InstaFriday {5}

The hubs surprise-decorated our home! / Sam decorated himself / First snow in Pyeongtaek! / A warm & yummy coffee date with friends / Last leaves / A tiring Costco trip / Lunch & Pinterest / Popsicle stick reindeer / Slappa da (acoustic) bass / The Nutcracker! / Italian dinner & Charlie Brown Christmas / Vanilla-Cranberry Cake, homemade in the rice cooker! / Q-tip snowflakes / White Christmas for the first time / Homemade Lunchables / Happy New Year, Friends! 

read more "InstaFriday {5}"

Christmas isn't over.

It's true. 

Christmas isn't over. 

I know that Christmas Day was two days ago.
I know that the presents have been opened.
I know that soon Starbucks will discontinue
using their amazing Peppermint syrup.

But I insist, Christmas is not yet over. 

Historically, 

Christmas isn't over yet because
we get the wonderful privilege of celebrating
Christmastide, also known as
The Twelve Days of Christmas.

"By openly contemplating the Light
that was hinted at throughout the season of Advent, 
Christmastide recapitulates our Lord's
gradual self-revelation to the world." 
(source)

How wonderful it is that we get
more than one day to celebrate the most miraculous
thing that has ever happened,
God becoming man.

"'Joy to the world!' Anyone for whom this sound is foreign, or who hears in it nothing but weak enthusiasm, has not yet really heard the gospel. For the sake of humankind, Jesus Christ became a human being in a stable in Bethlehem: 
Rejoice, O Christendom! 
For sinners, Jesus Christ became a companion of tax collectors and prostitutes: 
Rejoice, O Christendom! 
For the condemned, Jesus Christ was condemned to the cross on Golgotha: 
Rejoice, O Christendom! 
For all of us, Jesus Christ was resurrected to life: 
Rejoice, O Christendom! 
All over the world today people are asking: 
Where is the path to joy? 
The church of Christ answers loudly: 
Jesus is our joy! 
Joy to the world!" 

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I don't know about you, but I want that joy all year long.
Isn't the gift of Jesus Christ worth celebrating
every single day of the year?

Happy Christmas! 

EMMANUEL! 

Every day. 

read more "Christmas isn't over."

Merry Christmas from Moto!

read more "Merry Christmas from Moto!"

A Winner & Some Christmas Thoughts

First of all, thanks to all of you who participated in my very first giveaway! 
The winner of the $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com is: 

Cindy, your digital gift card should be in your inbox

on Wednesday the 21st, congratulations! 

It was so wonderful to read all of your Christmas traditions! 

I've even thought of adopting some of your ideas 

for future Christmases. ^^ 

Growing up, I didn't really experience many Christmas traditions. 

Every year seemed different. 

And every year seemed hectic. 

Preparations for having family over on Christmas day, 

wearing nice clothes to church, eating lots of good food, 

the anticipation of a break from school, 

and all the pretty lights. 

The hubs and I have started one simple 

Christmas tradition since we've been married. 

On Christmas morning we make French Toast, 

and eat it in front of the "fire". 

Christmas morning, 2009. Our first Christmas in Korea. 

This year Christmas day falls on a Sunday. 

 John and I won't be able to have our 

French Toast breakfast that morning

because we'll be getting up early to go to 

lead our church family in musical worship and celebration. 

But hopefully we'll get to have French Toast for lunch. ^^ 

Happy Christmas! 

EMMANUEL! 

read more "A Winner & Some Christmas Thoughts"

Recipe: Crockpot Tomato Soup

Here's a recipe for a simple and wonderful homemade tomato soup, perfect for these cold, wintery days. 

[ Click the "Keep Reading" link to view the recipe. ]

read more "Recipe: Crockpot Tomato Soup"

100th {my first giveaway!}

Today marks my 100th post! 

What an adventure this blogging-thing turned out to be. 

I am so grateful for the ways that God has used this blog

to bless me, to teach me, and to connect me 

to other like-minded and wonderful people. 

As a big THANK YOU to you who have been adventuring with me, 

I'm doing my first giveaway! 

I am gifting-away a $25 digital gift card 

to Amazon.com. 

Amazon.com is one of my favorite online places to shop. 

They seriously have everything. 

And as a Kindle owner, I love perusing their e-books. 

So, one of you lovely readers will be receiving

$25 to spend as you like on Amazon.com! 

Check off an item or two off your Christmas shopping list

or treat yourself to something merry and bright! 

To enter this giveaway: 

*Follow "Ferial-Shmerial" via Google Friend Connect
(click the blue "Join this site" button on the right sidebar) 


*Leave a comment on this post telling me 
about your favorite Christmas tradition. 


That's it! 


The winner of the $25 Amazon gift card will be announced on 
Wednesday, December 21. 


Thanks so much for following along with me here 
at Ferial-Shmerial. 
Your readership and your friendships mean so much to me! 

read more "100th {my first giveaway!}"

The Power and Glory of the Manger

read more "The Power and Glory of the Manger"

The Jet-Lag Mash-Up

This, my friends, is what jet-lag looks like: 

- due to a plane problem and a missed connection, 

the hubs and I were given a one-night stay in a nice hotel

 and our long flight from Chicago to Tokyo

was upgraded to a better airline! 

- arrived home about midnight this past Sunday night, 

but didn't have to work until Monday afternoon, 

thank you manager and thank you Jesus. 

- have been really enjoying wearing my new clothes

purchased from Amurrica, 

especially this red trench coat. 

- so happy to be reunited with my Moto-cat! 

- miss my TN family so much already,

and really wish that I could get my CA family

and my TN family all in one place

and join them there forever. 

- almost finished unpacking! 

That's a big deal for this un-packing hater. 

- glad to be away from all that country music. ^^ 

- so happy to be sleeping in my own bed, 

wish I could be there right now. 

- TN is really dark at night. 

- Korea is never dark. 

- can't believe it's December! 

- I hope Christmas doesn't come and go too fast. 

Being a teacher in Korea = not having any time off for Christmas :(

- I must go hunt down some caffeine. 

read more "The Jet-Lag Mash-Up"