PHAMILYBLOG

"K" is for KANSAS

2012-02-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

I was hardly waiting to celebrate Ms. Jenny's Alphabe Thursday! Having made a recent visit to Kansas last week with Nick to look at his favorite college, the Kansas Wesleyan University, I thought I would devote my post today to Kansas.
When I was a small child my older sister was a married woman. She and her husband and kids lived in Kansas at Fort Riley. My dad would pile us into the car and we would make that long journey to visit them many times while they were living on the Army base there. I thought the open fields and miles and miles of farms were boring. Today I have a totally different outlook! I love Kansas! It is a refreshing breathe of air compared to the hustle and bustle of the big city where I live. So say hello to Kansas while I share my thoughts, some google images and my own personal photos here.

A Kansas map showing the states bordering it. Colorado to the West, Nebraska on the North, Missouri on the East and Oklahoma on the South.

A Kansas prairie with a beautiful windmill. Look at that beautiful blue sky! My Sweets loves windmills. It is a reminder of his youth and spending his summers on his grandparents farm in Holly, Colorado.

A Kansas postcard with the state bird (Western Meadowlark), state flower (Sunflower) and pretty photos of Kansas.

A black and white photo of a Kansas school house. I think this is so pretty and peaceful.
Kansas was a territory before becoming a state on January 29, 1861 (34th). The state has a variety of religions preferences but is 86 percent Christian and when traveling to Salina last week we saw lots of signs on the road making references to Christ. It was so refreshing because our world seems so out of control with so much going on and so many untruths filling our society.
I grew up on Topeka street when I was a kid and Topeka is the state capital of Kansas. I love these little facts and like to match state capitals with states. I know, it is kinda nerdy! But fun! Lots of fun!
Kansas is one of the most productive agricultural states producing high yields of wheat, sorghum and sunflowers.
Vivian Vance who played Lucy's sidekick Ethel Mertz was born in Kansas along with c/w singer Martina McBride and Cassandra "Elvira Mistress of the Night" Peterson. film comedian and director Buster Keaton was a native of the state of Kansas.
Some fun facts about Kansas:
1. Dodge City, Kansas is the windest city in the U.S.
2. Kansas won the award for the most beautiful license plate for the wheat plate design in 1981.
3. At one time it was against the law to serve ice cream on cherry pie in Kansas.
4. The first black woman to win an Academy Award was Kansan Hattie McDaniel. She won the award for
her role in "Gone With The wind".
5. Amelia Earhart, the first woman granted a pilot's license by the National Aeronautics Associate and the
first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean was from Atchison.
6. Smith County is the geographical center of the 48 contiguous states.
7. Kansas inventors include Almon Stowger of El Dorado who invented the dial telephone in 1889; William
Purvis and Charles Wilson of Goodland who invented the helicopter in 1909; and Omar Knedlik
of Coffeyville who invented the first frozen carbonated drink machine in 1961.
8. The first woman mayor in the United States was Susan Modora Salter. She was elected to office in
Argonia in 1887.
9. A grain elevator in Hutchinson is 1/2 a mile long and holds 46 million bushels of in its 1,000 bins.
10. Dwight D. Eisenhower, from Abiliene was the 34th president of the United States .

These are a few of my photos from our road trip last week:

A misty, snowy road to Kansas outside the Colorado border.

Some rain and wind battering the plains.

A late shot of the Welcome to Kansas sign!

The college Nick really loved, the Kansas Wesleyan University.

A little snow covering the ground outside the school.

The school was established in 1886. The campus was so beautiful.

This fountain/waterfall outside the Administration building was delightful even though it was 32 degrees outside when we first arrived!

This is Yote! He is the school mascot for the KWU Coyotes! This beautiful bronze statue stands outside one of the buildings on campus and the coach told us everyone rubs his nose on their way to taking tests!

This is the plaque next to Yote describing him and his fellow coyotes.

The library building on campus. It was a lovely tour and if I could have a miracle occur in our lives we would be able to send Nick there. It was a safe and serene place. We truly enjoyed our Kansas visit.

Silly Things, Fun Things, Serious Things

2012-01-31T20:35:00.005-07:00

Having a bad day? I have them at work a lot! I have felt crummy all week and yet the work never ceases. Some people don't work as hard as they should and spend their time building themselves up but the work is always there. Grateful for it as I am, I get grumpy because I feel like am taken advantage of! Ah...Ack! Hmmm...Ugh!
Next time you have a bad day take this mental picture with you! I will tell you it certainly cheered me up! Look at this little fellow! He has a pure heart, a positive attitude and more courage than anyone I know today!

Aw....Piglet and Pooh! With Valentine's Day just around the corner is this the cutest? It is a rare truth. You can't spell love, you have to feel it!

I am going to carry this picture with me! It is my story for sure! I tangle with that evil fellow daily! He likes to get into my head but I am not going to let him get into my heart! It is a special place reserved for Jesus alone!

Ha Ha! Hee Hee! I L O V E this sign! I think we are all disturbed to a point! We need that balance in our lives.

I am not a T.V. person to the point that I will go crazy without watching my favorite shows but I thought this lazy kitty was quite cheerful! It has been a long hard day! I wanna relax like this sweet kitty! S M I L E !

A bachelors life or a nagging wife? Hmmm....I like my married life but I have some single friends who love their lives! I thought this was a great expression of life!

This sweet clip art is a nice reminder that Sunday will be another Super Bowl showdown! Who are you rooting for?

This silly pup is having a great time! Do you think he was taking his school pictures? Ha Ha!

Who doesn't love Betty White? At age 90 this gal has a full, fun life. She is such a darling ,loving her animals like her own children. She also adored her late husband and I think her heart is beautiful.

A serious find from a Facebook friend. All these images and quotes came from the best buddies I know at Face Book! Thanks to everyone who shared and take your mental health seriously. We all need a break and some TLC!

I know people that hate "men" because they had a bad relationship. You can not base the entire race of men on one bad relationship no matter how awful it was. Try this instead. Treat everyone the way you wish to be treated. It is always my go to motto.

This looks like Roxie coming down the hall with Boots fast on her heels! Hee Hee! That lil girl can really hold her own!

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." Aristotle

"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise , but the companion of fools will suffer harm." Proverbs 13:20

"An early morning-walk is a blessing for the whole day." Henry David Thoreau

THE COST OF A MOM

2012-01-30T08:17:00.002-07:00

Just a few blue babies for Sally's gang at Blue Monday! I found these sweet google images and had to share! I also have this beautiful tribute to moms. It is called "The Cost of a Mom". I hope you enjoy it while you visit me and stop by Sally's for more blue fun!

This is for all the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up spit-up laced with hot dogs, birthday cake, and fruit juice saying, "It's OK honey, Mommy's here."

Who have walked around the house all night with their babies when they kept crying and wouldn't stop.

This is for all the mothers who have shown up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who have run carpools and made dozens of cookies for school teas and sewn Halloween costumes.

And all the mothers who haven't because they are at work trying to earn enough to keep on top of the bills.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see.

And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes and all their love.

This is for all the mothers who have sat on cold metal bleachers at hockey, baseball or soccer games instead of watching from their cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and meant it.

This is for all the mothers who have yelled at their kids in the grocery store and swatted them in despair when they stomped their feet, like a tired two-year-old does who wants ice cream before dinner, and then hated themselves for "losing" it.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children to explain all about making babies. And for all the mothers who wanted to but just couldn't.

For all the mothers who read Goodnight, Moon twice a night for a year. And then read it again. "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who taught their sons to cook and sew and their daughters to be brave and strong. (And sink a jump shot.)

This is for all mothers whose heads turn automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home or grown up.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just fine once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away. And they do.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, and who can't find the words to reach them.

For all the mothers who bite their lips, sometimes until they bleed, when their 14-year-olds dye their hair green.

What makes a good Mother anyway?
Is it patience?
Compassion?
Broad hips?

The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?

Or is it the heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?

Or the terror in your heart at 1 a.m. when your teenager with the new driver's license is an hour late getting home?

The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 a.m. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?

Or to feel the dull ache as you look in on your sleeping daughter or son the night before they leave for a college in another city?

The need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

For all the mothers of the victims of all the school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting. For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for mothers who have tearfully placed flowers and teddy bears on their children's graves. Whose children have died from illness, accidents and the worst of all and hardest to comprehend, suicides.

This is for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation.

And mature mothers who have learned and are still learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers.

Grandmothers whose wisdom and love remains a constant for their grown children and their children's children.

LOVE IS.....

2012-01-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

Hannah and Jayden, last night. The little fellow is always such a happy kid! He was done eating his applesauce and getting a clean diaper so he was happy that Aunt Hannah was tending to him! He is a perfect compliment to the Love is...today. Go visit Marydon and Sherry and join Love is...today!

Feeling Blue: A Pink Post!

2012-01-27T20:37:00.001-07:00

I found this google image to be so charming. I have felt a bit blue all week long. Nick's trip to the Kansas Weleyans was quite wonderful but thinking about borrowing the money to send him off to school is weighing heavy on our minds. Prayer is always good: "Pray without ceasing" 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

This is such a calm and serene scene. I feel better when I trust the Lord: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:4-6

Some cheerful art to brighten your day! "Each one must do just as he purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

A collage of beautiful Paris inspired pinks! :" I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Please visit Beverly and all the wonderful pinkies this week. Enjoy your weekend!

Come visit the Burritos too. http://www.kids-e-connection.com/ for Color Connection too.

J is for James (the Book of)

2012-01-25T21:19:00.000-07:00

My father kept his bible at his bedside. I use to love to pick it up and flip through the pages. My dad used a lot of quotes and sayings that came straight from his bible and particularly from the Book of James. It is one of my favorite books So I want to use the Book of James as my "J" word today for Miss Jennys Alphabe Thursday!

If anyone thinks himself to be religious and yet does not bridle his tongue he deceives his own heart, and his religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress , and to keep ones self unstained by the world." James 1

My dad was a wonderful person. His brother, who was a year older than he was, passed away at a young age and left a widow and six children. My dad always attended to my aunt until he passed away. He always said the Lord wanted us to care for widows and their children.

The third chapter of James speaks about the tongue . It is wicked although it is a very small part of the human body. My dad always warned us against gossip. It really is a wicked thing because someone says one thing and it ends up being taken out of context and often gossip can harm a person and even destroy their reputation.

God is opposed to the proud and gives grace to the humble. This is part of the 4th chapter of James. The Book of James, chapter 4 also talks about how often we say tomorrow I will do this or that. My dad always said "God willing, tomorrow we can do this or that." I always heard my dad say this and today I find myself saying it as well.

If you know the book of James that is awesome! If you dont or you need to brush up on it please reread it. It is full of lots of grace and wisdom.

I hope you enjoyed your visit today. Come back soon. Now visit Miss Jenny and all the participates of Alphabe Thursday!

Something Blue, Something True and I Added This Just For You!

2012-01-24T17:21:00.001-07:00

I missed Sally and the Blue Monday gang! Road travel! Sometime there is no service on lonely Kansas roads! So here is my share anyway:

When Nick was very small he loved Arthur. It was a PBS television show about Arthur the aardvark and his family and friends! Look at all the blue they are wearing. Plus it is a good thing to have a library card. Your mind can stretch as far as your imagination will allow you! I love the library!

Getting ready to allow our youngest to head off to college makes me nostalgic! I really, truly loved these days! I was a VIP! My kids demanded my attention. I loved giving it to them! Please visit Marydon and the other ladies who share their Love is... with us each time we meet!

It is a cold and dreary day today! we are getting some snow softly falling. I am glad I am going to be home, Traveling in the car is tiring business. We need today to put ourselves back together into our daily routines! You know Maxine tells the truth! Always! I thought her share today was so true!

A google image of some Kansas sunflowers! When you travel through Kansas you will see these pretty cheerful flowers all over! It is their state flower! Smile!

A summertime photo of Smokey enjoying his favorite chair! This is always a good reason to smile and chuckle! This dog thinks he is a person! He is always ready to take a seat! I loved when Angela hosted Tuesday Show and Tail! Smokey always made everyone smile.

Tomorrow I will put a few Kansas photos up. The trip was nice. If we could win the lottery Nick could go to school there. The school was beautiful and the people were so nice. But unless a miracle happens the tuition is too much for our budget!

OUR RED BEDROOM!

2012-01-21T23:35:00.001-07:00

I am posting some images of our bedroom! We redid the room in red! It is Sweets favorite color. He is so much like his late mother! But the pretty red curtains bring in the sunlight and it casts a pretty pink glow on the walls! No painting required!

I hope you will join Beverly. There are lots of fun pinkies out there so visit a few!

Prayers are welcome for our travels to Kansa tomorrow.

Hope you like some of these quick shots I posted! I did not have time to take the shots myself so enjoy these red (and blue)mimages I found!

I know this isn't the scene I wanted to set but it has been a long trying day getting ready for our trip. The top photo is our actual bedroom set. We love it! It is H U G E ! The second and third photos are the comforter we have on our bed. It is simple and very pretty. Our curtains are red and they really set the theme.
When I return I do promise photos will follow. I found a sweet cross stitch framed at the thrift store. It is a series of buildings in Charleston, SC. I am always sad to see that someone tossed out a beautiful hand crafted framed stitch like this! But I am always happy to pick it up! It will look so sweet in our bedroom. I will try to get it all together before I take more photos.
On that note I am looking at a new bigger better camera so hopefully that will be part of our future plans. Enjoy the weekend. Take care and wish us well on our trip to Kansas.

INCOGNITO

2012-01-18T19:09:00.000-07:00

I nearly did my post about "ice", rocks, jewelry! Woo Hoo! I L O V E diamonds! I thought about jewelry and thought an I.D. bracelet would be great too! Then decided to go "incognito"! Ha Ha!
Here are a few famous folks and not so famous incognito!

Victoria Beckham in her trench coat and sunglasses with wide birmmed hat! I N C O G N I T O !

A silly pup!

Ryan Reynolds trying to go incognito!

Incognito is an adjective that means unidentified, unknown, disguised, concealed.

