It's All Good

My gosh, it has been months since I updated my blog. I'm going to do a quick 'catch-you-up' ... got married, traveled, married daughter #1 off, spent time with grandsons & daughter #2 and #1 & only son. Back home, enjoying harvest, canning, the garden of weeding .... and it's all good. How is that!

I'm having fun canning and this year I'm adding to my canning collection. I am going to try some new pepper jellies and for the first time, chutney. As I go along I keep out the 'good' jars for the fair.

I'm hoping to get a recipe tab on my blog so I can have an area devoted to food -- I LOVE food! After all, it's all good.

Why is it all good? Well why not? Life is too short, in my humble opinion, to think it is not good. What is it? It can be whatever you decide to put in 'it's' place. Most people know the scripture .... Love is patient, Love is kind ... Someone once shared that a person might sub a name for Love. So I'm thinking the same thing for 'it's' -- place a name, event or even a cookie -- because in the end ... it truly is all good. Seriously, when a person spends so much negative energy, words, actions on a person, place or thing - where & what does it get them? Vs -- if a person were to apply positive thoughts, words, actions, isn't the outcome better?

My challenge to you -- if you are a scrapbooker, do a LO showing me "It's All Good". And of course, I'm taking the same challenge.

Coming Home *What makes a home?*

Two more days!!! My daughter and her son will be home for two weeks. How does one prepare a home? How do we create the love & warmth? It is so much harder when this is not the childhood home of my children ... they were all military kids. I try to put things together that I think will invoke memories of their lives, pieces of their grandparents and of course ... cookies in the cookie jar.

Is it having a home that is immaculate? It is having that basket full of lotion, magazines, favorite foods in the frig?

I've put her favorite quilt, that was my Mom's on her bed. Her pillowcases are handp-embroidered by my Grandma -- the little touches my Mom would always do.

Just seeing my daughter everyday, my first born and her first born .... no words to express the love I have in my heart.

Someday I hope that she'll (and the others) will look at my home as their home. We used to say "Home is where the Marine Corps sends you". Now it is ... "Home is where Mom is..."

I sincerely believe the love of a Mom, the special things only a Mom knows ... those are part of it. A basket full of M&Ms, scrap magazines, a fun book, Cosmo, pretty lotions and a few other tokens. Staying up and visiting. Sharing "Mom" moments together. What a difference from the last time she visited ... she was a single woman with a wonderful partner. Mark is still the wonderful partner and now she has a son.

To be continued ... with love & of course, lots of pictures!

This Grandma is Bragging ... again

I'm soooo excited. My daughter and her son, Grandson #1, will be here next week. They'll be spending a couple weeks with us. Did I say I was excited??? hee hee Been working on the grocery list for about a week now. You know how it is ... coming home means Mom makes favorite foods, keeps the cookie jar filled (my better half likes this part) and does special things. Just about have GL's room ready and am making Missy's room special for her.

My girls are great about sending pictures over snapfish. Love it because I can then order & download what I want.

Here are some of the most recent ones of GL at 3 months old.

Santa, Rudolph and Grandbabies

I don't know how my Mom stood it. I mean she had to wait for me to develop pictures, then send via the postal service and then maybe a month or two down the line (if I was a dutiful daughter and developed the pictures quickly) she'd receive new pictures of her grandkids along with a letter explaining, as thoroughly as possible, who, what, where, when & why. You know that has been a good thing. When going through my Mom's things after she passed away I found many of the letters I had written. With those letters I've been able to better 'journal' when I'm scrapping for my children. The letters have also been a way to recall funny things the kids did or said.

Now we have the internet, email, cell phones and phone plans that are not nearly as expensive as they were in the 'old days'. My girls have come to understand why I like the online 'photo labs' --- I can see my grandsons quickly.

The girls have recently shared new photos of their sons and of course, I wanted to share these adorable little guys with you.

Gavin Liam, Grandson #1, is wearing the onesie that reads "I still live with my parents." Mason Nicholas, Grandson #2, is the little reindeer and also wearing the Eagles (because of his Dad!) onesie.

Enjoy!

2008 --- A year of firsts & constants

As I've been contemplating blogging my end of the year review, I've been having a hard time. I keep putting it off. I read others. I note what they have written, what their resolutions are, their hopes, and so much more. Maybe it is the thought of writing about a year -- another year of my life that has passed. Another year older ... and might I had, hopefully, another year wiser.

