12.10.2013

Get Thrilled. Do it Now.

we are late christmas decorators. it's pretty simple:for the most part we are just lazy. 

but (and here's where things get ticklish because of FEELINGS) we are also staunch no-christmas-until-after-thanksgiving people. that is our stance, but WE DO NOT JUDGE. so dont even think about taking that personally or trying to convert me or explain why your family puts up their tree in mid-september. i dont incredibly care and i am very happy to let you do things your way. UNFORCED BREEZY TOLERANT SMILE.

controversy AVERTED!

and even though i havent deliberately tried to inculcate my kids with this thinking (i spend my time trying to inculcate them with cheese), i guess they absorbed it just from the vapors in our Dukes-y airspace. i was trying to fudge my own rule a teensy bit on the day before thanksgiving by putting on the christmas Pandora channel while driving with judah, thinking, "let's make some mommy & son magic memories!" 

imagine my surprise when, far from dazzled by his holiday love for me, he growled at me from the back "NO CHRISTMAS MUSIC! BROWN AND ORANGE COME BEFORE RED AND GREEN!" okay, so that is a trademark keight dukes phrase and i just wasnt expecting it to come at me like that from my 4 year old. in the drive through of Arby's no less!  but it is true in our house and i repent and throw myself upon the mercy of my own court for having violated our policy. amen.

so we got our tree two days ago, on the 8th (early decorators will find this to be heresy). but this year we werent *just* waiting for thanksgiving to be over before we decorated. we were also holding off until our newest and most favority favorite bit of christmas decor arrived in the post!

see, my BFF raechel has this brain. and with her brain decided she wanted her favorite christmas carol lyric made into a pretty print. and she also has this brother in law who is a just mind-bogglingly talented artist, whom she asked to bring her lyric to life, and to just let loose with his skills into making this thing the ultra-business. 

i more than slightly think that he did:

as soon as raechel posted the resulted of caleb's work upon her mantle, i was gobsmacked (and i dont use that word lightly, because it's super heavy, guys). it was one of those things where your heart tries to jump outside your body and type in your credit card info SOMEWHERE so that you too may possess the THING (this also happens to me whenever i look at John Krasinski because of YUM).

i love O Holy Night above all other christmas songs, and it's not even close. each line is jam-packed with the power of exactly what jesus being born was all about, and the one lyric that raechel chose and caleb brought to life is by far one of my favorite in the entire song (i also love "chains shall he break" and "the soul felt its worth" aaaaaand pretty much all of them).

i was giddy when my print arrived in its fancy mail tube (insert vas deferens joke HERE...unless that is inappropriate on a christmas post). i immediately took it to our most stylish wall in the house and had a photo shoot.

ohmanohmanohmanohman this thing is beyond gorgeous!

every little detail is just perfect:




and yes, my king was born in a smelly stable, but he is in fact the king of kings, so i really felt like i wanted an appropriately "glorious" frame for this print. 

so we experienced a further decorating delay when i went to Michael's with an awesome custom framing coupon and it was still going to cost me more than its weight in snow leopard plasma to have one made. jesse and i real quick came up with our own method of making a frame from scratch for waaaaay cheaper and as soon as the paint was dry, i was ready to rock around the christmas tree my awesome new jesus art

i mean, honestly. never has a preposition looked so splendid


i feel like the word could be "potato" but i would still totally read "Thrill" because it's just so thrilling.

indeed

and then 2 days later we got our tree. if ever i have to choose one of these christmas items to keep and one to get rid of...the tree shall fall.

and lucky ducky us, we can all have this beautiful reminder of that baby and what he brought us. caleb sells these prints in 3 different sizes (for reference mine is a 20x20)  on his website. he is offering free shipping for all of yall with code K80 (thanks to raechel for that new nickname).

and, oh YOU GUYS YOU GUYS YOU GUYS (which is also my most used parenting phrase) caleb is giving away a free 12x12" print right this minute right here on this very URL [on this URL, on this URL, on this very christmas URL]  (right? who's with me?).


enter in the giveaway robot below (give it a second to load) and one lucky you will able to have some of this goodness outshining your tree before santa ever sets eyes on the inside of your chimney (should i not have mentioned him? did we get a controversy after all? man, christmas can be touchy on the internet!).


90 comments:

  1. I'm most thrilled about roadtripping to Ga!! It better be warm there.

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  2. Brenna loves that art12/10/13, 12:57 PM

    I want one I want one I want one I want one!

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  3. The print is gorgeous as is the frame. I would LOVE to hear more about how you out framed Michael's. Their stuff is nice, but SO expensive, even with a coupon.

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  4. The print is gorgeous as is the frame. I would LOVE to hear more about how you out framed Michael's. Their stuff is nice, but SO expensive, even with a coupon.

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  5. I am thrilled about celebrating the greatest Gift of all!! :)

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  6. at this very moment, i am most thrilled about this print--because you just crossed a half-dozen people off my list with this one post. thanks!