Let's use it in a sentence: The Federal Witness Protection Program makes its charges permanently incognito.

So stop by Ms. Jenny's and visit the "I" crowd, er...I mean, "In" crowd today!

Are We In Kansas Yet?

2012-01-16T19:12:00.004-07:00

I always loved Dorothy's sweet blue and white checkered dress! She looks so demure and sweet in the Wizard of Oz movie! Set in Kansas of course!
Now this is a tough one for me! Since we are heading to Kansas this weekend to take Nick on a tour of the Kansas Wesleyan University at Salina, Kansas I thought I would share some Kansas favorites!
We are Kentucky Wildcat fans! Basketball all the way with the Wildcats! Hey, they are blue and white too! Hee Hee! So let me share the Kansaa Jayhawks and the Kentucky Wildcats with you!

So for my very late Blue Monday I am sending these blues your way! Stop by Smiling Sally and thank her for hosting each week!

Then stop by Marydon's and say hi and enjoy my Love is...today!

At our house we have to act as a team! Everyone pitching in and helping each other. Tonight we sent Hannah to the mall with Jeremy. He starts his student teaching tomorrow and he does not have the wardrobe to pull it off! So mom and dad sent him to buy a few new things to get through these next five months. Pray for him. He can always use the extra help!

We spent the last few weeks getting our cars in tip top shape! We will be driving to Kansas this weekend so pray for good weather! So now I need to get back into my blog and get busy catching up with everyone.

Have a terrific week~

I'm Tickled Pink For The Broncos!

2012-01-13T21:47:00.002-07:00

You might be tired of the Denver Bronco hype but hang on with me! I love my team! I watched Bronco football when I was a small kid with my dad! Oh, would he love this season and the Tim Tebow elegance you rarely see in a quarterback! I read today that witches in Massachusetts are putting a spell on Tim and giving the power to Tom Brady! Good gravy, what people do for a few minutes of fame!
Since it is Pink Saturday and I participate I want to share some Bronco pink with you today. I hope you will root for my Broncos tomorrow. When all is said and done Tim Tebow will still be the God fearing Florida kid with a good heart who wanted to play professional football! His commitment to Christ is first in his life and no matter what happens tomorrow I think Tim will be ok.

Here are some pinks from the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign.

Go Broncos! The cheerleaders look good in their pinks!

Pink Nike cleats!

My oldest son has a football signed by the Broncos when they won their first Super Bowl! Woo Hoo!

Pink gloves were used during the month of October to express the NFL's support of Breast Cancer Awareness.

Champ Bailey doing what he loves, playing football!

Never a fan of John Elway, I found this photo of him with Von Miller. This class act kid is a superb linebacker and he was a happy camper signing with the Broncos!

A snappy pink Bronco shirt for ladies only!
Now skip over to Beverly's and join the Pink fun today! Visit some pinkies and than get your game on and cheer for those Denver Bronco's!
Visit Katie's Corner and see her giveaway button posted on the right sidebar! It is pink!

Our House is the Alphabe Thursday "H" Letter Today

2012-01-11T20:38:00.001-07:00

This my house . Our house . The home we have lived in for fourteen months. I am excited because in a short while we will have beautiful new security storm doors on our house! Little things one at a time. With this cold, wintry weather we have we decided that we need to add these features. We are working with a company that has been in business since 1979 and put this very door on the first home we owned! Their quality and workmanship is excellent. That door is still on that first house 27 years later! Hard to find such quality today.

I need to post pictures of our house. I had hoped to have our bedroom redone before the new year so I would be able to show it to you! But that did not happen! So here is a photo of the bedroom currently:

So this is an informal pic! We had to take the lace curtains down and put the black winter curtains up so I will redo a shot and show you! There is Rose chilling at the foot of the bed. That kitty is always snoozing there. She likes the electric blanket. It keeps her warm and she is a cold blooded kitty! Our bed is H U G E ! When we bought it, in the NFL football field sized showroom, the sign on the night stand said "This is B I G". Ha Ha! We still bought it! But we love our bed! It comfortably holds two of us and the two cats. When kids are sick, and believe me, teenage and college aged kids will climb in this bed when they are sick! So this is just a shot of the bed.
When I redo the foot of the bed and find a new place for my mother's hope chest I plan to put a small open style desk there so I can write letters and cards and get caught up in 2012!
Here is a song that reminds me of our house:

We have been busy with car work! Our girls work at Sonic which is next door to Tires Plus! Curtis who works there has helped us with some car repairs and the prices were reasonable. We are trying to get all the cars in tip top shape! Our brand new tires really helped us in the icy storm we experienced today.
So now that we have the third car at the shop we can concentrate on the house again!

I will wait for a sunny day and take more photos to share. In the meantime stop by Jenny's and visit all the H posts! You will enjoy them and perhaps even join us next week!

"It takes hands to build a house but only hearts can build a home." Author Unknown

"Hospitality is making your guests feel at home even when you wish they were." Author Unknown

"I am grateful for the lawn that needs mowing, the windows that need cleaning and the floors that need waxing because it means I have a home." Author Unknown

Love is....Blue and Orange

2012-01-08T18:55:00.000-07:00

How did I know when Andrew and Tarrah posted this pic of Jayden with his cool Bronco clothes that my Denver Broncos would go on to the next playoff game? Ha Ha! I didn't! But good things happen when you trust the Lord! So here is my tribute to blue and orange with my Love is.. post today.

I like this rap video. No inappropriate language! Woo Hoo!

I am not trying to say the Lord is a Bronco fan but I am saying if you trust Him the way Tebow does, you never know when some nice things can happen to you and your team! Go Broncos!
I trust my Sweets very much. He takes good care of me and our phamily! So well I am sharing this wonderful Bronco win enjoy my little great grandbaby and the rap video for Blue Monday. Check out Sally's page and wish her well as you share your blues too!
Then hop over to visit Marydon and the ladies who post for Love is...Come join us. It is so much fun and each week I come across a Love is...I have not seen in a while or one that I don't recall seeing! It is loads of fun!
Now one last pic to share!

You see Tebow threw the touchdown pass, in overtime, to Thomas, and we all know that Tebow trusts Jesus! Amen!

My Pink Phamily

2012-01-06T21:43:00.002-07:00

A pretty pink dancing princess Sarah!

Markus and Hannah. She is always pretty in pink.

Rebekah, Dan (our sailor) and Hannah! Rebekah is our best dressed black beauty and Hannah pretty in pink!

Rebekah, Naomi and Alyssa. Three Best Friends Forever! It looks like Alyssa is the pretty girl in pink!

Rebekah looks lovely in pink. Hannah is blue!

Noelle with her Mad Hatter Derby hat! She won first prize at her friends bridal shower for best hat! Check out her pretty pink nails!

Ari has a pink pony!

Noelle is pink with glee for baby Jayden!

My mom was always pretty in pink! I was a nut for pastels!

Some fun phamily photos for Pink Saturday. Visit Beverly and all the pinkies for some fun this weekend!

"G" is for Gentleman

2012-01-04T20:02:00.001-07:00

Good golly, I am happy to be here tonight! Goodness gracious. Gadzooks! What fun! Always fun!

I live with some wonderful gentleman. There is my Sweets, Avery, he is my love, my number one man.

My hunky honey when he was just a kid with a head full of hair and a body that sizzled!

A Christmas photo from our old house on Durango Street. Number 27 was Steve Atwater, who played with the Broncos back then.

Last summer in our hometown in front of my old Catholic high school. Sad it is a Head Start program now.
There is Jeremy. He is our oldest son. He is smart and funny and very kind and caring.

A silly son!

Still silly! The goat man!

Jeremy and Edgar. BFFs 4ever!

Nick with Sean (Mesa Arizona 2011)

Nick and friends chillin in Arizona 2011/

The Phamily, 2009 at Hannah's graduation from high school in Boulder, CO.
Now why do I think they are gentleman!? My Sweet because he was raised by good decent folks and he is kind and caring.
Jeremy is a gentleman because he has a kind heart and is very sweet! He is always very friendly to "outsiders" and he would never be cruel or rude to anyone whether he knows them or not! He is very bright and witty and has many good friends.
Nick is my buddy. He is the baby in our phamily and I am the baby in my phamily. So we have an extra bond. I say this because I am sad. Nick graduates in May 2012 and he has been my "lunch buddy" since he was in pre- school. We always had lunch together and I am not sure what I will do when he is off to college. He is always a gentleman and opens doors for me and acts like a classy guy!
These are my guys and I love them with my whole heart.
Before I sign off I want to tell you about one last gentleman. We have a patient, his name is Miguel. He needed surgery and he needed it quick. The scheduler told him she could accommodate him if he brought us chocolate! Today we brought us a beautifully wrapped box of hand dipped truffles! Now that is a first class gentleman. Talking take of the ladies and their chocolate needs!
Now hop on over to Jenny's and visit all the cool "G" posts today!

Blue Monday

2012-01-02T08:07:00.000-07:00

A smiling boy. His mama said he rolled over today by himself! Oooh.....

My favorite blue food!

A blue moon!

The Colorado Columbine! Although this pretty wildflower is native to Canada it was adopted as my states flower on April 4, 1899 by a general assembly.

I hope you like my blue picks today! Happy New Year to all and enjoy 2012 as you stop by Sally's and wish her a beautiful and healthy New Year 2012!

Love is... Rewarding Kisses

2012-01-01T20:16:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year to all! No time for this kissing business, we were sound asleep at 11:20 P.M. last night! Laugh Out Loud! But we have a rewarding marriage so all was well while we were tucked soundly in our bed.

Life moves along quickly and we are very grateful for all the beautiful blessings we have shared in the past year and look forward to more in 2012!

I am grateful for all of you here and wish you well in 2012. I hope we will continue on this journey . If I don't always come by to visit know I will get there eventually. It is a tough job trying to organize time to visit everyone here.

Today was a lazy kind of day. We enjoy these rare three day weekends so we take time to reflect and just kick back and relax.

Come wish Marydon a wonderful new year and thank her for all her effort organizing this Love is...each week. Come join us and share your favorites here too.

Pinks and a Happy New Year To All!

2011-12-30T19:24:00.002-07:00

How about a trip to the Bahamas so you can sit on this fabulous pink beach?

Some pretty pink bubbly beverages in pretty flutes. Ah...bring the new year in with style.

Pink Champagne Cupcakes. You can find these at Betty Crocker's website.
Stop by Beverly's and thank her for hosting our weekly Pink Saturdays. I will be a participate for three years! Happy New Year Pink Saturday!

One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things. ~John Burroughs

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential. ~Ellen Goodman

End of the Year Thoughts: VIVIAN

2011-12-29T20:30:00.003-07:00

Today I heard from my friend Vivian! We have known each other since we were young teens! She is one of those people who sticks by you and never acts judgemental! I love her! I never tell her enough! She is a great gal and she likes her coffee with lots of sugar ! She never married but had a huge crush on a guy named Ed for most of her youth! Vivian lives in the same house she grew up in and shares it today with her younger brother. They lost their mom this past March. No one told me. I am sad. I loved Jessie. She was a hard working awesome lady. When Vivian's dad passed away she and her mom were blessed to travel to Rome and meet the pope, who at that time was John Paul II. It was one of those once in a lifetime trips and they were tickled to be there! Vivian went on to survive ovarian cancer. I can not even imagine that pain! I have survived three major neurosurgery's but cancer! I think Vivian is a hero. I love her like a sister. Once she and my own sister Mary held me while I was sick! We had gone out to a club, ah... the old days....and I ordered a Long Island Iced Tea! Not realizing it was "happy hour" I drank two of those and could barely stand up! I remember my older brother telling me "What were you thinking, you had alcohol poisoning?" He explained the fact that my drink contained enough hard liquor to tranquilizer a big guy like him! At the time I weighed around 120 lbs. soaking wet! Ha Ha! So Vivian held my head and my hair as my sister drove us to her house. She told our folks we were going to watch movies and those girls cared for me never leaving my side! Is that a friend or what? Granted my sweet sis cared for me but she was blood so I thought she had to! Vivian knows some of the darkest secrets that I have! I trust her like I trust God and since the two of them have known my secrets since we were teens I figure they are not going to rat me out now! Hee Hee! Vivian worked for the Holiday Inn alongside her mom for many years. They were "laundry ladies". Talk about an honorable and thankless job! Both my late mother and my favorite aunt Ang worked in the laundry too except they worked for a different laundry.
Did you know that Vivian means Vivacious and Lively? It is Latin and I am sure her mom must have had a 6th sense that Vivian would be a firecracker! She is fun and lively and she always makes you feel comfortable. She is of Mexican heritage and she is one incredible lady.
Today I am sad because I was not there for her. Now I will make up for it. I will be the friend I once was long ago. I will always treasure Vivian and I will visit with her and we will reminisce about her folks and particularly her mom because Jessie was a quiet, sincere and beautiful lady. She had a passion for her faith and I think after the untimely death of her own husband she she kept her faith and was so courageous caring for her family. She was one of the kindest ladies I knew. I will help Vivian carry on the beautiful legacy of her mom and her dad. I am hoping she has lots of photos tucked away so she can make a memory book.
Is there someone in your life you need to reconnect with? Don't hesitate, do it today. Join me by writing a personal note or letter to them. Let's bring back the old fashioned writing letters and cards like we did in the past. I truly believe it is an incredible way to communicate with those we love and cherish.
When I visit Vivian I will post photos. I am sorry I can't get to my photos from my oldest daughter Noelle's wedding. I have a great shot of Vivian alongside our mutual friend Kathy O'Gane!
Ah...Kathleen O'Gane, that is another story for another day! Stay tuned!

A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.
Elbert Hubbard

A friend should be one in whose understanding and virtue we can equally confide, and whose opinion we can value at once for its justness and its sincerity.
Robert Hall

A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil; but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small, silly presents every so often - just to save it from drying out completely.
Pam Brown

A hug is like a boomerang - you get it back right away.
Bil Keane

A man's growth is seen in the successive choirs of his friends.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world.

