On This Last Day of December

I can’t believe that this last day of December is among us.  I have been pondering today on everything the year of 2009 brought my family and me.   

There have been some wonderful moments for sure.  My oldest being accepted into medical school was one of the best moments in our family.  This is a perfect example that your dream can come true.  Like the saying goes…”Where there’s a will, there’s a way” :)  Push yourself to succeed in whatever you dream of being “when you grow up” *wink* Mom and dad sure are proud! :) 

We also went thru some tough times this 2009.  We learned late 2008 that my father-in-law has Alzheimer’s so 2009 has been hard on my mother-in-law and on us, his family. I love them both with all my heart.  Grandpa (as we all call him) is like my father and it was hard at first when he didn’t recognize me or thought I was someone else.   Alzheimer’s is such a hard disease.  My oldest son took it real hard when he came home for Thanksgiving Day.  He, along with all the grandchildren, have always seen grandpa as the strong man of the family.  Here are some of his grandkids, great-grandkids, and a couple of grandkids at heart. :) 

How did I start blogging?  I happened to bump into this great blog and immediately was hooked!  Rhoda from Southern Hospitality was the very first blog I had bumped into and just read everything in her blog.  That’s when I realized that there was a world of blogging out there!  lol 

God bless each and every one of you that follow my humble blog.  I hope to get to know you all better in the coming year.  I have learned so much from all you wonderful bloggers and I’m sure I will learn more about the world of blogging in the new year.  Gosh, what can I say…. You all have been such an inspiration to me. 

I learned that there are other women like me!  We are not afraid to paint a piece of furniture or tackle some kitchen cabinets by painting them.  hee hee!  Give me a paint brush and some paint any day! :)   

Most of all, I have learned that you all are such loving people and we are all connected because of God’s Love for Us.   

I hope 2010 will bring nothing but happiness and many many blessings to everyone of you!  Have a wonderful New Year’s Day my friends!

Blessings,

Sandra

A Fresh New Year

Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!
This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!
I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!
William Arthur Ward

 

Have a happy and wonderful New Year!

Sandra

Merry Christmas!

I hope your Christmas Day was filled with a lot of love surrounded by family and friends. :)

Oh! I received the most beautiful Christmas card from Rose @ http://my-bella-rosa.blogspot.com/ You all visit her blog. She is such a wonderful gal. Thank you soooo much Rose! You made my day! I am so blessed to have met such wonderful bloggers online. :) God bless each and everyone of you.

Here I am showing off a necklace my wonderful husband gave me. Can you see it? hee hee And look at my nail that needs to be polished again. *blush* My 11 yr old took this picture and chopped off the top of my head. *shocking* I had my hair highlighted and trimmed. I'm still trying to get used to how my hair looks now. I'm trying real hard not to give in to buying a box of haircolor to darken it!

My necklace looks like this and I love it! From “The Shared Heart” collection…two hearts beating as one from Zales. I love it!

We went to church on Christmas Eve and our younger sons were in the Christmas pageant. Here are the wise men sitting patiently. :) The one in the middle is my 11 yr old. I think that out of all our boys, this one resembles me the most.

And the next two pictures are my twin boys. :) This is my innkeeper.

Look at these precious faces. The first child is one of my twin boys, my shepherd boy.

And this is our godchild. Look at that smile. :)

What a wonderful time we had. We really enjoyed the pageant. *sigh* Love all my boys. :)

Mass was beautiful as was the Christmas pageant. Our parish was filled and many had to stand because there was no room.

I hope you enjoyed my pictures from Christmas Eve. :)

Sandra

The Day that Santa Surprised Me.

