.49 DIY Christmas Gift

We have been drinking a lot of hot chocolate this season and I wanted to get the girls their own mugs for Christmas. I was thinking some cute initial mugs from Anthropology and then I remembered something I pinned on Pinterest.  I waited until Goodwill had their 50% off sale (the first Saturday of the month) and I found 2 white mugs for half off.  I looked up some cute fonts and then practiced them on a piece of paper.

                               I took a Sharpie pen and wrote their names and initials on their mugs.

 There are so many things you could do with them.  I am not an artist so I decided on their names.  I was not as happy with Ivy's but there was no going back once I started.  I can always do it over if I have a better idea.

                                     Bake them for 3o minutes at 350 degrees.  Cool Completely.

Elliott Christmas Card 2012

                                           Here is our Christmas newsletter for the year 2012.

"Morning by Morning new mercies I see.  All I have needed Thy hand hath provided, Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto Me."

     Our family has thought about those words a lot over the last two years.  From where we started to where we ended up has been quite the wild adventure.  Watching God work, giving us all we have needed daily has been such a blessing.  For those of you who don't know all of the crazy details, here it is.
     Two years ago God began to stir in both of our hearts to leave California.  We began to pray about it and we were really being drawn to Tennessee.  We would look into it but not too much.  In April 2011,  Matt lost his job as a Purchasing Manager and while he applied for jobs everywhere he could, he applied a lot in Tennessee.  I still had my part time job at Legacy and the Lord faithfully provided for our needs.  We had decided to sell our home, someone bought it and we moved the week of Thanksgiving and lived with my sister Hollie for a month.  It was time to make some tough decisions.  As hard as it was, we decided to move to Washington the week of Christmas.  Both of our parents graciously wanted us (and of course their grandchildren!) but we felt like Matt would have a better chance getting a job closer to big cities such as Portland and Seattle.
     Matt continued looking for jobs immediately.  We were settling into nicely as part of the "big Elliott family".  At the beginning of January, Matt fell on a slippery ramp and broke his wrist.  With no health insurance, the Lord brought this extra trial into our lives.  Matt ended up having to have surgery to repair his wrist.  What do you do when you've lost your job, your home, your life as you knew it and you now need surgery?  You depend on Jesus all the more!  "All I have needed Thy hand hath provided." As of today, we have one more outstanding bill that has to be resolved and the rest is paid in full! " Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me."
     As summer was approaching, Matt and I were having heavy hearts.  Can I give a shout out to my wonderful husband?  He was faithful for 15 months to go after any job he could.  It made me love him even more.  We were getting ready to return to California for Hollie's wedding with no job in sight.  To say we were discouraged was an understatement.  We talked together of Tennessee and how we probably had to get used to the idea that we weren't ever going.
     Then the next day my friend Kelli told me of a job in Tennessee.  Matt applied, had a skype interview, flew to Nashville, GOT THE JOB and flew back in time to leave for Hollie's wedding.  We went back to Washington and five days later we were driving across the country to Spring Hill,Tennessee (about 25 miles south of Nashville). "Morning by morning new mercies I see."
     So what is Matt doing?  He is a manager for Waffle House restaurants.  In the south they are as common as Starbucks.  He works long hours but loves it!  He has never done anything like this before. All the locals love him (of course!).  The girls love going to visit, eat a waffle and tell everyone that their dad is behind the counter.
     What am I up to?  I am a stay at home mom loving and serving my family.  I meet women for lunch (I'm a Southern Lady who lunches!), I kiss Lucy all day, I am involved in a Women's bible study at church (cbcnashville.org), I help lead a group in a mentoring program for young adult women at church and I just started singing on the worship team.
     Ivy (6) is getting adjusted.  She started off 1st grade a little behind in some areas but she is finding her stride and is now where she needs to be.  After much persuasion (on her part) we let her ride the bus to and from school, which she loves.  She is making friends and loves church.
     Lucy (3) has quite the social life!  She goes with me to bible study and has her own class and then goes to preschool at our church on Thursdays.  She has a precious friend, Alli Peterson and I can't help but crack up hearing them talk like big kids.  She was a whiz at potty training, taking less than a week.  It was great having my assistant Ivy help me with that.
     Over the years, through many trials, I have thought about the Lord's faithfulness and love for my family.  Over the last few months here in Tennessee, I can't help but thank the Lord for His kindness.  We would have loved and served Him in California, Washington or Iowa, but oh how kind He was to give us Tennessee.  I still often cry out of just pure happiness.  Matt and I lay in bed and still say," I can't believe we live in Tennessee."
     Happy Birthday to the One who proves yet again to be faithful and true.

