Christmas Magic

There's nothing I love more during Christmastime than to see people help and give to one another.  I especially love when I see big companies using their resources to do something magical.  So if you haven't seen this video yet, check it out!

CHRISTMAS MAGIC

There's nothing I love more during Christmastime than to see people help and give to one another.  I especially love when I see big companies using their resources to do something magical.  So if you haven't seen this video yet, check it out!

Girl Talk // The Struggle of Advent

I had stayed late at church to work on decorating our stage for Christmas Eve.  In our Worship Center, away from windows and focused on the task at hand, I didn't see the snow and ice beginning to lay on the roads and grass until I walked out at 3:30pm.

My thoughts immediately went to my impending drive home, my mom worried about me, a car that doesn't have a great track record in the snow, and a climb up an icy mountain.  The drive that normally takes under twenty minutes ended up taking forty, with speeds topping out at twenty-five miles per hour, three tries before finally making it up the hill, and white-knuckled fingers gripping the wheel.

I wasn't necessarily nervous, (except for the moment where I slid through an intersection under a yellow light that was on the brink of becoming red), but I was certainly more alert and attentive to my driving, and the struggle, that it was to get home on Sunday.

Reflecting on that drive, and the coming holidays, I can't help but wonder….isn't that the way advent is?  We're all a little more attentive to the One we celebrate, and for many, advent is a struggle towards coming home.

There are some people, and maybe you're one of them, who feel the sharpness of pain or hurt or trouble as the season looms.

Even in that first Christmas, at the start of the story, there is struggle.

Mary didn't accept the news that she would bear the Son of God without first feeling troubled.  Joseph struggled with the knowledge that his fiancé was pregnant, and not by him, before the angel appeared to him.  Zechariah struggled to understand how his aged wife could be with child.

Trouble.  Struggle.  Confusion.  They were there in the beginning, and they often rear their ugly heads to us now.

But the beautiful thing about advent is that the story, while riddled with struggle, doesn't end with it.  It ends with the birth of a Savior, and with Christ's birth, a promise of redemption for humankind.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible comes from the book of Matthew, and simply states "the people living in living in darkness have seen a great light" (Matthew 4:16).  I love the imagery of that verse…I always imagine a sun rising on the horizon, it's light slowly brightening and spreading inch by inch over the dark earth below.

And that's what Christmas does…it brings hope, it brings light.  It might seem like you're living in the land of darkness, but hold out for the light.  It's coming, the sun is rising.  Turn your face to the horizon.   And come home.

Whether you're facing this holiday without someone dear to you, coming home to a fractured relationship, or maybe just not feeling like yourself this holiday season, I encourage you to take heart.  The Christmas season may not always be a joyful one.  Heaven knows even the mother of Christ had her moments of struggle.

So dig deep into this advent season and discover joy through coming home to a Heavenly Father greater than anything this world could throw at you.

GIRL TALK | THE STRUGGLE OF ADVENT

I had stayed late at church to work on decorating our stage for Christmas Eve.  In our Worship Center, away from windows and focused on the task at hand, I didn't see the snow and ice beginning to lay on the roads and grass until I walked out at 3:30pm.

My thoughts immediately went to my impending drive home, my mom worried about me, a car that doesn't have a great track record in the snow, and a climb up an icy mountain.  The drive that normally takes under twenty minutes ended up taking forty, with speeds topping out at twenty-five miles per hour, three tries before finally making it up the hill, and white-knuckled fingers gripping the wheel.

I wasn't necessarily nervous, (except for the moment where I slid through an intersection under a yellow light that was on the brink of becoming red), but I was certainly more alert and attentive to my driving, and the struggle, that it was to get home on Sunday.

Reflecting on that drive, and the coming holidays, I can't help but wonder….isn't that the way advent is?  We're all a little more attentive to the One we celebrate, and for many, advent is a struggle towards coming home.

There are some people, and maybe you're one of them, who feel the sharpness of pain or hurt or trouble as the season looms.

