Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays! Wherever you find yourself this holiday season, here's to your days being filled with hope, joy, and contentment and a new year filled with excitement and growth! 

Lots of love from South Africa,

G&E and Rolo

Christmas cheer!

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! Despite the fact that South Africa does not celebrate Thanksgiving, I was able to participate in turkey-laden festivities for three, blessed reasons:

1)      My husband appreciates and goes along with all my holiday activities (I’m a lucky girl),

2)      I have friends here – both American and South African – who wanted to create a full-fledged Thanksgiving meal,

3)      And I work at an American institution, so I got the whole Thanksgiving weekend off! Hooray!

Now that Thanksgiving is over, the Christmas season has officially begun! I have always been one of those “no-Christmas-music-before-Thanksgiving” people…although the longer I live abroad, the earlier and earlier that rule bends. But especially with living in a country that is in summer during Christmas, I try to work extra hard to make the season feel festive.

Christmas music (as previously mentioned) is a must. 

Especially George Winston and Frank Sinatra (among many others).

And embarrassingly, the Chipmunks are also a must. As a kid, my mom and I would bake and dance around the house to this album (can I even call it that?), so it's just kind of stuck with me. 

Snickerdoodles. And they must have red and green sprinkles. Must. (Sorry the picture isn't great...I made these for Thanksgiving and only took a picture on my phone to send to my mom. Please ignore the plastic wrap.)

Christmas movies. Where do I even begin?

I’m trying to do more crafty things this holiday season, a) because it’s cute and b) it saves money. I’ve already started putting this garland together (above) and it’s so fun!

Also necessary: Snuggling with family on the couch, reflecting on the year passing, praying for the year to come. 

What makes it feel like the holiday season for you? And if the holiday season is not a particularly festive time for you, or you are far away from family, how do you cope? I'd really love to hear.

Hoping you are filled with lots of joy and love,

EF

Some Pre-Thanksgiving Gratitude

Thanksgiving is in two days. (I never know if you’re technically supposed to count the day you’re in, but I don’t like doing that.) I don’t know if that came quickly or not. I guess it did when I think about the fact that this time last year, I was wrapping up last minute details for our wedding on the 7^th of December.

Last year, Thanksgiving came and went because we were so busy with our wedding. The year before that, some friends and I did celebrate; but every year (in South Africa), it’s hard to make Thanksgiving Day feel like Thanksgiving, and this year has felt the hardest. It’s hot here (we’re in summer), there’s very little holiday decorations, leaves are not changing colors, and pumpkin is very far from abundant here. But mostly, I’ve been missing my family, friends, and various aspects of the States more than normal, I think, so it feels better to not think about those things sometimes.

But then last night, as I was cutting red, yellow, and orange, paper leaves for a Thanksgiving celebration tomorrow night with friends, I suddenly really missed Thanksgiving. I missed celebrating it in cool weather; I missed decorating the house; I missed being festive. And then this morning, as I realized that I missed being grateful. Yes, there is a lot that I miss right now and it is totally a fact that I won’t be with certain people on Thursday or have a cold, cozy day full of pumpkin galore, but I have so much to be grateful for! And gratitude is truly mind changing.

So, I wanted to share just a few things that, at the moment, I am particularly grateful for. Wherever you are this week or on Thursday, I hope you see lots that you have to be thankful for and that it transforms your day.

Love,

EF

In no particular order…

- Technology. Lately, I am so aware that my life abroad...and specifically, my relationships...would be completely different (and difficult) without technology. Skype, Facetime, email, Facebook, Instagram, blogging, etc...it all comes from technology. I am so thankful for ability to get a hold of my family or friends (relatively) any time I want. AND for the ability to create holiday festivity through printable cut-outs found on Pinterest and to listen as much Christmas music as my heart can handle.

- My family. Sometimes the distance makes missing them feel like more than I can bare, but every text message, every Facetime session, every email makes that distance a little bit smaller.

- My husband. I'm so thankful that he makes me feel so loved. And that he just listens and hugs me when I cry and miss home. And that he happily and eagerly participates in my festive activities. And that he eats my baked goods. And that he has worked so hard and has now finished his law degree!! (He's been done for a week now but we're still revelling in the joy of the end.)

- Music. I'm thankful that I can pretty much listen to it anywhere at any time and that it lifts my soul. And I'm thankful that I have working ears to hear it with.

- I'm thankful for my in-laws who have completely pulled me into their family for (more than) the past year and who have planned a wonderful, Christmas holiday for all of us!

- I'm thankful that I get to celebrate Thanksgiving twice this year! With a dinner tomorrow night and Thursday night.

- And I'm very grateful that I since I now work an American institution, I get Thursday and Friday off! :)

Happy Early Thanksgiving, everyone! :)

Easter Weekend/Four-Day Weekend

Hello all!

