reflecting on hopes

This time last year, I listed the following as hopes for 2011 in a blog post:

> Live in a different country
> Complete my Master's Degree coursework
> Move back to Texas
> Find a job for the hubbs and me
> Continue to seek God's will for each of these steps

3.5 out of 5 isn't bad! And Southern Arkansas is pretty close to Texas :)

We had an incredibly exciting and emotionally challenging 2011, and 2012 will not be boring, by any means! In 2012 we will say hello to:

>The hubbs' first Senior Pastor position!

>Our first house to call our own

>Living closer to family than we have over the past 9 years!

>Our third year of marriage

>A new and exciting place for me to serve in a new community (we'll see what God has in store for a job for me!)

As far as goals for the year...I think I am going to take it easy. Let's see what happens when we sit back and watch God at work :)

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

embracing home

as of January 2nd, the hubbs and I will call Arkansas our home...and I am embracing our new home through crochet...

I made these Razorback hats for Christmas for the hubbs and my nephews...they were a hit!

Little JJ loooooooves his hat...mainly because he loves all hats...and he thinks it's a cow...

Alas...you can take the girl out of Texas, but you can't take the Texas out of the girl...

but there is always room for a little Arkansas :)

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

P.S. If you are interested in a Razorback hat...email me...they start at $30 each

I celebrate the day...

The beauty of the Christmas story gets me every time...the way God used the nobodies, in the not so special places, to bring salvation through His Son born of an ordinary young woman...it's so awe inspiring that I can spend hours just wondering what each of the key players were thinking, feeling and worrying about...

A Christmas song by Relient K (shout out to all my Choctaw Naz peeps :)) called I Celebrate the Day, is the perfect soundtrack for all of my Christmas story day dreaming. 

What is your favorite part of the Christmas story?

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

decorating for the holidays

We are sooooo looking forward to spending next Christmas in Arkansas...and decorating our home! It has been hard to not have a home to decorate this year...but don't worry...I've kept in the Christmas spirit by decorating my Pineterest!

Click here to see my Christmas 2011 board.

What is your favorite Christmas decoration, and what is its significance?

Mine would be my nativity.  One of my favorite traditions growing up was hiding the baby Jesus of our family's ceramic nativity set and hunting for him (like the Wise Men, of course), and then getting to hide him when I found him. He would always mysteriously reappear in the manger on Christmas morning...gotta love when parents make things magical :)

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

music to get merry to

One of my coworkers at Azizi Life told me that my love for Christmas music is a sickness...well, maybe it is...but at least this sickness puts me in a joyful, loving and reflective mood :) 

Here are a few albums that I am "rocking around the Christmas tree" to these days (or maybe around the banana tree, since I am in Rwanda at the moment):

 Christmas just isn't Christmas in the King household without Amy Grant...and I uphold this tradition in the Newlin Wed household...

I can listen to Amy Grant's "Home for Christmas" and be transported to the car of my youth, sitting next to my sister with this CD (or cassette tape) blaring while our family travels down East Texas roads to celebrate Christmas with our grandparents, aunts, uncles and my awesome cousins.

I have enjoyed this FREE Christmas Collection from Sleeping at Last for two years now...click here to download 9 free songs that will lull you into the holiday spirit.

Tunes from Lady Antebellum's 2010 Christmas album drove me to class during grad school at Eastern University last year...maybe it was better because my drive actually included snow...but these 6 tracks are worth every penny

This album is also FREE! Click here to download 4 songs that will get your toes tapping in true blue grass/folk Christmas style!

Dave Barnes' smooth voice and guitar make for the perfect Christmas date music...just in case you wanted to know...

and "Family Tree" will give you the needed soundtrack to cry over the fact that you are not with your family for Christmas (I won't be needing it this year :))...Click here to get it for $5 on Amazon

What music makes up your Christmas soundtrack? Any recommendations?

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

done

Now I will attempt to resist deleting all of my Eastern files form my computer until Dec. 17th (graduation)

Thanks to all who have offered me continual encouragement and prayers during the last 15 months (especially the hubbs)...I couldn't have done it without you all!

And a special shout out to my cohort peeps who are still working on finishing everything up...you're almost there!

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

Rwanda's Christmas carol

If there was one Christmas carol made for Rwanda...it would be this one:

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,

which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,

and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

Its rising is from the end of the heavens,

and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

{Psalm 19:1-6}

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth