So much to be thankful for...

I just learned that high school classmates of mine lost a daughter to cancer today.  I can not even begin to imagine the pain of their loss, I love my kids so much...  I've recovered from the loss of a spouse, but to lose a child, my heart is breaking, and I never even met this young woman.  There is comfort in knowing that she will no longer have to suffer fighting this disease, but oh, the pain of her parents having to stand helplessly by as she suffered...

Please make the time to be thankful for all of your blessings, and if you can, put in a little prayer for this family, and so many others who are devastated by the loss of a child of any age and by any means.

Thank-you.

Generation "me"?

Kind of feeling like a dinosaur, (again), because we refuse to live the way "everybody else does."  It seems that so many kids are given every material thing that they wish for, but we refrain from lavishing our youngest for several reasons.  We couldn't afford to raise her siblings in that manner, so it would not be fair.  We see other folks who have an attitude of entitlement, with very little sense of gratitude.  We want her to work for and appreciate the things she can acquire.  She is learning to save her money towards a specific goal, making decisions as to determining what she values most. 

Sometimes it's very hard to "stick to my guns".  I'll see people who seem pretty bratty to me, bragging about stuff they have.  I think to myself, man if anybody deserves to be spoiled she does, she works so hard and is such a good kid!  But then I remind myself of the reasons why I, well WE, refrain, we don't want her to be bragging and ungrateful.  We want her to comprehend the value of each dollar, and know that once it's spent you can't get it back if you change your mind, (unless you've got the receipt ha,ha!)

Guess I just needed to vent for a little bit... thanks!

Yummy stuff...

I recently celebrated my 49th birthday!  Ouch, but made less painful by this wonderful cupcake from a local bakery called "Scratch"!  This is chocolate hazelnut and is only available in December, think this was my 4th one, this month, NOT that particular day!  ;D

My daughter has been busy baking for her guitar instructor and the guys that work at the guitar store, her French class, and other friends at school...  The triangular ones are guitar picks.

Lots of Eiffel Towers:

Closer views:

I wonder why my "muffin-top" is expanding???

Lettin' the coyote out of the bag...

Well, I've been blogging for about 6 months now, so I guess I should finally share with my facebook friends.

I usually write in the early morning, when the house is still quiet, and my brain is still in limbo.  I pretty much share whatever pops into my head, so don't expect to be impressed and you shouldn't be too disappointed! 

You've been properly warned, so enjoy the little tidbits in the coyote zone, if you dare!  Ha ha ha.

Have a great day!

Thank God for Krazy glue!

Joseph and the cow are "rusted and weathered, barely holdin' together", but they are still able to be a part of our Nativity!

Eldridge, however will be spending his holidays in the corner behind the hubby's lazyboy, he's on the naughty list this year!

Why there are no moose at the manger in the Nativity...

Today we enjoyed a nice mini-reunion at a favorite little restaurant with several family members from towns just far enough away, that we don't get to visit very often, especially this time of year when weather can get pretty dicey in no time at all.  We had a great visit and a yummy belated lunch.  The rain stopped on our return trip, until we got back to our city, which I should have recognized as an omen...but I didn't.

When we got into the living room we noticed a huge bare spot above the fireplace mantel.  Oh no!  Of all the things to be damaged, not my Nativity!!!  My beloved late Aunt, painted every piece for me herself years ago, I believe it was the first Nativity she ever made.  She would carefully clean the green ware and paint every piece with love, as she did everything she ever created, with lots of love...  I had asked that my Mary look as I imagined Mary really looked, with olive skin and black hair, (not European looking with blond hair and blue-eyes), she did an amazing job and I've adored this set since she gave it to me sometime in the early 80's.

I couldn't bear to get close enough to see how bad the damage was.  To my amazement my daughter started picking up some pieces that were still intact, but I could see some shattered pieces on the brick part of the floor.  My husband picked up the moose painting that has been over the fireplace for years, and found that the picture wire had snapped right in the middle, and old Eldridge, (the moose), had taken a nose dive taking much of my Nativity set with him.  I finally put on my big girl panties and took a few steps closer.  Mary has a small chip, but is otherwise in great shape, Jesus is fine, but his little manger has a chunk out of it, the only major losses are the cow and poor Joseph.  His metal staff is currently resting near a small candle where he used to reside.  I am trying to be grateful that the damage wasn't any worse, but this is one of my dearest treasures and I am having a difficult time accepting the damage and the loss. 

I took ceramics classes with my Aunt for a while, but I lack her patience and talent.  If I ever do decide to attempt to replace Joseph and my reddish-brown bovine, I know that I will never love them as much as the ones she created for me, so long ago.  It's really not the broken ceramics I am mourning, but HER.  The world was a much more beautiful place when she was here, as I am certain that Heaven is now that she is there.