I hope everyone had a relaxing Easter weekend. This past weekend we (here in SA) were blessed to get a four-day weekend! Friday was a national holiday for Good Friday and Monday was a national holiday for...either Easter Monday or Family Day. (I think it's one of those, "they originally made it a holiday for Easter but now they can't make it exclusively a religious holiday, so they decided to make it Family Day". Either way, I'll take it! And which has meant that this week has been a four day week!

Husband and I spent most of the weekend relaxing, eating good food, and watching movies...and then made up for the lack of physical activity on Monday with a 12-15K hike. It was so. great! Sometimes, I can really struggle with sitting inside all day for work, so it really does me good (which means it does the husband good too) to be surrounded by the outdoors.
We went with a large group of friends and their kids (see pictures below); saw weird bugs, and swam in freezing, natural springs (and jumped from high heights to get into them...although I'm lacking pictures of this since I got roped in to jumping too). It was such a wonderful way to spend these last few, glorious summer days! (That actually may have been the last, as it is now cloudy, cold, and a bit windy.) And I personally think being outside is one of the BEST ways to get closer to God; and after Easter Sunday - the conclusion of a week of studying (for me personally) and being reminded of the truly, AMAZING grace we're given when we really do not deserve it - I just felt like I was basking in God's glory and kindness.

How was your Easter weekend? Hope you got some more time off than just two days and are enjoying the oncoming change of seasons. It's refreshing either way (spring or fall). :)

Love from the Southern Hemisphere,
EF

I love the African high veld!

So beautiful!

I love this picture! You could hardly see through the brush and then...Luke appeared!

Crazy, colourful grasshopper.

The water was FREEZING (I'm really not exaggerating) but so refreshing. The boys were the brave ones who went in first.

After the big jump and swim (behind all those rocks) and starting to dry off. 

On our way home, we stopped at this charming restaurant that has been there since 1921! They had dried fishing hanging in the foyer...I'm not sure why and it is a recent addition...that smelled like it had been there since 1921.

View from the restaurant.

A stunning end to a glorious, summer day. 

True love

Happy Valentine's Day!

So, yesterday I had written most of this post and thought I would be ahead for the day, but then a few thoughts came up last night that I thought I should share and, to be honest, are a bit more meaningful than what I had previously planned.

We have a church service every other Wednesday night - more of a workshop - and right now, we're in a series on marriage. Last night's lesson was great and really left me with a lot to think about, but one particular thought has stuck with me so strongly.

"Love never fails." - 1 Corinthians 13:8

It's not a new statement. It's not revolutionary. And the Bible does not talk about love in the "happily ever after" way that our society portrays in movies, books, etc. Love that the bible speaks about  - true, real love - is selfless. It is sacrificial. It initiates. It holds onto nothing bad and it never looks to its own interests. It really isn't glamorous. And that's why it never fails; because it is always better to be loving, to be giving, to be selfless. Even when I'm hurt or confused or my feeling are off, showing love to my husband and others is the best option. It always works.

You might be sitting there thinking, "duh", but I have found this to be a powerful reminder that I am trying to apply every day. And in light of what has happened in South Africa today (have a look here if you're not sure...it's so sad), I feel desperate to cling to the good and to love - to love despite my feelings indicating otherwise. The world needs real love - selfless, sacrificial, self-controlled love.

So, I thought this was a more appropriate thought on love than the below, and it applies to everyone - single or not. :) The below is still fun, nonetheless, and I would like to share, if you'd still like to read.

Growing up, my mom always made Valentine’s Day special in little ways. We’d come home from our days to a dinner table set with a red table cloth, one red, heart-shaped balloon tied to each of our chairs, and a small heart-shaped basket in front of our dinner plate that would have a few small presents – candy, pens, those wash-clothes that open when you put them in water. It wasn't anything extravagant, but it made the day special regardless of what happened the rest of the day – regardless of if I had “a valentine” or not. I think I always liked Valentine’s Day, but felt like I needed to be a typical girl and wallow in self-loathing and rom-coms.

As I got older, it became more of a day where I (subconsciously and/or secretly) had an excuse to daydream without guilt about my future Mr. Darcy and where he may be and what he could be like. (Please tell me someone else did/does feel that way?) As well as bake lots of brownies and continue watching rom-coms with my girlfriends.

Now, being married – yes it’s nice to have an automatic date, but – I think what I love most about Valentine’s Day is just basking in the love of simple things: red (love anything red!), extra sweets and chocolates (actually, this happens all year long for me), the Valentine’s Day soundtrack (have you heard it? so fun!), and stormy summer days (in the southern hemisphere. If I was living in the Northeast still, this would be the hope of approaching, warm spring days).

So, what little things are you loving right now? And jumping back to the more serious side of love: what do you find most challenging about practicing real love?