Even in that first Christmas, at the start of the story, there is struggle.

Mary didn't accept the news that she would bear the Son of God without first feeling troubled.  Joseph struggled with the knowledge that his fiancé was pregnant, and not by him, before the angel appeared to him.  Zechariah struggled to understand how his aged wife could be with child.

Trouble.  Struggle.  Confusion.  They were there in the beginning, and they often rear their ugly heads to us now.

But the beautiful thing about advent is that the story, while riddled with struggle, doesn't end with it.  It ends with the birth of a Savior, and with Christ's birth, a promise of redemption for humankind.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible comes from the book of Matthew, and simply states "the people living in living in darkness have seen a great light" (Matthew 4:16).  I love the imagery of that verse…I always imagine a sun rising on the horizon, it's light slowly brightening and spreading inch by inch over the dark earth below.

And that's what Christmas does…it brings hope, it brings light.  It might seem like you're living in the land of darkness, but hold out for the light.  It's coming, the sun is rising.  Turn your face to the horizon.   And come home.

Whether you're facing this holiday without someone dear to you, coming home to a fractured relationship, or maybe just not feeling like yourself this holiday season, I encourage you to take heart.  The Christmas season may not always be a joyful one.  Heaven knows even the mother of Christ had her moments of struggle.

So dig deep into this advent season and discover joy through coming home to a Heavenly Father greater than anything this world could throw at you.

Sponsor Spotlight // Jess

I'm so excited to introduce you to one of my sponsors, Jess of Jess Vartanian Illustration + Design!  Jess runs an etsy shop featuring her own illustrations and designs, which are beautiful!  She also creates map prints and ornaments as well as jewelry with her illustrations.

I got the chance to ask Jess some questions about her illustrating.

When did you first start illustrating?  

I first started illustrating in college when I was majoring in Biology and using my art as a relaxing class. As college progressed I dove further and further into drawing and my love for art continued to progressinto today.

What made you decide to open an etsy store?  

I opened my etsy store about a year and a half after college when my now fiance finally convinced me to sell some of my illustrations and art.

What inspires you?  

Nature & using our zoo membership always inspires me and pushes me to create more.

You sell a few different types of products on your store (illustrations, map ornaments, bracelets, etc.).  What is your favorite to make?  

My favorite to make by far is my illustrations! I love drawing, but also love creating new items by hand!

Here are some of my favorite pieces in Jess' shop:

Check out her shop today!  She has some great gift ideas and holiday cards available!

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: JESS

I'm so excited to introduce you to one of my sponsors, Jess of Jess Vartanian Illustration + Design!  Jess runs an etsy shop featuring her own illustrations and designs, which are beautiful!  She also creates map prints and ornaments as well as jewelry with her illustrations.

I got the chance to ask Jess some questions about her illustrating.

When did you first start illustrating?  

I first started illustrating in college when I was majoring in Biology and using my art as a relaxing class. As college progressed I dove further and further into drawing and my love for art continued to progressinto today.

What made you decide to open an etsy store?  

I opened my etsy store about a year and a half after college when my now fiance finally convinced me to sell some of my illustrations and art. 

What inspires you?  

Nature & using our zoo membership always inspires me and pushes me to create more.

You sell a few different types of products on your store (illustrations, map ornaments, bracelets, etc.).  What is your favorite to make?  

My favorite to make by far is my illustrations! I love drawing, but also love creating new items by hand!

Here are some of my favorite pieces in Jess' shop:

Check out her shop today!  She has some great gift ideas and holiday cards available!

Meet Oliver!

I've been such a terrible blogger lately!  Honestly, when AJ moved to Boston, I expected to have a ton of free time to fill, but as it turns out, each of the past few months have proven busier than the last.  November was packed with Jen's shower, my dad's surprise 50th birthday party, a trip to Boston, and a bunch of stuff going on at church.

But I've been wanting to introduce our new little family member here on the blog....