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.
C. S. Lewis

Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.
Muhammad Ali

I always felt that the great high privilege, relief and comfort of friendship was that one had to explain nothing.
Katherine Mansfield

I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favor of the kings of the world.
Thomas A. Edison

I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar.
Robert Brault

Mighty proud I am that I am able to have a spare bed for my friends.
Samuel Pepys

Never explain - your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway.
Elbert Hubbard

Never have a companion that casts you in the shade.
Baltasar Gracian

Nothing but heaven itself is better than a friend who is really a friend.
Plautus

Nothing so fortifies a friendship as a belief on the part of one friend that he is superior to the other.
Honore de Balzac

One's friends are that part of the human race with which one can be human.
George Santayana

Silences make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying but the never needing to say is what counts.
Margaret Lee Runbeck

Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them.
Francesco Guicciardini

The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship.
William Blake

The friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.
Elbert Hubbard

The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... that is a friend who cares.
Henri Nouwen

The language of friendship is not words but meanings.
Henry David Thoreau

The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend.
Henry David Thoreau

The only way to have a friend is to be one.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The real test of friendship is: can you literally do nothing with the other person? Can you enjoy those moments of life that are utterly simple?
Eugene Kennedy

The sincere friends of this world are as ship lights in the stormiest of nights.
Giotto di Bondone

There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.
Thomas Aquinas

Think where mans glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends.
William Butler Yeats

HAPPPY NEW YEAR 2012

2011-12-28T20:04:00.001-07:00

Be always at war with your vices,
at peace with your neighbors,
and let each New Year
find you a better person.
       Benjamin Franklin

If it didn't bring you joy,
Just leave it behind.

Let's ring in the New Year
With good things in mind

Let every bad memory go
That brought heartache and pain

And let's turn a new leaf
With the smell of new rain

Let's forget past mistakes
Making amends for this year.

Sending you these greetings
To bring you hope and cheer

Happy New Year

     Author Unknown

"In the New Year
May your right hand always be
stretched out in friendship but
never in want. "

          An Irish Toast

"A New Years resolution is something that goes in
one year and out the other." Author Unknown

Come visit Jenny and let's all ring in the New Year in style with her and all the wonderful people who participate in Alphabe Thursday!

A Different Blog Post: RIP BEN BREEDLOVE

2011-12-27T21:25:00.003-07:00

I was playing around on my laptop and getting ready to come over and visit here in blog world. I came across these wonderful videos by a young man, Ben Breedlove. He passed away on Christmas night at the tender age of 18. He suffered from a condition called hypertrophic myocardiomyopathy. He tells the stories of how he cheated death three times and there is a photo collage of Ben and his friends and family. He was wise beyond his years and his love of God and family really made me smile. Teens get a bad rap today. I think there are lots of good teens out there doing good deeds to improve our world. There are many that live wonderful lives enjoying the daily routine of being a happy teen! Ben was just a normal kid with a life threatening heart disease. Yet he lived his life to the fullest. He talked so candidly about cheating death and explaining what he remembered of the events surrounding these medical emergencies that he experienced before he lost his life to the disease a few days ago.

I am thinking Ben must be sharing heaven with our Lord. I have been reading comments left on the FB page and this kid witnessed to so many! He fearlessly conquered death and I am sure he is enjoying the joys of heaven with our Heavenly Father and Christ our Lord.

My heart goes out to those close to him, his family, and friends. I pray that God will give them the grace, the strength and the courage to withstand this difficult time. I wish had known Ben personally. He was a hero and I think he would have made an excellent friend.

Today I heard so many sad stories on the news. Two young children died from gunshot wounds here in Colorado. A woman in Parker, Colorado was gunned down in a McDonalds parking lot by her estranged husband. A Sudanese man working here and supporting his family was murdered in his car moments after driving to his home from his job. I don't tell you these heartbreaking stories because I want to make you sad. I want to share the hope I saw in each story. Children die from playing with guns because some adults do not expect a child to handle a loaded weapon left lying around! Yet there are safety classes and locked cases and cabinets to store dangerous weapons. People with good hearts will embrace the families who have lost these precious children and they will somehow move forward . I can not imagine the loss of a child but somehow there will be kind souls who will come forward and make a difference. A fifteen year old girl in Parker ran across the parking lot and cradled the dying woman in her arms. A stranger. Her children ran screaming from the restaurant. Yet strangers came up and held those three children in their arms comforting them. The gentleman murdered, in what appears to be a random act of violence has a beautiful wife and children. They spoke about him today. I know in my heart many will come forward and help this family. It is the little things that can make a difference in a big way.

Light a candle, say a prayer, remember these beautiful hearts taken so quickly from their families. Try to commit a random act of kindness because it can help balance this crazy mixed up world. Don't let the sadness of these stories effect you, go make a difference.

I know where you are you must see so many similar stories of violence. Let's all make a gesture to help in whatever way we can. We can make a difference, one person at a time.
Then remember Ben and read and see his story It will make you smile.

[Kid Cudi]
No light to guide my way
I'm goin' blind down the hill
Nothing that no one can say
I'm gonna find my will to live
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/w/wzrd/brake_20989524.html ]
No light to guide my way
I'm goin' blind down the hill
There's nothing that no one can say
I'm gonna find my will to live

No, I won't brake
No, I won't brake

No light to guide my way
I'm' goin blind down the hill
There's nothing that no one can say
I'm gonna find my will to live

No, I won't brake

These lyrics are from a song written by Ben's favorite artist Kid Cudi.

"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave." Calvin Coolidge, American President

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

"As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.- says the Lord " Isaiah 66:13

Love is... A Beautiful Blue Monday

2011-12-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

After all the festivities we are settling in to a quiet Monday. See the little blue rug and pants on the little Love is... character? I thought they would be cute for Marydon and all the ladies at Love is... and Sally and all our Blue Monday crowd!

Hope your holiday was perfect! I am sharing some of our phamily photos here:

I was Zach's Secret Santa! He received a new winter jacket and matching gloves! He is Rebekah's beau!

Jeremy received a retro Bronco t shirt from Noelle's phamily.

Grandpa Roger with Devin and the girls, Alexis and Jaslin in the background.

Hannah and grandson Colton.

Hannah and Rebekah.

Tarrah, Andrew, Jayden (grumpy) and Lex.

Rebekah and Jayden (wide eyed).

This is a favorite photo. Sweets and I were getting ready for his office Christmas party Dec 11, 2011. Rebekah shot this timed shot of her and I.

Santa baby and his daddy. Another favorite photo.

Some of our Christmas fare.

A truly favorite photo, Avery,Nick,Jeremy,Hannah,(back). Rebekah,Roger,Anne,Colton and Noelle (front). We played Cranium and Apples to Apples late into the night. We did not wake up until ten this morning! The two of us never sleep in like that! But we had a beautiful Christmas. Today we are relaxing and catching up on a few household duties before getting back to work tomorrow.

Glad you stopped by. Hugs and lots of love to all of you.

My Merry Pink Christmas and Spiritual Sunday

2011-12-24T13:01:00.028-07:00

I have some photos that I took that I would like to share with you as I wish you and yours a beautiful and blessed Christmas season! It is thawing out and we are grateful to be safe and warm. During this joyous season I always think of those less fortunate who are out in this bitter cold. I wish I had the financial ability to help so many in need. But I do believe as long as each one of us can help one person it turns into the domino effect and many can be helped with only a generous heart and a kind word. Merry Christmas to all!

Hello Santa. He is an animated guy with a Christmas wish!

Some pretty gold lights twinkling in my Sweets office lobby.

A different kind of Christmas tree. Pretty white pointsettas with golden branches grace the front lobby of his office building.

The planters are filled with the white pointsetta's but they switch the flowers out each month. It is always fun to see what they will have next month!

I hope the true meaning of this celebrated season is in your heart this year. May the goodness and grace of God fill your hearts and minds this season.

Please stop by Beverly's and wish her a Merry Christmas and thank her for always sharing these weekend Pink's with us

Hard Candy Christmas

2011-12-21T21:39:00.000-07:00

I love this Dolly Parton song! It is a classic.

I always got this old fashioned hard candy for Christmas in my stocking!

A google image of a similar Christmas tree my folks put up each year. Ah...the memories.

I am sharing this with Jenny and all the wonderful participates of our weekly Alphabe Thursday . I am way behind decorating my tree with just 4 days to Christmas! But at least it has lights on it!

We are waiting to see if this snowstorm turns into a blizzard! We are scheduled to get at least a foot in the Denver metro area. At least that its what they tell us! So my mind has been on the sinus/head cold I am getting and the snow! The white stuff that brought frigid temps to us! It is so pretty but only if you can stay inside and watch the fluffy white stuff falling on the ground!

A warm and cozy fireplace...ah...

Enjoy the warmth of this season with those you love.

A TERESA UPDATE AND A HUGE THANK YOU!

2011-12-20T20:19:00.000-07:00

I heard from Teresa today! She is going to be out of her office until Tuesday the 27th getting ready for the holidays with her family and preparing for a surgery. Her biopsy from the Gyn doctor came back negative which is actually positive as far as getting good results go! Praise the Lord! But she is going to have the D and C during this break and they will do further pathology. Let's keep praying that she gets a total clean bill of health!

Here are her words:

Anne,

Thank you so much for the awesome card, your kind words mean a lot to me. Your "blog group" is amazing! I received several cards with caring thoughts and wishes from so many different states, it brought tears to my eyes. People like you and all that took the time to send a message to a stranger just reassures my faith that there are still a lot of good people in the world. Please let them know how much their words meant to me. I haven't heard from the doctor yet on my results, I'm hoping sometime this morning, I would sure like to know what I'm doing on my days off!! I will let you know as soon as I hear anything. Thanks again, I really appreciate you!

Take Care and Love,

Teresa

I already gave you the good news before I posted her actual email ! But I thought you would like to see the words here. I will keep you updated with her surgery. She is a wonderful lady and I appreciate all of you more than you can imagine!

I will be posting all week so stop by again .

Love is....

2011-12-19T06:26:00.002-07:00

The gift of love! I thought this sweet little love is... presents well for Marydon and all the ladies who participate with Love is...

It is also blue so I may share it with Sally and all the Blue Monday participates!

A blue baby for your morning smile:

I will get my Jayden's Santa photo up later this week! He has such pretty blue eyes that he looks so good in blue! This fellow is happy! I think he adds a nice blue tone here today!

Blue Christmas tree lights to sparkle your day!

Please visit the ladies who host and all the wonderful participates. Have a "Love"ly day and a blue Monday too!

Let's Get Organized!

2011-12-16T21:30:00.004-07:00

All my January 2012 magazines are arriving! They all have the same theme, "Let's get organized". I feel like a slug! My Christmas tree is not up and I am lucky that I have a huge window decal of the Nativity in my front window! I have two Nativity's frame on the walls. One is a cross stitch I found at the thrift store and the other one our middle daughter made 10 years ago ! We are doing a Secret Santa at our house so it means my Sweets, Nick and I just need to shop for one gift each, for our Secret Santa! I guess I need to heed the organizing articles and put them to good use!
My oldest daughter received a cool gift for her birthday December 13th. Here is a google image of it:

Cool pink tools to work with this:

And the ultimate pink kitchen tool:

I hope you stop by and wish Beverly well for hosting each week. Perhaps Christmas week I can post some real pink around my house!

Enjoy more pinks by visiting lots of pinkies this week! Enjoy the weekend!

A Prayerful Request

2011-12-15T19:56:00.002-07:00

My friend Teresa is going through a difficult time! She has been getting treatment for breast cancer and had a set back! Ugh! Life is cruel to good people. she is such a wonderful lady. She does the billing for the office where I work. Her husband took a job in Wyoming and they moved there nearly two years ago. She is a first time grandmother with a super sweet baby boy just a few hours away from her. She has a good heart. A kind soul. A graceful woman with tremendous faith. But she is having a rough time. I am asking anyone who would be kind to send her a greeting. A word of encouragement in the form of a card or letter. I know many women have been down this road and I know you probably know the exact words to say to her because you fully understand the set backs, The rigorous treatment schedules. The many appointments with various providers. I just want to brighten her day more often because she is a doll! Today I was at lunch and she called me. The other gal I work with took a message and said Teresa said it was not urgent. I called thinking I forgot to send a path report with the OP report on a patient she was billing insurance for. She said no, I had sent all the documents she needed. She said she wanted to hear my voice because I was kind! I listened! I said encouraging things to her. Talk about a girl having her day made! I was grinning from ear to ear!

I know I should make this short and sweet but I was going to post a similar blog anyway before I found out what Teresa was dealing with!
Did you know when I was thirteen years old I requested a pen pal from Tiger Beat magazine?

I loved Paul Revere and the Raiders and Peter Noone of Herman 's Hermits (photo above) along with the Monkees. I really wanted to meet a California girl pen pal and received hundreds of requests! My father thought I was insane! He said the mailman was going to be mad at me! Ha Ha! So I selected several and wrote letters to them. All these years later I am still friendly with Barb. She was one of the California girls that wrote to me! I was so excited. I thought I was a teen celebrity! It made me so happy to get all that mail. There is something aobut a personal message that makes me happy. My friend Lynette is the first person to send me a birthday card and I don't think she has missed one in all the years we have known each other. Age 3, crashing tricycles on the sidewalk in front of "Annie's" house my neighbor lady as a kid! We are still friends. It means so much to me when she sends a greeting my way! Karen, my playpen buddy since we were old enough to sit up together! She is in Idaho. She is a colon cancer survivor. Do you know the first thing she did when she recovered from her cancer? She called me to warn me about the perils of colon cancer and she wrote me a letter!
A personal hand written note can literally save someones life.
Take my friend Amelia, I meet her through my doctors office. She lost her only daughter to breast cancer close to Christmas two years ago! She is an exceptional lady. First class and she remembers me each year with a Christmas card addressed to myself and my phamily. I love knowing her!
When our unborn daughter died in 1987 I was devastated yet even today I keep that stack of cards and letters in a box so I can reread them! It still gives me great comfort to know how many people cared about me and still do!
So if you can take a moment to send Teresa a card or note let me know. I will give you all the detail in sending a card her way. Also Suzanne was very kind and posted on her blog too.
Thanks everyone and enjoy the weekend! It is coming our way soon!

