Merry Christmas!!!

Happy Holidays.

love.

jer & ange

black & white party

Kathleen (jer's mommy) had a big birthday on December 13th. So, we decided to throw her a party. Now I wanted to do a theme. Josie said "the Gallagher's don't do themes", I said "well they do now". So, we decided to try a grown up theme, hence the black and white party.

Sister in-laws are boss, I highly recommend them.

Katya and her bff Michelle, they are both from Russia, which makes them very cool. Katya wants to go back some day...I might just have to go with her.
Uncle Brian learning to text. He carried around all night a huge trophy because he is head coach of his twin sons football team and they won states that day.

The Bowers' girls and Grandma G (who was party hopping that night).

The whole gang, minus little gb (Gus Bowers).

Me and the dude.

Care Group Christmas Party

Last night, it was kind of icy down here in Gaithersburg, so the Care Group Christmas party was the Techtmanns, Loftness' and us. But it was lots of fun. There was a close competition between us and Chris & Ally during the Jelly Bean tasting contest. Its very hard to tell what flavor something is when you eat 20 different kinds!! We won... but only by 1 point. I made an apple crumb pie, that thankfully was edible, so we were able to enjoy that. The white elephant was anti-climatic, considering there were three couples, three gifts and no stealing! Last but not least was the cookie decorating "contest"... without the contest. :) Below is the boys with their creations...

Christopher with what I decided was santa's leg/boot stuck in the snow. With that face he could star in the Grinch 2.

Jer is slightly more excited with his double decker cookie...he could have done more but he ate most of his decorations.
Steve, he took his job very serious. And it was decided his looks like a toilet seat. With that big smile he could be the next Buddy the Elf.

"the glory of Christmas is found at the cross"

Well I've decided that gratitude month was essential, and that it would be good for me to continue growing in that area by posting once a month a little thankfulness post. So, here it is...

Covenant Life is currently going through a mini Incarnation series. Though I've never been very fond of that word, I am very thankful for the meaning and the series! The last two Sundays have just been a blessing to both Jer and I. I love when you leave church and continue to discuss the message because of the truth that was just proclaimed.

Two Sundays ago, Jeff preached out of John 1:14. He told a great story about dressing up like ultimate man for his son's birthday party, and how later when he pulled up his mask to ask him if he was enjoying the party, his son exclaimed "I thought it was you". That story brought joy to my heart. My favorite point he made: The incarnation is the ultimate display of God for the ultimate need of sinners.

This past Sunday Don D. preached out of Hebrews 2: 14-18, and asked one of those thought provoking questions: Q.) If sin had never entered the world, would it have been necessary for God the Son to become human? During his message he gave a shout out story to 10th Pres in Philadelphia and now Jer and I are planning to go there on one of our trips up. Maybe Jamarcus will go with us! :) Don also shared that there is no note of human experience that does not revoke a sympathetic resonance from Christ. What a good reminder.

Can't wait for this Sunday.

fun times 2008

...At T and Rick's wedding reception at Bartram's Gardens

...T and my beautiful wife killing trees and wasting toner...

...ok so this was 2007, but its was tons of fun so i included it. Brewster's Ice Cream gives out these free waffle cones (i.e. MASSIVE amounts of ice cream) on the 1st day of spring. so john, matt, and angela came down to gburg with me from the dub-c to take advantage of the plunderous spoils.

...Mo chilling in the Mrs Clause suit at the Concord Mall...this was over thanksgiving break last month...


...proof that I am taller than the giraffes that roam around in Norhtern Delaware...

...this annoyed jesse and angela, but my dad, mom, and me love our jeeps. i'd like to think this photo got put on the wall of the dealership that we single-handedly keep in business.

