HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018 AND SOME LAUGHTER

The clock is ticking down. Sounds of fireworks everywhere! Watching old reruns on TV. No exciting plans for us. Rest and relaxation. The temperatures are bitter cold again so we hunkered down inside. wishing you and yours a beautiful and blessing filled 2018. May adventures be plentiful and may your heart be light and cheerful.

A belly laugh for you from me and this cute google image find.

This is just a gentle reminder, be yourself. You are beautiful and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

I see the word of God as my armor:

My posts are  not fancy and filled with fabulous photos most days  but I like to post about how I am feeling, what makes me happy, or sad. I miss my dear sweet friend Jenny Matlock who use to host Alphabe Thursday for several years. She became really ill and doctors were baffled as to why she was so ill and could not seem to pinpoint what was going on. Jenny was a favorite blogger of mine. She was kind and smart and talented and very funny too. My hubby and I had the pleasure of meeting her in 2012 when Nick was a high school senior running in the Nike SouthWest XC in Arizona. Jenny and her husband Steve took time out of their already busy schedules to meet us just to visit for a while and it meant so very much to me. She got really ill after that and in May of 2016 gave up hosting her fun memes at her blog jennymatlock.blogspot.com/ I still send her cards and letters and I pray a lot for her and Steve. I am thinking of her today and decided I will go through the alphabet myself and start here with the letter "A".

I am anticipating a wonderful 2018 New Year. I pray for many fun adventures, amazing friends I blog with along the way and hope to post some awesome photos of friends and phamily along the way.l This pinterest find for Anticipation really fit the bill. This is for you Jenny, in case you stopped by for a quick peek.

Sandee is one of those beautiful friends I have met here. She hosts fun memes too: Like Aw....Mondays. These silly pups were being rewarded with a treat but one of them was to greedy so he pulled a naughty prank on the other one. Visit for some smiles and laughter and always, a good time.

Something new to learn each and everyday. This Magical Mystical Teacher.typepad.com/ hosts Blue Monday and what fun that is. Originally started by Sally in Florida and hosted later by Jeanne this fun meme just needs you to share your favorite blues. I don't remember all the choices on the color wheel but here is what I found for blue at google images.

Some of my phamily standing in the snow on CHRISTmas Eve 2017. It is the Eveland, Wiley, Gonzalez crew. How did my little phamily of 7 turn into  such a delight? The other 9 1/2 of us were at church and other phamily gatherings.

We had some pizza to celebrate the New Year's Eve. We lead such exciting lives. Grateful we are here and healthy and safe and warm. Thank you Love is...you have made my day since the 1970's.

Here is a share for Annie at McGuffy's Reader 

 I am very certain Anne Frank was 100 percent correct stating this. Even today, when our world seems more out of control.

Maxine you never cease to make me laugh out loud.

Melancholy Friday

Excuse my randomness! Today is odd. The weather is slightly warm but winds are whipping. Making me melancholy. My dear, sweet cousin Jeannie sent me some phamily photos which arrived yesterday. Oh my goodness, I cried happy years, all the beautiful BoJon's in those photos.

Beautiful people. My sweet mother will be celebrating her birthday January 4, 2018 with another heavenly year. She was the prettiest wedding attendant here with my handsome father. They were celebrating the wedding of dad's sister Angela "Gela  to Uncle "Bear" (Anthony). Oh what a beautiful couple. Uncle Bear owned a liquor store and also a gas station/repair shop that my cousin Danny took over for many years. My aunt and uncle were godparents for myself and my four siblings too. This is the only photo of my uncle that I have and he was a very kind and quiet man. A gentle soul. My aunt could weave a story so beautifully. I know so many things about my dad because of her. This is one of those days, when I miss them all so much. Jeannie says she likes to imagine my mom was wearing a lavender or pale mint green dress. That made my heart smile.

You know Scripture reveals so many truths to me every single day.

Srečno novo leto 2018

Do you know this song? It is a country song and sung beautifully by Darley Worley.Life is very imperfect and so many try to make it perfect. My life has never been perfect but I have always been perfectly content. Anyway here is the song in it's entirety:

Awful Beautiful Life

Darryl Worley

I woke up early with a poundin' in my head
I'd been out the night before with all my friends
A little worried, kinda wonderin' what I did
I said, " Lord, please forgive me for my sins."
My wife wanted to kill me, but she tried to save me first
"You're goin' if I have to drag your butt to church."