Ollie is our new Goldendoodle puppy.  He's 10 weeks old today, and he's so sweet and playful and cuddly!  He's also a little naughty, chewing everything (including us!), as puppies do.  It's so fun to have a dog in the house again, though Rexi and the other cats aren't quite sure what to do with him yet.  He just wants to be their friend and they aren't really having it.

MEET OLIVER

I've been such a terrible blogger lately!  Honestly, when AJ moved to Boston, I expected to have a ton of free time to fill, but as it turns out, each of the past few months have proven busier than the last.  November was packed with Jen's shower, my dad's surprise 50th birthday party, a trip to Boston, and a bunch of stuff going on at church.

But I've been wanting to introduce our new little family member here on the blog....

Ollie is our new Goldendoodle puppy.  He's 10 weeks old today, and he's so sweet and playful and cuddly!  He's also a little naughty, chewing everything (including us!), as puppies do.  It's so fun to have a dog in the house again, though Rexi and the other cats aren't quite sure what to do with him yet.  He just wants to be their friend and they aren't really having it.

Bridal Shower Games

I got such great responses to some of the fun little games that I created for Jen's shower last weekend, that I thought I'd post the actual jpg design files so that they're easy to see/read!  I have also designed more bridal shower games which can be found here.

I will be happy to customize one or both of the designs/invitation for you!  To get more info on this, or to find out pricing, email me at betsygettis@gmail.com.

We all know that the most boring part of a shower can be when the bride-to-be opens all of her gifts.  Sure, it's fun when she opens yours, but it's also not so great if you got her a spice rack and she's already opened three, or, if the shower is big enough that opening gifts takes forever.  So, to remedy this issue and keep our guests entertained, I created some little games for them to do while Jen opened her gifts.  We had the junior bridesmaids go around and hand one of each out to everyone, and the ladies were able to work on them at their leisure while watching Jen open her presents!

And a few more I created but we didn't actually use:

I printed these out on card stock and cut them down to be about half-sheet size.  They were a fun little way for guests to stay busy!  We simply collected the mad lib for Ben & Jen to read later, and we revealed the answers to the 10 Questions game by allowing Ben & Jen to answer each question in front of everyone.  It was fun to see what they agreed on and didn't see eye-to-eye on!

Oh, and here are the invitations I designed for Jen's shower (changed some of the info on them though!)

*I did get the concept for the games from a Pinterest post, but all designs are my work.

BRIDAL SHOWER GAMES

I got such great responses to some of the fun little games that I created for Jen's shower last weekend, that I thought I'd post the actual jpg design files so that they're easy to see/read if you're interested in recreating the idea or something similar!

We all know that the most boring part of a shower can be when the bride-to-be opens all of her gifts.  Sure, it's fun when she opens yours, but it's also not so great if you got her a spice rack and she's already opened three, or, if the shower is big enough that opening gifts takes forever.  So, to remedy this issue and keep our guests entertained, I created some little games for them to do while Jen opened her gifts.  We had the junior bridesmaids go around and hand one of each out to everyone, and the ladies were able to work on them at their leisure while watching Jen open her presents!

I printed these out on card stock and cut them down to be about half-sheet size.  They were a fun little way for guests to stay busy!  We simply collected the mad lib for Ben & Jen to read later, and we revealed the answers to the 10 Questions game by allowing Ben & Jen to answer each question in front of everyone.  It was fun to see what they agreed on and didn't see eye-to-eye on!

Oh, and here are the invitations I designed for Jen's shower (changed some of the info on them though!)

*I did get the concept for the games from a Pinterest post, but all designs are my work.

Jen's Rustic Shower

Today, we got to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of my best friend!  Jen and I have been friends since we were little, and we grew up going to church and school together.  She's my absolute best friend in the world, and she's just one of those girls who is totally a kindred spirit.  I'm so grateful to have her in my life and it was so much fun to get to plan a day just for her!

The day was full of fun little games and lots of food and fellowship...we had such a good time celebrating Jen and Ben and I think it was exactly what she hoped for!  I had fun putting the day together and I hope Jen enjoyed it!