The Nativity Stones!

March 24, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres2 Comments

We have such a wonderful treat for you this bright and shiny Monday! A few weeks ago, we were contacted by a company called Nativity Stones, about doing a product review and a feature article on their behalf. After reading their story, we couldn’t say no!

Here it is, straight from The Nativity Stones’ website itself:

On a winter’s night over 2000 years ago, Mary and Joseph traveled the road to Bethlehem. Caesar Augustus ordered a world census to be taken and all subjects were required to return to the place of their birth. Despite Mary’s advanced pregnancy they journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem, Joseph’s birthplace. Joseph searched urgently for lodging as it was Mary’s time to give birth, but all of the inns were filled. In his desperation Joseph finally found a cave at the edge of town to shelter his wife. It was here, in the Cave of the Nativity, where the Christ Child was born.

Early Christians flocked to worship at The Cave of the Nativity soon after His death. In 325 A.D. Byzantine Emperor Constantine, along with his mother Empress Helena, officially recognized the site of Christ’s birth, constructing churches to commemorate the three principle events of Jesus’ life. One of the churches was the Church of the Nativity, which was erected over the cave where Jesus was born. The cave was then enclosed in an eight-sided structure and the church was built above.

Despite the following years of neglect, wars and destruction, the Church of the Nativity has always drawn faithful pilgrims from around the world. It is the oldest Christian Church in the world and continues to be a sacred symbol to the devout. It was designated an endangered World Heritage site by UNESCO.

In 1963, there was a one-time excavation to allow another exit for the thousands of visitors who come to the Cave of the Nativity each year. During that excavation a portion of a wall just a few feet from the fourteen pointed star commemorating the actual place of Christ’s birth was removed.

The stones from that wall – the Nativity Stones – witnessed the birth of Jesus. These are the very stones cradled in the Nativity Stone heirlooms.

Wow. What a story!

This company has taken these stones, from the birthplace of Jesus, and incorporated them into beautiful Christian jewelry & timeless pieces. We received a wonderful piece from The Nativity Stones, and I am so excited to have this cross and authentic piece of our Lord’s history – just in time for Easter! The cross I am wearing here is the Classic Nativity Cross – perfect to use in prayer, or just to wear as a reminder of the amazing God we serve and worship!

And we have a treat for you! You, too, can have a beautiful Christian heirloom – and with a special discounted rate! Just enter the code “newlywed15” at checkout to receive a 15% discount!!

What a wonderful gift for Easter, Confirmation, no occasion at all! I urge you to purchase one of these special pieces! You won’t be sorry!

We also want to give a shout-out to a dear blogging friend we have featured before here: The Veil of Chastity showcased us on Friday:

We are SO BEYOND BLESSED with great friends and family and their prayers and encouragement. Thank you for your commitment to us!! It means more than you could ever imagine!

I was thinking just Sunday morning…SO MANY OF OUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED! Yet, so often, we overlook those answered blessings and focus on the {seemingly} negative things in our lives. God is so good. He is so faithful.

A Bundle of Blogs

January 13, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres10 Comments

Oh we are struggling this Monday! Poor Craig is home sick – my flu/cold finally zapped him – and I have never been this exhausted in my entire life. Yesterday, I took a little nap after church while Craig washed the car, and then we took a nap together when he got done. We went out to dinner with my parents and brother (at a delicious restaurant, Opulent), and got home right around 9 PM – when we both promptly fell asleep on the sofa.

Monday mornings are my sleep “late” mornings, when I get to stay in bed until (gasp!) 5:00 AM, and I barely dragged myself out of bed. Craig felt so bad he had actually taken NyQuil – and if you know him, that means he is sick – so he was like a zombie when I left the house at 5:45. It was everything I could do to keep my eyes open on the way to the office, and by the time I pulled into the parking lot at work, I took a nap in the car before I came inside the office. Neither of us are ‘nappers’… so we must not feel well. Yick.

The Lefebvre house is not a happening place this week, apparently.

{Yawn.}

My sister-in-law sent me this picture this morning, and I must say, it is quite fitting:

For today’s My Choice Monday, we are featuring 4 blogs we love – all are different, but wonderful reads for various reasons. We know you’ll have to bookmark them, too!

