Contest: The 12 Days of Gingerbread Shoppe Christmas!

Here's the deal fellow Bloggers, Facebook-ers, and Tweeters! 

I am participating in a Christmas craft show called 

The Gingerbread Shoppe on December 12th from 2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. 

There are over 15 vendors participating and we are coming together 

to give away one 

GIGANTIC PRIZE for whoever helps spread the information about 
The Gingerbread Shoppe!


The AMAZING PRIZE includes:
-A Scentsy Plug-In Warmer
-A Willow House set of 4 Tuscan Tumblers (value of $36!)
-A  White Chocolate Peppermint Instant Manicure from BeautiControl
-A $30 gift certificate to Premier Designs!

*Winner will be chosen at random, but participants can play all day long for 12 straight days 
(max. 24 times a day; one post per hour will count)! 


Directions as follows:

The contest is starting on December 1st, you need to post the following
 (has to be this exact):

Visit The Gingerbread Shoppe on December 12th, 2:00-8:00 p.m.! 
http://angelanixon.blogspot.com/2010/11/gingerbread-shoppe_29.html

to your Facebook, Twitter and/or Blog and comment on THIS POST each time to let us know you are participating. 
The comment on this post should look like this:

NAME, OUTLET, TIME. 

Example: Angela Nixon, Facebook, Twitter, and my blog, 1:30 p.m.

Every time you post the above information and comment on 
THIS BLOG POST 

 you will increase your chances of winning the gift basket (only one post per hour will count)! 

You will have 12 days to do this: 
From December 1st through December 12th 
(contest ends at noon on the 12th). 

We are calling this 

"The 12 Days of Gingerbread Shoppe Christmas"! 

The winner will be posted at the Gingerbread Shoppe! 

So, on December 1st, get to it!!! If you have any questions, you can also post them to the comments below. If you have any trouble posting, please email me at angelanixon@mac.com

The Gingerbread Shoppe!

Play our contest here:

 http://angelanixon.blogspot.com/2010/11/contest-12-days-of-gingerbread-shoppe.html

Need those last minute gifts? 

Haven't wrapped your presents? 

Want to get a family or children's photograph with Santa for free? 

Want to win a fabulous prize? 

Then join us for a day of fun and frolicking! Over 12 vendors available to suite your fancies. Bring gifts from home to have wrapped (donations accepted) while you peruse the shoppe. Santa will be present from 2pm- 5pm, so bring your camera and take your photographs. Many vendors are making cash donations to JDRF and Belize, so stop by and see what specials are being offered. Men, Women, Teens and Children are all welcome!

Pre-purchase to have available for pick-up too!

How to get to The Gingerbread Shoppe: Directions from I-40, exit Canada Road, left on overpass, right at Waffle House (Huff and Puff Rd), left on Seed Tick, right on Gillespie Oak Drive. The clubhouse is conveniently located on your right. Parking and entry provided free of charge.

See below for the vendors and their special offers for the one day only shopping extravaganza!!!

*****************************************

Premier Designs Jewelry 

(trendy, fashion jewelry)

angelanixon@mac.com

 Book a home show at The Gingerbread Shoppe and receive $15 off your purchase 

(Show day only)

Buy 3 items, get 4th item half off (lowest priced item)! 

*********************************************************************

Mary Claire White 

(tutus, headbands, soaps) 

http://etsy.com/shop/maryclaire

********************************************

Willow House 

(food, drinks, home decor, kitchen)

http://myjobsaparty.willowhouse.com/

myjobsaparty@gmail.com

Shelly Cheng Design Director; Willow House is a company that just began this year and features the well known Gail Pittman pottery, Mario Batali kitchenware and many known magazines. We offer the opportunity for one to learn how to decorate your home, set-up a buffet table, entertain with ease and so much more. Our product line has a little something for everyone. Whether you like to cook or not OR whether you like to party or not...we are here to help! Gorgeous home decor and quality kitchen tools will make your entertaining a breeze! Shop online and have everything delivered to you or a gift recipient. Weekly specials and an outlet just waiting for you!

Specials: Spend $40, get another item up to $40 for 1/2 price!

Donations: Purchase Roxy the Reindeer Ornament for $10.96 and $2 will be donated to JDRF (Juvenille Diabetes Research Foundation)

*****************************************************

Thirty-One Gifts 

(bags, purses, scarves, baskets and more) 

http://www.mythirtyone.com/julibowen 

imblessed2bme@gmail.com 

*****************************************

Scentsy

http://kristinatubinis.scentsy.us/ 

Click “Pre-order for The Gingerbread Shoppe” tab

Kristina@hopepres.com

Come visit the Scentsy booth and enter to win a Gingerbread Full-Size Warmer!!!

********************************************

Cross Your Heart and Hope Designs

(antique windows, barnwood and canvas) 

http://www.crossyourheartandhopedesigns.com/

nicumom@yahoo.com

************************************************************

Silpada Designs

(sterling silver jewelry)

Giving away a free pair of earrings to anyone that books a party in January. 

Plus Silpada will be giving $100 in free jewelry in the 

month of January to any qualified party!

