Shenandoah - Peter Hollens (A cappella)

hhhhhhhhhhhh

I'm so excited about 2014. My family is planning a vacation in the Carolina mountains when summer break begins, and I am so excited! After all, it'll be the first real summer roadtrip we've all taken in years lol.  This song is so beautiful, and it reminded me of how much I miss and love the mountains. I encourage you to watch--it's really worth it!

Happy Friday,

Leah A.

Christmas poem: "Not Only On Christmas Day"

"Lord, this is my prayer
Not only on Christmas Day
But until I see You face to face
May I live my life this way:

Just like the baby Jesus
I ever hope to be,
Resting in Your loving arms
Trusting in Your sovereignty.

And like the growing Christ child
In wisdom daily learning,
May I ever seek to know You
With my mind and spirit yearning.

Like the Son so faithful
Let me follow in Your light,
Meek and bold, humble and strong
Not afraid to face the night.

Nor cowardly to suffer
And stand for truth alone,
Knowing that Your kingdom
Awaits my going home.

Not afraid to sacrifice
Though great may be the cost,
Mindful how You rescued me
From broken-hearted loss.

Like my risen Savior
The babe, the child, the Son,
May my life forever speak
Of who You are and all You've done.

So while this world rejoices
And celebrates Your birth,
I treasure You, the greatest gift
Unequaled in Your worth.

I long to hear the same words
That welcomed home Your Son,
"Come, good and faithful servant,"
Your Master says, "Well done."

And may heaven welcome others
Who will join with me in praise
Because I lived for Jesus Christ
Not only Christmas Day" 

~ Mary Fairchild

The day after Christmas!

Merry post-Christmas day! (just had to say it lol) 

I trust you had a fantastic Christmas, full of family and friends and joyous blessings. My family had a great Christmas! What did we do differently? Well, for the first time in years, we all got up at a decent hour and made an unbelievably scrumptious breakfast, with Belgian waffles, bacon, fruit, scrambled eggs, coffee, and hot tea. It was really nice to have great grandmother Callis' vintage lace tablecloth spread on the big kitchen table. Sunbeams from the unveiled windows caught the room in their rays, lighting up dark corners and shining on all eight of us. 

Afterwards we opened presents (and the joy at each gift was amazing). God is the author of gift-giving, because of how He gave His only Son for us on that first Christmas. Sitting there in the living room, watching with rapt attention as each person received a gift from another, really reminded me of the importance of both giving, and also, receiving. I got:

~ A couple pairs of fluffy socks and gift cards (from mom and dad)

~ A Tuscan Hills lavender spa set (from my oldest sister and her husband)

~ Vera Wang slippers (mom)

~ An adorable purse-sized organizer (designed by nature artist Marjolein Bastin)

And other really sweet things I love <3 p="">

Later my grandparents had dinner with us, and we gave them their gifts. Basically after 8pm everything wrapped up, and Christmas day ended...I think it was one of the best ones we've ever had, somehow. =)

What did you enjoy this Christmas? 

~ Leah A.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Hi lovelies!

Whew a long time has passed since my last post! The primary reason for this, is because I became a full-time University student (after a 3 year absence from college), studying Art Education to become an art teacher and maybe a writer/book illustrator. I've been so wrapped up in classwork I could not keep the blog going. But God's Daughter has been on my mind, as well as you readers (who I appreciate so much!) Now that Christmas and the New Year is near, I'm reconnecting.

I hope to meet more fellow bloggers and writers this month and in 2014! Thank you for the blog recommendations I received from you guys during fall semester! A huge part of reconnecting to God's Daughter, for me, is connecting and sharing with you, my fellow bloggers. So thank you!

God bless,

Leah A.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

~ Romans  2:10