"F" is for Fruitcake

2011-12-14T20:26:00.003-07:00

Welcome to the "F" addition of Ms. Jenny's weekly learning lesson! I love participating in this alphabet fun! Keep the brain sharp! I like to use my imagination, I always have, so I put my post up and I start thinking about the next letter! It is so much fun!

Let's talk fruitcakes!

Now I have L O V E D Jimmy Buffett since he sang all these silly songs ! He can have a bit of colorful language so please forgive me! I had to share it! If you can not load the video here go to www.youtube.com/.

You either love a fruitcake or hate them! Now I am talking about the holiday cake many receive as a gift! I was visting Suzanne. She is the Colorado Lady who decided to bake her own fruitcake. Her story involved a cookbook she inherited from her grandmother and inside it, she found a recipe for a fruitcake. By the time she bought all the ingredients she said it cost a small fortune! You should visit her and read the story. I was being very clever and I said to her, "Suzanne, why don't you Texas girls buy your fruitcake from Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana, Texas?" She said "I thought they were too expensive until I made my own!" I know about these fruitcakes because I worked with a doctor who was a native of Texas and he bought them for us at Christmas. After a few years he starting bringing us fruit, oranges and grapefruits because that seemed healthier but I always enjoyed those fruitcakes and think I may have to order one one of these days!

I hope your holiday season is fabulous, fun and full of family and friendship! Please visit Jenny and all the participates of Alphabe Thursday!

Love is.....So much more

2011-12-11T15:25:00.005-07:00

Good morning! Since I was suppose to share my giveaway winner from my birthday giveaway which ran from last Saturday through yesterday. I will annouce that winner first! Drum roll.....
It is Sandie! She is a terrific blogger and her Chatty Crone space is one I know many of you know! Please visit her and wish her well today! Congratulations Sandie! I will e mail you so I can send your giveaway gift on its way! Woo Hoo! Lucky lady! Sandie is a darling angel sharing so much good humor with us! She always has a beautiful share and today is no different. Visit her blog!
I wanted to share these sweet angels too. They fit the season don't they? Plus they are great additions to my birthday giveaway winner Sandie and my share with Marydon at Love is...today. Tomorrow I can share them with Sally for my Blue Monday share! I do have a host of blues to share but I will start with this one tomorrow!
Now I want to share my Spiritual Sunday. I hope you will visit Sweet Charlotte and thank her for her ongoing support of this weekly enouragement. I feel so blessed knowing all of you and I really love the shares I find around Spiritual SUnday. Thank you Charlotte you are a kind heart~
"Then Joseph...did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. " Matthew 124.
Think about Joseph. He was a small player in the greatest role of his life! He was single handedly chosen by the Lord to become the earthly father of Our Lord and Savior Jesus! I though Mary had a tough role! Joseph was mostly in the background but he sacrificed his place in his society to take on this role. He could have said no way! I am not breaking Jewish law! He knew he would be looked down on for marrying Mary although she was already with child.
During this glorious season with all the beautiful festivities please never ever forget the true and most important season for this season! The birth of Jesus Christ is and always will be first and foremost in our hearts!

This is artwork depicting the Holy Family. My middle Rebekah created this when she was in Catholic school and it is dated Dec 2001. It hangs in the living room during the holiday season. My middle girl is an angel!
Now I want to share one final angel. I received my Secret Santa Soiree package from my partner and I am currently trying to figure out who she is! I may have an idea who she is is but here is a glimpse of what she sent to me!

Some Harry and David truffles! Oooh...have to have those before I start my New Year diet plan! :)

A secret surprise!

A sweet cherub/angel! I love it! It matches one I have sitting on my dresser that is a little porcelain treasure box! Secret Santa where you peeking in my window?

A pretty note with a sweet angel guarding my packages all the way from.....Hmmm...Secret Santa where do you live?

A Yankee votive candle, actually a pair, with the intriguing scent of "Over the River". So sweet and Christmas scented! Plus it is a pretty shade of blue!

Some Swiss Miss Carcel Cream! I will have to share this with my Sweets! He is a carmel flavored addict!

A holiday note pad and much much more. I received some candy,a nail file and some tea time items. I am going to show those at a later date! There was a beautiful box of note cards and they are artwork reproductions. So pretty. Thank you so much Secret Santa! I will share more items next time.
I had so much fun playing Santa to my secret pal and I know she showered me with many wonderful gifts. Thanks for being such a generous Santa! Go visit Suzanne. You can see what others received from their Santa's too!
I will close with a love hug to all of you here! Come back soon!

Pink Charm Bracelets

2011-12-09T21:23:00.001-07:00

I am having a good day! I am participating in the Secret Santa Soiree with Colorado Lady. I received my swap partners gift box today! Let me say this I L O V E every single thing she sent me! So tomorrow when I announce the winner of my birthday giveaway I will post all my treasures. This was a sweet partner who showered me with some many pretty wrapped gifts! I was tickled pink!
So hop over to visit Beverly and thank her for her gracious hosting of this fun fest each week! Thank you Beverly! I don't think I tell you enough!

So today I want to share one of my passions with you, charm bracelets. I found some pretty pink images and unique designs on google image but I have to say I am a bit out of touch! In the 1970's and 80's I worked next door to a jewelry store! They offered a layaway plan! I am pretty sure you can figure the rest out from there! Ha Ha Ha! If that wasn't bad enough there were two other jewelry stores on the main street where I worked! I purchased a beautiful sterling silver charm bracelet and when I clear out my storage/garage I will put some photos up! I had so many beautiful charms and back then I paid between $5 and $20 per charm. I had to catch my breathe when I saw sterling silver charms for sale on line for (gulp) $50, $85, $245 !!!! Y I K E S ! I know the cost of precious metals has skyrocketed but goodness!

I also started a 10k-14k gold charm bracelet with a few charms on it. I am afraid to see the cost of those today! I am not even sure if you can purchase real gold charms today! Unless, of course, Bill Gates or Warren Buffet is covering the tab!

I have a bracelet that my late aunt's sister Katherine gave me when I was in high school. It is a charm bracelet covered with real sea shells. I also have a ten commandments charm bracelet. I will share some photos when I dig my jewelry boxes out of storage!

You have seen some of the things I like so come share your passions too. Make sure you visit some pinkies today and enjoy the weekend!

Secret Santa Soiree Clue II

2011-12-09T20:24:00.000-07:00

Words & music by Ella Fitzgerald & Van Alexander

And on the way I dropped it

Tisket A Tasket, A Lyrics

A-tisket, a-tasket,
A green and yellow basket.
I wrote a letter to my love,
But on the way I dropped it.
I dropped it, I dropped it,
And, on the way I dropped it.
A little boy picked it up,
And put it in his pocket.

Here is my second clue. I think I really know you? Can you guess who my Secret Santa is?

I dropped it, I dropped it
Yes, on the way I dropped it
A little girlie picked it up
And took it to the market

' on down the avenue
Without a single thing to do
She w

A She took my yellow basket
And if she doesn't bring it back
I think that I shall die

basket
I wrote a letter to my love
And on the way I dropped it

I dropped it, I dropped it
Yes, on the way I dropped it
A little girlie picked it up
And took it to the market

(Was it red?) No, no, no, no
(Was it brown?) No, no, no, no
(Was it blue?) No, no, no, no
Just a little yellow b

A Ti
Artist: Ella Fitzgerald
Words & music by Ella Fitzgerald & Van Alexander

A green and yellow basket
I wrote all around
When she spied it on the ground

She took my yellow basket
And if she doesn't bring it back
I think that I shall die

A green and yellow basket
I wrote a letter to my love
And on the way I dropped it

I dropped it, I dropped it
Yes, on the way I dropped it
A little girlie picked it up
And took it to the market

(Was it red?) No, no, no, no
(Was it brown?) No, no, no, no
(Was it blue?) No, no, no, no
Just a little yellow basket

(REPEAT)

(REPEAT)

A Secret Santa Clue I

2011-12-08T21:22:00.000-07:00

I am participating in a Secret Santa Swap with Suzanne. It is the first time I joined her here. I have done lots of swaps and I like being part of them and making friends here. I know the Colorado Lady personally. I love saying it! I met her in September with her mom Patsy and her aunt LaVoice that we know from her blog. I like visiting these ladies because when I read their posts I can hear their voices. That is a beautiful thing about meeting your blogging friends in person.

I have a first time clue for the Secret Santa. I know you! You may find me out but I will first give you a few hints.

When my package arrives I am hopeful you will be totally surprised!

I love detective work ,do you?

Find my first clue in the lines to this famous song:

America the Beautiful

Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!

You might know where I am if you find this important clue!

Come again tomorrow so I may give you a second clue!

"E" is for Edward!

2011-12-07T22:10:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Jenny's. She is our teacher for Alphabe Thursday! Today I want to share my favorite name with you! It is Edward and it is the name my late father carried with his whole life! He loved his name and always said no one would call him Edward unless they were giving a eulogy at his funeral! He was my dad, my hero, the man I adored! He was a wonderful father. He loved my mom and all of his five kids very much!
He had lots of nicknames. Like "Spike", because he worked for forty seven years at the CF&I Corp. He was the head roller in the rail mill when he retired. He always provided a good income for his phamily and all five of his children attended Catholic school. When I think of the cost that he and my mother endured, she was a stay at home mom, because they chose to send us to the best school.All my siblings attend Catholic school and my middle sister and I are the only two who did not graduate from Catholic high school but from the public school system.
He was "Pa" to my sweet mother. Grandpa to the grand kids. A lot of my photos of him are tucked away and I need to scan them here but I am sharing some of my favorite photos with you.

Here I am with my parents. My mom was 39 years old when I was born. My dad, 42. I was the youngest of five. I love this photo. I remember my shirt was red!

My father was not highly educated with fancy schooling but he was the smartest man I knew! His handwriting was eloquent and he knew so much about everything. He played semi pro baseball when he was a young man. He was a catcher and good at the sport. I learned every single thing I know about baseball from my dad! He could shoot off facts and names and dates, oh my goodness, it was amazing!

He loved his phamily and was a good provider. He adored his grand children. If he were here today he would be so happy to see all the great grands that we have added to the phamily! Five children, twenty one grand children, twenty eight great grands and two great great grandchildren. Whew! My dad would smile . He loved children and one of his sisters told me a story about my dad when he was a young man. A neighbor had a baby that died probably from what is called Sudden Infant Death Syndrome today or possibly influenza. My dad was upset and sad and his mom asked him what was wrong. My aunt said my dad said he loved that little neighbor baby! He was just like that!

That is my dad with his older brother (Rudy) "Uncle Moon". It was my uncles wedding day. He was married to my Auntie Elsie and she worked at the food service for the college at home with two of my moms sisters and my mother-in-law! Talk about all in the phamily! My uncle passed away when he was young. My father made sure my aunt was cared for although she worked full time after her husbands untimely death. My father knew the Scriptures well. Read 1 Timothy Chapter 5, Deuteronomy 14:28-29, Acts 6:1, Deuteronomy 15:7-11. They all speak of widows and caring for them and children. My father kept his bible at his bedside. It was a beautiful leather bound copy and I wish I had inherited it from him.
He had a kind heart and was always telling us "honesty is the best policy". People don't say that much these days. He would always say to us, as we headed out the door to go shopping, "Remember, never take anything you didn't pay for!"

He was taken away from us way too soon. He had not been retired 12 years when the Lord called him home. My mother was married to him nearly 50 years when he passed away. She would remain his one true love until the day she herself left this earth. My parents had a beautiful marriage. They were good together and raised us right with respect and kindness and honest hearts. My dad built the home my folks lived in and he treasured my mother. I often looked for his traits when I was young and dating. My husband is a good fit. He received my fathers blessing before he married me. But my dad was ill and I did not have the wedding I dreamed of, with him giving me away. But before he passed away he saw me happy and married to a good man.

My parents wedding photo with my mom's brother Uncle Louie and my mom's sister Auntie Ann. My mother was a beautiful petite bride! Look at the exquisite flowers they carried!

Now visit Jenny and all the participates of our weekly learning posts!

Whine or Cheese?

2011-12-06T18:28:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard the expression "Would you like some cheese with that wine(whine)?" I thought perhaps I was just whining but my situation during the day is getting so bizarre. There is no where to turn. I feel so helpless and know satan is attacking me.

I was visiting a great blogger Sarah Beth and she prayed for me! I liked that! She is such a sweet lady and she is generous and kind, like so many of you here.
Then I texted my good friend Alyn and she prayed for me. She said "Rebuke the deceiver and Rejoice in the Lord."

My day started out right! I felt like I would have a fret free day! I would like to live a fret free life! Ah....
Like this

Or this:

So now I am going to take my own advice and read these beautiful words that touched my heart this morning:
"Do not fret- it only causes harm." Psalm 37:1-11

Hello Blue Monday

2011-12-05T08:06:00.002-07:00

I will have to add my photos this evening but did not want to miss the fun of Blue Monday! With temps dipping into the single digits and below zero hitting us all weekend long I decided blue Monday would be so appropriate for us! We will all turn into blue popsicles if we don't bundle up and layer properly!

I think a warm tropical beach would suit me just fine about now. Even another trip to Phoenix/Mesa in the sun! :)

My secret pen pal Nikki in Washington state, come visit and reveal yourself here too! Hee Hee Do you drink coffee, tea or cocoa? What us your pleasure!

Marilyn my first giveaway winner watch your mail later in the week as your package went out this morning!

Now hurry over to Sally and get happy here. Once I am home again I think my photos will load so come back tonight!

Proverbs 2:3-5 and Love is....

2011-12-03T22:08:00.000-07:00

I had a birthday December 3rd. Look at the verse above. I think sometime God sends me these little signs! Backward it is the year (53) I was born but the day (3) is different from the chapter. I love this verse. I sets my heart into a happy mode:

"If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God."

