No joke

It's no joke. This is the card I just created on Shutterfly, and I placed my order of 50 for free! If you're a blogger, you should take advantage of this opportunity.

Count Your Blessings Christmas 5x7 folded card

Shop Shutterfly for elegant custom Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

How about that for a 100th post?

Photo Keepsakes

I've used Shutterfly for birth announcements and Christmas cards in the past, and I've always been pleased with the cards! I'm working on getting my 2010 Christmas card together this year. Sadly, I didn't do a card last year, so I'm determined to send one out this year.

I'm not sure if I struggled doing a card last year thinking maybe Brett would make his debut shortly after ordering cards and he wouldn't be on them or if the thought of postage for both Christmas cards and birth announcements soon thereafter was a tough pill to swallow or if I just wasn't motivated enough at nine months pregnant to get my act together. It's likely the latter with a hint of the first two thoughts.

This is a recent family pic I'm thinking of including on our Christmas card this year.



The big task at hand is selecting from the MANY wonderful designs Shutterfly offers for their Christmas card. These are a few of my favorites. What's your favorite? You just might see it again...with a few familiar faces on it, of course!

Did you know that Shutterfly is offering 50 free Christmas cards for bloggers?

Why not head over to Shutterfly to see what fantastic photo creations you could create?

I've been collecting a folder of my favorite daddy-kid photos so that I can make a photo book as a special gift for Craig. Have you made one? I'll likely make his for Father's Day this year as a very unique gift of favorite daddy-kid moments.

I'm also thinking of making my first-ever photo calendar. I know that I'll LOVE to turn the page each month and reminisce over my favorite photos I've included for that month. What a great way to centralize your favorite photos over the past year! I'm thinking this would make a great grandparent gift, too! Now, how do I narrow down my favorite photos? Good thing Shutterfly will let me include the number of photos I want for each month. I can make it simple or include a collage!

Shutterfly is easy and simple to use, not to mention a great virtual storage for your photos! The awesome promos and products available are enough to lure me in! They're running a free shipping promo right now, too, so head over and get started!

Then to Now

When I sadly escaped the blogging world way back when, this is what our family looked like:



Now, this is what the Morris family of five looks like. (A preview of our Christmas card, perhaps?) We've changed; we've grown! Some have grown bigger and taller, one has the need to accessorize with glasses, one has lost some baby weight, and one little someone has grown enough hair for pigtails! I've got so much to update!

I'm planning to make a comeback! Boy, have I got my work cut out for me!

Stretched

Okay, so I feel a bit stretched in many different directions, especially since I tried Pilates for the first time tonight.

I'm being stretched as a wife. I've been reading Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas, and I'm really enjoying it when I have the time to read a few pages at a time. I've already taken away so much!

I'm being stretched as a mommy these days, adapting to new schedules and routines and more demands on my time for each of my three children.

I'm being stretched financially. Even when things don't seem to add up, God always provides.

I'm being stretched with my time. I'm sad that I've let life fly by without documenting what has occurred lately. I'm committed to keeping this blog updated for my kids' sake. I want to be able to look back at my journal entries and remember the sweet, tender moments, the crazy days, and the fun activities we do.

Most of all, I'm being stretched as a Christian. God is teaching me through very tough situations how to be patient. Remember the old saying, "God doesn't give you what you can't handle"? Well, someone gave me a different way to think of that, and I love it: God gives you what you can't handle so that you have no choice but to lean on Him.

I can't handle it on my own, and I don't want to handle it on my own. I need guidance in all that I do. I desire to be a Godly woman who's being formed into His image. I've got a long way to go because I have so many faults, but I'm ready to be stretched. So, God, mold me and stretch me!

Happy Birthday, Brett!

Brett Charles Morris

On December 30, 2009, at 8:22 a.m., we welcomed Brett to our family. He weighed 5lbs 4oz and was 17 inches long.

Brett's birth story, including information about his week-long stay in the NICU, will soon follow.

Alyssa Rose

Welcome to the world, Alyssa Rose!
Friday, November 20th, 2009
8:16 a.m., 6 pounds, 13 ounces, 19.5 inches.

My beaming sister, Rebecca, with her daughter.


Keith, the excited big brother on his way to meet his little sister for the first time.


Daddy, Bryan, helping Keith hold and love on Alyssa.


I'm an aunt again! Oh, and I have major baby fever now. Good thing I have less than six weeks to wait before our son makes his debut!

First Date

10 years ago today, I went out on a date with my husband-to-be.

Who knew 10 years ago that we'd be happily married with a growing family of our own. I'm grateful God knew and brought us together when He did.


Craig, I love you with all my heart!