A Day Filled with Merriment

I know, I know this is the beginning of a brand new year....Christmas is a faint memory to some, but since our Christmas celebration was postponed this year to this past Sunday, instead of ringing in the New Year today, I am still basking in the glow of our merriment.

The festivities began about 8:00 AM with many of us driving from at least an hour or two away. Too bad we couldn't hitch a ride on Santa's sleigh but he was long gone by the time we gathered.

Coffee...definitely coffee began the day of giving, and eating....yes, there was a lot of eating.  My daughter is an excellent cook and it is always a belly pleasing day when she and her husband prepare the meals (notice there was an s on the word meal)...

I wrapped presents until I ran out of tape...but some were rather large so Santa (aka me) just brought them in their packing boxes...heh, when I was a little girl, Santa never wrapped anything. The unwrapped presents were neatly displayed under the tree when we awoke (always, always extra early) on Christmas morn.  So some were wrapped, others not.

And then the frenzy of unwrapping began....

Sam wears his gift wrapping well....

Charlie kept waiting for his....

Mac was getting bored....

Sunny was just content sitting in Brie's lap....

If you are looking for Toby & Cinder...they stayed home.  Between 3 cats and 2 dogs already, I figured adding 2 more dogs to the mix would be just a tad chaotic.  Especially since my little Cinder is not fond of the size of Mac...

There were sweet gifts....

And funny gifts....(these are old fashioned phones that actually plug into the I-phones)  The kids had a good time with these.  Brie is planning on walking thru campus talking on hers and wait for the stares....

I did manage to get a couple of posed shots....me and all the girls PS it looks like my face & my daughter's faces were smeared...oh well, it erased all of the wrinkles.

My grands....

Bailey and her main squeeze....

Hilary & Brandon....definitely Christmas Card material.

Besides the phones, all the kids had little interesting books in their stockings....Brie and Hilary are engrossed in theirs...ever once in awhile one would say..."did you know that...."

And I did mention the eating didn't I....from breakfast to snacks to dinner, a sublime spread, a taste fiesta.  

By the end of the day everyone was tired....even the toys.

And since this is New Year's Day, I want to share a lovely sentiment with you on this day of new beginnings....

May Light always surround you;
Hope kindle and rebound you.
May your Hurts turn to Healing;
Your Heart embrace Feeling.
May Wounds become Wisdom;
Every Kindness a Prism.
May Laughter infect you;
Your Passion resurrect you.
May Goodness inspire 
your Deepest Desires.
Through all that you Reach For, 
May your arms Never Tire.     ~D.Simone

Happy New Year everyone!!

Until next time.....

The "Word"

It's that time of year when some are choosing their "word" for the year.  A word that may define what they may want to achieve, aspire to, to accomplish, or live for.  Last year I chose the word "YES", yes to new adventures, new thoughts, new actions.  And I think I did a pretty darn good job of saying yes.

• I said yes to planning a trip to Italy with a blogging buddy who at the time I had not even met.  Unfortunately due to my husband's condition and hospital stays, I didn't feel comfortable leaving the country.  But I did say yes.
• I said yes to a Photography Workshop in Tennessee in the incredible Great Smoky Mtns, knowing absolutely no one, but now have beautiful memories of a time well spent.
• I said yes to starting a Family Photography Business that is beginning to blossom.
• I said yes to hosting the women from "Focusing On Life" the collaborative blog that I participate in at my home in August....all coming from Texas, New Jersey, Kentucky, Arizona, and Oklahoma which was an absolute glorious 3 days.  Some of us had never met, but life sisters we have become.
• I said yes and participated in the Alzheimer's Walk in October raising money for research to conquer this terrible disease that has taken my husband from me along with millions more.   

There are more yes's yet to come and I want to hold on to that word for as long as possible.  I think saying yes to opportunities, adventures, and new acquaintances only enhances our lives so "yes" will remain.

However this year I am adding another "new word" to my life, "compelling."  My granddaughter-in-law (and she is a very intelligent and delightful young woman, I might add, see photo above for us together) used the word a couple of times in conversation yesterday.  I don't believe I have ever said that word "outloud ever.  But I liked how she used it, how it sounded, so I referred to Webster and this is how "compelling" is defined.

: very interesting
: able to capture and hold your attention
: capable of causing someone to believe or agree
: strong and forceful
: causing you to feel that you must do something

With synonyms being...
: conclusive, convincing, decisive, effective, persuasive, satisfying, strong & telling.