Love:  Matt, Kelli, Ivy and Lucy Elliott

Christmas Decor

 Christmas decorating was a little different this year.  I had 4 bins and I took two and a half back to storage.  Things fill up in a little 2 bedroom apartment.  I missed decorating so much last year.  We moved to Matt's parents the week before Christmas so I never got to get anything out.  I put lights up.  I didn't want to have them be in a perfect row so that it kind of look like a tree branch.  I have LOVED having them on at night.  It's so pretty when you walk into the room.

                                 The girls have a mini tree ( for those ornaments...you know the ones.)

                                                                The living room.

                                                I love my collection of wooden candy canes.

 I didn't have anywhere to put my stockings and Christmas books ( we have to have "The Holly and the Ivy") so I hung them on my hutch.

                              I tried not to have everything be too crowded but I think it looks cozy. :)

Thanksgiving

     I couldn't let this day go by without talking about what I am thankful for.  I keep thinking about what life was like a year ago.  We had just moved from our home and was living with Hollie.  We were pretty sad.  Preparing to leave for Washington and not knowing where we would end up.  I remember reflecting on all of our years in California and how they had changed my life.  How I loved California and all that it brought for 17 years of my life.  I was, however, ready for a new start.  I look where I am now and I would do it all again to be here in Tennessee.  

     I never knew that you could love the place you live so much.  Matt and I talk about it all the time.  The girls are sick of me saying it.  I will be driving home, turn a corner and the beauty hits me.  I yell out how much I love where we live and Ivy rolls her eyes.  I say it all the time.  It is so beautiful!  It reinforces that God has brought us here.  It is a sweet spot to be in when God has granted the desires of your heart and you just rest in contentment.

     There are so many things that I took for granted, so I am thankful for my TINY apartment and living on our own.  I love my little family and being together.  I love to clean, love my dishes, bedspread, couch,etc.  That might seem superficial but to me they are luxuries that not everyone gets to have.  My neighbor came into my apartment and started laughing.  She said that I had decorated so much!  I told her I had went a little crazy because I had missed decorating a house.  I am thankful for decorating!  

     I am so thankful for my new church and my pastor.  We went to church last night and as people were talking about what they were thankful for, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I had prayed for so long to be part of this particular church.  When Matt and I were really hurting, we listened to a sermon by our pastor on suffering.  I must have listened to this sermon 6 times.  I remember once listening to it at 1am because I couldn't sleep and I needed to hear someone tell me what was true.  The biggest quote, "The only way out of a trial is through it."  At that time I was going "through it".  Last night as I was sitting there with my family I remembered that the year before I was listening to Byron on podcast and this year I am going to Community Bible Church and sitting under his teaching every Sunday. Matt and I both shed a couple tears.  God is so kind in our life!

     It is also not just about Byron.  Actually, the biggest blessing might be the women's bible study I go to on Tuesdays.  I love my group and the Lord has used the study of 2 Corinthians to work on my heart.  (More on that in a future post.) Again...the kindness and love of the Lord. 

     I'm thankful that my mom and dad are closer to me.  They got to visit last month and it is so much fun to know that we are only a days drive away from each other.  I will get to go to Iowa more.  The girls will see their Iowa cousins more.  Hollie even lives on the East coast.  This is exciting!

     I'm thankful for Matt's parents and sister and for the sacrifice they made to open their home to us for 8 months.  It was a fun time.  I have new recipes that I learned from Diane and my girls miss climbing up on Grandpa to use his IPad.  They miss their cousins and going into Esther's house to sit with her and watch a cartoon.  Boy Esther, do I miss Goodwill Outlet and shopping with you!  We met some great friends at church there and I am thankful for the way they let us in their group and prayed so faithfully for our family.  I'm thankful that my brother in law, Ray, took time off work to help us drive across the country.  He sacrificed time with his own family to help us with ours.  Thank you Ray! 