Isn't life grand? I have a good friend who suffers from depression. I wish I could wipe away her sadness. I have a dear relative going through a tough financial time, why can't I wave a magic wand and make her problems disappear? I know three beautiful patients who this week received tough news, cancer! Life is not fair.

But God is good. He is here for you. To hold you in His arms. To wipe your tears away. To soften the troubles life hands you.

Trust Him. Come to Him like a small helpless child. He will listen. He does care.

Join Charlotte and all the wonderful folks who share with us each week. Come join the encouragement and spiritual healing.

Join Marydon and I can bet she will remind you to trust Him who loves you. He will give you your own silver lining!

PINK SURPRISES

2011-12-03T10:44:00.003-07:00

How about sharing a beautiful tea party with me today? It is my birthday! I am a big birthday person so I am loving the attention the phamily is giving me! My Sweets is giving me a beautiful cameo ring. Although it is not pink here is a photo I had to share from the web:

As a young girl, my favorite aunt always wore beautiful jewelry. She had a beautiful cameo collection. I have a few pieces she shared with me many years ago. I lost an earring from one set and I am sick about it. :( Makes me so unhappy.
My photos won't load so I am reduced to using google images. Please don't mind ok?

Here is a photo I would love to own. This is from art.com. Aren't these three sweet bears delightful? Reminds me of my three daughters, Noelle, Rebekah and Hannah.

Yum! Cake and tea! I have been testing different teas and there are so many I love. I tried a new one from my local grocery store. Acai,Blueberry and Pomegranate with green tea. Except the caffeine is too much for my aching head someday's! I like a nice decaf.

A nice nap after the tea would be enjoyed immensely in this gorgeous bedroom. Do you love the pink touches?

I almost forgot to show you the pretty flowers Dr. T., my co worker gave me. I have all the photos locked inside my laptop and my phone! Argh....

These two photos are my real flowers and the cake is mine too! At last my photos are escaping from their captor here at blogger world!

Then there was the cake they gave me :

There was pizza. Hmm...yummy!

Now that I have made all of us hungry I will go eat my beautiful breakfast with my phamily and you should visit Beverly. Visit more pinkies with this weekend too! It is snowing like mad here so I am staying indoors!

Could not resist presenting my breakfast fit for a queen! Two strips of perfectly crisp bacon. Two over medium eggs, fried potatoes, toast and biscuits with plain gravy! Coffee and orange juice too!

NOTE: Please come visit Sarah. I think all of the pinkies will love her header!

A Post/A Giveaway Winner and More!

2011-12-01T21:57:00.002-07:00

I am posting late tonight! W had a snow storm and we had a difficult time getting to work today. We are exhausted. When we got home our oldest daughter started to cook us breakfast for dinner! It was yummy but we had dishes to do and you know that drill! So here I am posting late!
I love this sweet little Love is... I personally am not a camping out kinda girl! My late Uncle Tom use to say "My idea of camping out is a five star hotel with room service!" That is my idea of camping out too! But I do love this sweet little sentiment! So although today is not Love is...day I wanted to share it anyway!

I had to borrow this sweet image from google because I have to announce the winner of my 2 year blogaversary giveaway! It is sweet Marilyn a Colorado blogger! She is one of the nicest ladies I know and a school teacher. Please visit her blog and congratulate her. She will receive a special surprise from me and she can show it off when it arrives! I ask when you win a giveaway here you repay a kindness by paying it forward! Nothing extreme where it is out of your budget! Just make someone else's day! Horray for Marilyn! I know she was fighting the snowy roads today too! Blessings to you Marilyn.

It is cold and snowy here. So I have a question for all of you here! When you leave a

comment tell me your favorite beverage. Coffee! Tea!Juice. What is your favorite drinking pleasure!

Please remember to leave a comment regarding my birthday giveaway! I will draw that lucky winner early Saturday December 10th. I am running the giveaway until that date. It is also a surprise but I am quite creative in gift giving so I know you will love it!

I was searching google images and found this. I was looking for something to post regarding prayer. I need prayer for Mickey who recently had a biopsy and may have cancer. Also pray for Mary who is experiencing a difficult financial crisis. I think this sentiment is perfect. Please join me in praying for these folks. Always remember our military who give so much and get so little in return.

Let my prayer be set forth as incense before You, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141: 2

Please go back to my previous post. It is my "D" post for Alphabe Thursday. I was happy to showcase my city where I have lived since 1983.

I currently hold a full time day job but the next photo shows my true love. It is the job I do love the most!

The Stages Of Motherhood
Here is a light hearted presentation of what we all think about our moms, at different points of our lives. Don't get surprised because we all have the same tendency towards our mothers!
4 Years Of Age - My Mommy can do anything;
8 Years Of Age - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot
12 Years Of Age -My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.
14 Years Of Age -Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either
16 Years Of Age -Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned
18 Years Of Age -That old woman? She's way out of date
25 Years Of Age -Well, she might know a little bit about it
35 Years Of Age -Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion
45 Years Of Age -Wonder what Mom would have thought about it
65 Years Of Age -Wish, I could talk it over with Mom

MOTHER'S ADVICE TO A DAUGHTER

Cook a man a fish and you fed him for a day.

But teach a man to fish and you get rid of him for the whole weekend!

It is time to get some much needed rest and shout TGIF tomorrow! My doc will be busy at surgery all day long! A chance at last to get some work caught up and take a break from the crush of patients that have come in all week long. I am grateful to be working but somedays it is just too much! I need some rest and relaxation!

"D" is for Denver

2011-11-30T20:24:00.001-07:00

My "D" post is for my home in the Denver metro area. Denver is an exciting city. I have lived here since 1983 and I pride myself in being a Colorado native. When I first came to Denver I lived within walking distance of my job at the University of Colorado Health Science Center. My co worker Bea lived two doors down in the very same apartment she has lived in since the 1970's. She taught me how to navigate the streets from Broadway and Lincoln downtown up to where we lived. I learned and still know the double alphabet streets. We lived on Dexter Street. I had a cute little third floor apartment. It is a very fond memory. My husband proposed to me there.

I still love to visit my old neighborhood. It is very close to the Cherry Creek Mall and downtown Denver where my Sweets works. There is a wonderful ice cream shop called Liks! Originally they called the place Lickety Split but they had to change it because someone else had the patent on that name! They have some of the best hand made ice cream! It is made in small batches and tastes heavenly! One of my favorite flavors is Millionaires featuring butterscotch rippled through the milk chocolate and loaded with pecans!

While enjoying the sights in Denver you can always stop by and have a Denver omelet in any of the great restaurants you can find here.

Here is our airport. I am a bit prejudice because my middle brother Ed who is employed with the city and county of Denver was an engineer working on this major project. The airport is a wonderful place and it's unique design is interesting.

Come visit our beautiful art museum! This is one of my favorite places and each first Saturday of the month it is free admission! If you visit the museum before January 29th you can experience Xu Beihong pioneer of Modern Chinese artwork.

You could catch a game at Sports Authority stadium. You can watch the Denver Broncos and come over to my house where most Sunday games are spent waiting on "Tebow time"! We love our Broncos and I personally have been a fan since I was a small child! I watched many games with my dad and I know he would get a kick out of our cute new QB Tim Tebow! Lots of folks think Tim possesses some magical qualities to help his team win games in the finally moments but he has a strong personal conviction of faith and he gives praise where it is due. Some don't like his display of faith but I have always loved the bumper sticker that says "If God's not a Bronco fan then why are sunsets orange and blue?" On a serious note Tebow is a nice example of Christian love and he certainly is a clean cut role model.
Before I end this come to Denver and check some great eating! You could enjoy Native American fare at a cool eatery called www.tocabe.com//! Here is my lunch from our phamily time this past Saturday:

Now that I have given you a mini tour of the city where I live please visit Jenny and all the particiapates of Alphabe Thursday!

Love is... and A Very Blue Monday !.

2011-11-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

I am having some tough times trying to load photos so I am using lots of images I find on google. I will resolve this problem! My sons friend Ivan always helps me out but he just found out he is going to be a dad and so he has not been around lately!

So come visit Marydon and share your favorite Love is... with us today. Here is mine:

Ha Ha Ha! No one wants to do the dishes! We have a lovely dishwasher but there is always something fun to do after a great meal besides washing those dishes. I have one of those wonderful husbands who will help me out! The doctor I work suggested that his wife fore go the fancy china and use paper plates for Thanksgiving! You guessed it? He is the dishwasher! LOL! Imagine that, a medical doctor with a duel practice (ENT and Plastics) having to wash dishes with his brother the Engineer!

My Sweets has always helped out. My middle brother, also an engineer is a dishwasher too!

Now I am going to share some blues for http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/. Go visit our leader Sally and wish her a terrific blue Monday!

Lots of December birthdays coming up starting with me on Saturday. I am going to have a special birthday giveaway! I need to find out a special item to send to a lucky winner! So follow me, leave a comment and you can be entered in both my blogaversary and birthday giveaway!

Here are my blues:

A special bouquet in blue just for you!

A pretty little birthday cake in case you share my special date!

Blue balloons cause we are always kids at heart!

A blue topaz ring. My very favorite birthday gift from my dad when I turned 16! I still have mine but the cut is Marquis!

How About A Pink Christmas Tree?

2011-11-26T04:07:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone! The wind is howling outside and woke me from a peaceful sleep! So since I fell asleep early last night I thought I would put up my Pink Saturday post! Visit Beverly. She shares so many wonderful pink delights with us and visit many pinkies today!

I visited a new pinkie today! Jennifer inspired me to put some pink in my Christmas tree! So while I search for the perfects pinks I thought I would share these beautiful google images with you. Isn't this first tree amazing?

This black and pink version is sweet and very chic! It would make a delightful Christmas card!

How about some neon Christmas colors? Who says Christmas has to be all green and red?????

We have not put up our tree yet but since I celebrate a December birthday, on the 3rd, I like to have my tree ready! As a child I thought the tree was my first Christmas present! Jennifer is giving away one of her hand created trees so I hope you visit this talented pinkie and say hi! Tell her I sent you over! Her creative talents are amazing! Just in time for some Christmas fun!

Being born in December is a tough time! The competition is tremendous! Who can compete with Our Lord, being celebrated on the 25th of December? It doesn't get much better then Him although my daughter Noelle and her hubby Roger share December 13th as their dual birthdays!! My niece Holly is December 16th and my nephew Brian the 24th. Holly's daughter Sarah rounds out the month with a New Year's Eve birthday!

My mom always made sure I had a pretty birthday cake and I never had a "Christmas" theme cake! Everyone expects you to go with it but I love fun so I have always had a beautiful birthday with a fun cake! As a kid my mom's friend Minka, who owned a bakery once made me an Easter bonnet cake! It is a treasured memory and I wish I had a photo to share! My friend Sharon once had her girlfriend Tosh make me my favorite cake, red velvet! It was frosted with butter cream frosting and had a beautiful burgundy ribbon dressing it! My Sweets is always thoughtful. He had a "Cathy" ice cream cake made for me and a "Betty Boop" cake. My favorite Aunt Ang made me a butterfly cake one year! It was a cut out cake and I celebrated my 16th birthday with that pretty cake.

I need to dig through my photos and find some shots to share. I don't think I have that Easter bonnet cake but the memory is still vivid in my mind. So instead I am showing off some google images I found of pretty birthday cakes!

Allelujua Chorus

2011-11-24T21:34:00.000-07:00

I missed putting up a post for Spritual Sunday. Life has been hectic but my friend Yvonne sent me this video and I tohught it would be great to share! So stop by Spiritual Sunday and thank Charlotte for sharing with us each week.

This video was presented by a small Yupiq Eskimo Village school in Quinhagak, Alaska. It was a school computer project and they wanted to share it with the rest of their village. Imagine their shock when over half a million people have viewed it on you tube.

Enjoy and remember the true reason for the season: Jesus

HAPPY THANKSGIVING I AM GRATEFUL FOR...

2011-11-23T21:25:00.003-07:00

I was going to share lots of little things in one big post but blogger is already giving me a hard time! Won't load some of my photos! Drat! It gave me a fit in Arizona too. Would not let me do the things I love even on vacation!

So I am going to try to share some moments and quotes and friendship with you here to wish you a beautiful and bountiful Thanksgiving Day! Indulge me with my catch up post!

This winning photo of Nick is courtesy of Margot Kelly Photography. I was so busy running along side of the finish line screaming Nick's name that I could actually hear my voice inside my heart! So this is photo was given to him. He won his race but a young man from New Mexico had a nine second better time so Nick took second overall. There were over 500 boys running in the two heats from Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. We were so proud of him because he struggled so much this year first with bursitis and then suffering from those painful shingles. The trip was a wonderful experience. Nick had made that Arizona trek many times but we were first timers. Everything went along beautifully.

I am grateful for lots of things this holiday season. I am grateful that the Lord is the center of my universe and He allows my entire phamily, all five kids, and their loved ones to be here with us to celebrate tomorrow.

Our son Jeremy was working and his car broke down. Being a pizza delivery driver is tough without a car! But I am grateful my son-in-law Roger was nearby and got him back to his store with the days reciepts before helping him get the car home.

I am grateful Zach, Rebekah's beau, cooked us a wonderful pre Thanksgiving dinner.

I am grateful Markus came down from school and over the mountain (Monarch Pass) safely. Hannah and Roxanne are tickled to have him around for a few days.

I am grateful Nick and my grandson Colton are youthful and I can make them run up and down the stairs getting my pots and pans and casserole dishes ready for tomorrow.

I am grateful we can share a beautiful meal. My oldest Noelle is making "Frog Eye Salad". It is a two day process so she was just stopping by to peak in and say hi! We love having them here with us.

I am grateful Hannah told me Markus will be stopping by this evening. Love having him here.

I am grateful I know all of you and can enjoy visiting you from where ever any of us are.

I am grateful Jenny and Steve came to the race to see us for a quick minute before we left Arizona. It was a sweet gesture and we enjoyed are time with them. (photos will follow next post)

This is Sweets and I after our long car trip to Arizona. But I am grateful to have the best company in the world! I missed Love is.. last week so please visit Marydon and wish her a beautiful Thanksgiving too.

