I start to listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving.. or the day AFTER (I have not decided what I like best). However, after Christmas I start to miss Christmas.. every year it passes too quickly no matter how much time I try to take to enjoy it. So, here is a Christmas song from Harvest that I keep listening to! They have more if you like this one :)
All the Poor and Powerless from Harvest Bible Chapel on Vimeo.
Mike & I are very grateful for all we have received not only this Christmas but this past year God has blessed us beyond what we could imagine/pray for! We are both employed, enjoy our jobs, have each other, our health, our families, a home, and a church family that we continue to grow and learn from! Often at this time of year people go the route of "new years resolutions" but what I like better is looking back on the previous year and pick 2/3 lessons God has taught me...
Stay tuned!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Christmas :)
Mikes & My Christmas Season in photos..
I decided to be a bit crafty and make Santa Hat trail mix for gifts this year :)
Our tree :)
The only time in December that it has snowed so far :( I love snow in December, on Christmas Eve & Morning... but this year it just did not come.. it doesn't look like snow anytime soon either..oh well! (they say this will be the worst winter yet.. are we in for another 2 footer??)
One of the pretty houses in the Sauganash nieghborhood. We had dinner with Mikes Grandma Jo and she took us through the neighborhood afterwards. I LOVED it! We took Kyla back a couple weeks later!
Our Home
Just about 1/2 of the sweets we received this season...
Us on Christmas morning!
A secret about me.. I love stuffed animals. Im not sure 100% why! Anyway, Mike is the BEST husband because he puts up with my ridiculous love for them! Best Christmas gift!
We got to stop by a manger with live animals.. reminded us of the first Christmas, the reason we all celebrate - Jesus Birth!
Katie & Jared (Mikes sister & her husband) came in for Christmas this year. This is their second child, Ellyanah! This was our first time meeting her :) She is adorable! She is only 2 1/2 months.. and the next time we see her will be in Florida when she is 9 months old! It was great to spend time with her :)
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Its the most wonderful time of the year!
I cannot believe a month has past since I last wrote in to inform you all about our life! When I look back on the month I have a couple highlights come to mind:
1. Ordering our christmas cards (you will just have to wait & see!) There is something about the season of Christmas that really makes me feel like a ten year old at heart. I swear my coworkers might think im a little strange by how much JOY I express at this time of year. Its most likely... because of Jesus :) I love that people during this time of year get to unite in a "holiday" that brought our savior into the world! Little do some people know how truly meaningful the christmas lights, trees, family gatherings and carols are! Whenever out lights come on at 5 oclock exact my heart fills with happiness and I am thankful that God has given me the gift of eternal life to be with him forever.
2. Visiting Kyla in Normal! So, Mike & I had Nick & Kara's wedding in Peoria and on our way home figured we should see kyla! We got to eat dinner, hang out and go to Fuel!
3. Thanksgiving. Cindy had the whole family over for thanksgiving this year, which was a total blessing. I am very thankful to have a family that comes together to give thanks for life, health, each other and all we are given in blessings. There is something about getting together with my family that makes me feel whole :) I do not tell all of them enough but I love them, love being around them, and wish I could see them more to built relationships!
Well that pretty much sums up November for Mike & I. He had his best month yet at Northwestern Mutual and I am very proud of him for all of his dedication, convictions and long hours he puts in. He is a man of God who cares a lot about our future, providing for me, being the leader of our household and teaching me more about Christ. I love you Mike ;)
Some small notes; I am doing a Zumba class (for sure the youngest one), mike & I knocked out all our shopping on the dreadful but wonderful black friday and I read "Longing" by Karen Kingsbury in about 8 hours :)
Have a wonderful Thursday!
Love,
Alisha
1. Ordering our christmas cards (you will just have to wait & see!) There is something about the season of Christmas that really makes me feel like a ten year old at heart. I swear my coworkers might think im a little strange by how much JOY I express at this time of year. Its most likely... because of Jesus :) I love that people during this time of year get to unite in a "holiday" that brought our savior into the world! Little do some people know how truly meaningful the christmas lights, trees, family gatherings and carols are! Whenever out lights come on at 5 oclock exact my heart fills with happiness and I am thankful that God has given me the gift of eternal life to be with him forever.
2. Visiting Kyla in Normal! So, Mike & I had Nick & Kara's wedding in Peoria and on our way home figured we should see kyla! We got to eat dinner, hang out and go to Fuel!
3. Thanksgiving. Cindy had the whole family over for thanksgiving this year, which was a total blessing. I am very thankful to have a family that comes together to give thanks for life, health, each other and all we are given in blessings. There is something about getting together with my family that makes me feel whole :) I do not tell all of them enough but I love them, love being around them, and wish I could see them more to built relationships!
Well that pretty much sums up November for Mike & I. He had his best month yet at Northwestern Mutual and I am very proud of him for all of his dedication, convictions and long hours he puts in. He is a man of God who cares a lot about our future, providing for me, being the leader of our household and teaching me more about Christ. I love you Mike ;)
Some small notes; I am doing a Zumba class (for sure the youngest one), mike & I knocked out all our shopping on the dreadful but wonderful black friday and I read "Longing" by Karen Kingsbury in about 8 hours :)
Have a wonderful Thursday!