1. Veil Of Chastity

As we shared last week, this is an invaluable blog and resource for all of you single girls (and guys!) out there! And of course, today, I had the pleasure of guest blogging at The Veil of Chastity, so you simply MUST visit! 🙂

Cindy, the author of The Veil, is an amazing Catholic woman who you will all, no doubt, find inspiring! Here is an excerpt from the blog’s “About” page:

“The United States alone has 27 million single Catholics. This site is dedicated to those singles and those around the world who are looking for wisdom and hope. This is a place to share and learn about the virtue of chastity, the truth behind the virtue and why it leads to our happiness and peace.

Do you want to be married? Do you want to follow God’s plan for your life? This site promotes the beautiful and wise teaching of the virtue of Chastity, which is the key to remaining in God’s plan.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) #1658 says:

“…We must also remember the great number of single persons who, because of the particular circumstances in which they have to live – often not of their choosing – are especially close to Jesus’ heart and therefore deserve the special affection and active solicitude (concern/care) of the Church, especially of pastors…”

I agree with the CCC! But, I want to do more than offer special affection and solicitude. I want to offer the ‘why’ behind the teaching of the virtue of Chastity!

The teaching is universal and does not depend upon your age. It is a life-long virtue whose benefits are tremendous.”

You won’t want to miss today’s post – or any others by Cindy and The Veil of Chastity. Check out her blog and my guest post here. (If today’s post isn’t up yet, remember to check back later!!)

2. waiting for baby bird.

If you or anyone you love is dealing with infertility, specifically PCOS, this blog will bless you with inspiration and encouragement. Elisha has a heart for God and serves as a shining example to all of us. Here’s a quote from her “About Me” section:

“My husband and I have been married for 7 amazing years and we yearn for our own children; however due to PCOS, we are “challenged” in the fertility department

The doctors have given me a 3% chance of conceiving on my own but I know that God is bigger than PCOS or any doctor’s report, and through Jesus, I have a 100% chance of having my own biological children.”

Elisha & her blog are reminders that Jesus heals and is more powerful than anything.

Isaiah 53:5

5 But because of our sins he was wounded,
beaten because of the evil we did.
We are healed by the punishment he suffered,
made whole by the blows he received.

Wow. A dose of that kind of faith and healing is worth more than any cup of coffee could be to get you through the day – and through your pain!

3. Catholic Foodie

I happened upon this fabulous blog when doing a little bit of research about a chef Craig and I saw on PBS the other day – John Besh, only to find out he is a fellow Catholic and was featured on Catholic Foodie…

As its tagline reads, “…Where Food & Faith Meet”, and what a great, food-filled and faith-filled blog this is! Not only will you find amazing recipes like this one:

Just Click The Image For The Whole Post & Recipe

But also beautiful articles like this one:

Click The Image To Go Directly To This Article About The Table & The Altar!

4. Passionate Penny Pincher

Folks, let me tell you. PPP’s recipes, coupons, and money-saving ideas have been absolutely priceless (no pun intended – HA!) to Craig & me!

Laurie taught me how to make Honey Bun Cake, which was the biggest hit at my Office Thanksgiving Party this year:

And she has some wonderful DIY fixes that don’t cost a lot!

5. Hope-Filled Focus

Evangeline has not only provided the world with an uplifting blog for those of us hoping against all hope in the face of infertility, but for everyone! Her Focus Friday posts are a blessing and a reminder to us all that God is bigger, and stronger, and faithful. Today, she wrote this:

“Focus on the following scripture throughout the day. It’s God’s Word and it’s what He desires us to believe. Believe it is true for you because God’s Word is Truth. Use it as an affirmation. Speak this Word to yourself throughout the day. Personalize it by putting your name in it!

“So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” Colossians 2:10″

Hope Filled Focus is a blog you’ll want to turn to for encouragement, and you can find her hopeful inspiration in the two books she has authored, and in her speaking engagements – as shown below.

I know Evangeline has offered confidence & light to Craig & me, and I believe she will offer the same to you.

