Iowa Should be Beautiful this Time of Year...All That Snow

Here are some pictures I took of this morning's snow and our drive home. It was so beautiful!

enjoy:







grace and peace,
Mair

Merry Christmas

Yet another successful Christmas with the Wolfe family today. The day was full of giving, food, Tim Horton's coffee, laughter, food, and love. I even busted out my Christmas hankie, in which I blew my nose all day.

I was reminded today that God gave us the most important gift we will ever receive: His Son. Jesus brought forgiveness, love, salvation, and peace. My dad talked about peace last night at our Christmas Eve service. Peace with God, peace with others, and peace with ourselves. Because of God's gift, believers can have peace. I am so thankful for the peace that He brought me.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and that you remember the gift God has given us.

Here are some pictures from my day...not too many:

The loot

Some favorites: minty green ear rings from my sister and a mustard colored scarf from my parents.

Here are my lovely parents over at Grandma and Grandpa's house

Pippin making herself at home at the Grandparent's farm

A happy little candle holder with my happy little mother in the background

Grandma and Grandpa's 50th Christmas tree. Grandma used all gold decorations to celebrate. So pretty!

Merry Christmas everyone!

grace and peace,
Mair

More Crochet Projects

My little fingers are still hard at work making presents...but I took some time in between gifts to whip up some leg warmers for myself.

I wore them for the first time today and I was very pleased with how they looked, not to mention, my legs were nice and roasty toasty!

Here they are:

I made them cream with a strip of brown at the very top and they were SUPER easy. Here's the pattern:

Directions are given for size 9-11. You will need two 4 ounce, skeins of 4 ply yarn and sizes I and K crochet hooks.

Gauge: 3 hdc equal 1 inch

Starting at lower edge with smaller ,hook, ch 30, join with sl st to form ring, ch 2, do not turn.

Row 1: Sc in each ch, join with sl st in top of ch-2, ch 2, do not turn.

Rows 2 through 8: Repeat Row 1.

Row 9: With larger hook, ch 2, hdc in each sc across, join with sl st in top of ch-2, ch 2, turn.

Repeat Row 9 to length desired, after last sl st, fasten off

grace and peace,

Mair

Crochet Project

Now that I have all this time on my hands I've been able to actually crochet! Something that I haven't done ALL semester.

A friend of mine asked me to make a neck warmer and after researching a little bit online, I decided I wanted for myself. :) I started with a pattern I found but then I just kind of made it up as I went along.

I used a mustard-colored yarn and antique brown buttons. Super easy!

Here it is:

a close-up of the stitch and buttons

I think these will make goooooood Christmas presents! :)

grace and peace,

Mair

My Reward

Finals are finally complete and I couldn't be happier! After several weeks of work, work, work, it's so nice to have nothing to do but relax.

In order to motivate myself to get through finals, I left a crochet project and a new book on my desk at home. Over these last few weeks, I have day dreamed about the day I would finally be able to read for enjoyment and crochet to my little heart's content.

Well, my friends, that day has finally come! Yesterday, while watching White Christmas and drinking homemade chai with my parents, I started making myself a pair of gray and mustard yellow slippers. I also used hemp for the bottom so I can wear them outside. I got the pattern from my cousin Becky and I'm very happy with the way they turned out.

Note to all crocheters out there: crocheting with hemp HURTS! My hands are rubbed raw...and they smell bad...but it was worth it! :)

Here they are:

Please excuse my "winter" legs...you should all just be happy it's no longer "No Shave November" :)

Merry Christmas Break, everyone!

grace and peace,

Mair

Doodle of the Week

I haven't blessed my readers with one of my lovely doodles in a while, and since my mom loves them so much, I decided to give you a few:

As I sit down to write my 10 page paper for this Shakespeare class, I wonder if my professor would allow my doodles to make an appearance alongside my paragraphs full of literary and Shakespearean genius... probably not.

It's the week before finals and I've been feeling the pressure. Yikes! I have this picture hanging up right next to my desk to help encourage me as I try to conquer the mountain of books, portfolios, and papers I have to complete.

A constant reminder that everything will get done and worrying about it won't help.

For Pete's Sake!

grace and peace,

Mair

Stars Hollow

Last night I went back to Plattsmouth to work at the Riverhouse, the soda fountain where I have been employed for the past two years. Plattsmouth was celebrating Christmas in the annual "Christmas on Main" festival complete with a visit from Father Christmas, carriage rides, Christmas tree lighting, carolers, and even reindeer. Everything had a Victorian theme, including my uniform for the night. My fellow "soda jerks," as we're sometimes called, lost the quaint 50's soda fountain facade and donned maid uniforms from the Victorian era. It was so much fun.

Me, Jennifer, and Krista in our Victorian get-up

The whole evening reminded me of the setting for the show Gilmore Girls: Stars Hollow. It's a quirky small town with the frequent strange festival where everyone dresses up, comes out to the town square, and enjoys the festive spirit. Although a little strange, everyone secretly loves it. That's how I felt last night. Plattsmouth even has a Taylor Doose...his name is Charles.

Stars Hollow

Today, the Wolfe family is putting up their Christmas tree and getting the house ready for the holidays. It's going to be fun!

grace and peace,

Mair

I am Thankful

I'm going to end my week of thankfulness with words from my favorite hymn.

