Author: vanessa joie

advent conspiracy

December 6, 2008

My friend mentioned this on Facebook so I looked it up. It’s pretty neat! It sort of goes with my Grinch-y post a few days ago. Things have been pretty crazy for my family over the last year and I just don’t want Christmas to get lost in that craze. I really want to make this Christmas special so I’ve been looking for ideas. I like the concept behind Advent Conspiracy. Check it out!

Christmas can (still) change the world.

“The story of Christ’s birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love.

So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists.

And when it’s all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose. Is this what we really want out of Christmas?

What if Christmas became a world-changing event again?”

The concept behind Advent Conspiracy is simple:

♥ Worship Fully
(It starts with Jesus. It ends with Jesus)

♥ Spend less
(We’re asking people to consider buying ONE LESS GIFT this Christmas. Just one.)

♥ Give more
(God’s gift to us was a relationship built on love.)

♥ Love all
(When Jesus loved, He loved in ways never imagined. Though rich, he became poor to love the poor, the forgotten, the overlooked and the sick.)

“Nobody wants a Christmas worth forgetting”

(read more here)

I love Christmas!

advent conspiracy

December 6, 2008

My friend mentioned this on Facebook so I looked it up. It’s pretty neat! It sort of goes with my Grinch-y post a few days ago. Things have been pretty crazy for my family over the last year and I just don’t want Christmas to get lost in that craze. I really want to make this Christmas special so I’ve been looking for ideas. I like the concept behind Advent Conspiracy. Check it out!

Christmas can (still) change the world.

“The story of Christ’s birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love.

So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists.

And when it’s all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose. Is this what we really want out of Christmas?

What if Christmas became a world-changing event again?”

The concept behind Advent Conspiracy is simple:

♥ Worship Fully
(It starts with Jesus. It ends with Jesus)

♥ Spend less
(We’re asking people to consider buying ONE LESS GIFT this Christmas. Just one.)

♥ Give more
(God’s gift to us was a relationship built on love.)

♥ Love all
(When Jesus loved, He loved in ways never imagined. Though rich, he became poor to love the poor, the forgotten, the overlooked and the sick.)

“Nobody wants a Christmas worth forgetting”

(read more here)

I love Christmas!

turn and face the strange changes

December 4, 2008

1. I’m changing my phone number.
I hate this. It is the most annoying thing in the whole world to change your number. But the list of wrong numbers I get is out of control. Today I got: 1 call for Savannah Commons, 1 call for Jane Smith, 2 calls for Angela, and 1 call for Lance. Yesterday I got a call for Amber Franklin. The day before that I got 2 calls for her. The day before that I got 4 (grr!) calls for Savannah Commons. On Sunday I got 3 calls for Jane Smith. Most of these seem like they are real people and not telemarketers but still. I want my phone back!!

2. I’m changing my blogger address.
Just cause. And I’m changing the layout… I just can’t decide to what.

3. I really want to change my job.
I like most of the people I work with a lot. But I am tired of getting up at the crack of dawn and the longer I am working there the more I realize it’s sort of going no where.

4. I want to change my address.
This is to be determined. I can’t help it! I like to move. Don’t judge me.

5. I’m changing my name.
Okay… maybe that’s getting carried away. :o)

the most wonderful time of the year… and i love the Grinch

December 1, 2008

… I’ve got a thing for long, rambling posts …

In light of what happened on Black Friday – craziness, greed and tragically death- and as Christmas looms ever closer I’ve been thinking a lot about Christmas. My one friend is already calling it “greed-fest 2008”. I’m sure we all, at some point, have felt the pressures of the season. I know I have. There was the time I was a broke college student and I wasn’t even sure I was going to be able to go home for Christmas. Another time I was asked at the last minute to extend my missionary service and would get home mid-February rather than December 23rd. There have been other times I’m sure.

One thing I always think about this time of year is the Grinch. Not because I’m feeling Grinch-y (I heart Christmas) but it’s a sweet story and I end up repeating the line “It came with out ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!”… over and over again. All of the presents in the world will not make Christmas any more special, just like no presents at all will not take away from it’s meaning.


