I will be...

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Today it is raining and sleeting and all the yuckiness that comes along with that, BUT...........

I am grateful for this day!

I am grateful for winter tires that helped get me to work safely this morning.

I am grateful for my husband who made sure we bought those tires instead of putting our money into something unnecessary.

I am MOST OF ALL grateful for the Lord's protection through the changing of rainy roads to icy roads!

I shall be joyful! I shall sing in the rain...........or the ice, whichever it is!

Here's me saying, "Have a dry and warm weekend dear friends!"

....and go on and sing a joyful song why don't ya!!!

See you next week!

XO,

Tiff

Happy Birthday Daddy Dave!

Happy Birthday to one Fun! Crazy! Awesome! Dad!

How much I love that man with the thumbs up!

Dad, thanks for always keeping my chin up and encouraging me to press on.

You deserve the best today and especially in this next year.  God has got something big in store, I just know it!  You have always put your whole heart into what God has called you to....your family, your servanthood, you passion for music.  I hope for that same heart and desire to live by that example from you.  I love you WHOLEHEARTEDLY DAD!!!
Never forget it!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Tiff 

Happy Birthday Bro!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES #1!!!!

My brother in law is James #1 and my husband James is aka James #2 to this family and we are so proud of it!  

James....I know you are a great husband to Em and a great dad to Asher and Clayton.  You have a big heart for youth and a passion for ministry.  James and I are happy to call you our brother and all we wish for you is the best this year.  

May 2013 be an encouraging, eye-opening, memory making year for YOU!  

........Now, go party it up and play some BINGO or somethin'!!!  ;)

So here is the plan!

 

Sunnies, Faux Fur Snood, Tights, & Flats from Target - Sweater Dress from Herberger's - Denim Jacket from Guess Outlet



So here is the plan! James and I are going to try to get to the slopes at least once before Spring gets here! Yay!
We aren't skiers by any means, unless it is cross country.
We aren't cross-country tubers either, because who likes to have to scoot themselves on tubes, across snowy plains...that just sounds exhausting!
But, we ARE going to try and enjoy some snow boarding like we each did before we knew each other.  It's funny how much change happens in your life overtime,...especially when you get married.  Marriage is a way to self evaluate and sift through to find what is important to you and your spouse.  Snowboarding was NOT on the top of either of our lists of necessary things to do.  But, with that said, we are going to try something new to "us" and why not it be a Board Date!?
Please don't get that confused with a boring date, those aren't exciting at all!!!
We are going to work together and try to fit in a time to board down some snow!

We DID agree that if our snowboarding consists of lots of falling downhill, bruises, and thrown-out backs....we will go back to cross country skiing, cross country snowshoeing, or cross country downhill tubing....  

Now the only question is....WHEN?!   Oh bother....
 

just stopping by...

Our weekend was full of relaxing and coughing...
That sounds like quite the combination, I know?!  For some reason we can't seem to get rid of our coughs that we have had for over a week.  Coughing can drain your energy and your body needs rest.  So we rested and lounged on the couch this weekend...for a few more hours than usual. All we can do is let it work itself out of our systems and hopefully that means soon! 

Just stopping by to say hello and wish you a wonderful week from James, me & Rainey too!



one resolution.

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So thankful for coming across this wonderful image, today.

 

I loved this reminder that I am a new creation in the One who has forgiven me and forgotten my mistakes. 
Scripture says, "He has cast them as far as the east is from the west." - Psalm 103:12 
The beginning of this new year is a wonderful time to reflect on where you have come from and ask God where He wants to bring you. 

There are many resolutions that people can make....like eating healthier, reading more books, simplifying.  Don't get me wrong! These are all terrific things to better ourselves.  I guess my outlook on life is that it doesn't have to be a new year to change, because every day is a new day...a new start.  Though you and I have dealt with hard times, pain, low days, guilt, fear, sin.....with a new day brings new mercy, new hope, and peace.  I love the verse in Lamentations that talks about how God's love is never failing. 
His mercies and love is new each day... - Lamentations 3:23 

No matter if it is the first day of January or the last day of December, know that one true resolution- one true decision -that is going to make the greatest impact on your life is to put your trust in the One who knows your days. I didn't make that resolution on the first day of the year, but that day for me was the beginning of a process.  A daily surrendering that has given me true happiness that no diet or book could ever do.  Life in a relationship with Christ consists of day to day changes that our eyes are opened to.  My resolution today is the same as it has been for some time...and that is to be a new creation in Christ...daily. 
Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may not come, but today let me be the best I can!

Have you found the right resolution for life? :)

Blessings to you today, as always!

Tiff

 

NEW!

Happy New Year!!!

What does this mean for you?