I missed my Alphabe Thursday "C" letter last week. So I will share "C" is for car trip! We spent a lot of hours in the car and on the road. But I am grateful we had this opportunity and grateful we arrived and returned safely. So visit Ms. Jenny and I will catch you next week!

Just to make you grin! Maxine at her sharp witted best!

A blue turkey to remind you to visit Sally. Stop by and wish her a beautiful Thanksgiving Day. She had a tough year and it is always a blessing to be grateful for getting your health restored day by day.

A pink turkey or two treat for you. Stop by and tell Beverly hello and wish her a beautiful Thanksgiving Day!

A few Thanksgiving quotes to share and wish you all a beautiful blessing in your day!

Oh Lord that lends me life,
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness
William Shakespeare

Gratitude is a sign of noble souls. Aesop

But whether we have less or more
Always thank thee God therefor.
Author Unknown

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off of your thighs!

Bule Monday/ Love is...

2011-11-14T15:38:00.001-07:00

My Love is....portraits my Sweets today! He always cleans the tub until it shines! CLR that is our secret. My mixer beaters got rusty because someone tossed them in the dishwasher and they were probably put away wet! So they soaked all morning and the rust is gone! That CLR works like a charm and they are not paying me to tell you that! My middle daughters old beau gave me that tip. A big bottle of it lasts a long time! You can even clean your coffeemaker with it!
Now hurry over and thank Marydon for hosting the Love is....
Then visit Sally and share your blues with her too!

Do you love this sweet blue fairy with the corn? She is sweet as can be! Love that stopped by today.

I'M LEAVIN ON A JET PLANE...NOT!

2011-11-11T19:04:00.012-07:00

Come visit Beverly. Thank her for the time and effort she puts into Pink Saturday so we all may enjoy each others company each week.

"I'm leavin on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again..."
Words and Music by John Denver

Actually we are leaving in our cute little car to travel to Mesa, Arizona to watch our son Nick run in the Nike Invitational. He will be leaving on a jet plane! We waited too long to get a flight and the prices are too high so Sweets and I are driving there with our middle daughter Rebekah.

While Nick travels by plane we will be adventuring in our car. We plan to travel Wednesday night to our hometown of Pueblo and spend the night with my niece Karla and her crew, hubby Aaron, sons Ryan, Troy and Matt. We love visiting phamily and it is a two hour trip to their house. We will leave bright and early Thursday morning and travel as far as Albuquerque or Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Friday morning we will hit the road and travel to Mesa and stay at the same hotel our team will be at. They arrive Friday early A.M. Hopefully I can visit with or at least talk to some blogging friends. On Saturday the race Nick runs in will start at 1 P.M. I am hoping Sherry will be able to join us at the meet. Her grand girl Izzie is a runner too so hoping she can join Sherry and come cheer with us!

Any Arizona bloggers are welcome to join us at the Toka Sticks Golf Course in case you like cross country! I would love to visit with Jenny, Judie,Charlotte,Chara, Julie and Ames. I would love to visit with these ladies and Laura.I know our trip will be lots of car travel but it is an opportunity to see our baby run in the national cross country meet, something we have missed the past three years. It will also be a time to enjoy some time away from my busy job and my Sweets can always use a break from standing on his poor feet all day long!

We will leave Sunday early as we both have to work Monday and our college girl has to return to college classes. Her schedule is perfect, it allows her to come and join us without missing any classes. She will give up a couple shifts at work. But she is a great driver and has maneuvered the back roads of Nebraska and Kansas to visit friends, driving solo.

I am hoping you will join our featured blogger here. Thanks for stopping by. Don't forget my Pay it forward giveaway til November 30th. Shhh...it is a surprise giveaway but I think you will love it!

SALUTE ALL VETERANS TODAY AND EVERYDAY

2011-11-11T18:13:00.002-07:00

On a serious note the military does an incredible job, sacrificing what is important to them to protect and serve us. I am very happy when I hear various businesses giving to Vet's and active miliatary personnel. They get so little and give so much.
Pray for a Vet or an active serve member today.

"B" is for (The) BIG BANG THEORY

2011-11-09T21:00:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Alphabe Thursday. Please stop by and thank Ms. Jenny for hosting our weekly lesson! I am sharing my favorite T.V.program with you tonight, The Big Bang Theory, I love this sitcom. It is funny and full of great comedy! We have watched this program for several years and have gotten into each of the characters. The original five characters are 4 geeks and a blonde waitress/actress hopeful. I love the show because it is silly and I am tired of all the crime on T.V. today. Real life is hard enough without making T.V. less entertaining and more bone chilling! Perhaps it is my age but I will take a love story or comedy over crime laden shows any day! I am not into the reality stuff so this really suits me.

It is hard to choose a favorite character on the show although Howard and Raj, two geeky friends of room mate geeks Leonard and Sheldon find a mate/match for Sheldon via the computer! Sheldon is the annoying one and adding Amy Farrah Fowler to the cast made great sense! The former Blossom star Mayim Bialik plays Amy and she holds a PhD in neuroscience in real life so she really does know what she is talking aobut on the show!

Melissa Rauch who plays Howard's girlfriend Bernadette Maryann Rostekowski is Jewish in real life but plays Bernadette as a "good" Catholic!
Penny is portrayed by Kaley Cuoco. She is the blonde Nebraska waitress/actress!
I love this show and the story lines. If you have not seen it check it out. It is delightful!

Love is.... and 1970s Commercials

2011-11-06T17:14:00.002-07:00

Hee Hee! We usually don't kiss and tell these days but when we were younger we always stole a kiss at the stoplight! It is my favorite memory of youth!

I was visiting Parsley. She was talking about singing in the car with her hubby and their daughter getting a kick out of the two of them.

I found these two commercials from the 70s and I loved them. My oldest daughter was a little girl and she would sing this Enjoli commercial and imitate the actors:

Then there was the Suzy Chaffee commerical with Jim "Catfish" Hunter donning their "Chapstick".

Stop over and visit Marydon and all the other Love is...participates.

Don't miss out on my Pay it Forward giveaway. Just comment that you want to be included. It is going to be a surprise.

Writing from the Heart

2011-11-05T13:46:00.000-06:00

Please come join this fabulous project. When Suzanne asked us to join her by sending a birthday card to a senior and include a one bill if we could I was happy to make someone smile! But I have gotten so much more out of this. My phamily got involved and at first they acted like I was trying to make them give their personal history to a stranger! LOL! Then they started signing the cards with me. Now they look forward to each new month so we can sign the cards, include a dollar and get great joy from the project!
I started writing letters to friends and phamily and sending more personal cards to them too. It is giving me something so joyful that I am at a loss of words to describe it! Just ask LV. She knows I can be a chatter box! Ha Ha!
I am a gifted Gabbie. I love to chat. I love talking with friends. I want to hold your hand if you are sad, send you a simple wish if you need a lift. I could talk to you until you tire of hearing my voice. But I care and I pride myself in being an honest and open person. If I like you it is genuine. If we can agree to disagree that is great!
My whole life I always loved opening the mail on my birthday and seeing the cards and thoughts being sent my way. I save cards and letters and grateful that I do. I have some precious memories with my mom and aunts hand written cards because they are no longer with me.
I have been sad and miserable this past week. Too many tears, not enough smiling. But I wear my hear on my sleeve and I really take a lot to heart.
So I have found that this project of writing letters and cards and even sending messages to strangers is making my heart light.
I think secretly everyone would like to open their mail box and see it overflowing with good thoughts and wishes. I am a very humble person. I don't have a lot of glitter and glamour! But my heart is generous for you and filled with love and appreciation for your friendship here.
Join me by sending a hand written note or card to someone you care about today.

Pink Thoughts for Thanksgiving

2011-11-04T21:10:00.001-06:00

I thought I would share a few "pinks" to celebrate Thanksgiving! It will be here before we know it! I know everyone around the world does not share the same calendar date for this wonderful day but I hope everyone enjoys it here just the same.
When you are finished please visit Beverly and thank her for celebrating Pink Saturday with all of us each week.Then visit some pinkies too.
Make sure you leave a comment and mention my blogaversary giveaway so I can enter you into a special secret giveaway. You just need to pay it forward if you win and make someone else's day special with a giveaway of your own!

Here is a pretty floral arrangement for your Thanksgiving table. Simple yet elegant.

Sandra Lee does Semi-Homemade recipes on the Food Network channel. I thought I would share her Apple, Ginger, Orange Cranberry Sauce recipe here:

Ingredients

1 teaspoon canola oil
1 cup finely chopped apple
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 (14-ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
Garnish: lemon peel

Directions

In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add apple, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add ginger and cranberry sauce, and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in oranges, breaking up oranges with the back of a spoon. Cook for 3 minutes, or until thoroughly heated. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Garnish with lemon peel, if desired.

A is for Autograph

2011-11-02T22:02:00.002-06:00

As a small child my oldest daughter wanted to meet the country western singer Barbara Mandrell. She performed at the Colorado State Fair many years ago. We waited in line for hours to get her autograph! Barbara was very cordial to us and treated us as kindly as the first person she signed an autograph for! Years later Noelle gave that autograph to her cousin Brian! She said "Because he wanted it and liked Barbara Mandrell too!"

When I was a young teen I had a pen pal in Indy. Her name was Jane Moon and she got an autograph for me. I loved auto racing and loved Mario Andretti who was an Indy 500 winner! She babysat for Mario Andretti's brother Aldo's children and I had his autograph!
In the 1980's I got the autograph of rich Karlis, kicker for the Denver Broncos. Ah....my very favorite and still in my possession on a cocktail napkin from the now defunct Bronco Inn near my home.
When I was a small child and making my first communion I had a beautiful prayer book (still have it too) and had my mother's cousin's son Richard sign that prayer book, why you ask? Because he was a Catholic priest. Years later he left the priesthood, married and was the president of one of the local hospitals in my hometown.
Ah....memories. They are awesome! They are amazing! They are part of my Alphabe Thursday post.
When you are finished reading my post please visit our teacher Jenny Then visit more always faithful, absolutely terrific folks who post here too!
Today my autograph book is different. It is a sweet little Dollar Store journal with lined pages that I use when I meet my blogger friends. Here it is:

So here is my autograph book with my first signatures. I do apologize to Suzanne because I had a photo of my page she signed but did not want to reveal her address. I just did not want to publish everything so I tried to condense the pages.
Then I have LaVoice's autograph and her sister Patsy who is also Suzanne's mom! Whew! That was a fun lunch!
These pages are precious to me. I once knew these ladies as bloggers and now they are friends. It is a lovely treasure.
I hope you like my "A" post! I was almost tempted to say "A is for Anne!" Ha Ha! I will share more facts about me as my blog goes on.
Please check my previous posts and make sure to get in my giveaway! It is a surprise. Shh....
Enjoy the day!

MY BLOGAVERSARY TODAY: PLEASE PAY IT FORWARD

2011-11-01T21:47:00.002-06:00

Noah the Dove

These little bunnies, about 6 days old, were attacked by a dog and orphaned. Two out of the litter of five did not survive, and these three were not doing very well.

Noah is a non-releasable, one-legged homing pigeon/rock dove that is in the rehab centre.

Noah kept going over to the bunny cage and looking in -- even sleeping in front of the door to the cage.

Then, suddenly, there were only two bunnies in the cage. But when Noah moved a bit from the front of the cage to everyone's surprise...there was the tiny bunny...under Noah's wing....sound asleep! That little bunny rabbit had crawled through the cage, preferring a feather-bed, no doubt to snuggling up with its litter mates!

Now, they are all together and the bunnies are doing GREAT. When the bunnies scoot underneath Noah's feathers, he carefully extends his wings out to surround them and then they snuggle. When one of them moves and they start sticking out here and there, he gently pushes them back under him with his beak! It is beautiful and amazing to see...

Update on Noah the pigeon:
We are Bob and Georganne Lenham of Wild Rose Rescue Ranch in Texas , home of Noah the Pigeon.
After finding many posts online featuring Noah and the bunnies and reading about the many lives he has touched (his story has been forwarded around the world) we thought we'd post a follow-up and a few new photos.

We knew there was something special about Noah the moment we saw him. Although the bunnies seem to be his favorite, Noah helps out with many rescue babies here at the Wild Rose Rescue Ranch...

Noah's first litter of bunnies, almost raised and ready for release.

Now, Noah helps out with many rescue babies here at the ranch...

How wonderful it is to have a full-time soft-feathered nurturer here at the rescue ranch!

He cuddles with all the babies as they snuggle under his warm feathers......

and he "coos" as if singing them to sleep with a lullaby.

Noah is truly, truly a God-send.

He will cover you with His feathers
And under His wings you will find refuge.
Psalm 91:4

LIFE IS WONDERFUL !

I have been sharing this and thought I should just put it out here for everyone to see. Come leave a comment and follow me so I can enter you into my giveaway.

I will be giving away something fun! I will run the giveaway until the end of the month and draw a winner November 30th. I am doing this in honor of my two year blogaversary. Since I started blogging I have made some wonderful friends. It is a wonderful place to spend quality time with great people. All the crafty, talented, artistic people. People we all share such a wonderful bond of friendship with. Encouragement. Laughter, Sadness. Joy, Happiness. Friendship. Warmth, Kindness. Come join me if you don't already. We all have such a wonderful connection here. I am grateful and very appreciative for all of you. Love my friends in blog land. Thanks for being here.

I am asking one more thing. If you win here please pay it forward. Do something fun for someone else. I want to see how many of us will participate and see who we can bring a smile to.

Spread the news. Come visit, come comment and please just follow me. I will always come over and visit you too and follow you.

Come spread a little joy.

Take my button on the right side bar. It is the top button. Extra entry for you too!

Love is....That morning cuppa Joe!

2011-10-30T21:03:00.002-06:00

I hope you stop by and visit and drink your coffee or tea with me! This sweet Love is...looks like me getting a cuppa joe for my Sweets! I hope you visit Marydon and all the participates here. I have a cross country post and a Blue Monday post too. You might have missed my Pink Saturday post too! Please feel free to look back

My blogaversary is tomorrow! I am be behind but I will do a really nice giveaway! Come visit and spread the word! I just ask that you follow me and leave a comment that you want to be in the giveaway! Simple!

