Goodbye, 2010!

2010, you were a pretty fantastic year. Just in case you forgot, I thought I would review our time together.
I started off January with a new job.
In February, I had an article published on one of my favorite websites.
In March, I had another article published on that same website.
It was in April that I went on a very cold camping trip that brought me a new appreciation for campgrounds with bathrooms and a new scar for my knee. Also, I was a seat-filler at the Dove Awards and turned 25.
There was a flood in Nashville in May which made me proud of my church and my city more than ever.
June was hot. I missed camp. I played a lot of ultimate frisbee.
My best friend got married in July and I got to be her Maid of Honor (an honor that is on my imaginary bucket-list).
I started my first semester of grad school in August. I also played some flag football.
By September, I was already procrastinating and sick of the heat.
October was wonderful, per usual, and included pumpkin-carving, Halloween, and fall weather...finally. Also in October, I went to Eastern Kentucky on a mission trip and hit up two weddings in 24 hours (not in KY).
I was in another wedding in November and had some crazy days at work. Then my family went to a cabin in the woods for Thanksgiving.
I completed my first semester of grad school in December and sighed in relief. I went to parties, family gatherings, and a concert. I shopped and wrapped gifts. I wrote an article, got it published, and did some creative stuff. Writing haikus also became a new hobby.

Good times. Thanks for the memories, 2010!

Things I Like Tuesday: Pictures

Pictures are so fun. Maybe they speak a thousand words, maybe only two, but I like to look at them. And they're great at capturing moments. As I'm looking back at the year we're finishing out, I thought I would combine this already-planned TILT with a look back at 2010.
Here are some of my favorite pictures/moments from this year (of the ones taken with my camera, not my favorite pictures I've seen. I don't have the rights for all of those.):

Haiti benefit concert with Darilynn. This is a picture of Andy Davis and Dave Barnes. They were two of many, many artists. One of the best concerts I've been to.

Camping/Hiking trip with Mary and Bryan. The hiking part was fun.

Dove Award seat-filling. I, obviously, didn't know how to look in this pic with Nicole Mullins. Mandisa took the picture.

I'm still very sad that the taped messed up during this filming. I think this script was some of my best work.

I don't remember what we're laughing about, but I do remember we laughed until several of us were crying.

Posing at Erin's wedding.

Wilson County Fair!

Family Portrait Session

Finals week--in the t-shirt I wore for three days, holding the mug that held countless cups of peppermint tea. 

Very Merry Neighborly Christmas concert

fun idea in action

Christmas Card Holder How-To

Remember this?

I know. You have two questions in mind:

1) Does it still look so sad?

2) How on earth can I make one just like it?

I am here to answer both of those questions, right in time for...well, right in time to put it in the attic for next year.

1) It now looks like this:

Thanks to everyone who sent me a Christmas card! 

2) Supplies: Ribbon, Dowel Rods, Clip-thingys, hot glue gun.

This was pretty simple to make. I just cut (well, my dad did) a dowel rod into three pieces of varying lengths. I painted mine because I wanted them to be white, but you could also leave them natural. I made three "branches" (oh, it's supposed to be a tree! yeah..) this year, but if I keep this whole growing-up, making-friends, keeping-in-touch thing, I made need more next year. Then, I glued the "branches" to the ribbon and glued another ribbon of the same length on top of the first ribbon, so it's kind of like a dowel-rod sandwich...kinda. Then, I made a bow with some more ribbon and glued it at the top. I hung mine from the top of the door with fishing line, but you could probably use something else if you so desired. Then, I slid the clip-thingys on and clipped the cards to them. Cheap, easy, useful, and it turned out to be pretty cute once it was filled up!

O Come, All Ye Faithful

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning

Jesus to Thee be all glory giv'n

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, 

and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father, 

full of grace and truth.

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord!

Merry Christmas!

John 1:1, 4, 9, 14

Suzy Eventually Learned She Had Been Led to Believe a Lie by Her Sunday School Teachers (and Most Nativity Scenes)

On the first Christmas,

wise men weren't at the manger.

Surprise! Christmas truth.

Haiku by me. Illustration by Mary Carlisle.