I think it's a perfect end to an amazing week full of answered prayers:

Great is thy faithfulness

Oh God my father

There is no shadow of turning with thee

Thou changest not

Thy compassions they fail not

As thou hast been

Thou forever will be

Summer and Winter

Springtime and harvest

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join in all nature in manifold witness

To thy great faithfulness

Mercy and love

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness

Lord unto me

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide

Your strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

Blessings all mine with ten thousand aside

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning

New mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness

Lord unto me

Great is thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning my morning new mercies I see

New mercies I see

All I have needed thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness

Lord unto me

I AM THANKFUL!!!

grace and peace,

Mair

I am Thankful

For hankies...if you know me well, you know that my eyes water ALL. THE. TIME. I have to carry a kleenex with me where ever I go or use my sleeve to wipe away the tears running down my face every time I go outside. After a day in my pocket, the kleenex starts to disintegrate and leave traces of white fuzzies in my eyelashes.

SO. My wonderful cousin Missy started using hankies when her allergies got bad because:

• They are adorable
• They are soft and don't hurt your nose
• They are GREEN!

Today we went shopping for hankies and this is what I got:

I can't wait to use them!

I AM THANKFUL: for hankies! Instead of being annoyed by my watery eyes, I will be excited to use my old-fashioned, vintage hankie.

Thanks, Missy!

grace and peace,

Mair

I am Thankful

After yesterday, I am SO thankful for food. What would I do without it!?

This week, God reminded me of the importance of family... immediate and extended. I am so blessed with a group of people, down here in Kansas, who are both my brothers and sisters in Christ as well as my relatives.

Here are some pictures of yesterday's festivities:

The spread

The snacks

My aunt Jackie made a list of what we needed to make and when for Thanksgiving day. We got every thing done...a little behind schedule

THE rolls!

My cousin Marrissa and me

Why wouldn't you?!

I AM THANKFUL: for my extended family. They are all a godly influence in my life and have taught me so much about how to be a godly woman. I am so blessed to have a childhood full of hilarious memories of them and now, God has used them to teach me about Him.

grace and peace,

Mair

I am Thankful

We have so much to be thankful for. SO MUCH! Blogging only seven times about what I'm thankful for would never cover all the blessing I have been given throughout my life.

We serve an amazing God who gives us so much more than we deserve. He provides for our needs, gives us His strength when we need it most, gives us grace, peace, and wisdom. Most importantly, He gave us the ability to spend eternity with Him in heaven by sending His son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for OUR sins. We only have to believe in Him and trust Him fully with our lives. There's no greater gift than that, my friends.

I AM THANKFUL: for my salvation. For knowing that I have the Creator of the universe living inside of me. He wants to use ME to further His Kingdom and to do His work.

Remember to give thanks for God's gifts to us.

grace and peace,

Mair

I am Thankful

Here is my family's Christmas card picture from last year:

But wait! This is just too stuffy...and very unWolfe like.

That's more like it!

I AM THANKFUL: for my family. My mom, dad, brother Brian, and my sister Caitie. Each one of them has helped me grow closer to my Savior and each has provided me with more wonderful memories than I can count. I love them all!

grace and peace,

Mair

I am Thankful

Here's a picture of my beautiful friend Sam, my beautiful sister Caitie, and me at our friend Kristina's wedding. It was so great to be together:

For the rest of the week (hopefully everyday...we'll see) I'm going to be posting things that I am thankful for. Here's the first one.

I AM THANKFUL: for these two girls. They've been in my life for...my entire life and God has blessed me with their friendship. I love them both!

grace and peace,

Mair

Doodle of the Week

These three doodles are from a few months ago.

First, I call this one "Cup o' Joe:"

This one is called "Davey Jones' Locker:"

And this little gem is titled "What You Should be on Black Friday:"

Thanksgiving is getting closer and closer!

grace and peace,

Mair

Christmas List

My mom usually asks for our Christmas lists around this time of the year. This gets me excited because it means Christmas is quickly approaching! It also means that I have to remember all of the things I've wanted all year.

Throughout the year, while shopping, I will think to myself, "Self, this would be a wonderful thing to put on your Christmas list. Don't forget!" When the time comes to actually make the list, I've usually forgotten everything I was supposed to remember!

I think I've done a pretty good job of remembering things for this year's list:

I've even included some visual aids...so we don't have a repeat of last year's "miscommunication." I put a super cute rainbow cardigan from Forever 21 on my list last year and on Christmas morning I opened up this little beauty:

Yes, visual aids are good things.

Don't forget to think about all the blessings you've been given and be THANKFUL!

grace and peace,

Mair

Minty Green

I hope you enjoy the following pictures of a very lovely color:

This is the day that the Lord has made...rejoice and be glad in it!

grace and peace,

Mair

Doodle of the Week

Christmas is right around the corner...and so is the Wolfe family annual ski trip! Here's my rendition of my expert skiing abilities (ha!) :

With Christmas comes finals...and A LOT of work. Sorry if the posts are few and far between for the next few weeks. I've started making my "To Do" list today and I've been reminded of all the projects, papers, research, and presentations I have yet to finish (or even start.)

Remember that the Lord keeps His promises; every single one of them! We can put our hope in Him.

grace and peace,

Mair

Good bye, old friend

I have been using the same blue, Jansport back pack for 8 years now. It has carried my books from junior high all the way to my third year of college. It has endured just about everything a back pack should...even getting an entire can of sardine juice poured on top of it (thanks, grandpa)

On Friday, the zipper finally broke on my trusty haversack. I figured it was time to give in and move on to bigger and better things.

So good bye, my faithful companion. You have held my books through thick and thin...even though I've moved on, you will always hold my heart.

Here are me and the new North Face replacement on our first day of school together:

Have a good week everyone!

grace and peace,

Mair