Love,
Alisha
Monday, October 31, 2011
Pictures!
So Mike & I headed to Starved Rock right after work on Friday! Here are some pictures from the trip :)
On top of "Starved Rock" our first hike!
The French Canyon was my favorite :)
Ok, the council overhang was my favorite as well!!
ITS HUGE!
Mike played a game.. he ran & hide, then when he was ready I took a picture :) Can you find him??
It was a great weekend to relax, turn off our cell phones & have fun outside!
Today at school we had a costume contest, parade & party. The "specials force" were angry birds.......
Happy Halloween :)
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Chris Klein: Building Relationships through the Tools of Communication
So, every Friday I get to go to Easter Seals with three of our students. They all go for various reasons to get Physical Therapy! When I was there last week I saw this gentleman with his trainer. The trainer who was working with my student started telling me about him! What she was saying was incredible. He is now living alone in Holland, Michigan and is getting married. As she told me I noticed that he was opening up some early wedding gifts from his trainer (who he was visiting). I thought that I would share so you could see the amazing things I see daily working with special education students and people with exceptionalities!! Enjoy.
Monday, October 24, 2011
If your faith hasn't changed you, it hasn't saved you
Hello!
Just four more weeks until Thanksgiving break!!! I get the privilege of having the whole week off, which I am counting down the days till. Most of all I am excited to travel down to ISU for one day (to see beautiful Kyla & FUEL), go to a wedding, and spend some quality time with my family :)
Some of you know this, others do not.. that I am working as a paraprofessional in a 4th/5th grade multi needs special education classroom. I had absolutely no idea what to expect.. and that first week was rough! I was pretty sure, about 90% in fact that I was going to have to find another job. However, here I am.. what 9 weeks later still working there. The people I work with are great, open, fun, and I get along with them! In a world of special education you learn quickly to get along with others..
As I mentioned before Harvest is doing a series on change. At first, to be honest, I thought it was going to be more for "new christians" or unbelievers.. boy was I wrong!!! We have now gone over preparing to change, faulty methods of change, using only God to change us, and getting specific about our change.
My area of change happens to be spending time in the Word. I knew in my mind (1 part) that I needed to do this more, and just recently fully repented (in my heart, part 2) and am now trying to act on it! The girls in my small group are great accountability partners... and on Thursdays we all get to say how well we have done at spending time with Jesus (example: 4/7 or 7/7). It sure does make me want to get to know Jesus & the bible better... and it helps knowing were all working together! "If your faith hasn't changed you, it hasn't saved you" is a scary quote. When I heard it, I really started thinking about my own life. How I have changed over time, through my trials, through the joys.. being a Christian is not just about church on Sundays, saying the prayers, or being a nice person.
My challenge: think about what God is teaching you in your life. Where is he leading you to repentance? Are you struggling with a particular sin thats holding you back?? Do you need to confess to someone and have them help you change? Have you committed to fully changing your life for Christ (even when its hard)? Most importantly.. how has your faith changed you... not in an overall picture.. but how is God changing you now?
I have learned that I need to be truthfully repentant in my life.. since I am saved.. I am dead to sin, it has NO power over me.. and I am fully alive in Christ!! Thank God it is not about me or what I do but how Christ works in me. Its not easy trying to change but I know Christ is on my side :)
Fact: Mike is a great husband and is taking us to Starved Rock for the weekend! Pictures to come :)
Just four more weeks until Thanksgiving break!!! I get the privilege of having the whole week off, which I am counting down the days till. Most of all I am excited to travel down to ISU for one day (to see beautiful Kyla & FUEL), go to a wedding, and spend some quality time with my family :)
Some of you know this, others do not.. that I am working as a paraprofessional in a 4th/5th grade multi needs special education classroom. I had absolutely no idea what to expect.. and that first week was rough! I was pretty sure, about 90% in fact that I was going to have to find another job. However, here I am.. what 9 weeks later still working there. The people I work with are great, open, fun, and I get along with them! In a world of special education you learn quickly to get along with others..
As I mentioned before Harvest is doing a series on change. At first, to be honest, I thought it was going to be more for "new christians" or unbelievers.. boy was I wrong!!! We have now gone over preparing to change, faulty methods of change, using only God to change us, and getting specific about our change.
My area of change happens to be spending time in the Word. I knew in my mind (1 part) that I needed to do this more, and just recently fully repented (in my heart, part 2) and am now trying to act on it! The girls in my small group are great accountability partners... and on Thursdays we all get to say how well we have done at spending time with Jesus (example: 4/7 or 7/7). It sure does make me want to get to know Jesus & the bible better... and it helps knowing were all working together! "If your faith hasn't changed you, it hasn't saved you" is a scary quote. When I heard it, I really started thinking about my own life. How I have changed over time, through my trials, through the joys.. being a Christian is not just about church on Sundays, saying the prayers, or being a nice person.
My challenge: think about what God is teaching you in your life. Where is he leading you to repentance? Are you struggling with a particular sin thats holding you back?? Do you need to confess to someone and have them help you change? Have you committed to fully changing your life for Christ (even when its hard)? Most importantly.. how has your faith changed you... not in an overall picture.. but how is God changing you now?