Once upon a time there was a little girl who had always wished for a doll.  A doll she would call her own.  She would look up into the sky and hoped that Santa Claus would bring her a precious doll.  The little girl never did get her doll at Christmas.  Times were very hard for her parents.  This little girl grew up and married the love of her life….her soul mate.   One day, she was telling her loving husband that she had always wanted a doll when she was a small  girl but the doll never came.  That very same year, her love of her life happened to be working in New Mexico and he decided to surprise his wife with a doll she had always wanted.  He bought a beautiful Indian girl doll.  Oh she has the most beautiful long black hair.  Christmas came around and his wife and the kids were opening their gifts when she came across this box that was longer than wide.  She opened this special box and out came this beautiful doll.  Oh she was in tears.  She remembered that she had told her husband about the doll she had always wanted.  Her loving husband made that dream come true. :)  She will always treasure this special doll. 

We can all be a Santa Claus and give from our hearts.  My Santa Claus gave me the most precious doll that year and I will treasure her forever. 

I hope everyone has a beautiful and loving Christmas Eve.

Sandra

Recipe for Joyful Holidays

 

Isn’t this the truth? :)  

My Christmas Chandelier And Other Decorations.

Hi everyone!  How are you all doing?  Are you getting ready for Christmas?  Are you in baking heaven?  I need to start my baking.   We finally made it back from Houston and I’ve been as busy as a little bumble bee.  I’d like to share how I decorated my little chandelier in my little dining room. :)

I didn’t decorate much in my kitchen.  I did make this wreath and placed it in front of my window. :)  

Well I hope you all are enjoying these few days before Christmas Day.  I am getting ready to do some baking and I will post pictures of my goodies.  :) Have a wonderful day.

Sandra

Tickled Pink Here!

Fellow bloggers, I’m sooo excited!  I’ve been running around like a chicken without a head but I had to tell you all about this!     Yay! I found them!  I’ve been running around looking hysterically for a certain toy one of my twin boys wants for Christmas.  These itty bitty toys are selling like there is no tomorrow on E-bay.  They are just 9.99 at the stores but on E-bay, they are being sold at a much higher price.  I decided to stop at CVS and check to see if they had these toys.  Well guess what!  They had just gotten the shipment and I was able to pick four and I also bought some accessories to go with these.  You are all probably thinking “what is this lady talking about?”  lol 

I’m talking about Zhu Zhu pets!  Have any of your kids asked for these for Christmas?  It is crazy!  The demand is high that stores can’t keep them long enough on the shelves!  I am soo excited!

I just had to share with you all!  Try looking for them at CVS if you’ve been looking for these.   Now let’s hope my boys don’t visit my blog!  Whew!

Bye bye!  I need to pack!  Gong to Houston! :)

Sandra

It's Thursday!

Hi Friends! What plans do you have for this beautiful day?

Do you ever wonder why all the hoopla of decorating for Christmas? Well this is the reason why I do it. Christmas is my favorite time of the year. We are preparing for the most important birthday. The birth of Jesus. The King of Kings. :) We want our boys to always remember the reason for the season. :)

My three youngest boys participate in the Christmas pageant at our parish for Christmas Eve. This year my eleven yr old will be one of the three wise men and he will also be a reader. His part will be the second reading during Mass. My twins have a part in the pageant too. They will be the innkeepers. :) It is such a special time for all of us. I will definitely be taking pictures like a proud mama and post them for you all. :)

Wonderful memories. :)

I may not post until I get back from Houston. I am taking a flight to Houston and do some shopping with my oldest son and then we'll be driving home. As you may recall, he is in medical school in Houston. He has one more final exam tomorrow (Friday) and that’s it! We are very proud of him! First semester is just about over! I will definitely take my camera and take some pictures over there.

A special note to Ashley from http://toojazzed.blogspot.com/ I will especially be thinking and praying for you while I'm there, my friend. God Bless You....& Hugs.

Have a wonderful day, my friends!

Sandra

Great Sadness. Please pray for Melanie and her family.

