this year’s rhyme

In lieu of a letter, I wrote a bit of a poem. It’s just a simple compilation of words that might happen to rhyme. It sums up the year that has been 2010 for the Bensons:

Ten-Eleven

A decade ends in busy haste,

No moment have we left to waste,

Here we are in snowy days,

Looking at life’s charming maze,

In the days of twenty-ten,

So much do we have to pen,

But in the light of “short and sweet”,

We’ll cut it down to just one sheet,

Our first of many did celebrate,

Married love and fun to date,

We picnicked, laughed, and rode around,

Where his knee knelt to the ground,

Then bid farewell to city lights,

Up the hill to greater heights,

So now we live right where we met,

And said “I do” while skies were wet,

The building dream pursuit is bold,

Constructing things of new and old,

Jobs are booked so hammers fly,

True provision from Him up high!

With power tools he works and plays,

She markets and she tries to raise,

Money for her job of new,

To help preserve Amendment Two,

Friends and fun and family too,

Our weeks are full with much to do,

For 20-somethings, there’s still more time

A ministry God is making climb,

Then there came the time to thank,

Packed our car and filled the tank,

Drove across the country wide,

To South Dakota for a ride,

Loved and laughed in Benson light,

Ate and sang all through the night,

Thanksgiving was a blessed day,

Though colder than the west coast way,

So that’s the story of our year,

Forget we’ve not of why we’re here,

A babe was born so long ago,

He grew to live on earth so low,

But then He gave all he had,

On a cross for hearts so sad,

So here we stand in twenty-ten,

Thanking Him for all again,

He is the reason that we love,

We pray He brings gifts from above,

As the year turns to eleven,

May you be blessed from Him in heaven.

special delivery

I have been tracking it since the moment I received my confirmation email. As soon as they gave me a tracking number, I began clicking the refresh button on my browser to see if my little package had been checked in to a new location on it’s pathway to my hands. I checked too often. I just couldn’t help myself. The FedEx website told me it would arrive by the 16th … and I believed it. I was just hoping that maybe it would arrive early. Nope. It wasn’t early. But it was right on time. The gentleman from FedEx knocked on our office door yesterday morning. The moment he walked in, I just knew that little cardboard box had my name written on it. I gave the man my autograph and pronounced my difficult-to-pronounce-last-name {it’s not really … or at least, it shouldn't be}. Then, I ripped it open. The scissors couldn’t cut through the tape fast enough! I was trying not to be too excited … I kept my excitement contained. It stayed between me and that little box. I didn’t want my co-workers to think I was weird or anything.

Once I opened my highly anticipated package, I investigated the contents within the package. I was very pleased. I was elated, to say the least. It was just as I had hoped. No. It was better.

NOW, to contain my excitement for another week. I have to wrap it all up again and put it under the tree. It is for HIM. It is for us. But it is a gift for him. Secrets. Surprises. And hopes that he will think it is as wonderful as I do. Knowing him, he will. For him to see it, I cannot wait! Oh, the anticipation, all over again.

out-smarting the system

They may not be the cutest things you’ve ever seen and you may not want to keep it on your refrigerator all-year-round. You may not even care to display it through January. BUT, I got a better deal than 95% of the Christmas card sending population. Guaranteed. {Ok, I don’t really know the statistics on this one, but I have a pretty good hunch-of-a-feeling that this is true.}

Think about it. The Christmas card industry is huge. Everywhere you go, you can get cute templates for that simple Christmas message, perfectly placed right next to that adorable family picture you’ve been dying to debut. Christmas cards are like that statement-piece that simply wraps up your year, while wishing your friends and family a Merry Christmas {the message I prefer over “Happy Holidays”}, as long as the message fits in a space of approximately 35 characters {give or take a few}. I love those cards. In fact, I enjoy browsing the new designs as soon as Shutterfly announces their sale for early-Christmas card purchasers … in October. {Who has their Christmas pictures ready by then?? Oh, ya, the people who get that really good deal}.

Anyways, in an attempt to out-smart the system in order to avoid the average forty cents to a whopping buck-fifty PER card, I made my own. Thanks to Picasa’s collage making skills and picnik’s cool fonts, I made our cards and promptly sent them to good-ol’ Wal-mart for printing as a 4x6 picture. I ordered a few 5x7’s, which cost me a good 30 cents more per pic, but the majority of my cards/pictures cost me …. drumroll puh-lease … 9 {nine} cents each. That means, I spent about $3.45 on my Christmas cards. Total. {not including the few 5x7’s I got … they cost about $5 total, which is still a pretty good deal if you ask me!}

AND, when Wal-Mart saw that I turned my picture into a card, they even threw in a stack of envelopes, for exactly zero {0} cents. I am quite proud of myself {if you can’t tell}.