This morning when driving in I had Oprah's Soul Series on the radio. The guest speaker spoke these words and they've resonated with me all morning "...I don't want to be off course for long ..." That truly is my mantra and I had not known it. I like being low-key. I like being relaxed. Acutally I strive for those things ... I strive to have a life of balance -- balance in my relationships, work, spiritual/religious self, and overall balance. I've found that when I begin to go off course, I'm able to notice it and get back on track alittle quicker then I have in the past. Is this because of my age? My active awareness of myself -- both physical & emotional?


A Year of Firsts

My first grandchild, Gavin Liam, was born on Ocotber 12 to my first born -- Missy. Five weeks later ... my second grandson, Mason Nicholas, was born to my second born -- Nina.

Hearing my girls each say, after their sons were born, "I never knew I could love something so much."

In February, I acheived a goal that I had set for age 50 --- I become a yoga instructor. My business, Red Barn Yoga, is up & running and very successful.

Reading "Eat, Pray & Love" ... realizing that I'm not the only one out not wanting to be off course in life.

A Year of Constants
My continued awe of my children -- now grown adults. Jake working and being very successful in his career. Missy -- becoming a Mom and an incredible one at that. Moving to NC and looking towards completing her education. Nina -- getting married, having a baby six weeks early --- showing determination, compassion and becoming an advocate for her son while he was in NICU.

The constant love, support & compassion of the man I love. While it may seem like we don't do much (such as traveling, going out) ... we do alot! We live a life that we both are passionate about. We support each other and for that I'm forever grateful.

The constant support & compassion of my friends. Their prayers & encouraging words during times of struggle & difficulty for others in my life have lifted me up.

And I should add, the constant accumulation of my frequent flyer miles! I flew back East three times this year. I'm saving my miles for my 50th birthday and I'm taking myself to Europe!

So for now, I will end .. I've babbled enough. I have something else I'd like to blog before the end of the day, but want to get it all together.

Tender Moments

For me this layout captures those tender moments of being a Grandma.

Being a long-distance Grandma is a little more challenging then I thought it would be. I've even had some of the little 'green monster' come out -- you know that evil envy stuff. It is something that could have put a rift between Steena & I, but we've talked it through ... really, life does goes on. Each of us learn from each life experience, take from it what is needed & necessary.

A very wise woman once told me, when I was talking about my girls and their personality 'changes' -- you know those sudden ones, "Just remember honey ... they have hormones too." Uummph!

The scrapbook page I'm posting is one I did based upon the Scrappy Formula (12/26/08) from www.createmykeepsake.com. If you haven't been to that site ... well you're missing out. I've made wonderful friends there. Friends whom I am able to confide to. Friends who provide feedback and help me see things in a way maybe I wouldn't have seen.

The patterned paper I used is Pink Paislee. Love, love, love Rebecca's company. http://pinkpaislee.com/

Scattered Thoughts on a Friday Afternoon

Thought #1: I'm sooooo thankful it is Friday. I guess I should not complain as I've only been in the office for three days this week. And next week is a short week ... so it is all good. Don't get me wrong, I don't want time to fly, but sometimes I just know that I've other things to do in my life besides work. Oh, I forgot ... work supports my habits (scrapbooking & traveling to see my kids). Guess I'd better keep on working or hit the lottery. I continually hope & pray that my main job will be teaching yoga only. Teaching people to become aware of their bodies through exercise, breathing techniques and being 'in the moment' is a joy. And it is not limited to just those things. Yoga is so much more.

Thought(s) #2:
My Friday Five
* On Sunday, my second grandchild -- Mason Nicholas -- was born.
* Got to see my sweetie on Monday
* Slept in my own bed (after being gone for 9 days) with my favorite red flannel sheets (with white snowflakes) -- can you say 'c.o.m.f.y'
* I 'heard' we had a few snowflakes yesterday **Think snow!**
* Homemade chocolate chip cookies I baked on Tuesday. Exquisite with a glass of cold milk --- especially if they are still warm. I hid some in the freezer for later.

Thought #3: Back to this Grandma business. It is pretty cool. My daughters continually update me with new photos. Gavin (GS#1) gets bigger each time I see him. Mason (GS#2) is still in NICU but gets stronger & closer to being discharged each day.

Thought #4: Holiday Music -- I've been playing it since Halloween. I love it. Downloaded the new Enya holiday album from ITunes yesterday -- beautiful. I absolutely love holiday music and do not limit myself to one genre. Found a pretty cool acapella group "Straight No Chaser" -- wonderful & strong male voices. What are your favorite holiday tunes/artists? Any new ones ones this year?

And so I could continue to ramble but really want to check out blogs from my friends at Create My Keepsake (www.createmykeepsake.com). If you have not checked out this scrapbooking site you are missing out on some incredible talent, wonderful chatter & great friends.

Happy Holidays!