Photo-a-Day + Link-up | February {week four}

ONE | Hank took this last weekend.  I love fresh snow, so I was running around in it in my bare feet, being silly. *grin*

TWO | Cat nap.

THREE | Recently discovered how awesome this is in slow cooker recipes!

FOUR | The light was so pretty in the kitchen, and I love how my puppy sticks so close to me.  Example: she's laying right behind my chair as I type. *smile*

FIVE | My sweetheart brought me chocolate after I had a long (but wonderful) day on the Open Arms Mobile Clinic.

SIX | Working on getting pictures for my laptop sleeve pattern.

SEVEN, EIGHT, & NINE | Movie night at our house (we watched The Lego Movie) began with listening to records.

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Now it's your turn!  

Post your photo-a-day pictures on your blog, then share the link in the link-y below!

Link-up Rules:

Follow my blog via GFC, Bloglovin', or email - so you can keep updated on link-up info!
Include a link to my blog in your post.

Please link to your photo post, not your blog home page.

Most of all, have fun exploring and sharing the world around you through your camera lens!

This link-y will be open until March 6th, so you have a whole week to get your post up and share your photos.

What did you do this week?  I want to know!

Pattern Testers Needed | New in the Shop

Hello lovelies!

After tossing the idea around for a while, and getting a request, I've decided to start selling the crochet pattern for my granny square laptop sleeves in my shop.  I'm really excited about this, but I need your help.

I need you to test my pattern!

The Granny Square Laptop Sleeve pattern is for a 13" computer.

The testers should have at least a basic knowledge of crochet and pattern reading.  The pattern is in basic US crochet terms.

It's an easy pattern, no fancy stitches.  You don't necessarily have to own a 13" computer for testing purposes - after selling a lot of these puppies, I know they're the right size. ;)

The first four ladies to comment and ask to be testers will receive the pattern for free.

I'll email it to you and you'll have two weeks to review and test the pattern.

I know that I can understand the pattern, but it's important that others can, too.

Once the two weeks are up, you'll send me your critiques and, if you like, pictures of your finished sleeves which I will share on the blog!

So, who's interested?

If you have any questions or want to test the pattern, leave me a comment below!

Also, and I wish I'd thought of this before, send me an email at:
edithmacalpine(at)gmail(dot).com

Tester 1: Emily

Tester 2: Cassie & Rebekah
Tester 3: Francesca
Tester 4: Lauren
Thank you ladies!  I'll contact you with details soon!

Reader, I married him. | Pt. 1

The wedding rehearsal was wonderful.  So wonderful, that I half wondered if something was going to go horribly wrong on the actual day! *grin*  It was good to know that everyone knew where to go and what to do at the prescribed times to minimize the stress the day of.   Mostly it was exciting, and a tiny bit scary, to know that by the same time tomorrow afternoon, I would be married.  After all, this is the big one - the "till death do we part" big one - that every girl dreams about.  Mostly, I was blissfully happy, and completely confident that this was the man I wanted to spend the rest of life with, that he was the one my Lord had designed me to be a wife and companion to.

My three flower girls, now my adorable nieces.  We had some trouble convincing them that being a flower girl would be fun, but in the end we succeeded.  Sometimes, I miss being a kid.  You get to roll around in the grass and no one thinks it's at all odd.

My dad insisted on filming everything with his camera.  Which was wonderful and fun.

Hank's folks, now my in-laws, whom I love dearly.

These two look way to much like brothers in this picture.  Except mine is cuter.  Sorry, Austin. *grin*

Adorable Peter is my favorite nephew...also, my only nephew.  At least, so far.

The Lord blessed us with a sunny afternoon, giving me hope that the next day would be wedding perfect.

The Osborn family did an amazing job on the music.  Anna's Theme from Leap Year?  Nailed it!

Hank's expression.  Nuff said.

One of my fabulous photographers and also my dear friend, Maria.

Since we had one more bridesmaid than groomsmen, Austin got to walk both Kellie and Abbie out.  What a hardship. *sarcasm*

You wouldn't believe how many wedding photos I've had to sort through.  It's a wonderful problem to have, if indeed it can be called a problem, but many, many hours of clicking, selecting, and moving are involved.  My photographers were very wonderful and very thorough. *smile*

Last photo of us before we became one.  *happy dance*

Stay tuned for Part Two next week!

Photo-a-Day + Link-up | February {week three}

ONE | Morning Bible reading.  I'm in Leviticus and definitely ready to be done reading about animal sacrifice. *grin*

TWO | The Girl in the Green Scarf birthday present I put together for Kellie. Everything in it was green. The crowning items were the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic and a long, luxurious, silky green scarf.

THREE | Kellie's surprise party.  Boy, did we surprise her! *huge grin*

FOUR | Lilly put together this lovely moss garden for Kellie.  She made that fox folks.  Talent.

FIVE | I got this wood sign from Hobby Lobby (gift card!) and painted it red.  You'll see the finished product when I do a house tour.

SIX | Fresh snow!  Finally!

SEVEN | Coffee cake and hot chocolate for breakfast.  I try not to share photos of food, but the colors were just so pretty, I had to. *smile*

: :

Now it's your turn!  

Post your photo-a-day pictures on your blog, then share the link in the link-y below!

Link-up Rules:

Follow my blog via GFC, Bloglovin', or email - so you can keep updated on link-up info!
Include a link to my blog in your post.