     I am thankful that I am a stay at home mom.  I went a little stir crazy at first but the Lord has shown me how to fill my time.  It made me thankful for my years at Legacy (Man, I miss that place!)  but to be more available for Ivy and to enjoy Lucy is such a blessing.

     I am thankful for Matt.  I love him so much.  He is the type of guy that I needed.  I'm thankful for how hard he works and how it is a joy to him to provide for our family.

      Then there are little things like Tennessee BBQ, my Aerolatte that I make cappuccinos with every morning, a running car, my bible,Instagram , my new hobby of sewing,etc. that make me smile everyday.  AND YOU, friends that I still can talk to and communicate with!  Happy Thanksgiving ya'll!

Halloween

 Wow!  I downloaded a lot of pictures off of my phone and realized I have many things to blog about.  I need to at least blog about Halloween before Thanksgiving gets here!  I had a Minnie Mouse and Dorothy for Halloween.  I thought Ivy would be a perfect Dorothy with her braids and Lucy sure is Minnie.  I was so thankful that their Mammo got them costumes this year so they were so excited to finally get to wear them as they had been waiting for months.  We had to wear undergarments as it is much colder trick or treating in Tennessee than it is in California.  I was really homesick for California that day.  I was craving the tradition of going to the Kostjuk's for our annual potluck and I was missing Ashley and Wendy bad!  Ivy even said that she wished she got to see Katie and Lexi that day.  However,  the Lord has been so faithful to let me move close to one of my best friends.  I have LOVED living close to Kelli I.  I never thought we would live by each other again and I have loved it. She is such a great friend.  So...off to Kelli and Jon's house and trick or treating Tennessee style!

 The Peterson cousins joined us!

 Jon gets in the mood and Matt got to join us a while before going back to work.

 Our trailer transportation for the night. (Which was good because the houses are spread further apart than in California and little Lucy couldn't keep up.  Ivy was so sweet to take her bucket to get candy after she was done for and Lucy wanted to carry on a conversation with people at every house.  It was hilarious.  God sure has a sense of humor to give me a daughter that is so shy and then one that could star in her own sitcom on tv.)

 Lucy and her self proclaimed best friend, Karli.

 The ONE picture Kelli has let me take of her since I moved here this summer.  I think she let me do it before she knew what was happening!  She's beautiful!

 Brandy and Neil.  Brandy...fast becoming a good friend.  She was so gracious to take some Christmas pictures of my family before trick or treating.  So if you get one and my girls have coats on, it's because there were Halloween costumes on under their coats!

Matt....my love....enough said!

1st Tennessee Halloween memory down!  Many more Lord willing to come!

Fall decorating with Thankfulness

I have been really debating whether to get out my fall decorations or not. I LOVE decorating my house for fall. The smell of pumpkin spice and cinnamon, cookies baking, seeing pumpkins everywhere, browns, reds and oranges filling my living room. I love it all. But I have been really sad about moving and leaving our house. Not knowing where we're going to live, Matt still not having a job, trying hard to stay faithful and trusting the Lord. I have felt like this is no longer my home.

This little townhome that I have loved for 6 years. Some people would complain about a little townhome but I have loved every minute of it and have been grateful. I have been thinking what is the point of decorating when I have to pack it all up in a couple months anyway, but, on a whim I got it all out of the garage and started going through it.

I am determined to be thankful today for my little home. As I put up my little thankfulness sign I had tears in my eyes. I don't know what God is going to do with my little family but I am going to relish in being thankful for the many blessings He has given me.

Matt Chandler really convicted my heart with a sermon last week. He said that sometimes we get mad at God for NOT giving us we He never promised us to give us in the first place. I had to confess my sin with tears. The Lord never promised to give me a home. He never even promised that my family would get to live by ourselves. It made me more thankful for what is really important.....my salvation, my husband and girls, health, His provision, His faithfulness and love for my family. Ok. fully crying at the computer now. I have no where near arrived but today I am thankful.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 " Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Psalm 118:1" Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever."