***********************************************************************

What a Hoot!

(owl bags and purses) 

imblessed2bme@gmail.com 

**********************************************

BeautiControl 

 (bath & body, spa, cosmetics, facial treatments)

SPA and image company...

We carry anti-aging treatments, cosmetics, personalized skin care 

and a unique line of spa quality body treatments!

*********************************************************

Creative Memories 

(scrapbooking, cardmaking) 

www.mycmsite.com/jeangaither

gaithe_j@bellsouth.net

Jean Gaither is starting her 7th year as an Independent Consultant for Creative Memories. She offers great idea's to save your family's memories by offering traditional scrapbooks, digital books, preservation and organization for all those photos in boxes and bags all over your house. Just contact her and she can set aside a time to meet with  you and address your photo needs. She will be at The Gingerbread Shoppe and would love to meet you!

********************************************

Swanky Aprons 

(vintage style aprons) 

http://www.swankyaprons.com/ 

jamie@swankyaprons.com

**********************************************************

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE! 

Oh, how life changes!

I never would have thought this time last year that Grant and I would have Maksim this year! How amazing!!! I am excited for the holidays. I think I have bought Maks 6 Christmas outfits so far. Pics to come! Have I mentioned that I love being a mother. 

Here's a picture of my happy baby!

This was when my sister, Kristina was baby sitting him and had him propped up on a pillow playing and watching tv. 

Tomorrow Maks will be 12 weeks old!!! I can't believe how time has flown by! Grant tried him out in his Bumbo the other day...I don't think he knows if he likes it yet: 

I have started putting him in his Bumbo and bringing him into the bathroom with me while I get ready. As long as I talk to him, he seems to be ok! 

We are about to venture to Aunt Amanda and Uncle Michael's house this week for Thanksgiving. Funny how much changes with your packing list from when it was just Grant and I:

TONS of outfits! Including Christmas outfits

Shoes (pretty much for looks)

Socks

Diapers

Wipes

Pack 'N Play (for sleeping)

Play Gym

Bumbo

Bath (maybe, maybe not?)

Sling for Mom's ease

Stroller

Heavy Blankets for sleeping

Hats

Pack 'n play cover

Changing pads

....and I am sure I am forgetting something...just funny how life changes...I am thankful!

Questions?

This is from Grant's sermon from his Saturday Night service. The sermon "series" is questions where people from our service text, email or send him questions and he researches them with the Bible and talks on that.

This was the first week of the series so he started by talking about the way to question God. He started by saying as kids we all asked "why, why, why???" all the time but as we grew up, it seems that most adults quit asking questions out of embarrassment that we should know things and so when it comes to being a follower of Jesus we all want to look like we have it all together and that we don't struggle and wrestle with doubt.

He said we are broken and messed up people and if we weren't then Christ died in vain. He used Galatians 2: 21 and Philippians 2:12-13 to support this:

"I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose" -Galatians 2:21

It is a process: "Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" Philippians 2:12-13

It's only by seeking knowledge that we gain it.

It is by thinking that we glorify God: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." (emphasis mine)

Some of us think we can't question God or bother him with our questions and if we do then we are wrong. He is our father who is always there to answer our questions. To be honest with God, we must be honest when we doubt. Do we think God can't handle it? Job 38:44: "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding"

When we bring our questions to God we must do it humbly. David's questions vs. Jobs. In Job 31:1-3 Job is questioning God's character, but in 1 Samuel 23, David is questioning his own understanding of God's command, but not his character.

David's correct way of questioning: Psalm 13:
He is honest (v. 1-2

He prays (v.3-4)

He trusts God's Word (v.5)

He worships God and remembers God's grace (v.6)

I encourage you to sit down with these verses as I am going to do for a few days.

On another note, I am involved in a vendor show/craft show where I will have a booth for my Premier Designs jewelry! Here is the information. Check back on my blog for a way to win some AMAZING giveaways!!! Santa will be here!!! (Bring your camera for free pictures!...donations accepted to raise money for missions) and they will be wrapping presents there as well (also, donations accepted). I am sooo super excited about this! See here (click on the image to see larger):

The Kindness of a Stranger

Yesterday was a doozie of a day! Who says "doozie" anymore? But, it did make you smile, right? Ha!


My day started out with a flat tire! UUGH! 

I was on my way to work and stopped at Walgreens to pick up the latest edition of Weight Watchers magazine because I had thumbed through it at a doctors office and saw some AMAZING recipes! BTW, Weight Watchers and Domino are/were my favorite magazines. Domino was an interior design magazine that stopped printing. Bummer. They do have a book out though (I have talked about it before on my blog...btw, still don't have it...Christmas present for me, anyone? HINT, HINT): 

Back to my day...man! I get sidetracked easily!!! So, I pulled into Walgreens and got the magazine and pulled out and I feel my tire was flat. My Dad was JUST telling me to check my tires! He really does know what he's talking about. He always used to say: "One day you are going to grow up and understand" and I have! Some things are still yet to be understood, but maybe they will come to me!


