Cookies & Gifttags

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Here are a few pics from our Christmas festivities!


Baking Christmas cookies in our cute aprons for our neighbors - we baked 8 dozen that day!

Caught in the act! Maggie would not stop eating the tree.

I made these as nametags for the gifts. (Made them at http://www.picnik.com/)!

Merry Christmas! ~The McKays

Merry Christmas!

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord...Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

Luke 2:11, 14

Lord, thank you for sending your Son for the sake of the whole world. May we praise and glorify You through our lives today!

It's Been a While...

Since I was a little girl, one of the hobbies I have enjoyed most is drawing and painting. I love to sit and create something with a brush in my hand. I realized today that it has been a full year since I last painted (on a canvas - I have painted my walls recently, but that will be another post). This is a pic of the last painting I did - something fun and whimsical. I am NOT claiming to be good at it; it's just something that I enjoy. I would like to paint something for my dining area (about 16x20 size), but I am still waiting for inspiration...hopefully I will not let another year fly by before I paint the next one.

There is No Other

In the hustle and bustle of the busy holiday season, may I remember to stop often to stand in awe of Jesus and worship the One True God.

"Let the whole world glorify the LORD; let it sing his praise." Is 42:12

"I am the First and the Last; there is no other God. Who is like me?
Let him step forward and prove to you his power.
Let him do as I have done since ancient times when I established
a people and explained its future.
Do not tremble; do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago?
You are my witnesses-is there any other God?
No! There is no other Rock - not one!"
Isaiah 44:6-8

Baked Artichoke Dip

I just love finding delicious and easy recipes...and I also love to share them. Here is one that I have made often for our family and is great for holiday parties.

Artichoke Dip
14 oz can artichoke hearts (drained)
1 cup grated Parmesean cheese
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp Worchestershire sauce
1/8 tsp hot sauce

Combine all ingredients, stir well. Spoon into lightly greased 1-quart casserole dish. Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve with triscuits or melba toast.

Annual Bonfire

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year, and one reason would have to be the annual McKay/Spiller bonfire. We all get together when it starts to turn cold and sit around the bonfire roasting marshmallows and telling funny stories about each other...we have the best time. I think that this year was the first that we took a group pic of the entire fam (thanks to Laura)! I already am looking forward to next year's!

5 Years!!!!!

Today Will and I celebrate 5 years of marriage together. (and 6 years ago he proposed on this day!) I truly cannot believe that 5 years has passed...and how incredibly wonderful it has been! The Lord is gracious and has taught me so much about who He is through my marriage with Will. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for providing Will as my husband and best friend. I am so grateful.

Today Will has planned a surprise for us...I am looking forward to it!

We were married before digital wedding photography, so these are scanned images.

Mona Lisa & So Much More

The Louvre is an amazing and enormous art

museum. Thousands of people walk through the halls and admire the relics and pieces of art every day. One of the most famous paintings at this landmark is the Mona Lisa. As you enter the large room that contains the Mona Lisa encased by plastic, you have to fight for a spot to see it up close. (The pic above shows the crowds that constantly surrounded it the day we were there.) At first, I was disappointed with the painting...smaller in scale than I had assumed, and compared to the other magnificent paintings, it left much to be desired (only my opinion). Ironically, directly across the room from Mona is a painting of Jesus at the last supper that fills the entire wall (see pic for proportions). This painting's subject seemed much more significant and meaningful to me. I couldn't stop staring at it. Unfortunately, there were few others that felt the same. I might be taking this illustration a bit far, but this seemed to compare to our world today. Often we are enthralled with something that, in our finite minds, seems important and grand. On the other hand, if we do not look around us and see beyond our small perspective, we could be missing an incredible masterpiece!

First Train Ride!

In July I marked an item off my "Bucket List." (Yes, I have a list.) I traveled to a leadership conference (Student Leadership University 301) with an amazing group of students. We traveled by every mode of transportation possible to New York, France, Normandy, Oxford, & London. You will find that I love "firsts" and going to Europe and riding on a train were definitely firsts for me! Unfortunately, I must have been so excited to be on the train that I forgot to take a pic.

What Am I Doing?!

I'm not great a putting my thoughts into words when talking to someone or when typing. Originally I wanted the purpose of this blog to be to celebrate what God is doing in Will's & my life; the exciting times and the difficult. God is teaching me daily that everything that happens in my life is something that He has allowed. Everything has a purpose. I want to praise Him for all has done and is doing! So here we go...time to celebrate!