Is This January?.....

 It is January in Texas, which sometimes can be mistaken as April if you do not have a calendar on hand.  Sunshine, 72 degrees, and a school holiday! The girls and I spent the better part of the afternoon having a picnic at the park along with most of the other citizens of Sachse!

 It was a great day to make multiple trips across the grass to deposit trash in the big red can.

 A day like this is going to make it very hard to face the forecast of sleet and snow that our meteorologist is predicting for the next two days....yes, always in Texas.  We change from heat to air and back again several times in the course of the week.  

 I guess we should be grateful we do get these intermittent days of reprieve when we can soak up the sun and remember that spring is right around the corner.

Back indoors, we pulled out the play do.  Love the smell of the clay in a can.  It takes me back years to the days that I spent picking pink and blue specks out of the carpet.  It is hours of fun that entertains generation after generation.

How can that be bad??

Love having an 80 degree day and two girls to spend it with!

Coming Down........

It is a chore....and not a fun chore.  While putting up Christmas decorations is always done with the enthusiasm of the upcoming holiday, taking it down just is NOT fun at all.

 So, here we are past mid January and I still have a snow covered tree and strings of garland adorning my back yard.  

 I have to say, I enjoy it.  The colors of Christmas make me happy.  Bright red and green, and sparkling poinsettias cannot help but make you smile.  So much cheerier that the drab colors of fall.

In order to avoid feeling the wrath of our HOA, I am going out this afternoon and remove all of the remnants of the holiday and pack it up for next year.  It is not fun, but it is necessary.  What to replace it with?  I guess Valentines would work but that would require another plastic tub full of decor with a very short life on the mantle so I think I will pass and just wait for Memorial Day...that can stay up until Labor Day and that is my kind of decorating.

A Big Step.....

I was reluctant.  In all honesty I really thought the best answer to the question was no. 

I told Kathy I would pray about it and I did but I was pretty sure that God would know what was in my heart and He would agree with me that it was not something I was meant to do.

I love my church...really love it.  We were one of the founding families of our parish.  I went to church, had my children baptized, and sent them all through religious instruction.  Then I got a bit lost.  I think it was after Matt died.  I did not want to go back to church.  It was a reminder of the large crowd of people that came to mourn the loss of my son.  I kept coming back to that day and being in that building was just too hard for me.  I left the church except for an occasional visit and it wasn't until about three and a half years ago that my attendance became regular again.  I remember the Sunday I went back....distinctly.  I knew the minute I walked through the door that I was home.  I was where I was supposed to be.  

In the last three and a half years I have found God in the most amazing way, not just in the church but in the community of people that make up the body of our church.  I have found my place in Vacation Bible School, Faith Formation, and the other ministries that have become such a part of my life.  I am  more content and possibly more fulfilled than I ever thought possible....

but then came the question

.  Would I join the team of Eucharistic Ministers?  

Would I be one of the people I respect so much that are chosen to distribute the Body and Blood of Christ during mass?  I really did not want to.  What would make me worthy of something like that?

First task besides praying for an answer...locate my Confirmation Certificate.  I was pretty sure I knew where I was confirmed but that was 55 years ago.  A call to the church seemed to lead to a dead end...they could not find it so I assumed that was my answer....it is not meant to be.  

Five days later my certificate was in my mailbox...still more prayer.  I was not convinced I had my answer yet.  They asked me again and I agreed to turn in the application which still had to be submitted for approval....maybe it would not pass the board...maybe I really was not meant for this.

Approved, and instruction and time for commissioning set up.  I guess I have an answer.  It came not like I thought, not in a direct feeling in my heart that it was right but it came when all of the pieces suddenly fell in place.  Sometimes something comes along that we do not expect and though reluctant we accept the invitation and hope that we are worthy of the assignment.  I am honored, I am nervous, I am apprehensive, and I hope that I am doing what pleases God.  It is a big step for me....I hope I am ready.

"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.  then the peace of God that surpasses all understudying will guard hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4: 6-7

Big Three Party!.....

 Today was Finley's big day...her baby birthday party!

Come on over and bring your favorite doll...it is time to celebrate a special real doll.

 Finley is totally her daddy's daughter...but totally has her Gramma's passion for sugar!

Only a real sugar addict eats only the icing.  I think she learned from the best!