Here is a sneak peak {for the lucky people that tune-in to my little blog}:

a thankful thanksgiving

Yet another adventure has made it’s way onto the pages of the Benson Book of Life … Road Trip 2011: South Dakota was a success. We made it safely through a lot of snow, ice, flat land, mountain land, barren land, and so much in between {or rather, nothing in between}. We were so stocked full of energy drinks after the 30 hour drive, that everything was … well … let’s just say it was the same color ALL THE WAY THROUGH. Did you want to know that little fact? Maybe not, but oh well. {my apologies}

Down every last ice covered road, we laughed, slept, talked, sang, and loved every second. Ok, we might have complained and whined a little bit too … those seats are only contoured to form your body in ONE position, regardless of the degrees to which you can change the angle in which you are bent.

Now, I have to give extra thanks to my rock star of a husband … drumroll please … for driving through all the weather conditions I was too chicken to brave {aka MOST of the trip}. He is pretty much the most spectacular man in the world, if I’m not too bold to say. Basically, to sum it all up, we made it to Watertown, South Dakota at roughly 3am on Sunday morning {after leaving at 6pm the Friday before} with many miles passed and only one speeding ticket to mention. Who was driving when that dreaded scrap of paper was passed from the hands of the officer into our car, you ask? Certainly not the more patient of the Benson’s. {Haha!} Yup, it was that same cute rock star of a husband … the poor guy. When cops are disguised as regular, every day drivers, it’s hard to tell when you are speeding by, that they do in fact have the words “Wyoming Sheriff” printed on the side of that pick-up truck {or maybe it was the fact that you were speeding by that you didn’t see the big bold lettering? but we won’t go there right now!}. All in all, it was a great adventure!

happy thanksgiving VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The BEST part being: the longest period of time ever spent with the Benson Family {at least by me, the new comer}. We got to see the bro-in-law play guitar in worship, eat LOTS of ridiculously good food {homemade alfredo and spinach pizza being one of my favs}, family melodies, laughter, and of course: the cutest little niece ever. I even got to spend some time with Erik’s Grandpa Benson … who is quite possibly one of the most multi-faceted men I have ever met! {artist, baker, pastor, wood carver, musician, singer … you name it … he can probably do it!}. He was a joy to get to know … as was everyone we got to see! Although, I’m sorry to all the fully grown family members, Shalom beats you all when it comes to the cuteness factor. I must give a special thanks to her parents, grandparents, aunt, and uncle for letting me hog her {I really appreciate it!}

Anyways, without giving you a play by play of the entire week, we were truly blessed by the music, the stories, the old home videos {Erik was definitely the cutest little boy ever born}, the Starbucks, the drives through town, the 2 degree weather, and everything else we got to enjoy.

Thank you to Mom and Dad Benson for a truly wonderful Thanksgiving. And thank you to Sarah for feeding us, cleaning up after us, and then relaxing with us … you are a phenomenal woman!

Now, to sum up our Thanksgiving Trip with a few things I learned:

Nevada has rules about your livestock … even in the snow

The Blue Plate Café in Salt Lake City {from Diners Drive-Ins & Dives is GOOD!

There is a LOT of flat land {although pretty} on the way to SD

Ulla {the name of our German vehicle} does NOT like the cold

My husband is also multi-faceted {I already knew that} – but he can play the mellophone!

Good hair runs in the Benson genes

Westbrook, Minnesota is near the home of LAURA INGALLS WILDER {I love her}

This family LOVES music {I already knew that too, but it was so much fun to be around!}

No offense Mom, but stuffing is phenomenal when it is crunchy, crumbly, and flavored with sausage … MMMMM!!!

South Dakota has beautiful barns {as does Ann & Alvin’s backyard}

Erik is a ladies man {ok, already knew that one too}

The FREEZING cold doesn’t get in the way of a little Benson/Esh Adventure! Family pics in the snow!

r.o.a.d.t.r.i.p.

photo via

Tonight, at approximately 7:00pm pacific time, we will be in our car, crammed full of luggage, snacks, highly caffeinated beverages, music, and pillows.  It will be the beginning of the First Benson Road Trip {well, road trip over 7 hours long at least}.  While most people think we are crazy, we like to consider ourselves adventurers who actually look forward to spending 27 hours alone, together, in a car.  You may think it’s odd, but it doesn’t really matter what you think, now does it?  No offense or anything.  What matters is that Erik and I are excited to have some solid one.on.one time and confident we will be saving mucho dollars by avoiding the overpriced airfare {and the full body pat-down, mind you}.  We are pretty much packed and ready to go, but there are still a few last minute things to do before we can officially embark on our trip … you know … like take out the trash so it doesn’t sit in the house rotting for 9 days straight.  Yup, you heard me {or read me} right.  9 days.  Friday night to the next Sunday.  My husband is in serious need of a break.  I’ve never seen him so ready.  Even when he was working 14 hour days for 3 weeks before our wedding, though he was experiencing physical stress, he wasn’t under the mental stress he is currently finding himself beneath.  This little {or rather, big} trip will be a well deserved break for my hard-working-hottie-of-a-husband.  So, here’s praying for no ice, little snow, lot's of energy, beautiful sunsets, dramatic sunrises, and a blessed time together.in.a.car.for.27.hours.  Please pray for our safety {my parents would appreciate it, thank you very much} and a blessed Thanksgiving!