Friday Reads: Christmas Eve Edition

Two articles, two videos. Mostly Christmas-y.

http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/12/4161/ 

About the ordinary turning extraordinary. I love it towards the end..."God loves doing the extraordinary with the ordinary...."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvZhfFdXMzA

Fun video combining a YouTube sensation with the Christmas story.

http://www.youtube.com/user/stpaulsartsandmedia#p/a/u/0/zduwusyip8M

There may be some slight inaccuracies with this version of the Christmas story, but it's just adorable.

http://www.churchandculture.org/blog.asp?id=560

A Christmas Carol and the Christmas story--the true, un-romanticized versions.

Things I Like Tuesday: Winter

Today is the first day of Winter.
I like winter. It's not my favorite, but I like it.

Christmas...
coats and scarves and hats...
snuggling up under multiple blankets...
warm drinks (hot cocoa...cider...tea!)...
New Year and the Eve of the New Year...
parties, parties, parties with lots of tasty things to eat (and sparkling juices and Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash)...
snow...
taking deep breaths of crisp wintry air...
memories (I suppose this applies to every season, but winter memories seem so nice and extra nostalgic)...

I think winter is just a little bit magical.

Article on Saint Nick

So, remember when I wrote an article for Day 3 of the 7-in-7 challenge?

Well, here it is: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/church/features/23886-the-saint-behind-santa-claus

It's about Saint Nicholas--definitely Christmasy.

Just in case you thought I was cheating or something.

Upon a Conversation About God's Permissable Will and Perfect Will at Fido, a Popular Coffee Shop in Hillsboro Village, Nashville, Tennessee

Hazelnut breve

What's the plural of haiku?

Arranged marriages?

art by Mary Carlisle

illustrated haikus. this may become a regular feature.

Friday Reads: December 17 Edition

I read a lot of online content.

Some of it is not absolutely wonderful. Some of it is. Sometimes, when I read something, I am amazed to find that someone thinks the same as I do, and expresses it so brilliantly. Sometimes, I read something that I would have never thought of, but is lovely all the same. 

I thought I'd share these reads with you. Every so often, I'm going to post a list of links to the articles/blogposts/whatever that I have read and enjoyed that week/month/time period between these posts. Just for you.
And sometimes there will be videos. Like this time.

I decided to post them on Friday, because it's the end of the week, and also because my stats show that y'all like to read stuff on Friday. 

Without further ado, here's this week's (and a couple weeks in the past, too...since this is the first edition):

http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/12/the-soft-x/

I love this blog (I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that before). On Wednesdays, he blogs with a little less humor and calls them Serious Wednesdays. This one brings new perspective to a Bible story of blessing that I never even thought twice about.

http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/12/facebook-feeding-frenzies/
Another SCL one. This one's a little less serious, but also very true.

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/deeper-walk/features/23211-art-isnt-supposed-to-be-safe

Safety vs. Creativity.

http://www.chattingatthesky.com/2010/12/14/how-writing-is-like-a-bell/
Beautiful description of what it is like to write--art, worship, necessary.

http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/zeitgeist2010/#review
A year in review, Google-style; great video. Then, you can look at their lists of top rising searches and stuff. Kinda neat to see what we were looking for in 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZrf0PbAGSk
Just in case you haven't seen it yet, the Digital Nativity.

Feel free to add comments with links to cool stuff you've read/watched this week!

Small Observances

• People who say, "I just don't want the drama" or "I hate drama" usually cause more drama than people who don't say that.
• Lately, a bag of Maple and Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal is pretty much a staple in my purse...and my book bag (different than a backpack)...and my desk drawer. Good stuff.
• You know that moment, when you thought you clicked on a link (when really you didn't) and you're just waiting and nothing happens? There should be a term for that.
• I have to do a spell check every time I have to spell exercise. I have a mental block when it comes to s vs. c vs. z (I often mess up resource when I'm hand-writing things).
• Sometimes, I edit my sentences as I'm speaking them. Like a second ago, "Is this the hymnals that is...are...in the pews?" and then I was ashamed because that sentence was messed up from the beginning. I would have corrected it, but the question (poorly asked) had already been answered. Then, I felt embarassed. In a land where "I haven't eat yet" is a common sentence, I think my feelings are a little unusual.
• At least twice at work I have been called a perfectionist. I didn't know I was a perfectionist (though, I suppose that last point may have proved that I am a little bit of a perfectionist).