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  7. What a gorgeous print. I LOVE your frame. Do tell about your cheaper framing process. I love love love what you came up with!
    I'm so excited to spend quiet time with my brood during the holidays!

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  8. I'm thrilled that I have three babies with whom to share my love of nativities!

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  9. hanging out with my nieces!

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  10. hanging out with my nieces!

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  11. I am the most thrilled about being done with school finally and forever for the first Christmas since I was approximately 4 years old and actually having a home versus a college apartment/hovel to decorate and celebrate Christmas in! Being invested in the place that you're living in actually makes a huge difference. Thanks for doing the giveaway! :)

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  12. I am thrilled we get to enjoy Christmas as a family!!

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  13. i'm thrilled that i have a happy, healthy family to spend this season with! i'm also thrilled that for the first time, i can say that i truly understand the meaning of christmas!

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  14. Loved this on Raechel's blog and love it here!! This is definitely one of my 2 favorite Christmas songs. My favorite line hands down is "for the slave is our brother", this was written during the fight to abolish slavery so that line just fills my heart!

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  15. Since I graduate in May and turn into an adult, this is my last month-long Christmas break- I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to do all of the fun Christmas things Atlanta has to offer!

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  16. Thrilled to have a new baby girl to celebrate with!

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  17. I am thrilled about this giveaway! And about being almost done baking bun #3 as I'll be 37 weeks on Dec 26! Let's do this.

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  18. I'm thrilled to get a week off to go home and see my family!!! Living far, far away is hard sometimes, so going home for the holidays is always a highlight of my year! :)

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  19. Aside from the thrill of possibly winning a print (!!!) I'm thrilled to experience the magic of Christmas through the eyes of my babies.

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  20. I'm thrilled to get a week off of work to go home to see my whole family for the holidays!! Living far, far away is hard, but going home for the holiday's is always a highlight of my year! :)

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  21. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to win a print (!!!) but even more thrilled to experience the magic of Christmas through the eyes of my babies. :)

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  22. This is my first Christmas as a real, live teacher. My students thrill me with their innocence and excitement. Kindergarten is the best.

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  23. I am thrilled to have a family with which (in which?) to pursue Jesus--to have people to be thrilled alongside, because God-with-us is too much thrill for just me.

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  24. I am thrilled to have family with which to celebrate Jesus...because God-with-us is too much thrill for just me.

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  25. Seeing our 1.5 year old discover Christmas lights and stare at our tree!

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  26. (p.s.....I'm unthrilled that I don't have a smartphone on which to have instagram....otherwise I'd totally follow Caleb.)

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  27. I am thrilled to spend time with my 4 beautiful children, and husband, of course.

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  28. I think it goes without saying that I LOVE Christmas and I don't care who knows it! ELF, duh. I decorate BEFORE Thanksgiving and cry a little when the decorations come down. Besides the new dog collar (laugh it up) and advent calendar, I haven't gotten any new decorations. This.would.be.perfect. and I am thrilled about seeing my family for Christmas! #melekalikimaka #christmastimeisthebesttime (!!!!)

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  29. I am most thrilled about experiencing my son's first Christmas!

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  30. Oh I am so in love with this!! I've been mooning at it over on Raechels blog- and yes, the word could be potato or anything else and it would still swell with joy and hope... love, love, love

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  31. Thrilled Jillian will actually remember this Christmas (kinda)!

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  32. Thrilled that Jillian will remember Christmas from here on out!

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  33. i am most thrilled about this giveaway! and my cute son shouting "christmas lights!" in the car every time we drive by a house with christmas lights. which is a lot.

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  34. i am most thrilled about this giveaway! and my son shouting "christmas lights!" every time we drive by a house with christmas lights. which is a lot.

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  35. Super stoked about your giveaway. I've been thinking about this print ever since I saw it on Raechel's blog. Super awesome to have a simple lyric I've heard a bajillion times stand out in such a beautiful way.
    To fulfill my requirements, I'm "thrilled" to share my first Christmas with my sweet squishy baby boy, who is 11 months old next week.

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  36. im thrilled about being with family! but not thrilled about a total of 34 hours in the car with a 10 month old and a 4 year old.

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  37. i'm thrilled about trying to win this for my wife.

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  38. Beautiful print, my family hasn't gone to get our Christmas tree yet (gasp!) we were going to go this past weekend but my hubs was against traipsing through an icy forest. Hopefully soon! No worries though, we have our fake tree up. It just doesn't count in my opinion.

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  39. I am most thrilled about a week off of work to spend with my family.

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  40. I saw this on Raechel Myer's blog. What a beautiful print. I'm thrilled that I don't have to split Christmas with the in-laws (they're out of town)....is that horrible????

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  41. My daughter's boyfriend is coming home from the Navy to surprise her.

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  42. you crack me up to no end. the "chains shall he break" verse is TOTES my fave... really I just love that whole song too. and I love the print!!!

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  43. I'm thrilled to see the joy and wonder of Christmas through my kiddos!