 This little girl is all girl, wanting to be surrounded by nothing but baby dolls and bottles fort her special day with her friends.  Ahhhh...I could love another half dozen little girls just like her.  She makes everything perfect.

A big day for a big girl and all her little friends.

Life is good...these smiles prove it is so.

Three? Oh My!!!......

How can this be?  

This precious cuddly baby girl born what seems like yesterday is THREE years old!

I adore this baby...who is now a big girl (just mention baby and you are quickly corrected).

She is joy in a precious little package.

She LOVES babies or anything she can cuddle and I am happiest when she decides that her favorite thing to cuddle is me!
She is bright,  independent, curious, and funny.  In fact even big sis Brooklynn thinks she is very funny!  If you can entertain a five year old with your wit then you surely are a character!
Time passes much too quickly. I wish I could freeze frames those moments that are such treasures and go back and replay them often.  Such great memories.
I guess I will focus on grateful and be ever so glad I have been able to share so many special times with her for the past three years.
Happy birthday Finley James!

Hello 2015!!.....

Perfect....just absolutely perfect!

I am not in the mood for resolutions because I never keep them so this year is about "do's".

Searching PINTREST for a 2015 picture I found this....it spoke to me!

Every single thing on my list is on this list!

It is the perfect agenda for this next year since several of my goals are on here..

Travel

Cooking class

Buy less

Be kind

Volunteer

Embrace simplicity

WOW!

I admit to the fact that I will have to make an attempt to eat more green because I have an aversion to anything that is not covered in sugar, but I can do it!

I can do a lot of things in 2015 because I am learning to let go.  I do not need so much.  Craigs List you will become my friend. Declutter and stay that way.  I am a victim of excess in everything and I do not like it.  Because I just now on January 6th finished putting up Christmas I know that I am a model of excess...decoration and gifts.  It simply must stop!

I am making an attempt to find simplicity my goal along with gratitude.  

How can that be bad?

If you are grateful for simple things then you won't want all of the time.  

It makes me smile to look at these goals.  It is attainable.  I am not reaching beyond what I am capable of.  What a great feeling!!!!

I am 6 days into this New Year and things look good.

I could add to this list ...like maybe include a healthy dose of PATIENCE but maybe if I work on these things the patient part will follow.  

Happy 2015!

What a great way to start the year!

Goodbye 2014..............

Here we are...the last five hours of 2014.  It is brutally cold outside and I am actually glad to be parked inside with nothing on my schedule.  It has been a tough day.  Yes, the last day of the year started out on a low note.  I served at a funeral mass today for a 15 year old girl that committed suicide.  Sadie was from a strong Catholic family, an altar server, and on track to be confirmed in three months.  A beautiful mom, strong dad, two sisters and a brother, and a hole in their family that will last forever.  I saw pain in their face that I hope to never see again.  They have no answers, no real clues, only the loss of their oldest daughter at 3:00 on Christmas Day.  I do not know how you get through that.  It was not the way I intended to end the year.....but, it was not the way they intended to end their year either.  I only hope that they felt the support of a church full of friends that lifted them up in prayers.  That is all that will help them right now.

On a less sad note, it is fun to sit here and look back on the past year.  Other than the fact that we were minus Tim for almost all of 2014, it was awesome.  At the top of the awesome list was of course  FRANCE!

I still think back in amazement at the pictures and have to remind myself that I really was there.  Yes, I walked around France with my husband and some people that are now forever friends.  We have a bond...memories of a trip that was just incredible in every sense of the word.  How do you get any better than that?

Well, better than that just might be spending so much time with my grandkids.  We missed Tim but I was so glad to have the opportunity to be close enough to "help"! Oh, how I love those precious girls and the hugs they bring along with them.  

What is ahead for 2015?  I cannot see anything on the horizon but good.  With my family close and the opportunity to see them at will, that is the highlight of every week.  Friends....always.  The old, the new,  I treasure all of them.  They are such and important part of my life.  Church family...they have given me a new direction and purpose.  I have a peace that is all new.  

Another trip...oh my yes!  I believe I will.  July will bring a trip to the Holy Land with another group of wonderful friends.  It is another part of a dream that I did not know I had.  I never created a bucket list because I really never knew what I wanted to do.  That is a great plan...just fill it in as you go!