7-in-7 Last Day

For the last day of our first-ever 7-in-7, Mary and I were going to collaborate on some sort of creative project. Then, it snowed. Now, to some of you Northern folks this may not seem like a big deal, but let me point out a couple of things:
1. Tennesseans panic when we get an inch of snow.
2. The snow here almost immediately turns to ice upon contact with the roads.
Therefore, we chose to not meet for a collaborative project. Mary decided not to do a project at all, which is understandable since she had her non-surprising Surprise Birthday Dinner (the surprise was ruined, by the snow) to attend.
I only decided to do a project because a) I felt like I cheated a little on Saturday and b) I really needed somewhere to put the Christmas cards I've been receiving in the mail.
I made a card-holder. I think it will look better once it gets some more cards on it. I think.

Weekend Creativeness

This will count as day 5 and 6, okay? 

Saturday, I wrapped gifts for 3 hours in the mall...creatively. My church has a free (absolutely free, we're even turning down donations) gift-wrapping station set up in Cool Springs Mall, so if you're there, you should stop by. 

I am counting that as my creativity project, because I was not home long enough to do anything else.

Sunday, I made two headbands.

I'm not especially pleased with how they turned out, but they were finished. I'll probably hone my skills a little more before I wear one (or give one as a gift). Oh, yeah. They have to do with Christmas because I am planning to give them as gifts, if I can make them look better than these:

Christmas Cards

I have recently become aware that I am of the age to be sending Christmas cards. I mean, I've sent Christmas cards before, I think in junior high or high school or something, but I'm talking real, annual Christmas cards. [I actually came to this realization last year, when people began sending Christmas cards to me (and not my family + me), but I didn't realize it until too late to send out my own.]

But this year I am more prepared. I am 25, the time when the world actually considers me an adult, so I am sending out Christmas cards. I probably won't send out very many (let's not get carried away), and despite the trend pointed out to me in the office, mine will not be a picture card (also pointed out to me in the office: the hilarity of a picture card featuring only myself...thanks, guys). So, I bought one 12-pack at Target and then I decided to make a few for my Day 4 7-in-7 project.

I would not recommend this if you are making a ton of cards, but I'm making eight, so it was fun. And two cards took me about 5 minutes to make.

What you'll need:

blank cards, scissors, pencil, stencil, wrapping paper, and some sort of adhesive (not shown). 

This would be a great project for those small scraps of wrapping paper that are oddly shaped or too small to wrap anything in. 

I got my "stencil" off the internet. I googled "Christmas tree stencil" went to images and traced that onto a piece of paper. I suppose you could print it, but my printer takes for-ev-er when warming up, so it was faster to just stick a piece of paper up to my screen and trace it.

Now, all you do is cut the pattern out of the wrapping paper and glue it onto the card. 

It's easy and I think they turned out pretty cute:

Be sure to check back with Mary's blog to see her Day 4 project.

Day 3's Creativeness

You're just going to have to take my word for it. I wrote something Christmas-y, but it's for online publication (not a blog publication, but a real...online publication). I won't make any promises that it will actually make it to their website, but I can't post it here, because I'm pretty sure that's against their rules. I do have this picture:

Notice the date at the top. December 9th, people. Boom. Creativeness, Day 3.

Mary probably created something you can actually see. And my friend Daniel has joined in...sort of. He's following his own rules, but still creating some stuff.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

This is Day 2 of the Seven-Day Creativeness Challenge (which we will now be referring to as 7-in-7 because it's a lot easier to type...and more catchy. Mary's idea.). I wrote it last night and while there may be subtle edits today, but in the spirit of the challenge (and the rules), I will leave it largely as it was--finished--last night. Don't forget to check Mary's blog for her Day 2 project.

In church on Sunday, there was a special music/dramatic reading with the song O Come, O Come Emmanuel. The way it was sung--slowly, a capella, all verses first, intertwined with history, culminating in the chorus at last--was haunting and beautiful and thought-provoking. So, I kind of stole their concept. It happens all the time in art--ask Shakespeare. Hearing this song shortly after my Old Testament class helped to put it, and Christmas, in perspective a little more. [I have only taken an intro class in Old Testament, and it was only part of the Old Testament. And, let's be honest, I found some of it confusing (all the names look the same). I say that to let you know that some of the facts presented below may be slightly inaccurate, but they get the point across and aren't completely, totally untrue.]

O come, O come, Emmanuel

and ransom captive Israel

that mourns in lonely exile here

until the Son of God appears.

Only for relatively brief moments in history has the nation of Israel been truly free. They were enslaved in Egypt, held practically hostage in the desert (their own fault, but still), captured by Babylon, given a little more freedom under the rule of Persia. At the time of Christ's birth, they were under Roman rule--somewhat free, but not really.