I love this crazy, tragic,
Sometimes almost magic,
Awful, beautiful life

I read the hymns and kinda sorta sang along
And made it through the Sunday sermon wide awake
We met the family for dinner at our home
Drank some beer, watched a game, and cooked some steaks
My little brother had a big fight with his wife
And my poor mother sat between 'em both all night

I love this crazy, tragic,
Sometimes almost magic,
Awful, beautiful life

We said a prayer for Cousin Michael in Iraq
We're all aware that he may never make it back
We talked about the way we missed his stupid jokes
And how he loved to be a soldier more than most

I laid in bed that night and thought about the day
And how my life is like a roller coaster ride
The ups and downs and crazy turns along the way
It'll throw you off if you don't hold on tight
You can't really smile until you've shed some tears
I could die today or I might live on for years

I love this crazy, tragic,
Sometimes almost magic,
Awful, beautiful life

I love this crazy, tragic,

Sometimes almost magic,Awful, beautiful life

Alright
It's a beautiful life
Awful, beautiful, life
I love this life
It's a beautiful life

Songwriters: Harley Allen / Darryl Worley

Awful Beautiful Life lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Here is a New Year's kitten for Feline Friday Make sure to wish Sandee and everyone a Happy New Year. Then visit Pink Saturday and share your favorite pink.

 

 Stop by  Sandee's and wish everyone there a Happy New Year. Then you can visit Beverly HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! MAY IT BE HEALTHY AND HAPPY FOR YOU AND YOURS!

Srečno novo leto 2018

MIXED UP TUESDAY

The holidays always turn me upside down! We nearly forgot the trash man was coming today. But I am not sure he did arrive! It's so cold outside I have stayed indoors most of the day. This precious pooch had too much "doggy juice"! Now he needs his dark glasses and probably some pup headache medicine! since it's past Aw....Mondays, we will hope Sandee and everyone at Aw...Mondays will not mind my lateness. My days run together most weeks so the holidays add to my sheer confusion.

This pup looks like he indulged too much too! Perhaps he overdid the doggy bones or some freshly baked doggy cookies. Maybe everyone from Blue Monday won't mind that I am late either. The blue hot water bottle might be filled with some ice to cure that hangover.

Our church won't have services next week. They will televise their service on a local channel because with the five Denver area locations and one in Brussels, Belgium location they held 28 services on CHRISTmas Eve.  We attended a service at the Arvada location Saturday afternoon. They have an amazing music program and put a nice program together. I always have so much peace when I go to church with them. The Arvada location is under construction for remodeling. With the snow and cold the ground, although once muddy, was frozen solid. It will be lovely once it is completed. I am not a fan of mega churches who like your cash but not your troubles and the Red Rocks Church exists to simply to make heaven more crowded so many, many, many lost souls find their way to this amazing church. I tell you all this because the after CHRISTmas service televised is called Holiday HangOver. I think often many folks have that tremendous let down for whatever reasons and the church really pulls it all together and puts it into perspective.

I love this verse from the New Testament. It is such an amazingly true statement.

Jayden and phamily gave me this birdhouse. He made this sweet tiny house so I set it inside our tree by the little red bird guarding the CHRISTmas tree. My mom always said to have a bird in your tree and I do. Jayden's gift is so meaningful to me. He was so proud of what he made. I L O V E it.

Harrison handed me a little gift bag with this Willow Tree. It is called "Grandmother" He said to me, present for you. You have to know, while Jayden is 6, and he understands that CHRISTmas and gifts are not all for him alone, it is hard for Harrison being not quite two. But he was so cute. I love the Willow Trees, like my dolls and tea things and Precious Moments, each one has a story to tell. It is the biggest reason why I don't do downsizing for these treasures. I am not nor will I ever be a "minimalist". U G H ! It is all I can say about that!

This Love is...is a terrific winter-time share. Yes to the electric blanket! This bitter cold weather should go visit Elsa, Anna and Olaf!

Oh Maxine, you are something else!

Have a beautiful and blessed week and enjoy your moments with those you love best.

MERRY CHRISTmas to All

We have a white CHRISTmas! Last night, the bitter cold produced a lovely layering of the white fluffy stuff. It will be a perfect CHRISTmas for our loved ones and I hope yours too.

I have so many beautiful memories of this precious day. My husband always read the CHRISTmas story to our children before we opened phamily gifts on CHRISTmas Eve. It was still the first thing we do as we wake up to snow today.

Jana Kaiser=Johnson shared this beautiful letter to Jesus from Santa at social media. One of the rare shares I will post here.

My dear precious Jesus, I did not mean to take your place,
I only bring toys and things and you bring love and grace.
People give me lists of wishes and hope that they came true;
But you hear prayers of the heart and promise your will to do.
Children try to be good and not to cry when I am coming to town;
But you love them unconditionally and that love will abound.
I leave only a bag of toys and temporary joy for a season;
But you leave a heart of love, full of purpose and reasons.
I have a lot of believers and what one might call fame;
But I never healed the blind or tried to help the lame.
I have rosy cheeks and a voice full of laughter;
But no nail—scarred hands or a promise of the hereafter.
You may find several of me in town or at a mall;
But there is only one omnipotent you, to answer a sinner’s call.
And so, my dear precious Jesus, I kneel here to pray;
To worship and adore you on this, your holy birthday.

