curve" of the hips.
And who doesn't love a scarf? The matching scarf and flats really tie the outfit together and set it off

nicely