I have learned that I need to be truthfully repentant in my life.. since I am saved.. I am dead to sin, it has NO power over me.. and I am fully alive in Christ!! Thank God it is not about me or what I do but how Christ works in me. Its not easy trying to change but I know Christ is on my side :)
Fact: Mike is a great husband and is taking us to Starved Rock for the weekend! Pictures to come :)
Monday, October 10, 2011
Repentance
Im not sure if its okay to have two posts in one day, but ill do it anyway.
Our church, Harvest Bible Chapel (the one in Rolling Meadows) is doing a series on change. I have been getting a lot out of it, especially since lately I have been feeling a little down and out.. not getting into the Word enough and not necessarily knowing where to start.
I am feeling very thankful lately for harvest, for the men & women who work so hard to keep the church running smoothly and for our friends who go there..
"True life change comes only from God and must begin with rejection of faulty self-help methods"
There are many self-help methods the world gives people to use to change, but what is the most crucial is to know that those methods will not create true, everlasting change... we wont change based only on environment, digging up the past, self-discovery, legalistic rules (hello law!), intellectual studies or doing it alone!
What I needed to know was that my problem is a heart problem (Romans 7:24 "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body?") Then I must turn to God to change my heart (Romans 7:25 Thanks be to God who delivers me!)
To do this... I must commit to full cooperation with Gods desire to transform me.. which is NOT easy! However.. God never shows us in His word that he has messed this up..
So.. here we go, unto a journey of Change! True life change that will encourage myself and Mike to really look deeper into our lives, to isolate what God wants to change in us and ask in faith that He will guide us on our new journey..
We are isolating what needs to change (Romans 14:10-12 You then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgement seat. It is written: "As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God." So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.")
To see the message from Harvest go to..
Lord Change Me, Lets get Specific
Random Fact: Tonight is Monday Night Football!! GO BEARS! Im making chili cheese dup in the crock pot (love the crock pot) which needs to be ready right about now... yikes!
Our church, Harvest Bible Chapel (the one in Rolling Meadows) is doing a series on change. I have been getting a lot out of it, especially since lately I have been feeling a little down and out.. not getting into the Word enough and not necessarily knowing where to start.
I am feeling very thankful lately for harvest, for the men & women who work so hard to keep the church running smoothly and for our friends who go there..
"True life change comes only from God and must begin with rejection of faulty self-help methods"
There are many self-help methods the world gives people to use to change, but what is the most crucial is to know that those methods will not create true, everlasting change... we wont change based only on environment, digging up the past, self-discovery, legalistic rules (hello law!), intellectual studies or doing it alone!
What I needed to know was that my problem is a heart problem (Romans 7:24 "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body?") Then I must turn to God to change my heart (Romans 7:25 Thanks be to God who delivers me!)
To do this... I must commit to full cooperation with Gods desire to transform me.. which is NOT easy! However.. God never shows us in His word that he has messed this up..
So.. here we go, unto a journey of Change! True life change that will encourage myself and Mike to really look deeper into our lives, to isolate what God wants to change in us and ask in faith that He will guide us on our new journey..
We are isolating what needs to change (Romans 14:10-12 You then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgement seat. It is written: "As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God." So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.")
To see the message from Harvest go to..
Lord Change Me, Lets get Specific
Random Fact: Tonight is Monday Night Football!! GO BEARS! Im making chili cheese dup in the crock pot (love the crock pot) which needs to be ready right about now... yikes!
Its Time!
Well, I have gone back and forth for about two years deciding the right time to start a blog. As I told Mike earlier, no not a blog that I update with the small non-monumental stuff but a blog that lets family & friends know what's going on in our lives!
So where do I start? Well, for those of you who don't know Mike and I have now been married for... dun dun dun.... 1 year, 3 months, and 28 days. Mike is working at Northwestern Mutual and is in his second full time year and I am at Schiller Park District 81 as a paraprofessional (more on this later im sure).
I really decided to start this blog after seeing some acquaintances and family members blogs... the idea of sharing bits and pieces of our hearts and lives thrills me! This may be more of a personal goal of mine... and you may get absolutely nothing out of it - but simply just the random thoughts of Alisha Lankford!
Random note of the day: I love fall. I love decorating for fall.. therefore we have about 10+ variations of pumpkins in our living room, and if you know our living room.. its tiny!
So where do I start? Well, for those of you who don't know Mike and I have now been married for... dun dun dun.... 1 year, 3 months, and 28 days. Mike is working at Northwestern Mutual and is in his second full time year and I am at Schiller Park District 81 as a paraprofessional (more on this later im sure).
I really decided to start this blog after seeing some acquaintances and family members blogs... the idea of sharing bits and pieces of our hearts and lives thrills me! This may be more of a personal goal of mine... and you may get absolutely nothing out of it - but simply just the random thoughts of Alisha Lankford!
Random note of the day: I love fall. I love decorating for fall.. therefore we have about 10+ variations of pumpkins in our living room, and if you know our living room.. its tiny!
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