Please link to your photo post, not your blog home page.

Most of all, have fun exploring and sharing the world around you through your camera lens!

This link-y will be open until February 27th, so you have a whole week to get your post up and share your photos.

What adventures have you been up to this week?

Book Review | Deadly Echoes

Living in the rural town of Sanctuary, MO, Sarah Miller has found peace and contentment in Christ and teaching at the local school.  She's finally begun to put the past to rest, the tragic death of her parents which has haunted all of her life, and is delighted to have reunited with her sister, Hannah, and her niece after so many years.

But when Hannah is murdered, under circumstances so similar to her parents, all of the memories come rushing back.  The police write it off as a burglary gone wrong, as they did with her parents. Coincidence?  Maybe...but when Sarah receives a letter mailed by Hannah shortly before her death, things take a more serious turn.  They never found the person who murdered their parents...could the two tragedies be linked?  With the assistance of Deputy Sheriff Paul Gleason, Sarah begins digging deeper and uncovering facts that someone is desperate to keep hidden.  Someone who is desperate enough to come after anyone who gets in their way.

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This was a suspenseful read and I enjoyed every page!  I love a good mystery, and this was definitely one of them.  Very well written, clean romance, with the love of Christ shining brightly without being cliche, the plot drew me in right away.  The characters were believable, relate-able, and like-able.  I found Sarah especially so.  Always comparing herself to others, especially her sister, thinking that she's nothing special.  I think that's something a lot of us do.  I loved this part in the book, "We can't see ourselves clearly when we're standing in someone else's shadow...God created you to be Sarah."  God has made us each our own, unique person, with our own special talents.  If we're constantly comparing ourselves to others, then we won't see that.  Not only was this is fantastic mystery, but I came away from this book encouraged and uplifted.  I'd recommend it to anyone without hesitation.

: : I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. : :

Outfit | Sunshine in My Soul

o u t f i t 

sundress // Old Navy {ThredUp}

shirt // thrifted

denim shoes // Crocs (long, long ago)

I took these last week.  It should have been freezing outside, this time of year, but it wasn't.  It was over 50* F!  So, I took advantage of the beautiful, sunny day and my camera tripod to get these photos.  It's a bit tricky, taking timer photos, but pretty fun!  Getting the focus right is really hard sometimes.

The beautiful warm days last week lifted my spirits and made my heart sing.  Not that I was seriously depressed or anything, but sunshine makes me so happy to be alive.  So thankful for my Father's gift of life.  Volunteering at Open Arms really brings that home every week, how precious life is.  I'm so thankful to be a small part of that.  I can't talk about my experiences there because of patient confidentiality, but I'm blessed each week by the women who come through the doors and by my fellow volunteers and the staff.  The Lord's peace and love fills that building and the hearts of those in it.  I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be there.  This hymn comes to mind - the words perfectly describe what I'm feeling.

Sunshine in My Soul

There is sunshine in my soul today,

More glorious and bright

Than glows in any earthly sky,

For Jesus is my Light.

O there’s sunshine, blessèd sunshine,

When the peaceful, happy moments roll;

When Jesus shows His smiling face,

There is sunshine in the soul.

There is music in my soul today,

A carol to my King,

And Jesus, listening, can hear

The songs I cannot sing.

O there’s sunshine, blessèd sunshine,

When the peaceful, happy moments roll;

When Jesus shows His smiling face,

There is sunshine in the soul.

There is springtime in my soul today,

For, when the Lord is near,

The dove of peace sings in my heart,

The flowers of grace appear.

O there’s sunshine, blessèd sunshine,

When the peaceful, happy moments roll;

When Jesus shows His smiling face,

There is sunshine in the soul.

There is gladness in my soul today,

And hope and praise and love,

For blessings which He gives me now,

For joys “laid up” above.

O there’s sunshine, blessèd sunshine,

When the peaceful, happy moments roll;

When Jesus shows His smiling face,

There is sunshine in the soul.

Anyway, I'd better go feed the sheep.  The girls should start lambing around the beginning to middle of March.  We're getting closer!  Can't wait to have little lambs running around!  Now that will infuse this place with new life! We could end up with about 20 lambs this year if all goes well.  Yikes!  

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

What are some hymns/songs that make your heart sing with gladness?  I want to know!

Photo-a-Day + Link-up | February {week two}

ONE | Getting that special polka dot box in the mail always brightens your day!

TWO | I hadn't planned on spending part of Tuesday in the police station! I had to fill out a statement after I witnessed a car accident the day before.  Pay attention and watch those red lights, folks!

THREE | Home made salsa - my favorite!

FOUR | Reading.

FIVE | I'm taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather we've been having to go for brisk walks/jogs every day.  Not ready for the snow to be gone, but I do enjoy the sunshine!

SIX & SEVEN | Flowers and chocolate from my sweetheart.

Mmm...chocolate!

: :

Now it's your turn!  

Post your photo-a-day pictures on your blog, then share the link in the link-y below!

Link-up Rules:

Follow my blog via GFC, Bloglovin', or email - so you can keep updated on link-up info!
Include a link to my blog in your post.

Please link to your photo post, not your blog home page.

Most of all, have fun exploring and sharing the world around you through your camera lens!

This link-y will be open until February 20th, so you have a whole week to get your post up and share your photos.

Happy Valentine's Day!