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  44. I'm thrilled to live in snow this Christmas season, as we have always lived in the desert or tropical island. It is beautiful!

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  45. Karla Aukerman12/10/13, 5:41 PM

    I'm thrilled to enjoy Christmas traditions with my family.....and for meaningful Christmas music!!!!!

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  46. I love this song so much, too! My favorite line is "His law is love & his gospel is peace". If only my bro-in-law were a super skilled artist, that's what I'd commission. He's really good at golf, but I don't benefit from that.... anyhow, I'd be thrilled to have this print~ how can you not think of that melody when you read those words? Beautiful!

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  47. I love this song so much, too! My favorite line is "His law is love & his gospel is peace". If only my bro-in-law were a super skilled artist, that's what I'd commission. He's really good at golf, but I don't benefit from that.... anyhow, I'd be thrilled to have this print~ how can you not think of that melody when you read those words? Beautiful!

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  48. Most thrilled for fun family time over the holidays! Would also be thrilled to win this beautiful piece of art!

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  49. i'm thrilled about my nativity because i always forget how much i love the one we have until i bust it out each year. also, love judah's comment to you in the drive thru :)

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  50. i love this print! oh i want it badly!!

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  51. THrilled that I get to spend Christmas with my fam this year! Also...ummmmm, detes on the frame, please?!!!!!

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  52. I am thrilled about experiencing Christmas with my new nephew. He'll be 10 months old. There hasn't been a kid in our family in a long time.

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  53. I am thrilled of the reminders during this season that He's coming back! And the hope there is in knowing that.

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  54. I am thrilled that this year my family is moving away from the materialism of the holidays and just embraces the love and spirit associated with this time of year.

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  55. So excited to celebrate with a two year old! He's all kinds of fun!

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  56. Listening to my 4 year old share the truth about why we celebrate Christmas, JESUS!

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  57. I'm thrilled to be with our family as we'll be moving away from them all in January :(

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  58. I am thrilled to see the excitement of my two little ones. They are soaking up every bit of Christmas and it is intoxicating!

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  59. Gorgeous print and frame! Tell us more about how you made it...

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  60. Going to Florida for Christmas!

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  61. I'm excited to spend time with my parents.
    I saw this print at Raechel's and love it, too!

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  62. Such talent and so original. It is our family's favourite Christmas song too. Thanks for the giveaway Keight.
    Enjoy the wonder of the season with your sweet little people!

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  63. My little girl is two - so she's just starting to "get it". So much fun!

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  64. Watching my 2 year old son experience everything.

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  65. Love and LOVE the text you chose!!!!

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  66. I am most thrilled this year to still see that my 12 yo is seeing the magic in Christmas even though he now knows who Santa is.

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  67. Love love love the print!. I'm most excited to see my 16 month old daughter's face on Christmas morning and hear her say "Wow!"

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  68. Love love love the print! And I can't wait to see my 16 month old daughter's face on Christmas morning!

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  69. I'm thrilled that Ryan and I are buying a house! We close next week, and this print would be perfect since we definitely won't have time for other decorations.

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  70. I'm thrilled that Ryan and I are buying a house! We move in next week, so this would be the only Christmas decor we'd be putting up. It's definitely all you need though!

    www.therarestthing.com

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  71. Rachel, my sister, is coming to England tomorrow to visit! :)

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  72. My sister, Rachel, is flying to England tomorrow to come visit! :)

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  73. My Ethan's first Christmas!

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  74. My favorite line is - "In His name all oppression shall cease."

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  75. I'm thrilled to spend another Christmas with my mom, who is bedridden. Every day is a blessing!

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  76. Long time reader (stalker?) first time commenter.
    I am thrilled for my favorite time of year, Christmastime cant be beat....family, friends, giving and Jesus' birthday!
    Beautiful print, the frame really takes it to a new level!

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  77. I am most thrilled about winning this giveaway? Is that too presumptuous? But seriously, I am thrilled about the magic and wonder this season renews in my faith.

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  78. I am most thrilled about winning this giveaway. Is that too presumptuous? But seriously, I am thrilled about the magic and wonder this season renews in my faith.

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  79. I love this! O Holy Night has always been my favorite Christmas song!

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  80. I'm most thrilled to spend Christmas with our 3 kids, which is one more kiddo than we had last year. Praise God for His faithfulness!

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  81. I'm thrilled there will be no school for my girls which means time to just play and not have to be any where.

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  82. I'm thrilled to have my in-laws stay at my house! Only 2 of the last 9 Christmases have been spent with family outside my hubby and kids since we live out of state away from everyone. It's thrilling to share it with them!

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  83. I am thrilled because this line (that you wrote) proves that we're actually soulmates (sorry, Jesse):

    "it was one of those things where your heart tries to jump outside your body and type in your credit card info SOMEWHERE so that you too may possess the THING (this also happens to me whenever i look at John Krasinski because of YUM)."

    also, sorry for being kinda creepy. but we're meant to be friends.

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