We hope each and every one of these recommendations blesses you or someone you know! If you enjoy one of these blogs (or OURS?!?!), share it with your friends and family! Don’t forget to “LIKE” our page on Facebook! Things are a little bit different with a “page” versus a “profile”, so while we can’t accept your friend request at this time, like our page and send us a comment while we figure things out! We can’t wait to hear from you!

Y’all enjoy this beautiful day, and Craig & I are going to go back to getting some rest – Looks like I may be reserving the Meditation Room today at the office for a 30-minute nap during lunch! 🙂 Zzzzzzz…..

Love Y’all,

My Choice Monday

A Book, A Blog & A Bowl

January 6, 2014January 6, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres3 Comments

Welcome To My Choice Monday Folks!

If you’re reading this post from anywhere in the United States, you’re likely a little bit cold today! Here in Georgia, it is currently 20 degrees with a wind chill making it feel like -5 degrees outside! While my husband may be used to this weather, us Georgians just aren’t! So, read on today to find out about an (audio)book to warm your brain (& soul), a blog to warm your heart, and a bowl (of deliciousness) to warm your tummy!

1. The Bible From 30,000 Feet

I somewhat happened upon this “book” when I got my notification from Audible that my new credit was in, and I could choose a new book for the month’s enjoyment. I went on the site and came across this one…Naturally, I was interested in this one…I mean, my husband is a pilot and we are on the look-out every day for new and exciting ways to experience God’s Word.

What a blessing this has been. I listen on my way to and from work, while I’m getting ready some mornings…It is a “book” I just can’t put down. Skip Heitzig discusses the Bible in ways you can’t imagine and you’ve never heard before. Check out the videos here and here.

If you want to listen to or watch this series, you can here . There are also bible study worksheets available to you at this link… Really, you won’t be sorry! The Bible From 30,000 Feet has me interested in, contemplating and passionate about GENESIS. I cannot even fathom what lies ahead!

2. The Veil Of Chastity

Wow. This blog could have you enveloped in it’s insight all day long! I’ll be posting more on the topic of “The Veil” later this week, and have been blessed with the opportunity to guest post on this author’s site, so this is certainly not the last you’ll hear about the concept of “The Veil”… But on this cold day, take a moment to read a little bit about The Veil of Chastity.

Reading about the concept of “The Veil” is just another bump on the head of just how much God loves us and cares for us. This is a blatant indication of God as a Father figure, and it is so. very. beautiful. If you’re a single girl or guy, it will give you hope and peace. If you’re happily married, it will give you goosebumps.

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.”

Stay tuned for more on “The Veil”, and for the link to my upcoming guest post!

3. A Bowl Of Buffalo Chicken Dip

While this picture isn’t exactly ours, (thank you Starships & Laserbeams!!), the recipe that follows is so delicious you’ll probably not have the opportunity for a picture of it – because it doesn’t last long! Craig & I usually make this dish as a casserole, but yesterday we opted for the “dip version”, being that we had too much going on to cook with anything other than a crock pot! Here’s what you’ll need:

2 lbs chicken breast (or tenders)

1 large bottle Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Sauce (or buffalo sauce of your choosing)

2 blocks cream cheese

1 bag shredded colby jack cheese

Minced garlic

1 jar of ranch

Fully thaw chicken and place in the bottom of your crock pot, turned to High. Pour 3/4 bottle of buffalo sauce, & half jar of ranch dressing over chicken. Place one block of cream cheese & half the bag of shredded cheese over chicken. Add about 1 T (+/- to taste) minced garlic to crock pot. Place cover on the crock pot and let cook for about 6 hours on High.

After about 6 hours on High, the chicken should be easy to shred. Shred the chicken and add the remaining ingredients to the pot. Turn the crock pot to Low and let cook for about 1 more hour.

When this is complete, stir everything together and you will have either a delicious dip or you can also serve over rice for a yummy entree!

Now, between your new book, blog and bowl of buffalo chicken dip, you should be warm from head to soul!

Keep warm, and meet us back here tomorrow for TTC Tuesday!

Love,