So this year I want to be conclusive and decisive, I want to be strong (not forceful), I want to be very interesting and capture your attention, satisfying & telling.  That's a big word to swallow, I may have bitten off more than I can chew.  But when you are on the downhill swing of life, this is not the time to shrink from challenges, live out-loud so someone said.  And that is what I hope to do in 2014.  Lead a compelling, live "out-loud" life.

Do you have a word for 2014?  If you do, I would love to hear, do tell.

It is time to say goodbye to 2013.  It was a year filled with many ups and a few downs for me, but as the year ends, I am content and filled with thanks.

"Wanting something is not enough.  You must hunger for it.  Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way."  ~  Les Brown

Until next time...

It's Today....

It's today....it's Christmas Eve.  How did that happen?  My Christmas cards are still not sent...but they will be, just as soon as I can get to the Post Office.  I know they will be late, but Christmas is not just a day, but a feeling that we should have all year through.  Don't ya love getting that straggler card, it is a reminder that Christmas is still here even after the 25th has come and gone....and we really don't know the exact date that Jesus Christ was born, I think Hallmark gave it that particular day....just like they did Sweetheart Day and Secretary Day.  All kidding aside, Christmas is an extraordinary day, the day that Christ was "born", a day that made the world more special and our lives filled with his everlasting love.  He carries me through the hard times, he lifts me up when I fall, he gives me strength when I am weary, so yes, Christmas is special.

This holiday season I have missed my sweetie alot....as I drove to see my daughter's dance recital, I became particularly teary thinking of all the years past that we have been there sitting 5th row center year after year.  And by the way, driving and crying don't mix well.   Then we had a health scare with my oldest granddaughter and he wasn't here to hold my hand and give me a hug and say that everything would be alright (and it was, but it sure was scary for awhile), and the shopping together, and the decorating the house together.  I have been exceedingly busy this holiday, and I am so blessed to have so many friends, but man do I miss my man.

I hope your Christmas is filled with the love of family and the joy of friends....Toby, Cinder and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

And I hope that Santa is extra special to you this year.

Merry Christmas!!!

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?”   ~  Bob Hope

Until next time.....

Missing the Moments....

Oh my stars, it has been a busy busy couple of weeks.  This shortened holiday season has brought on a "love-hate" relationship with this particular year.  I absolutely LOVE the Christmas holidays, I love the decorating, the parties, the festivities, the church events, the holiness but this year it has just been a hectic, hectic event, and I have missed the quiet, reflective moments that should come during this time of the year.  Whenever I would sit down, I either fell immediately asleep from exhaustion, or I would

hop right back up remembering that something else had to be attended to.  

I always start my day with a cup of coffee from one of my sweet Christmas mugs, but don't ask me the last time I actually sat and read the newspaper.  How do we get our lives wound so tightly that I can't even enjoy the morning paper?  I think I have fallen in the "must get it all done" category and I am going down for the count.  

Now don't misunderstand me when I say I have had a love-hate relationship with this season, I have enjoyed all the wonderful events that I have been a part of this year .....

A Christmas Tea with some special girlfriends at a wonderful tiny little restaurant that was absolutely delightful....

Finished my holiday decorating which seemed to take FOREVER this year....

Slipped out one afternoon to take a quick drive to the Arboretum...we have had snow and I wanted to capture that beauty, but because I was so busy, I missed the most beautiful time when the snow is laying on the limbs of the trees....

But it snowed again today, so I was able to capture some of the snow on branches...

Tuesday was our Bunco Christmas party where I ate again....after Monday's trip to the Christmas Tea you would think I wouldn't be hungry...doesn't seem to work that way, at least for me anyway.  Home-made lasagna oh yum...!!!

And then Thursday was our annual Book Club Christmas Dinner that I host...I always insist on hosting because it pushes me to decorate my house for the holidays.  I provide the ham (and it was divinely edible) and all the members bring a dish or drink...it was like manna for the innards.  Again, eating eating eating.

Friday was the Dance Recital...I posted a couple of pics from the dress rehearsal, but Friday night was the real thing.  Oh it was great!!  My daughter outdid herself this time, with all the wonderful dances and costuming, I know I am bragging but it really was quite the production.  My youngest granddaughter, Brie arrived home from Iowa State for the holidays....and was sure wishing she was part of the show.  The only dancing she did for the night was the traditional jump.....  PS Brie is the one NOT in costume.