May you all be blessed this Thanksgiving with LOVE from the LORD.  The end of our 27 hour road trip will bring good memories with our family in South Dakota.  I can’t wait to meet our little niece and to spend some much over-due quality time with the Bensons.  Our Thanksgiving will surely be blessed!

Sparkles for $2 or less

The event to be celebrated on the 25th of December is much anticipated in the Benson household … or maybe, a little bit more so by the wife within the Benson household. Yes, that would be me. To put it simply, I love this season. I love the peppermint, the carols, the holly leaves, the ornaments, the smell of pine, the excuse for glitter, and the freezing weather that makes everyone want to squeeze in closer. I love how the frost makes the earth sparkle in the rising sun just before it begins to melt {I know it's surprising, but out here in California, it melts … usually}. Everything and everyone seems to have an extra glow that undeniably resembles love ... which then reminds me of His grace and salvation. Praise the Lord.

Last year, we Benson’s had few decorations and a tree that could fit on top of our table.

See exhibit a: tree on top of table

While we made our little home feel warm and cozy, sans the smell of a real life Christmas tree, we are excited to celebrate this season with a little bit more glitter and lights. This year, we will have real stockings to put on the mantle, as opposed to the hand-sewn scraps of fabric I made last year {my hope was that from a certain angle, they just might resemble a stocking. No such luck.}

See exhibit b: handmade fabric bags

But shortly after Christmas, I made my way to the ridiculously-marked-down-Christmas-section at Target, and purchased some beautiful, machine-sewed stockings, that would otherwise have been much too overpriced to fit into my shopping cart. Nearly 340 days later, they will grace the old brick mantle we now get to take advantage of.

We are also going to welcome into our home a beautiful mess of pine needles and sap, all for the smell of a real life Christmas Tree. Well worth the mess, in my humble opinion.

{Although Christmas trees have no biblical meaning or real purpose other than to drip it’s sappy sent onto the beautifully decorated gifts, I will gladly take advantage of the only opportunity I have to bring a real tree into my house, without people thinking it’s crazy … because in reality, whether you put a real tree or a fake tree in your house at Christmas, it’s all the same sort of crazy if you really think about it.}

Also, in addition to the sap filled tree we will place in our living room, I have recently accumulated some pretty sparkly decorations which will soon adorn my mantle, and every other corner of the room. Thanks to the flee market and Target’s dollar rack, this year’s decorations cost a grand total of $6. Bring on the mess that will certainly ensue from these glittery eye-catchers!

Ornaments: Target for $1 each & Everything else: Flee Market for $2 Total

Great deals are even happier when they are on pretty Christmas decorations!

back to the 80’s

Nowadays, the 80’s seem to be everywhere.  Not only has the decade of feathered bangs and leggings made its way into the new/10-years old millennium {while some may think that a good thing, I beg to differ}, they have also made it into our favorite fall forecast; making it not-so-favorite-anymore.  I know that I have already dedicated at least one prior post to my dreams of cool, crisp, fall … and here I go again.  I mean, come on!  It’s November 4th and the little weather icon in the corner of my laptop keeps announcing to me that it is 81 degrees.  That is TOO hot for November.  Now I am about to make a statement that some may consider controversial or even politically incorrect, but you know what?  I’m already over it (no offense) … I do not believe in global warming … or even the more propagandistic term, climate change.  I believe, if the climate is in fact changing, then it has little to do with the little ants {people} that are crawling on the planet, and more to do the fact that God has decided to make a change.  He does have the right {and ability} to do that ,you know.  {Now I’m not saying we shouldn’t do our part to take care of the gift He has given us … etc, etc, etc …. we could go on for hours about this subject.  Why did I even venture into pandora’s box?} Anyway, back to my point/rant.  While I know I may be very well writing the same thing about winter turning into spring come March, I would like to take this time to wish/pray one more time for bonfire season to make it’s way back to us in little ol’ northern California.  I am not complaining, because let’s be serious, the current weather outside my window is gorgeous.  Sunlight beaming through bright red and yellow trees … b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l.  Another reason why I love California {I am racking up reasons why I love it since last Tuesday was a very definite reminder as to why I hate it, but that’s another box that I would rather not open … at least entirely just yet.} 

Is there a point to the above collage of words that seems to make little to no sense when I re-read it?  Well, if any, it is this:  the moment I begin to complain/whine/wish-for-something-I-don’t-have, I am reminded at how spectacular God is, as He shows me His beauty through the warm breeze as it moves through the colorful leaves.  Yes … He knows what He is doing with this 80 degree weather.  I don’t, but he does.  And I guess, that is the point.