Piper quote based off of Isaiah 51:12,13

Why is anxiety about the future a form of pride? God gives the answer: "I--the Lord, your Maker--I am He who comforts you, who promises to take care of you; and those who threaten you are mere men who die. So your fear must mean that you do not trust me. You must think that your protection hangs on you. And even though you are not sure that your own resources will take care of you, yet you opt for fragile self-reliance, rather than faith in future grace. So all your trembling--weak as it is--reveals pride." The remedy? Turn from self-reliance to God-reliance, and put your faith in the all-sufficient power of future grace.
-john piper: battling unbelief

How easy it is for me to drift towards self-reliance instead of God-reliance. My prayer over the next year is that I would grow in this area, resting in the promises of God's word, and to not try so hard to be the lord over my life and trust in the one who sustains my life.

first tree

We had big plans to cut down a tree at a farm, but then we found out from Uncle Brian they were almost half the price at Home Depot so we decided to check it out. Here is our douglas fir, same height as Jer.

Jer had a brilliant idea of going to krispy kremes, we decided it shall be our christmas tradition. Even though the light was on, in MD they don't give out free donuts. :(
Jer putting together the tree stand. You can't really tell cause it was just coming out, Jer has a nice shiner. During defensive tactic...or something like that he didn't block his head and got a nice black eye. He is rather proud of it.

Tree decorating in our pjs.

tis the season

As always it seems Christmas has snuck up on me, but ready or not here it comes! Holiday happenings around the bowers apartment...

1. a new ornament, from anthropologie.
2. a playlist, my favorite songs on it right now is God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Mercyme and Winter Song by Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson.

3. the count down is well under way, this is our advent calendar. jer gets to open the odd numbers.

4. we have this book from my childhood (ha, which sounds soooo long ago!). And last night Jer read me "Tiny Tim's Christmas" by Charles Dickens.

different kind of sleigh

Jer, Josie and I went to the movies the other night. While we were leaving Jer spotted Santa on a fire truck. He made us hurry up and get in the jeep, because he was determined to find that Santa! Partly because he wanted to see it again, and partly because he didn't want us to think he was seeing things. After circling the Rio a few times we spotted him, they pulled up right next to us so that the wonderful photographer Jeremy Bowers could take a quick shot. He was the skinniest santa I've ever seen, and we were convinced he lost a bet at the station and this was his punishment. Gotta love Christmas cheer.

made up christmas survey...

be sure to post your answers in a comment. (even if you don't have a blog, you can comment on them!) You see I was under the impression that 5 people read my blog.... Sharpie, Megs, Traci, Ryan Joseph and Josie. :) Then I put this cool stat counter on my blog and found out way more people were reading this then I thought, and I should take it more serious! So, if you are reading this let me know!

1. Christmas lights?
a. blinky ones
b. multi-color
c. basic white
d. icicles

2. Do you like eggnog?
a. yes
b. no

3. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas time?

4. Gift bags or Wrapping paper?
a. Gift bags
b. Wrapping paper

5. Favorite Christmas Movie?
a. Elf
b. Nativity Story
c. The Grinch (cartoon version)
d. Family Stone
e. Write in your own

6. Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
a. Eve
b. Day

7. Easiest person to shop for?

8. Favorite Christmas Color?
a. Red
b. Green
c. Silver
d. Gold

9. Real tree or artificial?
a. real
b. artificial

10. Name Santa's reindeer...

blog tag

Megs tagged me.

-Go to your sixth picture folder then pick your sixth picture.
-Pray that you remember the details.
-Post it on your blog.
-Tag 5 others, leave a comment to let them know they’ve been tagged.

-this is mine.

Ok, this is NA '06. Not much of a story behind it, except that little did Jer and I know that exactly a year later we would be attending the same conference as a couple, and Sharpie would be dating Mikes...who was probably taking the picture. :) Note the popsicles Megs and I are eating, we tried to try every kind of popsicle we could starting in May ending sometime in September. This was also the year of "the roadtrip"... Sarah, Kelli, Traci, Megs and me in a van for manty hours produced some hilarious memories.

Ok so I tag... Jesse, Shelsy, Beth T., Aunt Jean Mays & Lydia.

dear gaithersburg people...

Question of the day: Where does one get a live christmas tree in this area?? (besides Butlers)

turkey day 2008

So much for a nice "first thanksgiving picture"...this is all I got peeps. :(

**shout out to josie who is recovering from having her wisdom teeth removed.

weekend thanks

so the husband decided to post yet again. i am super
thankful for my awesome friends in west chester.
and ange and i are heading up to see all of them today.

suhweet

First...