I believe Santa and me were having a moment at the Crews Beggs Department store approximately 1957-58. I was petrified of the old fellow. One year, I was so frightened, he made my sister Mary (5 years older than me) sit on his lap and sing Jingle Bells! Oh boy was she mad! To this very day she reminds me, I was 5 years older than you. Do you know how humiliating, had someone from school seen me? Ugh, what a scene! Laughing out loud at that memory. Hard for those of you who know me, I know, to believe, I was actually speechless at one time in my life! Plus my sister was a very good egg. I drove her nuts but today she is my dearest confident! I love her bunches and more!

Oh Love is...makes my heart happy!

Oh Maxine! We have some lights and outdoor decorations, the Nativity and Santa who is seven feet tall. We have Snoopy and Olaf from Frozen too.We are waiting for that new utility bill too. Hee hee!

Very late in sharing Feline Friday but wanting to wish all you pet lovers a happy holoday filled meows and woof woofs and any other animal love you have at your home.

The Henderson Community Church at Rebekah and Zach's December 2, 2017 wedding.

Olaf and Snoopy gracing the front yard

CHRISTmas intertwines with the birth and also the life and death of Jesus. without Him taking on the form of a helpless baby we would never have been saved because of His crucifixion and death.

Aw...Mondays and CHRISTmas Thoughts

This will be me that day after CHRISTmas. Aw...Mondays and Sandee and the folks who share their thoughts there, I want to wish you all a very Merry CHRISTmas. I have missed a few weeks and I missed everyone and am trying to catch up. The days go by so quickly and the years, Lord, they fly away too.  Stop over to Sandee's and say Aw....Mondays. I guarantee you will feel better about an often ordinary day.

You need to stop over  at Blue Monday and share your most blue memories too. I have missed everyone there too and want to wish you all a very blessed CHRISTmas Day. We will have a more quiet CHRISTmas Day and see most of the phamily on CHRISTmas Eve, We love buying gifts for the little ones. I had a late start this year but managed to find some great gifts and hoping the grands will think so too.

We celebrate for this reason. Lots of different celebrations around the world. Many interesting customs and many different types of year end traditions. This year I am a little sad. We didn't get into our garage to sort our many treasures, including my collection of Nativity sets. I did keep my Princess House lead crystal where I would be able to quickly get to it. It is a favorite of mine.

This is a favorite of mine. You can tuck clear light`s underneath each figure. It is lead crystal and the creche is a beautiful cherrywood.
  

Avon brought this 1988 porcelain nativity into their catalog. Two years ago my hubby knocked Joseph off the shelf they were on. I was not able to replace him alone but replaced the three pieces shown here. I wish I could have purchased the entire set but these pieces are beautifully crafted.

Annie hosts a positive meme sharing kindness and good things rather than meanness which we see so much of at social media. You can hardly blink an eye without offending someone. I love being here and I love all of you being here too. Instead of being kind during the holidays only, I try to do it year long. Recently I was buying a few gifts for the grands. My Family Dollar had a buy one get onehalf off sale on any toy over $5. I ended up buying more than I should have but wrapped those extras and sent them to the church where our kids were married a few weeks ago. Someone can use them and I like giving new toys to children. I also bought our daughter a coat and she didn't like the fit and the color so instead of going through the hassle of following their silly return policy I wrapped it up for the church too. WE give to food banks all year long and I like to share smiles not hand waving with middle fingers upright in traffic and in parking lots and such. There is always someone struggling with something we know nothing about.

I was late sending my post to Aw...Mondays and Blue Monday because photos would not load. So before I continue......Ann has won my second part of the giveaway. Have no fear, much, much more to come so don't stop sharing and commenting here. I am going to let Ann know she is the latest winner. Woo Hoo! Come back and as long as you follow me and answer the simple questions, favorite tea and.or coffee, favorite color, do you love chocolate, what kind? you are entered. My life has been crazy busy as I am sure yours has too. I will try to be here more often and praying the photos load and blogger and google play nice.

OK Ann you are the winner this time around! Congratulations!

Oh love is...makes me smile every single day and they have since the early 1970's. Love is a gift. Treasure it and care for it wisely.

Oh Maxine can I give you a great big A M E N !

We need snow but at the end of this week we will get single digit bitter cold. Brrrr.......I love a snow globe though so I am looking for everything positive at the CHRISTmas season.

Merry CHRISTmas to all and to all a very Happy new Year!