On Thursdays, Grant is off of work and it's his day to watch Maks so I called him and he was going to have to pack up Maks (he was in a deep sleep and as soon as he was ready to wake up, it was going to be his eating time...so all that to say...not good timing to get Maks out), fix a bottle incase he screamed, and head over to change my tire...and it was cold yesterday. So, I started to clean out my trunk and get the flat out and as I got the flat out a REALLY nice older man (50's, maybe?) decided to help me. I told him my husband had the baby today and was packing him up to come help and he told me to call my husband and tell him to keep the baby inside and out of the nasty weather! Sooo nice!!! And, since I was just standing around looking dumb, he told me to not stand in the cold and sit in the car. It just takes someone that nice to make a crummy thing much better! 


I think I may have mentioned this in the last post...maybe not...but Grant and I are going to try memorizing Romans 5. We are working on verses 1 and 2 now. 

Peace with God Through Faith

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- 8 but God shows his love for us in thatwhile we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

The heading for this section in my version is "right with God" and as I was reading it, it kind of renewed in me a thankfulness for what Jesus did for us. It says we have peace with God through Jesus and through him we have access by faith to God. Verse 6 says "When we were unable to help ourselves, at the right time, Christ died for us, although we were living against God". "At the right time" stood out to me. Everything is planned and orchestrated by God in his timing. 

Verse 7 says that very few people will die for someone else (I am paraphrasing big time) but the way that God showed how much he loved us was by giving up his son to die! That's shocking because now, if someone asked me to give up Maksim to save someone else...I honestly don't think I could. It just shows how amazing God is. This parent thing puts a lot of other areas of my life in perspective as well.

And, last but not least, my friend, Candace, and I are going through "Believing God" by Beth Moore and here are a few highlights from the second chapter...this should wet your appetite for wanting to read the book:

Why isn't our present practice of Christianity working, and why don't we see more of God's promises fulfilled?

You and I can be safely tucked in the family of God and have full assurance of heavenly inheritance without ever occupying the land of God's fulfilled promises on earth. We can completely miss our earthly destinies, and our carcasses, too, can fall in the wilderness.

So basically, we would be Christians just getting by...I don't want to do that! I want to make it to my Canaan on the way!

The reason most of our present belief systems aren't working is because they are big on systems and small on belief.

Satan cannot touch God, so he does everything he can to get to His heart by getting to His children. "For whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye" Zech. 2:8

Having believed in Christ, we've been called to continue believing all He came to do and say!!!

Nothing on earth compares to the strength God is willing to interject into lives caught in the act of believing.

Oh, Beth...you've struck a cord again!!! :) 

John Piper & Scripture Memorization - Sermon Jam

T-Minus 10 Days!

T-Minus 10 Days until Thanksgiving! I love the holidays! I love what they mean as a family and I love what the next day means...Time to put up Christmas decorations and a TREE!!! And, I just couldn't wait any longer to update my blog...plus, I have been having complaints that the last blog was hard to read color wise.


We had a little pre-Thanksgiving fun at our 2nd (maybe 3rd) Annual Bible Study Thanksgiving! Here's a picture of our spread! Wonderful!!! Mike fried a turkey (well, two actually) and I must have forgot how good it was the year before because it was sooo yummy! We had plenty of desserts and the traditional stuffing, corn casserole, Sister Shubert rolls...yum!

And, I am so excited about this next picture! Since the kids in our group are beginning to out number the adults (ok...might be exaggerating a LITTLE here) we have to start thinking of ideas to keep the kids entertained so both The Eptings and us had brought our kids play gym's and we thought it would be cute to let them "play" together under one! It was so cute seeing both play gym's set up...Izzy's is all girly and pink and Maks' is blue and green like a sweet boy! Anyways...enough making you wait...here it is and please notice that they have their arms interlocked...It wasn't on purpose, obviously, but still... So CUTE! Maks' onesie says "Give Peas a Chance" and the pea is throwing up a peace sign...too cute, right?

Maks and I managed to get a picture together but Grant, Maks and I haven't all had a picture together since he was born! I hope to have Jolaura take our Christmas card pictures sooner than later so hopefully we will have some good family portraits to show!

Lately, I think the Lord knew I needed some encouragement to read his Word more and stop making him so low on my totem pole. Grant challenged me with starting to memorize Romans chapter 5, so we are starting today with verses 1 and 2: 

We had a bible study with a group in Tipton County last night and I am reviewing the notes today. Grant said this and it stuck with me: "We are people who have been forgiven and we are people who need to learn to forgive". Our bible study last night ended up being all women and Grant teaching and Grant was talking about forgiveness and how everyone says "forgive and forget" but how we never truly "forget". But, he read another definition for the word forget that meant "Treat with thoughtless inattention or neglect". So when we say forgive and forget, we need to think of this definition because it's honestly impossible to "forget". Some of the ladies talked about their hurt and how it's hard to forgive. It was encouraging to talk about all of that and get a reminder that you are not alone.

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" Ephesians 4:32

Grant also talked about how one thing our pediatrician told us which has stuck with him and can be applied to our walks with Christ was this: Take it one day at a time.

With our Christian walks we need to take it one day at a time like Jesus said to take up your cross daily...take it day by day.