Here are a few of my loves right now and my Mr. Darcy. :) 

Lots of love,

E

Milk-chocolate covered marshmallows. I CAN'T STOP eating them!

Closet inspiration. I'm trying to choose things I pin on Pinterest and actually  finds ways to do them at home. I loved this multipurpose closet...we'll see if I can incorporate this at home. ;) You can find picture on my "Nesting" board on Pinterest. 

Summer thunderstorms. Miami looks like this in the summer, so I'm so lucky to have moved somewhere that has similar summer weather. We're in the peak of it right now and have probably has this picture happen three times this week, already! That picture shows the Johannesburg skyline. 

I fell in love the first time I saw these! Pictures of my attempt to bake them coming soon!. :) You can the link to this recipe  under my "Sweet tooth" board on Pinterest. 

My mother actually introduced me to this website and again,  instant love. They do online and paper invitations that  are just stunning!

My Mr. Darcy :)

the festive season

Hope everyone had a wonderful (and restful) holiday season! It’s funny how holidays are often not as relaxing and restful as you plan (but wonderful nonetheless).

We came back from our honeymoon (Cape Town) in mid-December and then took off to Durban on Christmas Eve; spending the week there. We had a wonderful and warm time in the sun, on the beach, and celebrating our first Christmas together. Everything was spectacular until the day before we were supposed to leave. In a surfing accident, my husband of three weeks tore a golf-ball size junk out of his leg and landed in the ER with 15 stitches. (At least it wasn't on our honeymoon!)

All the while, we have been having so much fun settling into our new life (and little home) together…more on all that to come!

Here are a few pictures from Durban and our honeymoon, if you’d like to see.

x,

EF (Elizabeth/Ellie/Elle Fulton...I'm still trying out all the combos) :)

Honeymooning in Cape Town - so wonderful, relaxing, and warm!

Our first Christmas tree! I can't remember why G needed a knife for this. 

Our first Christmas! Christmas after a wedding is a small but exciting affair. 

We stayed with some friends in Durban over  Christmas; this was their drift-wood Christmas tree. I love it.

Rainbow over the Indian Ocean

Honeymoon sunset

love.

Cheers to 2013!

Happy New Year!

2012 was quite a year (uh, we got married!)! We can’t wait to see what 2013 has in store.

Sending loads of fun, prayers, and love to all our family and friends around the world.

 

 

 May you see God work wondrously in your life this year!

Love,

Mr and Mrs Fulton

 

 

 

 

New Christmas

It is just a few days before Christmas and I am finding myself desperately trying to “feel like Christmas”. Between our wedding, summer in the Southern Hemisphere, and South Africa’s take on Christmas (but mostly the wedding), it has not felt like Christmas at all. I barely got to celebrate Thanksgiving, which is always the Christmas kick-off for me, so perhaps that’s where the downfall began.  

I also have found being married to be full of surprising transitions; notwithstanding, Christmas traditions. A few days ago, husband and I went to buy our Christmas tree. They do not have real pine trees here in South Africa; so we bought a cute (and by cute I mean small) fake one. We also had to buy decorations. I think I took for granted that every year there are the same decorations at home; the same candles, the same ornaments, the same snowman holding a sign that says “Think Snow” – but now we have to buy our own, new ones. How can this be home-y and traditional?! I was getting quite emotional over this.

And then I read the blog of a friend who, after being married six years, actually shared similar sentiments. What I found so encouraging (and a good reminder!) is that we (mostly me) need to enjoy creating our own traditions! (duh!) I knew this; but somehow in the hustle and bustle of transitioning to married life, I forgot.  I want our first Christmas to be wonderful and memorable, and I want us to create our own traditions that our kids will one day feel that it doesn’t feel like Christmas without. And I want husband to feel like it’s Christmas for him as well – which means pulling in SA traditions. (pray for me!) J 

So here are a few ideas I’ve collected, or movies we will definitely be watching. What are some traditions you’ve built up over the years? If you’re married, what was your first Christmas like?

Here’s to a wonderful, festive, and new Christmas – wherever you are in the world!

Xo

Ellie

How adorable is this?! And they have popsicle sticks in SA!

My family has always watched this on Christmas Eve and last year, my husband (then boyfriend), got to join us for it. I think this is one tradition we'll be keeping.

Christmas crackers! My family never did these growing up, but started to in the past couple years when my aunt would bring them over from England. But here in SA they are a must. They come with all sorts of goodies inside - and for all budgets. We already bought ours - the least expensive ones we could find. :)

I was quite happy to learn that the "gammon" requested by my husband for Christmas dinner is basically just ham! I think I can manage this.

I'm so blessed to have a husband that understands American humor. He cried laughing the first time he saw this. We will definitely we keeping this as a Christmas Day tradition.