There are many of us that have been praying without ceasing for this precious child Andrew. I really feel like Andrew was truly a vessel of the Lord. He touched so many of us. He did what he was supposed to do. To get people to come close to the Lord. His mother Melanie is very inspired by our Father in Heaven. Her blog truly touched my heart. It is full of inspirational words. Melanie updated her blog at http://bellamella-melanie.blogspot.com/2009/12/andrew-smiles-in-heaven-now.html that he is in heaven now. I didn't know Andrew or his mom Melanie in person but immediately grew to love them through her blog. Her blog really touched my heart. He was just 12 yrs old and love to skateboard.
Please go visit Melanie's blog at http://bellamella-melanie.blogspot.com/ and keep them in your prayers.

My heart is broken right now. :( I guess you can say that my blog is not just about decorating, etc. It is also about doing what the Lord wants me to do. To live the way HE wants me to live. To pray for others, comfort those that need to be comforted just like HE comforts us. We are all connected because of HIS love. Life is short. Hug your kids, your husband/wife…your loved ones. Tell them how much you love them.

Please keep this precious family in your prayers.

Sandra

My Door of Welcome

Hello!  Welcome to my blog!  Today I am joining Karen's "Doors of Welcome" over at Some Days Are Diamonds

and Susan's "Deck the Halls" over at Thoughts from Over the Rainbow.

I have  a grapevine garland that I decorate through out the year.  This is above my doorway.   I carry the theme of reds and golds just like my Christmas tree decor.    I also have clear lights on the garland and it looks so pretty when it’s lit up! :)

I am always on the lookout for huge ornaments because they fill up the garland nicely. 

I have red poinsettias, gold stars, huge ornament balls, gold bells, and gold Christmas picks.  

I found these bells at Hobby Lobby this year.  The red, gold, and silver ornaments are from Lowe’s.   

And here is my entry way.  Aw, Skipper wanted to be in the photo as well. :)  I like to display our Christmas cards on that wall.

I hope you all enjoyed my photos.  It’s time to wrap more gifts. :)

Blessings,

Sandra

My Fireplace is Decked Out!

Hi everyone! I am linking this post to Susan @ http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com for Met Monday

and The Nester @ http://www.thenester.com/2009/12/christmas-tour.html

Please visit these two wonderful blogs to view what other participants are sharing with us.

Join me as I show you my “before & after” of my fireplace! Here is my “before” picture of my fireplace. No Christmas decorations whatsoever.

And here are my “after” pictures. If you’d like to see photos of my Christmas tree, you can see them here.

Ok, let’s take a closer look at the mantle! :) This year I decided to decorate this area in cream, gold, and green, with an accent of red. I used two of those plain garlands and added clear lights to it. I found these lovely magnolia flowers at Michael’s. I love how they go with my pictures above the mantle. I also placed gold ornaments and gold Christmas picks I found at Hobby Lobby. I spray painted the pinecones in a gold color. The finials were from a sale at Hobby Lobby during the summer. They used to be a gold color and I decided to paint them an ivory color. The angel is my red accent.

Would you like to see a close up of the angel? :)

I made some bows with gold and cream ribbons for the edge of the mantle. :)

I purchased two live poinsettias and placed them next to the nativity scene. The poinsettias are a light yellowish with pink. They were 2 for 9.00! :) Great buy!

Mr. Santa is proudly standing here.

This is the reason for the season. :) The birth of baby Jesus. :) I have 3 nativity scenes but this one is my favorite. They are white in color with 24 karat gold. I purchased these years ago.

And that is my tour of my fireplace. I hope you enjoyed looking at the photos as much as I enjoyed showing them to you. :) Have a wonderful day.

Sandra

Mary Did You Know

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When your kiss your little baby boy you've kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak the praises of the Lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creations?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is Heavens perfect Lamb?
The sleeping child you're holding, is the Great I Am.

Mary... did you know?

By Mark Lowry

I love this statue of Mother Mary and Baby Jesus. :) I bought this years ago and enjoy it so much that I never put it up once Christmas is over. I just don’t have the heart to put it back in the box. I display this statue all the time on that little table. :)

Such warmth in this photo. :)

May we remember “The Reason for the Season” Have a wonderful day, my friends. Many blessings to you.

Sandra