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Phone Photo Friday

12/26/2014

1 Comment | Art, Art: Phone Photo Friday, Family, Family: Froggie/Isaiah | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

I Think of Mary in Bethlehem

12/24/2014

“The Last Christmas”

I feel your heart beating
Inside my own skin
And I think of Mary
In Bethlehem

That night in a stable
Our saviour was born
Yes, we have so much
To be thankful for

On the last Christmas
The last Christmas
The last Christmas
Without you

They’re choosing the colours
Preparing your room
For one day; Mid[spring]
The advent of you

Together we wait for
A heavenly gift
Is winter a wonder?
Enchanted that this is

The last Christmas
The last Christmas
The last Christmas
Without you

See the stars shining for above
Hear the singing
Praise to the Giver of Life and Love
Maker of Beautiful things

I feel your heart beating
Inside my own skin
And I think of Mary
In Bethlehem

When darkness was shattered
The dawn of God’s grace
And the journey’d begun
To the first Easter day

On this last Christmas
The last Christmas
The last Christmas
The very last Christmas

The last Christmas
The last Christmas
The last Christmas
Without you

(Sixpence None the Richer)

PS. Tomorrow we get a very special Christmas gift — we will find out if we’re welcoming a baby girl or a baby boy into our arms in April.

1 Comment | Art, Art: music, Faith, Family, Family: Froggie/Isaiah, Family: Me | Tagged: advent, Christmas, expectant, Jesus, mary, pregnancy, pregnant | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

The tree has been trimmed. The lights have been strung. The cookies have been baked…and many of them eaten. Christmas is my favorite thing about winter. The warm glowing lights. The crackling wood in the fireplace. The cozy clutter of decorations. The family time. The advent…the waiting…the anticipation. (Increased this year by the gift of discovering our baby’s gender on Christmas Day.) The dressing up in red, knit and boots. Celebrating the birth of Jesus and all that it meant when God came to walk the earth in human form. (Increased this year by the kicking baby in my belly reminding me often of Mary, young and scared, carrying the most important baby in the world.) The excitement of a small child over every element of the holiday season.

1 Comment | Art, Art: Cooking, Art: crafts, Art: interior design | Tagged: Christmas, cookies, decor, decorations, design, home | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Phone Photo Friday

12/19/2014

Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: Phone Photo Friday, Family, Family: Adoption, Family: Precious/Ali | Tagged: cell phone photography, Phone Photo Friday | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

PSA: The Most Comfortable Maternity Pants Ever

12/18/2014

My mama blessed me with an early Christmas present two weeks ago because she knew I was running out of pants that fit. One pair of black pants that are suitable to wear to work and these sweats. These fabulous sweatpants that I have worn ever.single.day. from the time I get home from work until I get dressed the next day. They really are that amazingly comfortable. I highly recommend them to any expectant mamas out there. They’re lightweight and slim fitting but not tight anywhere. And they have pockets!

MAMA sweatpants from H&M for $24.95

1 Comment | Art, Art: fashion, Family, Family: Me | Tagged: expecting, maternity, pants, pregnancy, pregnant | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Jason Ahlbrandt On Stage at the Ryman Auditorium

12/17/2014

My talented husband has had the opportunity to travel all over the world playing music—Iceland, Alaska, Amsterdam, Faroe Islands, more states than I can keep track of and many miles logging by tour bus and airplane. It’s a dream come true for him and nothing could make me happier as his wife than to see his purpose and destiny fulfilled as a professional guitarist, to see his passion satisfied by playing music every single day. I had a really special proud wife moment at the end of November when I got to see my best friend take the stage with his guitar at the famous Ryman Auditorium for Opry at the Ryman. For several years Jason has been Guy Penrod’s right-hand-man—literally at stage right most of the time, playing lead guitar—through many 100s of concerts. Several times a year I get to see a concert. This particular one was actually Jason’s third time on the Ryman stage but I missed the first two times and I was determined nothing would stand in my way this time. God sure has blessed us with amazing opportunities and friendships as we’ve pursued our dreams. Jason works so hard fine tuning his gifts and it’s a treat to see him play live. Such an honor to be in the audience that night.

Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: music, Family, Family: Jason | Tagged: guitarist, husband, Jason, jason ahlbrandt, marriage, music, musician, Nashville, proud wife, ryman | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Mother-Daughter Christmas Fun

12/16/2014

Jason’s been traveling a lot in December (but is now home through Christmas. Yay!) So Ali and I have been enjoying lots of holiday festivities together. On Saturday we went to Cheekwood Art and Botanical Gardens to see reindeer and check out the craft activities. We spent a long time making a Christmas tree our of sticks, pipe cleaners, paper, glue and beads. The cookie decorating was quite delicious!

On Sunday our church had their big Christmas program, which means special music, candlelight service, and lots of kids dressed up in adorable outfits gorging themselves on cookies and candy canes. Alianna was quite proud of her freshly painted nails.

That evening Ali and I went to our next door neighbor Elizabeth’s house for a Latke Fest. I’m pretty sure that was the first Hanukkah party either of us had been invited to and it was great! Lots of tasty treats and nice people. I brought Elizabeth a dozen eggs to thank her for informing us and helping to wrangle our chickens when they escape our yard.

Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: crafts, Family, Family: Me, Family: Precious/Ali | Tagged: Christmas, fun, hanukkah, holiday, mother-daugher | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” & Christmas Classics

12/15/2014

I hope you’ve seen this video of Jason playing the most beautiful acoustic guitar rendition of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen that has ever been played.

I wanted to let you know he’s also giving away copies of the whole amazing album on his Facebook page this month. All you have to do is share the video and let him know you did. He runs a new contest each week so if this week’s hasn’t started yet, check back in a day or two.

And if you don’t win but would like to buy one, you can do so through his website JasonAhlbrandt.com. We offer free shipping. They’re the same price in person and at his shows. He’s on iTunes, Spotify and other online/digital music retailers, too.

Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: music, Family, Family: Jason | Tagged: Christmas, christmas classics, free music, free stuff, guitar, jason ahlbrandt, music | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Phone Photo Friday

12/12/2014

Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: Phone Photo Friday, Family, Family: Adoption, Family: Precious/Ali | Tagged: cell phone photography, Phone Photo Friday | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

New Tile Backsplash in the Kitchen and Bathroom

12/11/2014

Last month Jason did a project we’ve been thinking about since we moved in two years ago—he tiled a backsplash and added under cabinet lights in the kitchen. He spent many nights working from after dinner until long after Ali and I were asleep. He’s such a hard worker. I LOVE how it came out. My only contribution was helping to pick out the tiles, which were a special order from Home Depot, in case you’re wondering. We picked the color and straight-stacked pattern to mirror the exposed concrete block wall that’s across from the kitchen in the dining room. (You can see it here in my grapefruit-belly photo.)