Grateful, yes, for so many blessings.  I just finished reading an article about the healthy benefits of gratitude.....so that is my plan for the new year.  I will be grateful and healthy.  I will end each day journaling what has been good in my day.  I really don't think I will have any trouble finding something!

Goodbye 2014 

and Goodbye Blog.

Both have served me well, but it a page that closes.  That is how life is.

So many great things on the horizon!

Hanging On......

I am sitting here wrapped in a blanket because it is about 35 degrees outside, going through Christmas pics once again.

I just don't want to let go of the season quite yet.  It seems no one else does either.  

Usually I am tearing down signs of the holiday on the 25th, anxious to clean and move on...but not this year.

I want to look at the tree and remember how much fun I had this past month.  

As I drove to do some shopping today, I noticed that my favorite radio station is still playing Christmas tunes through Sunday...how nice is that?  It is the Christmas that keeps on giving!

 Some fun moments to look back on.....

cookie decorating where eating the sprinkles was much more fun than eating the cookies!

 And introducing Heather to the fine art of gingerbread house decorating.

 With Pinterest as our guide, we attacked the task like professional bakers...

some of us much more professional than others!

 And the winner is....

This cozy log cabin complete with a fire in the front yard and a picket fence.

Actually the winner is ME, because all I have had is fun.  

For just one more day I will enjoy Christmas tunes and the lights on the tree.  

On Monday I will attack the mess and smile because it is all just a sign of a good holiday!

Merry Christmas Again.......

The great part of this Christmas of course, is having Tim out of Africa...

and celebrating over and over again!

It is Christmas Eve and no one in the family complained as I handed out Christmas pj's.  

I am not sure where it all began but as far back as I can remember matching pajamas were just part of Christmas.  I gratefully have daughter in laws who are willing to play along with the tradition and not complain if they have to wear skin tight elf suits!

It is one of those perfect years when the kids are at that great age.

I guess kids are always the perfect age...but it is the time when Santa is still real and it does not matter what is in the package, it is still fun!

Sara found a surprise inside her umbrella...it was raining $20 bills....

that is my kind of umbrella.

The best part of Christmas....HUGS!

The best part of everyday!!!!

It has been such a good Christmas.  It is the kind you want to hold onto forever and just push replay often.

Things are good.  

Having Tim back is a huge part of that, but everyone just seems content.  That is all you can hope for as we wrap up another year much too quickly.

I am winding down my blog posts too.  Just a few more left in this year.  I have decided once again...only this time REALLY to give up my blog.  I am finding other things to fill my time and after about six years, I think I have said all that needs to be said.  I have enjoyed it and as I look back over the volumes of printed books that hold so much of our lives I am very glad I continued this long.

A few more pictures to leave on a new page and then my official goodbye.

With 2015 just a few days away, I can say with certainty...

it has been a very good year!

The Day Before the Day.....

It is Tuesday.  Christmas Eve is tomorrow.  I am sitting in bed with my computer on my lap, cook books and pens at my side,  I have a warm feeling...because my electric blanket is on high!

It feels good.  I am determined to sit here until I finish my coffee and eat my yogurt.  That has not been the case for weeks.  I have grabbed both items and carried them from room to room as I completed a task...or better yet, ate them in the car. 

The rush has not been indicative of my season.  In my memory this December  has been the best yet.  Almost all presents were ordered from my computer and I DID NOT miss the crowded stores.  That does not say Christmas to me.  I have overdecorated and loved every minute of plugging in all the lights in my house and feeling the glow in every room.  

I have shared time with so many friends at Christmas brunches, lunches, dinners, and Bunko parties.  I have gone to multiple Christmas programs and listening to the childlike voices sing "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" and "Happy Birthday Jesus" and realized that those are the moments that are the ones I love the most.

I have done the normal...baked, wrapped, cleaned, sorted, and searched for that missing paper I know I bought.  

I have prayed, that in the midst of all of this that I would remind myself daily that it is Advent, a time for preparation....for the arrival of Jesus on Christmas day.

So a few more recipes to locate and I have to drag myself out of this warm bed and move on, but this moment of "pause" has been nice.  Much need and very healing.  My mind is reset to enjoy the two days ahead.  I do not want to miss a minute of the joy and wonder that we all witness on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

We just have to be present in the moment to see what is in front of our eyes.