I'm always curious to hear what other people are reading, aren't you? I love a good book recommendation. Almost as much as I love my sister. Which is saying a lot. Sisters are the best.

I digress.

Here's what on my nightstand these days:

1.) I've just recently started reading this packed tome! What a book! Dr. George attends our church. Or rather we attend Dr. George's church. ToMAto. ToMAHto. Andrew and I were able to attend a lecture Dr. George presented on his book. It was a fascinating look into Psychology 101. 

Untangling The Mind by D. Theodore George, M.D.

2. Oh, this book is meaty! My dear friend, Alisa, sent me this last spring when she was unable to attend my bridal shower. It arrived in the mail with Pioneer Woman's cookbook. A perfect combination if you ask me. Marriage is a mysterious, magical thing but it's also a bread and butter and "what's for dinner" type of thing. You need good food and good beliefs. Anyway, this book is wonderful on the beliefs part. Just a treasure to read.

Family Vocation: God's Calling in Marriage, Parenting, and Childhood by Gene Edward Veith, Jr. 

3. Don't get me started on Joel Rosenberg--I may never stop. He is one of my favorite fiction writers. I fly through his books. He writes the kind of novels that have you thinking at 1:30am, "Just one more page..." This is the second in a series. Oh it is GOOD!

The Tehran Initiative by Joel Rosenberg

4. I started this book well over a year ago and am still savoring it. I wish I could have met Edith Schaeffer. Her writing conveys such joy for the everyday. And creativity! I've loved reading about some of her ideas to make a house a home.

The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer

5. My Mom gave me this darling little book in my Christmas stocking (Andrew got the "Don't For Husbands"!). This book is teensy tiny and was written in 1913. It's amazed me how much of the little pieces of advice can be applied today...things like:

-"Don't expect all the 'give' to be on his side, and all the 'take' on yours."

-"Don't be afraid to rough it now and again with your husband as a companion."

-"Don't expect life to be all sunshine. Besides, if there are no clouds, you will lose the opportunity of showing your husband what a good chum you can be."

Aren't those clever? I've had fun reading them.

Don't For Wives by Blanche Ebbutt

Now your turn! Tell me what's on your nightstand? :)

Snow days

We got a few inches of snow here yesterday! I love snow days. Aren't they the best? They're a gentle reminder to be thankful for those things we take for granted in life...like a roof over our heads! and indoor heating! and a day of rest! I don't mind the snow at all. Or four very distinct seasons. There's beauty all year round--you just have to look for it!

Andrew and I tried in vain to take Admiral Byrd on a walk in the snow early this morning. He was not having it. We made it about halfway down the sidewalk before he started whimpering. He's a little on the dramatic side. ;) We're thankful to be indoors today--enjoying the beauty of wind-whipped snow from the comfort of our home! 

2 0 1 4

Happy new year! I'm alive! I hardly know where to begin with a recap...our holidays were action-packed! Andrew and I spent a few days away with my family after Christmas in Hot Springs, Virginia (we stayed at the original Virginia Homestead!), returned home on New Year's Day, did a quick turnaround and flew out of town the next morning with my in-laws to Orlando, Florida! We spent a week in the Sunshine State before returning to snowy Virginia. Every single one of us promptly got sick! Hah! 

We're still a little behind over here. We have Christmas decorations covering the living room floor (I keep meaning to box them up), and I'm embarrassed to admit our suitcases have been hanging out in our bedroom begging for someone to unpack them. Real life! 

I'm hoping to do a little photo montage soon of all these fun trips we took! Until then, here's one I swiped off the Disney PhotoPass site...

Our Christmas Card!

One of my favorite things about this time of year is sending and receiving Christmas cards. When my siblings and I were growing up we would scramble to look at Christmas cards arriving in the mail. My parents placed Christmas cards from friends and relatives in a basket in our kitchen. Whenever my siblings and I would return home from school we'd race to the basket for a glimpse at any new additions. I wish I could say I've outgrown that habit...but I still love receiving Christmas cards! These days I'm racing Andrew for the mail. ;)

I ordered our Christmas cards through Minted this year. I am happy as a clam with the way they turned out! And so impressed with Minted! They had the best customer service--I was easily able to approve a proof of our card, and the order arrived in record time. It's not a necessity but they had pretty darling packaging, too. I'm a sucker for that.

If you haven't ordered your Christmas cards yet take a look at Minted! They have an almost endless selection to choose from. You can order invitations, stationary, and custom art prints, too! 

Merry Minted Christmas! :)

{This post is not sponsored by Minted. I'm just a really big fan!}

Army-Navy // Philadelphia, PA

Andrew and I joined my parents and brothers in Philly this past weekend for the 114th Army-Navy showdown game. Oh my goodness, do we ever enjoy this rivalry! I can't recall how many of these games we've attended as a family. It's something we've done for years and years. I was so happy to introduce Andrew to this infamous rivalry last year! Of course it's all in good fun. The Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen put up a lot of bravado on the field, but off the field they work together to serve our country. 

One of my brothers left the States several weeks ago for his first deployment with the Navy. He'll be overseas until midsummer. I was thinking about him a lot this past weekend. I'm so proud of my brothers for their service to our country. They inspire me!

Our family enjoyed Philly, despite the unfavorable "blizzard bowl" conditions! We were able to meet up with a few friends and relatives (all Army fans!) at halftime, and decided that the game might be best enjoyed from the comfort of our hotel room. We wimped out around the 3rd quarter. :)

Here's a few photos from our time in The City of Brotherly Love:

Inside Philadelphia's beautiful Ritz-Carlton Hotel...I'd like to take their tree home with me.

A Virginia Christmas.

Happy Friday! Has your week flown by? Ours has! I think the snow days earlier this week threw me off a little bit...that or I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around how fast Christmas is approaching!

We're getting ready to celebrate our first married Christmas together...my first Virginia Christmas! We bought a Christmas tree several weeks ago and finally finished adding lights and ornaments to it a few days ago. Our small group was over last night and someone asked if the tree was a new addition...hah! No, we're just a little slow at decorating around here. ;)

Here's a look at some other Christmas decor around our home...hope you are enjoying a beautiful, blessed season of advent!

Admiral Byrd at 10 weeks // First snow!

We had a full weekend...full in the filling sense, not in the stressed sense! :) I love filling weekends. We had my Sis and her boyfriend over Friday evening for takeout Chinese. The weather was rainy and cold and none of us were motivated to go out. We had a wonderful time just talking together...those are my favorite kind of evenings! Saturday we traipsed over to the farmers market with Admiral Byrd (and oh did folks love him!). We drove to Lorton, VA that evening to visit my dear college friend, Becky. Her brother and sister-in-law welcomed their third child in October and I was anxious to hold that precious newborn! 

Sunday morning we woke up to snow! After church we introduced Admiral Byrd to the new precipitation. I don't think he was especially taken with it. At ten weeks old Admiral Byrd is energetic, curious, playful, and anything but shy. We are having so much fun with him!

My husband...willingly shoveling the sidewalk after church. He shoveled our neighbor's sidewalks, too.  He has a heart of gold. I love that man!