Besides being captive, they were among sinners, ruled by Gentiles. Surrounded.

Furthermore, they had not heard from God in a long, long time. I AM, who had led them out of slavery, through the desert, into the promised land, was silent. Yahweh, who had spoken through prophets, priests, judges, kings, and a donkey, had not said a word.

They were waiting for another rescue. They were waiting for another word.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might

who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height

in ancient times didst give the Law,

in cloud, and majesty, and awe

God had given them the Law. Realizing its sacredness, they made sure no one would sin by putting in some buffer rules. These buffer rules, meant for protection, became oppressive since they were nearly impossible for the common person to follow.

Israel was looking for help.

O come, Thou Key of David, come

and open wide our heavenly home;

make safe the way that leads on high,

and close the path to misery.

The Israelites began to hope. They hoped for another way, a lighter way, a better way.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer

our spirits by Thine advent here

disperse the gloomy clouds of night

and death's dark shadows put to flight.

God's people looked for rescue. They looked for a word, for help, and for hope. God's people were waiting for Emmanuel--God with us.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel

shall come to thee,

O Israel.

Rejoice!

Gift-Card Holder How-To

Day 1:
Okay, remember how we discussed that the quality isn't necessarily the goal of these Seven-Day Creativeness Challenges? Yeah. Just note that I began and completed the project within the span of one poorly-acted, made-for-TV Christmas movie (sans commercials).
With that disclaimer, here is a handy little guide to making your own gift card holder:

Step 1: Buy felt.

Why felt? It's cheap. And easy to work with (as in, you don't have to hem it. Always a plus in my book).

Step 2: Measure your gift card.

I'm guessing they're all about the same size. 2 1/4 inches wide. I only bothered to measure the width. The length doesn't matter so much.

Step 3: Cut the felt.

I cut a strip 2 1/2 inches wide, and however long the piece of felt was...I forgot to measure it.

Step 4: Fold the felt and pin in place.

Don't fold it completely in half; see how the gift card is sticking up a little? I folded mine like that on purpose, so that the card is easy to grab. The rest of the felt will make a flap to fold over.

Step 5: Get some thread (I used embroidery floss).

(It's important to keep your floss organized.)

Step 6: Sew it all up, cut out some flowers, sew them on, sew on a couple of buttons, cut a button-hole.

Mine ended up looking like this:



Ta-Dah!

Check out Mary's blog for her first project. She probably painted the Christmas equivalent of the Mona Lisa. 



Seven-Day Creativeness Challenge!

My friend, Mary, and I, we've got a lot in common. We're dreamers. We're creative. We're kind of weird.

Mary and I will sit and have entire conversations about completely fictional situations. The best part is, whereas some people would take those conversations somewhat seriously and think we were crazed-stalkers, or wonder about our sanity, Mary and I understand each other. It's all for fun (though, we would definitely not be opposed to some of those conversations becoming reality).

She's also the person I call/text/email when I have a crazy idea for something to do. It is not unusual for her to receive emails from me with the subject line: "Let's do this." She's usually game.

When I read this article, that is exactly what I did. Oddly enough, Mary had just decided to do something similar on her own blog. We decided to combine forces and thus you have:

The Seven-Day Creativeness Challenge!

Here are the rules:

1. You must do something every day for seven days that constitutes as "creative."

2. You must complete that creative work in the same day you began it. Thus, seven complete creative projects. They may not be fantastic, but they'll be finished (the thing we dreamer/creative people sometimes have trouble with).

3. You must blog about your creative feat (meaning, blog for seven days in a row...this is a challenge). 

4. You must stick to the theme (if there is one), though, thinking outside the box is always, always, encouraged.

The first installment of The Seven-Day Creativeness Challenge begins today.
The theme is: Christmas!

By all means, if you'd like to join in, leave a link to your blog in the comments on mine or Mary's blog. We'll link to it each day.

Mark Twain once said

“We write frankly and fearlessly but then we 'modify' before we print.”

so true.

AIDS and Christmas--Great Article

Today is World AIDS Day, as well as the first day in December, a month where we count down to Christmas.
I just read this article about Christmas and AIDS. It's beautiful. Read it.

HEY DECEMBER!

Everyone else was saying hello to this cold, Christmas-y month, so I thought I should too.

Hello.
Nice to see you again.
Let's have a lovely 31 days together.
And maybe in about thirty days, we'll plan a rendezvous for about this time next year?
Okay.