 

May this year bring new adventures, new memories, new outlook, new opportunities!  I am looking forward to this year and all God has in store for James and I.  I hope you find new joy today....the first day of the year 2013!

 

 

---------------------------------------------------

 

 

I'm currently sitting at my computer waiting for James to come home from a 16 hour shift.  Our year end/weekend consisted of buying a new toilet and sink for our downstairs, only then to discover plumbing problems in the middle of installation.  I won't say much more than it really stinks to be stuck in a situation like that! :) Thankfully, it was the weekend and I had yesterday and today off to cleanup.  Maybe my chalkboard should say....

New toilet.

New problem. 

New appreciation for plumbers.

  Oh, I can't explain it and I'm sure you would appreciate me not explaining it anyways! :) 

Thankful for new days and BLEACH! :)

 

Much love,

 

Tiff

 



Stop it Target!

Hat & Sunnies: Target, Vest: Gap, Blouse: JCPenney, Skinny Jeans: Charlotte Russe, Booties: Maurices, Oxe Blood Socks: Herberger's, Purse: Thrifted!

Let me just say it, "Stop it Target!"  Every time I enter those store doors, my eyes catch a new beautiful piece of art.  Can I call accessories art?! Well, I'm going to!  Accessories that are on the clearance rack and less than five dollars = My Weakness!  I have to say that I am definitely getting more selective with my purchases, but the inexpensive, adorably fun hats.....you make me want to take you all home and fill my closet with one in every color.  Okay?! Not really, because that would be selfish and foolish of me to spend all of my "hard worked for" paychecks on such things.  Hmmm...........maybe I'll leave with just one...or none.  Whatever.....just stop it before I have to go to TSA.....Target Shoppers Anonymous, okay?! Okay! :)

 

 

XO Tiff

I hope your Christmas week went well and your New Year is a celebration!

Woot! Woot!

 

 

Merry Christmas!

 



Would you take my hand and skate with me?

 James and I found a night this week that was emptied of plans and full of time together.  We stirred with ideas in our heads, but wanted to do something we don't have the chance to do on a regular basis!  So.............of course SKATING was it!  It was cold enough but not too cold, and the earlier in the season we skated, the better!  When it gets cold in northern Minnesota IT. GETS. COLD. I tell ya!  We dusted off our skates and headed to one of the area's public ice rinks.

 

It was intimidating to see kids 15 years younger then me twirling and cruising on the ice like it was nothin'.   I was lucky to have not fallen and bruised a hip or something!  Those kids......the dedication and time they practiced to be better on the ice!  Their parents and all the time and effort they put in to help their kids along with their passion of skating (or hockey) was evident. 

 

Though I was never a skater, it reminded me of all the trips, time, and money my mom and dad put into my passion of volleyball.  If only I understood that back then....would I have thanked them more and appreciated them more?  I guess that is what growing up is all about...learning to appreciate people more.  It is never too late to appreciate someone and that is what I get to do now.  Thanks mom and dad (& sisters too!) for encouraging me and my passion of volleyball, and all my passions today!  I'm thankful for James too and how he encourages me in our marriage and ministry that God has called us to!  James, thanks for taking my hand and skating with me. 

I appreciate it!

 

XO,  Tiff

 

P.S. SOOOOOOOOOO appreciating the chance to head home to Wisconsin this weekend. 

I am looking forward to Christmas with those I appreciate! :)

 

 

The Games of Traveling

James and I have the privilege to travel back to Wisconsin this year for Christmas family time!  We are very happy and excited!  If only we could blink and then we would be at our destination.  Instead we must travel on snowy roads and it takes about 4 hours.  To some that is nothing, to others that could seem like forever...especially with families that have youngsters in the back seat saying, "Are we there yet?!" at least a bazillion times!  Traveling is already a game in itself: packing luggage without bringing too much, not forgetting extra socks, packing a tooth brush (especially when you are eating all the sweet treats)...the list goes on.  For us, we usually take the time to listen to music, dance crazy with seat belts on (kinda of hard to explain) while listening to music as passing tavelers get freaked out and think we are weird!  I thought about some games we could play, just the two of us, & Rainey (oh yes....she is coming too).  When you have one person driving in snowy conditions, a dog in the backseat, and the other one searching through all the Christmas CD's we have, there doesn't leave much time (or space) to pull out the latest game of Monopoly or Twister (that one would especially be difficult). 

So, here are some suggestions for the two or three people traveling together:

 

1.  I Spy - We all know the I Spy books from when we were children, at least I hope you were able to enjoy that in your childhood.  It is really fun to play on the road.  Just pick something you see - in vehicle or outside of - and have your fellow passengers try and guess what the object is.  Make it more challenging by only allowing 4 to 5 guesses!