My daughter is always delighted when Brie is home for awhile....but right now Lisa (daughter) and her husband Sam, are in Las Vegas for a little wedding anniversary celebration and then they are off to San Diego for Christmas and the Northern Illinois University Poinsettia Bowl Game on the 26th.  So Christmas will be postponed until Sunday, the 29th.  I was quite upset (like crying upset) when she told me they would not be home for Christmas, the first time ever we have not been together on Christmas, but being the POM coach she had no choice but to go.  My two granddaughters and I are doing a girls' day on Christmas, so looking forward to having my two all grown up granddaughters all to myself.

Last night I was doing this....in prep for a Cookie Exchange, had the holiday music playing and was baking and frosting some tasty cookies.  Five dozen cookies was the ticket....but I just couldn't squeeze 5 dozen out of the batch I made...they kept getting tinier and tinier but only made it to 4 1/2 dozen.

My friend, Marti's niece had her annual brunch/cookie exchange so off we went with 5 dozen cookies (me with my 4 1/2)  each, to be greeted by dozens and dozens more.  What a delightful afternoon. Again, another food bonanza.

Even Lucy enjoyed the festivities with her Christmas attire...

So tonight when I arrived home, I made myself a cup of coffee, ate a couple of the cookies from the afternoon, lit the candles and had some of that quiet, reflective time that I have missed, and this time I didn't fall asleep, or hop up to attend to something undone.  We all need that quiet time, that thoughtful time, that reflective time to really take in all the goodness that surrounds us.

"Don't wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect." 

Hope you have been having some perfect moments during this Christmas holiday.

Until next time....

Debbie Downer Has Left the Building

After posting that downer blog-post yesterday....one of my good friends suggested that perhaps a glass of wine and cuddling up with a good book would make me feel better.  Well, I drank the wine without hesitation, but failed to read a book.  Just sat and looked at the Christmas Tree lights which always makes the world look better, doesn't it?!  

So this morning, I decided that today would be a better day, and it was.

I decided that joy was going to fill my day....since today was our last Bible Study gathering until after the New Year, we always have a brunch.  We women really know how to brunch well, don't we?!  My contribution to the brunch was supposed to be a sweet bread....notice I said the word "supposed". My plan was to have the concerto of sweet and sour cranberry walnut bread with a cranberry goat cheese spread from Trader Joe's.  Why bake when you can buy their wares from foodie heaven?  Well, now comes the part about why I didn't bring this platter of goodness to the brunch.  I had stored the bread in the oven...when I brought it out to cut this morning, I noticed a big chunk missing from one side. Hmmm, what is this??  Upon further investigation, not only did the bread have a big hole, but so did the plastic and the paper surrounding the bread.  Obviously we have mice that found their way into our oven and feasted on my offering for the brunch.  Drats....I really don't like mice and now I have to set traps of some sort, to get rid of those pesky critters.  We have a big field across the street and now that the weather is cold and snowy they must be seeking shelter in cozy places like my oven.  Oh well, things happen.  I figured there would be plenty to eat and my contribution would not be missed.  That was not going to take the joy out of my day.

After the brunch, 3 SUV's were loaded with clothing donations from the ladies from our Bible Study that we took to a shelter in the next community north of here.  This is an organization that "gives" not sell clothing to the needy as well as food and teaches them skills to help them make their way in the world.  My heart was happy to do this for those that are in so much need.

Then off to see my sweetie who was in such a good mood, I received lots of smiles and a kiss or two. That really makes my heart happy and filled with joy.

Then finally a stop off at a woodsy area where I thought maybe I could capture a snowy scene, but really all I found was this lady walking her dog.  Snow we have and there is predictions for more this week.  We may have a white Christmas, wouldn't that be nice!!

So Debbie Downer has left the building, no more sadness.  I guess those curve balls that can hit you straight on help you to recognize all those that passed you by.

"Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and focus on what could go right."   Author Unknown

Until next time....

Tomorrow Will Be Better

It's been a little stressful lately, I will admit and I won't go into details, but life has thrown me a few curve balls lately and I'm not doing well at dodging.  They are hitting me straight on....so all I am going to do today is just show you images from my day.

My Christmas mugs always delight me...

And the snow gave us a little magic...

The setting sun was beautiful last night....

But somehow I am just feeling a little like the lone berry just barely hanging on.

Tomorrow will be better.

Until next time....