SPIRITUAL SUNDAY

2011-10-30T10:30:00.004-06:00

Christian perspective on Halloween

An Episcopal (e.g. Protestant) Christian's view.

Since the eighth century Christians have celebrated All Saints' Day on November 1 to celebrate the known and unknown Christian Saints. Saints are not just those whom the Church has canonized, but all members of that "cloud of witnesses" who proclaim Jesus as Lord - including you and me!
Almost as old as the celebration of All Saints' Day is the tradition associated with All Hallow's Eve. ("Hallows" mean "saints," both mean "holy ones," as in "Hallowed be thy name." "Eve" means the evening before.) So, Halloween means "the evening before All Holy Ones' Day." Today we call that festival Halloween (Hallow's Eve) and we have many fun secular ways of recognizing it in addition to religious ways. However, it's important to remember that its celebration has a long, positive history in the Church.
What sort of history is that? Like many of the liturgical festivals (Christmas and Easter included), All Saints' Day and All Hallow's Eve have some connection to pagan festivals. People of many races and cultures have remembered their dead and have had superstitions about death itself. Christians remembered death itself on All Hallow's Eve and celebrated Christ's victory over death. During the Middle Ages, Christians would gather in Churches for worship and they would remember the saints' victories over evil. Likewise they would put on little displays showing Jesus' victory of Satan, often using unusual masks and costumes to act out the story.
Thus, the festivities on All Hallow's Eve were the Christian's way of laughing at death and evil, something we can do in certain hope of Christ's victory over the powers of darkness. The Church for centuries, however, has seen All Hallow's Eve not as a glorification of evil, but as a chance to affirm eternal life in the face of the death of our mortal bodies. Just as Easter is a celebration of Jesus' victory over death and evil, so is Halloween!
1995 (with minor corrections and changes over the years)
in response to email castigating Halloween.com for glorifying evil when it was doing anything but that! :-)
For some other perspectives on a Christian Halloween, please see:
• ChristianAnswers.net

I was raised in the Catholic church and we celebrated All Saints Day rather than Halloween at school. Most of our parents did allow us to trick or treat on Halloween. I think it can be a fun and safe holiday if you keep in mind that kids are kids and they like to follow their peers. It is most difficult in school for children to be set aside because of a religious belief about Halloween. I have always had a good balance on the subject and my children know the truth! So we do not have a problem with Halloween because we basically handout candy to the neighborhood kids and add a few decorative items throughout our home.
I wanted to share this verse with you today in honor of Charlotte and all the hard work she does to prepare our weekly Spiritual Sunday.
"You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." John 8:322
I have seen this verse being misconstrued in movies and people using it in silly talk! The truth of the matter is Christ is the truth and knowing Him will idea set you free!
Enjoy your day and enjoy your friendships here as well.

Here is a tasty autumn soup to share today. The recipe comes from Bethany M Giles who is also the photographer of this delightful soup:

1 acorn squash
2 sweet potatoes
1 medium pumpkin
2 14 oz. cans of coconut milk
14.5 ozs. chicken broth
salt,ground pepper and ginger to taste
1 lime juiced

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
2. Puncture the acorn squash and pumpkin with a knife and wrap the sweet potatoes in foil. Place them on a baking sheet lined with foil.
3. Bake approximately 2 hours until the skin the pumpkin begins to brown and caves in.
4. Remove the sweet potatoes skins and chop. Skin,seed and mash the acorn squash and pumpkin. Stir in the coconut milk, reserving 1/2 cup for garnish. Add chicken broth. Season with salt, pepper and ginger and the lime juice.
5.Cook over medium heat until heated through. Serve with a lime wedge and a drizzle of coconut milk.

This delightful soup was found at www.allrecipes.com and you may subsitute canned pumpkin for this soup. It is festive for this season!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, A CROSS COUNTRY BITTERSWEET END,MORE BLUE

2011-10-30T09:49:00.001-06:00

Nick at his painful finish of the CHSA Cross Country State Championship 2011. His running shoes are blue and orange!

As a life long Denver Bronco fan here is a fan fave Champ Bailey. I thought it was a nice break from QB sensation Tim Tebow and his now famous "T bow"!

The Denver Bronco mascot. Did you know that Bucky, the beautiful white horse that graces our stadium was designed from "Trigger" the famous horse that Roy Rogers rode in all his western movies and T.V. show?

Some Bronco hair for the ultimate Bronco fan!

A blue fairy image for you! Hope it is not snowing where she is trick or treating!

A haunting image in blue!

A patch of pretty blue pumpkins!
Enjoy your blue day and if you are heading out for some tricks and treats please be safe!
Q. What do goblins and ghosts drink when they are hot and thirsty on Halloween?
A. Ghoul Aid!

Q. Why did the ghost go into the bar?
A. For the boos!

Q. WHy did the game warden arrest the ghost?
A. He didn't have a haunting license!

Q. why didn't the skeleton dance at the party?
A. He didn't have any body to dance with!

Q. Where does Count Dracula usually eat his lunch?
A. At the casketeria!

If I don't stop now I never will! Ha Ha Ha! Go visit Sally and show her your blue today!

PAIN AND PERSEVERANCE

2011-10-29T23:42:00.001-06:00

The dictionary says this about perseverance: continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure or opposition. Steadfastness.
2011 CHSA Cross Country Championship was a difficult course for many. Nick did not have the best race of his year. He had a poor time as far as his time goes. He has not run an 18 minute 5k since he was a freshman. But his day was off, his team mates on! That is life. It does not always go according to our plan. The course was soft and there was some mud, lots of mud! The young man that everyone thought would be the winner, running in the 15's all season, never losing a race came in 40th. I am sure he was devastated. Yet he was running on a possible stress fracture. We saw a report on his Face Book page that he was taken to the hospital, then released. A few really classy guys, gentleman, full of integrity and good character did not fair as well as they had hoped either. It was just a tough day. But there is another race, another day, a different season. All the runners are winners in my book! They ran like champions. I hope they stop and catch their breathe and rest. The winter is coming and they need their rest. Track and field will be here before we know it. Nick can pick up where he left off. He had a miserable season with bursitis and shingles. Shingles that attacked his body and left him in so much pain . Yet he persevered and took 11th place out of 15 spots last week to secure a place at the state meet. Because of his hard work and his team mates hard work they secured a place in the state competition. The thrill of it is just a good place to be.
Our older son and two of his friends came along and joined us in supporting Nick and Fabian, Sean, Juan, Jorge, Eddie and Mario. Cameron shot some cool photos with the nifty D3000 Nikon camera he recently purchased! I will share them here.

Some photos from the race. Nick was in pain at the three mile mark. As he approaches the finish it broke my heart to see the pain in his face.

"If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been. " Robert Brault

"A mother knows what a child doesn't say"

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial , for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised for those who love Him." James 1:12

A Halloween Treat! Pretty in pink and then some

2011-10-28T22:04:00.001-06:00

Now are these two cute? My nephew Sean and his sister Sarah! Doesn't she make an adorable Strawberry Shortcake?

Her brother is so intense! Do you know who he is in costume?
Then there is Ari. My little niece with her bumble bee costume. Isn't she cute as a bug?

I thought you might like some pink Halloween treats too along with some Breast Cancer Awareness reminders:

Watch this video too. Then stop by Beverly's.
Enjoy the weekend filled with pinkness. Please pray for Nick and his team mates as they compete in the State Cross Country meet tomorrow. It is bittersweet for me because this is the end of cross country season and Nick has participated in cross country since he was a 7th grader and he has attended the state championship meet as a sophomore,junior and senior in high school. I pray that he and his team mates will have a strong finish and they will run with integrity and heart like they always do. I pray that all participates will use good character tomorrow and run with confidence and kind hearts. Amen
"The distance is nothing; it is only the first step that is difficult."--Cicero

HAPPY AUTUMN, HAPPY HALLOWEEN AND SNOW PLEASE GO AWAY!

2011-10-26T21:24:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone! We got a lot of snow and it was wet and heavy. We are blessed. We have power! But many were not as lucky. So I am sharing some photos I took. Except for Maxine. She is making me laugh! My son-in-law has a cool motorcycle. (I will have to post my pic of me sitting on it! Ha Ha). But it is sitting outside in the snow! Brrr....it is cold and wet. Poor motorcycle. So Maxine is her usual snarky self making wise cracks! Ha Ha! Hee Hee! I really like Maxine.
My broken branches photo is a great one too! When my SIL got up today (his day off) this enormous branch was laying on top of his Passport. The good news is there was no major damage. The bad news is the tree branch is so large it will be a while before we can cut it and bind it for our trash service! Grateful no one was hurt!
The red tree is beautiful. It is such a nice autumn reminder. It looks pink in the sunlight. I shot this over the weekend, It was before the cold and snow set in.
Then there is the Halloween pumpkin Amy from our vendor across the hall decorated for us! She works for a sleep study clinic and brought this cute pumpkin in its Halloween finest to us.
Another vendor brought us the "Headless Horseman" pumpkin. Did you read "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving? Written in 1917 it is a classic and features Rip van Winkle:
A pleasing land of drowsy head it was.
Of dreams that wave before the half-shut eye.
And of gay castles in the clouds that pass.
For ever flushing round a summer sky.
Now hop over to Jenny and say hi! Visit all the participates of this weekly fun at Alphabe Thursday!

Blue Monday Phamily

2011-10-24T07:28:00.002-06:00

This is my nephew Charles in blue and his niece Shelby. Shelby is the daughter of my nephew Tony. She is fifteen. I have not seen a photo of her since she was a baby! Since my sis passed away I don't get the photo ops I like. Charles has a lovely wife Cheryl and she took this picture. Thank you Cheryl!

All summer long we walked and ran at this beautiful place. Now it is closed for an 8 million dollar facelift! We understand that a beautiful carousel will be out in place as well as a skate park. I have nothing against kids and skate parks but the noise will drive away all the beautiful wildlife, primarily birds and bull frogs! I think change is good but sometime not so much! This was a favorite blue photo I took there this summer. Now the snow is in the forecast...

A little Maxine to make you smile this morning. Now hurry over and visit Sally

Love is....

2011-10-23T09:08:00.005-06:00

I am sharing a favorite Love is...for my Spiritual Sunday and my Love is....today. I was visiting Linda and she is always so gracious to share her verses and her photos with all of us. I thought it came together so nicely and lately the Lord and I have been connecting all the dots!

I was telling Linda that I am crazy at my job, because of the horrible circumstances there and I pray so hard that the Lord and I have started to connect the dots and He is putting my home work first in my heart. I love doing laundry. I do not mind scrubbing the bathroom. I like changing the comforter and curtains in our bedroom. I don't have much but I have my heart into my phamily so I am learning to see the Lord's bigger picture for me.
Today I will ask for some prayer. Pray that Nick and his team will remain strong and healthy and fly through their run with angels lifting their feet next Saturday at the state meet! Please pray that somehow I can manage to get to Arizona with my Sweets so that we may see Nick run at the Nike Meet November 17th. The money is not there and any suggestions about earning extra cash to finance our trip would be greatly appreciated. Our garage is bursting at the seams with Princess House product. It would be wonderful to sell it off and earn this trip.
Finally I ask prayer for my work place. I think all the people there could use God's hand in their lives. It is very sad to see such a decline in lifestyle and angryness in others hearts.
I hope you will visit Charlotte, Linda and Marydon and thank these ladies for their wonderful encouraging hearts and blogs. Charlotte and Marydon do such a nice job keeping us in the groove with SPiritual Sunday and Love is... Linda has a beautiful heart for the Lord. Pray for all these ladies as they are special in blog world. Thank you for your time today and please visit me any time.
* the blogger will not let me open Spiritual Sunday form here. Please google it if you normally do not participate. It is www.bloggerspirit.com/

PINK SATURDAY IS A POTLUCK OF FUN!

2011-10-21T22:55:00.002-06:00

Here is my teapot short and stout! I purchased this precious little treasure at a thrift store for $1.50. The pastel colors are blue,yellow and PINK!

Here is my sweet giveaway win from Diann. It was a win that the company Carmex sponsored and included three different lip balms. I am using the clear lip gloss (non-sticky) and am going to have a good winter with my lip balm collection.

This is the sweet little picnic blanket that unfolds into a nice ground cover at the park or anywhere you want to sit and enjoy the final days of autumn and the warmth in the air! Thanks Diann and Carmex!

Now I am in a Secret Pal Swap with Parsley and my "Secret Pal" sent me the cute Kung Fu singing card! It plays ,of course, the song "Kung Fu Fighting"! I love it and she knows that my hubby was a first rate fan of the late Bruce Lee.Although Bruce was not a kung fu fighter but practiced the art of Jeet Kune Do I thought my Secret Pal was super nice to send this card!
The cute little ghost photo is a giveaway I won over at the Christmas in July PAFA. I won this ghost made by Barb . Ijust love him! He is a special Halloween addition here!
The card on your left was sent by my Secret Pal. She thought perhaps I did not get my first card! Isn't she thoughtful? This card is handmade with some pretty colorful designs including PINK! Thank you secret pal! I hope I hear my Secret Pal received my latest letter and special card soon.
The card on the right is a handmade autumn hug sent via the US mail by my sweet desert friend Jenny. Thanks my teaching pal at Alphabe Thursday and great all round friend!

I know! I know! It's not pink but I had to share my pride and joy, our youngest Nick (413) who along with his team will attend State next weekend! That is Fabian (414) and Sean (410). Congrats to all the runners and these guys and their team ran really well. It is our final season of high school cross country and I was having a really hard time with it. This is what the Lord put on my heart, and it calmed me down and made the race much more enjoyable: Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Do you see the coincidence here with my verse and anything else? Or is it?
Happy Pink Saturday! Now hurry over to Beverly's.

PARSLEY THIS IS FOR YOU!

