In the bleak midwinter

{wonderland photo contest}

{a ray of sunshine}

{linking up: shutter happy}

{cookie cutter color contest}

{lucia, etc.}

{linking up: discover captivating}

A new day, a new design

Hi folks! So this is currently my new winter design. As you can see I'm still in the process of changing and updating my blog, so comments are welcome. :) I'd like to try to step up my design a little more, and also tell you guys a little more about who I am, so as you're not left in the dark on that line. I'll be starting a faq page, so ask away!! I'll be working on my other pages as well so be sure to stop by soon to check them out.

Until next time,
--Carli

p.s. we got snow this morning (yep, I'm super excited)! Wintery post will be coming up.

A very...

To you!!

--Carli              

25 things

1. Blue skies
2. morning coffee
3. presents piled under the tree
4. the Christmas story according Luke
5. old Christmas photos
6. journal pages full of scribbled characters
7. Christmas cards lining the window sill
8. long dark evenings
9. sliver moons
10. cinnamon rolls waiting in the freezer
11. seeing my breath in the air
12. Christmas music
13. a plate of cookies from a thoughtful neighbor
14. paper snowflakes on the windows
15. old christmas tv show episodes
16. candy canes
17. morning frost
18. crystal clear stars
19. candles
20. singing carols together
21. making Christmas cards
22. finding pictures you didn't realize you had
23. poetry inspiration
24. winning my first photo contest
25. chatting with a good friend

So this is my list. 25 things that make me happy.

--Carli

post credit via Jocee

'Round the Christmas tree

So it seems that all I've been snapping is the Christmas tree. I guess I just figured that if I can't stay away, I might as well give in and make the best of it. What else is more fitting for Christmastime, anyway??

{Christmas link-up}

{Love, Christmas}

{my favorite ornament}

I love Christmastime. This ornament has always been one of my favorites. Partly because it is unique, partly because it hold so many memories. My mom and I bought it in a little shop downtown, many years ago. It was a tiny shop that sold many nick-nacks from different countries. I loved that shop. I think we probably spent hours in there. When my Mom came upon this little ornament, she smiled and began to reminiscing about Childhood years when she received a ornament just like this one. Whenever I look at this on the Christmas tree it reminds me of past Christmases and old memories.

A Week's worth of pictures

This past week has been a busy one; finishing the last week of school, waiting for Christmas, snapping pictures in my spare time, and dreaming of a white Christmas. I think that's all I'll have this year...just a dream of a white Christmas. No snow is forthcoming this year. The landscape is grey and bare. 

 sooc shot {Beloved Star}

 sooc shot {Beloved Star}

sooc shot (slightly cropped)

The neighbors got a new car. Isn't the color lovely? 

 sooc shot

 

 sooc shot

I'm convinced that there is nothing more lovely than frost on fall leaves.

 sooc shot

 sooc shot

The few colorful leaves still left.  And such color!

 sooc shot

--Carli Nicole                 

'Round the Christmas Tree

So it seems that I I've been snapping is the Christmas tree. I guess I just figured that if I can't stay away, I might as well give in and make the best of it. What else is more fitting for Christmastime, anyway??

Snow!

 Look up....

From bleakening hills
Blows down the light, first breath
Of wintry wind...look up, and scent
The snow!

Adelaide Crapsey

--Carli Nicole                                                                

ps. how do you like the new design??

Echoes of Yesterday (part i)

So I am going to start this irregular series about special memories of growing up, "Echoes of Yesterday". In 'irregular', I mean this will not be a weekly or monthly post, it will be something I will write whenever I remember something special about the 'old days'.

   You could say I grew up in the mountains, because although we lived on flat land, and we had neighbors close by, every way you could look there were mountains.

{via}

I spent many years in that place, before we moved away. That place will always be special to me, however far away I am. There was always something comforting about looking up, and seeing those blue peaks rising above the forest. Some sort of protection, I guess. Whenever I was lonely and afraid, when life was changing so fast I couldn't keep up, I would see 'my mountain' standing there, ever steady, unchanging and it was always comforting. I remember some mornings I would wake to see the mountain covered in fog. Daddy would always tease me that 'a big truck had come and taken the mountain away', but soon the fog would clear, and there would stand my beloved mountain, more beautiful than ever.

Musings

It was one of those mornings. The morning you crawl out of bed, drowsily shower and dress, and step outside into the frozen air. With the camera. 

It was then I started musing, pondering life as we know it. For teens, who like me, have grown up in solid Christian homes, the gospel, and the knowledge of Christ's life is often taken for granted.

We've heard it all our lives, and it becomes something that we pass off without much thought. But have you ever thought what it would be like without the gospel? Without hope?

 

Has it ever occurred to you, that there are people all around you living in darkness without the hope or love or God? That every day--every hour--every minute, thousands of people are dying without Christ?

Have you thought that maybe, just maybe, that cool, confident girl that always bothers you so much is really searching--starving for the love of God, for forgiveness, for peace? Have you ever wondered if there is something you should do about that?

I think that a lot of times we forget that God has called us to be lights in the world around us. We forget that all around us are people that are living in darkness and sin, needy for salvation and forgiveness. We forget that it is our duty to share with the them, the salvation that God has so graciously given to us. 

And so I challenge you, take a minute to remember all that Christ has given you. And remember those around you, lost and broken, some never having heard the saving gospel of Christ...Remember your responsibility to share what God has given you.

--Carli

p.s. Check out the lovely giveaways, here, here, and here!