FerialShmerial: holidays

Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts

Monday, February 13, 2012

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Easy-Peasy Heart Banner {a photo tutorial}

Monday, December 26, 2011

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.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Merry Christmas from Moto!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

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!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

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!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Power and Glory of the Manger

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Greetings from Amurrica!

Hello friends!
After a very long day of traveling, and three different flights, we made it safely to Amurrica last Saturday. Thank you so much for your prayers!
We have been having such a wonderful and relaxing time here with family, eating and laughing and catching up.
I haven't been taking many pictures because I wanted this to be a real vacation. ^^ But here are a few shots of the last week:

Some of the highlights from the last week:
- receiving my new GUITAR (!!!!!) - reading on my new Kindle (gosh, I love that thing) - visiting Target ^^ - laughing (so much laughing!) with my family, especially while playing Apples to Apples- Thanksgiving dinner!
Some of the culture shocks from the last week:
- seeing huuuuge pick-up trucks everywhere- the low prices of produce! - all the different southern accents- big portions! - so, so, so much variety in stores and restaurants! - country music

Happy Belated Thanksgivingfrom Toone!