2011-10-20T22:33:00.002-06:00

Parsley asked us to post a photo of ourselves on our blog. So Parsley, friend, this is for you! It is a chance for me to show off this precious baby boy we have in our phamily. Our grandson Andrew and Tarrah came over Saturday evening and we all had a wonderful time entertaining Jayden Alexander. He turned five weeks old on Monday the 17th. He is such a sweet boy. I have a photo of him with his eyes wide opened.I just need to get it posted here too.
So this is just a hello to everyone here and a shout out to Parsley for her friendship and kind heart. Visit her soon.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
This verse hangs on Nick's wall and has since he was a small tyke. Please remember Nick and his cross country team mates in your prayers. They will run in the regional race tomorrow.
Goodnight to all!
"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams." Paula Coehlo

If the miles behind me could be put into words before you…
you would feel my efforts, my struggles, my desires,
most of all you would see my joy…
Watch me from afar run the trails and hills
and miles upon miles and you will see…
- a runner

ALPHABE THURSDAY: IS IT AUTUMN YET?

2011-10-20T18:36:00.000-06:00

Welcome to my Alphabe Thursday post. I am posting some shots we have taken during the autumn. It is one of my favorite times of the year. But it never lasts very long. We go from 80 plus degrees to 50 to 60 to 70! Rain and wind and cool nights to sleep tight! But the leaves have changed and the beauty they produce is amazing. I love the reds and golds, such beautiful rich and royal colors. I love seeing the pumpkins stacked up in the stores and the remnant's of them in the fields. The end of the flowers that filled the air with sweet fragrances and bold, brilliant color all summer long are now quiet and subdued. Mums are everywhere. Their glorious tones of purple,yellow and orange are warm and wonderful. My favorite things about autumn are all the wonderful drinks like hot apple cider, pumpkin flavored coffee drinks and the taste of stew or homemade noodles and soup.

I chose four photos from our phamily collection to share with you. The first one is Ari at the Pumpkin Patch. She is my niece Kate's daughter. Isn't she just sweet? The second photo is a quilted sky. I took the shot a few weeks ago at a Cross Country meet. Hannah took the sideways photo of aspen trees near Gunnison. I took this red tree photo last weekend.
Stop by Ms. Jenny's and join the fun for Alphabe Thursday

Blue Monday

2011-10-17T09:00:00.015-06:00

Moonlite sky and meteors at a castle.

Twinkle Stars
Just a little astronomy for Blue Monday. Come visit Sally and have a little blue this Monday!
"He has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters at the boundary of light and darkness." Job 26:10
My note: blogger will not auto post my posts for me. This was suppose to come up Monday morning and here it was sitting. I wondered why I had no Blue Monday post! Duh!

Love is... A Humble Meal

2011-10-16T17:21:00.000-06:00

My house is overflowing! There are people everywhere so we are having some very humble meals! Tonight my middle bought roast beef and we made a huge batch of mashed potatoes and they bought Texas toast so we could have open faced sandwiches. The hubby, my Sweets, makes good gravy and we had a nice phamily meal! I thought this cute little Love is would fit perfectly into my phamily tonight!

Now stop by Marydon's and see who is participating in this fun weekly meme Love is....
What is Love for you?

OCTOBER IS DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH!

2011-10-15T22:35:00.000-06:00

I have missed a few Spiritual Sunday's. So I didn't want to miss it this week. I hope you visit Charlotte because she does a wonderful job keeping the meme up each week and filling our hearts with encouragement.
Today I want to talk about Down Syndrome. It is something lots of folks feel uncomfortable with. Unless it touches your life personally I guess a lot of folks don't think about it. I have not been touched by this personally but when I was a single, soon to be unwed mother in 1975 I worked as a volunteer for the local chapter of the Right to Life. I was shocked at the people who cruelly said awful things to us about the unborn and the children born imperfect, in their, shallow opinion. Years later I see our president of the US sitting smugly in the white house with no regard for these beautiful children. I have always been shocked by the Kennedy family because their daughter founded the Special Olympics and yet they are politically correct rich people. I never cared for Sylvester Stallone as I read that he and his first wife put their first born son into a mental institution because he was born imperfect and suffered from autism.
I tell you this story because of two woman who I believe had more courage then most of us. My good friend Ann Kihn was in her seventies when I worked with her at the county courthouse in Pueblo. She had three children and her youngest daughter Sharon was born with Down Syndrome. Ann had always felt that her baby was switched at birth and back then unless you had a lot of money nothing would be done about it. Nevertheless she took Sharon home and raised her. People told her to institutionalize Sharon but Ann worked with our boss Mary Shomer who raised her son John during a time when people thought he too, should be put away. Mary encouraged Ann to keep Sharon with her at home and until the day she died Annie took care of that girl. Sharon was a real pistol. She once hide a whole loaf of Wonder bread and consumed the whole thing while left alone while being attended by Ann's husband who hadn't worked in ages! He was, still holding out for that one dream job! Ann and Mary both had many trials with their children but their ultimate love and total sacrifice made them heroes in my book! I know when they met our Lord at Heaven's gate He told them both "Job well done".
When God allows a new life to enter this world He is ultimately in charge of that life. A woman I know who worked in a nursing home said her own grandmother always said children with Downs have pure souls. You can see God's light in them. I personally think they are here masquerading as angels for Our Lord.
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2
Psalm 139:13-16 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
I have a video to share today. I hope you will participate in the Down Syndrome Awareness projects this month in your area and never forget these wonderful children who have enriched the lives of many.

Pink Mexican Pastries and Assorted Breads

2011-10-15T12:37:00.002-06:00

Hello and welcome to Pink Saturday! Please visit Beverly and thank her for her year long support of each one of us and the Pink Saturday meme.

I was walking around a small Mexican Market near my home and I realized they were sharing lots of pretty pinks for Breast Cancer Awareness month! Here are a few of those photos. I hope you enjoy them!

These are beautiful donuts and I really like the pink frosted ones! Do you?

Smile! You have a pretty pink cake for your eating enjoyment!

Some pretty pink pan surtido which translates in English to mean "assorted breads". This looks like it is covered in coconut!

I will share more treasures from the Mexican market next time. Enjoy all the pretty pinks by visiting your favorites and making new friends with those you have not met today!

"Z" is for Z words

2011-10-12T20:23:00.001-06:00

I usually get to Alphabe Thursday and the letter "Z"! Then I cheat and do something like Zzzzz...for sleepy heads or another semi "Z" word!

I started thinking about names that start with the letter Z. I worked with a gal named "Zena"! I know two teenagers named "Zander". One of the most handsome German Shepherd dogs I knew was named "Zeus"! One of my dearest friends from my entire life since the tender age of 3 has the Italian last name of "Zinno". She lives in the St. Charles Mesa which is farming country in the town where I grew up. There is a street there named after her dad who was a prominent farmer there years ago. It is called Zinno Blvd. When I was married in 1984 my honey and I bought our wedding rings crafted by Zales at a local jewelry store called Jack Armstrong Jewelry! My dad owned his first color T.V. which was made by Zenith! Zoological Gardens is a fancy term for a "zoo"! While raising five children my house was often a "zoo"! Zoom is a car going too fast! Zany is a crazy sense of humor. Zip it, something I often say to myself in order not to conform to the ways of others! I am a very open person and I often am too helpful! My energy is "zapped" so I decided to back off and not offer too much info! Zachary Taylor was the 12th president of the US. He died in office (1784-1850). Zabaglione is a light, foamy custard-like dessert served hot or chilled. A zebra is a black and white striped animal found in the wild! Zinfandel is a dry fruity red wine from California. Zinfandel is a small black grape grown chiefly in California, transplanted form Europe. Zinc is an essential mineral! I take zinc tablets daily because I have a crummy cold and feel like a zombie! The day before payday I usually have "zilch" in my wallet or bank account! Zinnias are brightly colored flower heads. My zip code is 80233. What's yours?

Join Ms. Jenny and all the "Z" participates this week!

I hope you won't mind me sharing something Secret, Something Gift Giving and Something so sweet! Come over to Suzanne's and join the fun! It is will a secret gift giving time to share!

Blue Monday/ Love Is...

2011-10-10T18:47:00.001-06:00

Welcome to Blue Monday with Love is... We had a cold and rainy weekend and the sun is shining today. So after Nick's cross country meet Friday I pulled by electric blanket(blue) out of the closet. It is keeping my toes warm right now! My hubby has made this face many times when I snuggles those frozen toes up against his warm ones! Ha Ha!
The little pup at the foot of the bed looks like Roxie after she gets into trouble with with mom , Hannah! LOL!
I thought you might want to smile so I posted this just for you. Now head over to Sally's and Marydon's and share your blues and love is with all of us. Enjoy your week!

PINK SATURDAY

2011-10-07T22:16:00.002-06:00

Please visit Beverly today and the rest of the pinkies at Pink Saturday. I am sending some images your way that symbolize the Breast Cancer awareness Campaign. I chose the New York Jets NFL Cap with the pretty pink trim because my local grocery store has a cardboard cutout of quarterback Mark Sanchez with a breast cancer survivor to promote awareness. Plus he is a handsome guy and great qb.The pretty t shirts in a variety of colors represent the Ford Motor Co. breast Cancer campaign. Proceeds go to the BCA campaign. CUte trainer shoes can help you get fit and stay fit.The pink ribbon pin is the first piece of BCA jewelry I bought. The pink ribbon is also gracing the NFL symbol during October and you can see your favorite NFL team wearing special gloves,shoes,headbands and jerseys with the BCA symbol. I had to add this beautiful Martina McBride video. Please enjoy.I will have my mammogram soon. It is something I am vigilant about . My paternal grandmother and two of my dad's five sisters were breast cancer survivors during a time when there was not much information available. I lost my favorite aunt Ang who was married to my mom's brother to this horrible disease and currently I have these friends recovering from the disease: Sandy,sisters Ilee and Sherrie, and Teresa. spread some pinkness and let's all join together so we can find a cure.

Y is for Yogurt

2011-10-06T18:49:00.001-06:00

I love yogurt! But often it gives me a headache! A really bad headache like the one I have right now bordering on migraine and too much sodium in a "healthy choice" soup I ate for lunch! It also is making my head throb because I am getting a bad cold! This odd weather we have makes us suffer in the high 80's turns around and makes the wind blow and then settle in with some 50 degree temps and rain showers! The barometric pressure is doing me in!

So tonight for Ms. Jenny's Alphabe Thursday I decided to post my favorite yogurt! I have mentioned the headache thing from standard yogurt so I found Greek yogurt. I am a big fan of Oikos Greek yogurt. The calories in it are very reasonable. They have it in traditional smooth yogurt and the fruit on the bottom. I like the black cherry, strawberry and blueberry flavors. I am not a fan of the honey flavored yogurt. It costs a little more than the traditional brands you can get at your favorite store and the cost is higher too from the Yoplait's and Dannon's but this Oikos Greek yogurt is yummy! It is good for your tummy and a great snack or breakfast treat and no headache pain! Try it, I think you may like it! Check out their website here. They support Breast Cancer Awareness and since it is Breast Cancer Awareness month this tied in very nicely.

AUTHORITY ALWAYS WINS

2011-10-05T07:37:00.000-06:00

I have always been a rebellious one! It stems from being the last of five children and a spoiled rotten kid! I just love this John Mellencamp song. It is great to listen to while running or walking! I find lots of great music and some of the language is not fit to publish so I have to choose carefully. Listen to this and if it does not load here go to you tube and listen to it. I liked the graphics too.

Enjoy your day! I have in busy with phamily things so I will catch up with all when I ge tmy Alphabe Thursday post up laster tonight!

Blue Space

2011-10-03T07:36:00.000-06:00

This is a cool image. I thought it would work well for Blue Monday. Come say hello to Sally and let's take a peak at God's wonder even in outer space!

Psalm 102:25- "Of old thou hast laid out the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of thy hands."

Something Pink for Love is.../Pink Saturday/Spiritual Sunday

2011-10-01T17:12:00.004-06:00

Love is...not getting angry! I thought this sweet little cartoon would be great to tie into Pink Saturday, Love is...and Spiritual Sunday. She is decked out in her pretty pink and white striped dress. She can represent Pink Saturday today. She can tie into Spiritual Sunday because I have a beautiful verse that I want to share with this post. It is "Do not let the sun go down on your anger." Ephesians 4:26. Then you can visit the Love is...gang and share your favorite Love is...with all of us.

My parents taught this verse to me. I can not be honest if I say I have always followed their biblical advice. But as I get older I really do try harder. As a young bride some days it was tough not getting angry. But I can tell you, in my lifetime, while my folks were alive, I never saw them turn their backs on each other. I never saw terrible anger. Their marriage was a good and solid one based on their faith and their love for each other. I had wonderful parents and I was raised in such a kind and loving atmosphere that it was not difficult to want to model my own marriage after theirs.

Please visit these ladies, Marydon, Charlotte and Beverly and share something with each of them today. A kind word or a special post you wish to share with them because they are the wonderful ladies who make sure these weekly meme's go off. without a hitch. I am a late follower due to phamily. Nick's shingles, still not clearing up, my terrible tummy and just the daily grind.

Maybe this will cheer up your evening, providing you aren't dieting today!

A co worker gave me these cool cake pans but I am not into much decorative baking so I sent them home with my niece Karla and her hubby Aaron. These two are terrific cake decorators. So they made this beautiful pink cake for their daughter Kate's birthday. She shares that special date with her youngest brother Matt but he had to have a blizzard cake from DQ!

"X" Scrabble words

2011-09-28T21:07:00.000-06:00

Come join the Alphabe Thursday fun with Ms. Jenny. I am not a great game player! My hubby and I play rummy and a few other card games but I use to love playing games when I was younger. Scrabble is one of those games so here are some Scrabble facts for you featuring the letter "X". There are approximately 317 words that can be used while playing Scrabble that feature the letter X. Here are some of those words:
addax          beaux           carex
ataxy           bemix           cimex
axion           boxer            coxal
axman          boxes           cylix

Words with a X in them don't score as many points as letters Z and Q. X words are much easier to place on the board.

I thought you might enjoy a little info on this X-citing and X-cellent letter!