…Three thousand feet up! Up the side of Mt. Crumpit, He rode with his load to the tiptop to dump it! “Pooh-Pooh to the Whos!” he was grinch-ish-ly humming. “They’re finding out now that no Christmas is coming!” “They’re just waking up! I know just what they’ll do!” “Their mouths will hang open a minute or two Then the Whos down in Who-ville will all cry Boo-Hoo!””That’s a noise,” grinned the Grinch, “That I simply MUST hear!” So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear.

And he did hear a sound rising over the snow. It started in low. Then it started to grow…

But the sound wasn’t sad! Why, this sound sounded merry! It couldn’t be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!

He stared down at Who-ville! The Grinch popped his eyes! Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!

Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, Was singing! Without any presents at all!

He HADN’T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so? It came with out ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!” And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! “Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.” “Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”

And what happened then…? Well…in Who-ville they say That the Grinch’s small heart Grew three sizes that day!


And the minute his heart didn’t feel quite so tight, He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light And he brought back the toys! And the food for the feast! And he…

…HE HIMSELF…! The Grinch carved the roast beast!

the most wonderful time of the year… and i love the Grinch

December 1, 2008

… I’ve got a thing for long, rambling posts …

In light of what happened on Black Friday – craziness, greed and tragically death- and as Christmas looms ever closer I’ve been thinking a lot about Christmas. My one friend is already calling it “greed-fest 2008”. I’m sure we all, at some point, have felt the pressures of the season. I know I have. There was the time I was a broke college student and I wasn’t even sure I was going to be able to go home for Christmas. Another time I was asked at the last minute to extend my missionary service and would get home mid-February rather than December 23rd. There have been other times I’m sure.

One thing I always think about this time of year is the Grinch. Not because I’m feeling Grinch-y (I heart Christmas) but it’s a sweet story and I end up repeating the line “It came with out ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!”… over and over again. All of the presents in the world will not make Christmas any more special, just like no presents at all will not take away from it’s meaning.


…Three thousand feet up! Up the side of Mt. Crumpit, He rode with his load to the tiptop to dump it! “Pooh-Pooh to the Whos!” he was grinch-ish-ly humming. “They’re finding out now that no Christmas is coming!” “They’re just waking up! I know just what they’ll do!” “Their mouths will hang open a minute or two Then the Whos down in Who-ville will all cry Boo-Hoo!””That’s a noise,” grinned the Grinch, “That I simply MUST hear!” So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear.

And he did hear a sound rising over the snow. It started in low. Then it started to grow…

But the sound wasn’t sad! Why, this sound sounded merry! It couldn’t be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!

He stared down at Who-ville! The Grinch popped his eyes! Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!

Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, Was singing! Without any presents at all!

He HADN’T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so? It came with out ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!” And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! “Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.” “Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”

And what happened then…? Well…in Who-ville they say That the Grinch’s small heart Grew three sizes that day!


And the minute his heart didn’t feel quite so tight, He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light And he brought back the toys! And the food for the feast! And he…

…HE HIMSELF…! The Grinch carved the roast beast!

old school

November 30, 2008

Michele, Brandy, me

The day after Thanksgiving I got together with two old friends- Michele and Brandy. We met a Paula’s Pancake House for a yummy breakfast and to catch up. I haven’t been to Paula’s in years. I ordered Danish pancakes, scrambled eggs, Danish sausage and orange juice. Way too much food but so good. Even better was seeing friends that I hadn’t seen in years and years. They have matching sunglasses, I have crazy hair.

Oh and Thanksgiving with my family was pretty fun too.

old school

November 30, 2008

Michele, Brandy, me

The day after Thanksgiving I got together with two old friends- Michele and Brandy. We met a Paula’s Pancake House for a yummy breakfast and to catch up. I haven’t been to Paula’s in years. I ordered Danish pancakes, scrambled eggs, Danish sausage and orange juice. Way too much food but so good. Even better was seeing friends that I hadn’t seen in years and years. They have matching sunglasses, I have crazy hair.

Oh and Thanksgiving with my family was pretty fun too.