 

2.    The Alphabet Game - You have to find letters on road signs by starting with A all the way through Z (in order).

 

3.  Twenty Questions - One person thinks of an object or person, and the other people have to ask questions only that have an answer of "Yes" or "No."  The guessers have to try to figure the object or person out before they ask twenty questions.

 

Now, for those who are traveling in a larger group, here are some great games to put in the your vehicle and they're travel size!

 

Mini Chess & Checkers from Restoration Hardware (Now On Sale! Why not gift it!?)

 

Travel Scrabble from Restoration Hardware (Also On Sale!)

 

If you know the roads will be bumpy and your driver is rushing through traffic (safely) in time for Christmas celebrations, maybe try a Tile Locking Scrabble game like this one, instead! ;)

 

Settlers of Catan Portable Edition found here 

(James and I have brought this one along on multiple occasions!)

 

 

So, there you have it, travelers of all ages!  Make sure to make the most of your time on the road and never play the last three games if you are the driver!  Seriously, I am a firm believer in safety first! :)

 

How far do you have to travel, this Christmas!?

 

 



The way to his heart...

So, poor James ended up getting the same severe cold I had.  Sad, yes!  Friday night, all he needed was some down time.  With this down time, nothing feels better than taking care of him....maybe it is just a wife thing....I don't really know?!  The care he needed was to fill his stomach with comfort foods and give him the comfiest spot on the couch. 
So this is what happened!!!!:

1.  Chicken in a Biskit,  
2.  Chicken, Bacon, & Ranch pizza and................
3.  Enough Dr. Pepper to last the weekend (more than two glasses were required!)

You know how they say it, "The way to their heart is through their stomach!" 
Let's just say I made it straight to his heart as fast as you can say, "Honey, look what I brought you!"  ..............He was smitten!

"the one" all bright!

Here it is..........the beautiful tree of ours.  I thought I would try some new manual focusing on my camera to get the Bokeh effect. Bokeh is the fuzzy or blurring in the out-of-focus areas of an image.  Blah, blah, blah.......................now let me reveal our tree slooooooooooooooooooowly to you, 'cause it may be too intense all at once!!! ;)

Tada!

We went for "simple" and "white lights" look this year, with absolutely NO ornaments!  Yikes......it's naked!  Call us crazy, seeing as I just received all of my ornaments from my parents and I'm not using a single one!  It's okay though, 'cause I hope to have many Christmases in this home of ours and who knows.........next year, I may just go crazy and pile them all on! 

 

For us........simple is good!

 

Have a blessed weekend!

 

XO, Tiff

We found "the one"

 We searched far and wide; deep into the forest.....okay, more like we drove down one road for a few miles and stepped maybe 30 feet into the woods & ditches...........but we found it!  Ain't she a beauty?!

 

She's James' and my very first, real Christmas tree!  James and I never expected to be able to take an afternoon with the family and pick out our very own!  There were so many options but we went for her.  And by the sounds of it.....I guess it's a girl!  Who ever knew that trees were boys or girls....I must just have this thought in my mind that our firsts are going to be girls:

1st dog - girl

1st tree - girl

           1st kid - hmmmm....

We must be having a girl.........HOLD UP....not until I get impregnated! 

....And we probably will have at least a couple Christmas trees to find before that little girl (or boy) comes along! ;)

Someday pretty baby........someday!

 

Until then, I hope to have more "Christmas tree searching" days like this one...with "the ONES" I love:

 

 

Check back in later, as I share a picture of "the one" ......all beautiful and bright! :)

 

xo, Tiff

 

 

The first thing I saw...

Well hello there family and friends! How I have missed you! 

This gal has been recovering from a long, lingering, head cold.  You know the kind that makes you want to just curl up on the couch and literally do nothing!?  Well, that's what it felt like for me, but I am so thankful I am feeling so much better now! 
I'm back and with a lovely outfit just for you. 

 

The day that I did run some errands, I threw on the first thing I saw in the closet, literally.....and THAT. WAS...................
James' sweater (of course)!

 

Not my sweater, but his!  What can I say?! It was the first thing I saw and I liked it! 

It was the perfect mix of casual and comfy...but not totally "Hey, I'm sick" looking!  I paired it with my current favorite boots, cuffed denim, and a checkered scarf.  I even tried this braid I found on Pinterest to get the messiest braid ever! 
Remind me to try this braid again, now that I'm not reaching for a Kleenex every five minutes!
It gets kind of difficult when your holding a Kleenex in one hand and three sections of hair in the other! Agreed?!

 

 

Have a Happy & Healthy Wednesday........no Kleenex needed! :)

xo
Tiff