Happy 5th birthday Ivy

Ivy had a great 5th birthday on Chrsitmas Eve. She was pumped for it! We got up and opened presents and had P Dub's cinnamon rolls. We went to Panda Express for lunch (her favorite), went to the mall to ride the new train (which I always say no to), came home and she helped me make her birthday dessert (Chocolate Lush), Hollie came over and spent the night on Ivy's trundle bed (something she has always wanted Hollie to do....she reached over to grab Hollie's hand to hold it in the middle of the night). It was a great day remembering God's goodness to us and doing all of Ivy's favorite things.Representing IOWA!
Bracelet maker
Making Chocolate Lush
She wanted every picture to have a 5 in it.
Loving my birthday girl!

Christmas Gift Idea

Here is another cute gift idea that my friend Kayce gave me. I made them after I sent packages to all the grandparents. Sorry rents,maybe next year! I painted Ivy's hand and had her place it on the Christmas bulb. The fingers became snowmen when I used a sharpie and drew on the scarfs and hats. She signed her name at the bottom. It comes with this poem:
These aren't just 5 snowmen

As anyone can see

I made them with my hand

Which is a part of me.

Now each year when you trim the tree

You'll look back and recall

Christmas of 2010

When my hand was just this small.

Thanksgiving DIY Project

My friend Kayce had a great idea from a blog today. Here is where I was going to insert the blog address but now I can't find which blog I used. Anyway, here are two blogs that you would LOVE! www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com and www.brownpaper--packages.blogspot.com I found it on one of those two. Sorry! Oh well, you will have fun browsing to find it!

All I did was photo copy her project and frame it in an antique frame that I had. She had used her home computer to copy the definition on burlap!

Thanksgiving Dinner

I have been really excited to plan my menu this year for Thanksgiving. I think I narrowed it down (although I think I need to make something a little sweet or light...any ideas?) Here is what I decided:

Turkey

Very Best Sweet Potatoes (found at Tasty Kitchen)

Stuffing

Garlic Parmesan Green Beans (found at Tasty Kitchen)

Pumpkin Butter Gooey Cake

Then I brought alot of my favorite cook books to bed with me last night to find recipes for the leftover turkey so that we don't overload on turkey sandwhiches....even though I think Matt would kind of like that, I don't want to throw anything away. I am hoping to freeze or use 12 cups of leftover turkey.

Here is what I have planned:

Paula Deen's Turkey and Stuffing Casserole ( I am sure you can find it on Foodnetwork.com, I am using "Paula Deen Celebrates"

Turkey Shepard's Pie (Katie Lee Joel.... I have her website on the right of my blog)

Turkey Corn Chowder (from my Grandma Kitty's cook book. I will have to post this recipe at some point.)

Think on these recipes because you might be going to someone else's house where they give you some leftovers to take home. What are you guys making? Let me know!

Pumpkin Butter Gooey Cake

Ok. Before we get any further into the holiday season, I have to share with you my favorite Thanksgiving/Fall dessert. It is from Paula Deen and it is our absolute favorite! Matt doesn't even want pumpkin pie anymore because this out does it for sure. I thought I would share the recipe. TRY IT! You will thank me for sure. It is Paula's pumpkin version of her famous gooey butter cakes.

Pumpkin Butter Gooey Cake

Cake:

1 18.25-oz. box yellow cake mix

1 egg

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter,melted

Filling:

1 8oz packaged cream cheese, softened

3 eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 16oz. box confectioner's sugar

1/2 cup (1 sick) melted butter

15 oz. can of pumpkin pie filling

Directions:

preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 13x9x2 in. baking pan.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine cake mix, egg and butter and mix well. Pat into the bottom of prepared pan and set aside. Still using the electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth, add eggs and vanilla. Dump in confectioner's sugar and beat well. Reduce speed and add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

Pour filling onto cake mixture and spread evenly. Bake for 40-50 minutes. You want the center to be a little gooey, so don't bake it past the point. (If I see the bottom cake looks done, I take it out. You want the top to be jiggly.)

Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool completely. Cut into squares and don't forget to top with whip cream.

Even Paula says that you will never want pumpkin pie again! Tell me what you think if you try it! Enjoy!