Christmas Views 2008

Just wanted to add pictures of my Christmas decorating for this year! First the tree in the den...my "Santa Whimsy Tree"! I also collect Department 56, "North Pole Village"...they are all over the mantel, television, armoire' etc...




I also changed my front door decorations this year since the "front door" color had changed to RED!

Here's the upstairs tree in the front window!

Christmas Photos from over the years on the kitchen server....

Getting ready to set the dining room table with Christmas china....

I just love my Manger scene that was purchased in Oberamergau, Germany in 2000 at the "Passion Play" trip that year! I have such special memories of that trip and of going thru all the shops to find the "perfect" manger scene....

This special "Santa Elf" is in my master bedroom....I just love the soft green color....


Merry Christmas from my home to yours!

Yp2's Christmas Party!

Just wanted to add a few pictures of the FBC-YP2's Christmas Party to the blog. We had a "Progressive Dinner" and rode the church van to help with parking & getting around town. After dinner we went "light looking" & all had a good time, even though it was a rainy night!

A Wonderful Surprise!

This past week, the doorbell rang...

and I opened it to this pretty surprise!

Thank you SO much Elizabeth! My dear friend in Kyiv, Ukraine!

Merry Christmas to YOU!

Christmas Cookie Swap Party!

What a fun Christmas Cookie Swap Party!

Look how pretty everything looked on the table!

Rhonda's "Santa In the Hot Tub" cookie jar!

I made Christmas Wreath cookies, Mrs. Santa's Peppermint Fudge and a new recipe for me for this year, Frosty the Snowman's Peppermint Melt Aways!

We may have to make this an "annual" event! Everyone seemed to really enjoy it!

Sights & Sounds Festival 2008

Just a few pictures from dress rehearsal night! What fun we had...!
Our lovely jewel tone performance blouses!


"Speak no EVIL, Hear no EVIL, See no EVIL!"
hehehe!

Don't Waste the MIRACLE!

There's a miracle in Christmas---

there's a stillness in the air;

And excitment in the shining eyes

of children everywhere.

There's a miracle in Christmas

as each silent night unfolds,

And we see again the promise

that this holy season holds.

There's a wonder in traditions,

in the stories passed along;

In our thoughtfulness toward others,

and in voices raised in song.

There's a reassuring comfort

in the joy glad tidings bring;

And an inner peace from honoring

and praising Christ the King!

There's a magic in the season,

in the kindnesses we do;

Whether joys are shared by many

or among a SPECIAL few.

There's awareness of our gratitude

for blessings from ABOVE;

There's a MIRACLE in CHRISTmas,

and the miracle is LOVE!

Updates for October & November!

Wow! Can't believe how time can fly! The past 2 months have been VERY BUSY, so let me update a little!

Thank the good Lord, as of today, Mom is 8 weeks off of her surgery & cancer free! No further treatment required, other than a re-check in 6 months! We are so thankful that her cancer was caught in time! She had a really hard time with the surgery/recovery and what was supposed to be 3 to 4 days in the hospital ended up being 9 long days...but we had a wonderful hospital & I was SO glad for the lodge that was attached where I could go for a shower and to regroup.

As I post, I'm sitting in the lobby of the condo, enjoying the view of the sand and surf & looking forward to spending Thanksgiving Day here! This was Mother's request & her GOAL when she found out she was facing MAJOR surgery & at least a 6 wk. recovery! & we made it! Here we are! She keeps saying how happy she is and how BLESSED to have made it here! She told me this is her Christmas present! A trip to the beach! haha!


Ok have to add in a few pictures to remember this trip by....

"HAPPY THANKSGIVING!"

September is gone...

Well, I can't believe I haven't posted in a whole month...but September has just been "daily"....no big events, no big news...& I really haven't taken any pictures!

But I did want to post that on October 1st, mother will be having surgery.

She had some "tests/biopsies" etc...and cancer cells were found in the lining of the uterus,...so hysterectomy, ovaries and lymph nodes will be removed and examined. We are praying for the best & hoping it hasn't spread. I will be staying with her, probably 3 to 4 nights in the hospital.

Thanks for your prayers as we await results and pray for an easy recovery for mom!

Thanks...Oh and here's a few pictures to get you in the mood for FALL!

A Little Catchin' Up To Do...

Wow! Its been a few busy weeks! Some how blogging has been neglected & more than a month has gone by since I've posted! So lets see...what do I need to "put down" in type for "memories"...
This past week was a wonderful trip to the condo! About 4 or 5 wonderful days of sun, sand and seafood before Tropical Storm Fay caused us to decide to head home!
We enjoyed getting to see the speed boats from the balcony, as "Thunder on the Gulf" was taking place our first weekend there. Here's a few pictures...


















The jelly fish were the biggest I've every seen and the MOST I've ever seen! This picture doesn't do it justice...they were as big as a dinner plate...& SO many that you couldn't walk down the beach for them! Thank goodness the "tides" changed and they didn't stay but for a day or two. Mom said she'd read an article in the paper that this year was the largest population of Jellyfish they've seen world wide & they're trying to figure out why etc...some saying its another sign of "global warming" effects....myself, I think it just happens some years! Even the crabs were BIGGER than I've ever seen.
Here's a few more pictures....