Today I am thankful for all of our firsts. Since we've been married a little over 5 months, tomorrow will be our first married thanksgiving together! I love finding the new norm, coming up with new traditions and all the new experiences that we have together.

Yet to come...
-first half-anniversary (I think its like half birthdays and should not be overlooked!)
-first Christmas, we're working on our first christmas playlist!
-first Valentines day
-first get-aways & vacations
-first anniversary

Things we've done...
-first beach trip with the Gallaghers
-first pumpkin picking. :)
-first apartment
-first nyc trip and zoo trip
-first time both being sick and the same time. :)
-first married cg

so much for equilibrium.....

so the husband decided to post again since this whole blog shenanigans is predominantly dominated by the more thoughtful and witty party of the recently married bowers couple. so....here are even more things i am grateful for....

1. College...yes, just college, AND the fact that it's over, so I could get a job and marry the gorgeous girl that posed with me in this picture with my fake diploma.


2. Unfortunately, with the ending of college comes the ending of rooming with this goober. (No really, I am saddened by that fact. No, really....I am.) But we still manage to catch up, dress up, and clean up in a few locations around the east coast.

3. Chillen with my bro at various events....currently seems like we chill alot at football games of various types. Here we are with our man Jayson (dude behind jesse) at the redskins/cardinals game....
And some support of American Corporate Capitalism Greed...(AKA starbucks) at the cousin's super bowl.

4. Chillen with the dawgs.....both of them pictured below.

5. Hanging around with Kevin and Anne's boys. These guys are awesome dudes, and they do a great job taking care of their mother as dad is currently deployed in the Middle East. Thanks for being such a good example of how to care and respect your mother guys. You rock.6. Lastly, two goofballs I have for friends have made the list.....pretty much just because these two pictures make me and angela laugh. But they really are cool guys anyway....ya'll should get them to sign your baby's forehead or something.

-Tommy O (in riot gear apparel)

And Nicky D (seriously folks, thats the only tie he owns. send him your clip ons)

books

Today I am thankful for books and authors. I love curling up with a good book, especially on an almost-wintry days like today. I'm thankful for people who put hard work and many hours into writing for my enjoyment. I am thankful for books that challenge us to grow in our thoughts and understanding of God's character. I'm thankful for books that help me to see my sin and remind me of the grace of God upon my life to change. Here are some of the books I've been digging into recently. What's your favorite book you've read in 2008???
“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
- Dr. Seuss

my turn! pick me!

so now its husband's turn to post on the gratefulness of the blog. i'm grateful for many things...and not all of them are really super related or anything. but they are all favorites...

1. the wife (most favorite)
2. home cooked meals (made by the wife)...some favorites include: tortilla soup, mac n cheese, BBQ ranch cheesy chicken dip, and sharpie's death balls.

3. my jeep
4. a very sweet job

5. grown up field trips

6. 40 asians admiring the bull in downtown manhattan

7. fat gorrillaz. yesh, i spelled it that way on purpose...

thanks for the memories

If you are in any of the pictures below, thanks for the memories. I love that life is full of crazy, special, sweet and hilarious moments. I love looking through old pictures and remembering. If you have any good old pictures, please send them my way!!

youth camp admin '08 (admin olympics!!)

Sharpie's rehearsal dinner.
Meg's big day!!

roomies and google.

moe and ange... we are going to be the coolest old ladies.

Me being a fake homeschooler.

NA.

N-I-C-K-Y-D

One of the times Sharpie locked her keys in the car...running.

Goshen Fair...the best fair.

old school youth camp.

Traci's bachlorette. Purple Parrot. :)

boys football league.

target trips.

Viva Bolivia '06. On the Road of Death.

Movie trip, someone went into the mens room by accident.

Stephie's rehearsal dinner

Sign for the Chicken BBQ, office fun.

Admin. YC '07. Charity's finest.

Brooklyn or bust. When WOW MOM started.

Cross Culture christmas party.

Classic Youth Serving Day.

Jer's graduation. Go Rams.

NA '06. The year of the road trip.

One of the mischief-eves. some of the best times.