From Our Home To Yours...

And a very happy and healthy New Year!

A Christmas Card Idea

I was reading earlier where a fellow blogger asked what people did with their Christmas cards that they receive. I shared with her a little tradition of mine that I did for years and it's a tradition I intend to start back up...this year!

During the holidays, as the Christmas cards were received, I always put them on display. I still do this each and every year. I have a special card display holder that I put all of the photo cards on for people to see and the regular cards get displayed in another card holder. My tradition involves what I would do with the cards after Christmas was over.

After the holidays, I would put the photo cards on our bulletin board in the kitchen and then keep the regular cards in a drawer nearby. Each week I would take one Christmas card and pray for that family during the week. I also tried to send the family a little note letting them know that I had been praying for them all week.

It's something so simple yet meant the world to others. I started this when my kids were small, but for one reason or another, probably busyness I'm sure, my little tradition fell by the wayside. Well writing about it now has spurred me on to start doing this once again.

Sooo, if you sent me a Christmas card this year, just know that you'll be specifically prayed for in the upcoming year...and for a whole week too!

Good Friends, Good Times!

We had such a great time at the Christmas party last night. There really is nothing better than good friends. I didn't take alot of pictures but did manage to take a few. This of course is a picture of the guys. Every single one of these men are treasures. If an emergency were ever to happen, we could call anyone of them and they'd be here for us in a minute, and vice versa. In this day and age, that says alot about their character.

And the same goes for these beautiful women. They are all such warm hearted, giving ladies and I count it a blessing to call them friends. It's obvious that we are all different ages, but we just click. I just noticed that in the picture, each of has our hand touching or our arm around one another showing affection. That truly sums up how we feel about each other.


I'm always a little sad when we leave them because I feel torn. As I've mentioned before, we are planning to move to Colorado next year and while I want to move out of California in the worst way, it will break my heart to leave these dear friends. Good friends don't happen overnight and neither did these relationships. They've taken time to develop and cultivate and the thought of not seeing them regularly is a hard pill to swallow. The thread in the silver lining is that we do own a motorhome, and they are our camping club friends, so it's not like we won't be seeing them anymore. I'm sure we'll be able to meet up with them at least a few times a year for some camping fun.

We got home around 11:30pm and Courtney was in our bed watching TV. Lights were on, shutters were closed tight, and the house was locked up like Fort Knox. She gets a little scared here alone, but luckily she had Jake to keep her company. This is how I found him when we got home...all comfy cozy with his nose buried in between the pillow and blanket. Even little doggies get cold too huh!


If you haven't done so already, don't forget to leave a comment on my 400th post giveaway below. You still have time. We'll pick winners on Wednesday.

Take care and have a great day!

Happy Sunday And A Surprise!

Happy Sunday everyone! Only 5 more shopping days left until Christmas! Are you guys ready!?! I got lucky this year in that both kids were home so we were able to go out with them and get lots of things picked out. It's not easy buying gifts when your kids don't live close by anymore. You never know what they want or need. Plus, this year with me being on crutches, I just needed it to be hassle free.

For the 3rd time in the last 2 weeks, we're headed down south to Orange County today (3 hours away) to attend a Christmas party. These are camping club friends and it should be alot of fun. We go camping with the same group of friends once a month but we haven't been able to go for the past 3 months. It will be so nice to see everyone today. I'm really looking forward to it...with the exception of the drive to and fro.

I can hardly believe it but I just noticed that this is my 400th post! Incredible! I was so hesitant and scared when I first started blogging and thought I'd never have a thing to say but here I am 400 posts later. It's been a blast, thank you!

I think we need to celebrate with a 400th post GIVEAWAY don't you! I don't have a clue what the gift(s) will be but just leave me a comment and you'll be entered. Nice and easy, that's my motto! Little Sis (Courtney) is home from college so I'll have her draw a name(s) on Wednesday. Sounds like a plan!

Well I guess I'd better go get my party clothes on. It's time to head on out for some Christmas fun!

All In A Days Work

After having my handsome son with us for a week, it was time yesterday to bring him home. I still call my house, our house, his home but really it's not anymore. He's got a place of his own with roommates and all. Oh and by the way, have I told you about his roommates? He lives with triplets, girl triplets! Really, no lie, and it's strictly platonic! No one was home when we dropped him off so we didn't get to meet them but hopefully we'll meet them soon.

Brandon had been renting a furnished place previously so his furniture was here with us...we'll actually not with us here in the house but at a small storage unit a few blocks away. We figured since he was home this would be a good time to clean out the unit which was full of his furniture, clothes, stereo unit, hockey equipment, etc. Cleaning out the storage unit, and his old closet here at home, was one step closer to decluttering and getting ready for a possible move this summer. It felt good to get it done.

We rented a small U-Haul to bring everything to his apartment so this is what I followed for the 3 hour drive south...


The guys drove the U-Haul but I was perfectly content with my company. My ever present traveling companion...


When we got off the freeway in Anaheim, my window was right next to a one way sign. It was so pretty I had to snap a couple pictures of it. Have you ever seen a one way sign done up so nicely? It was a first for me.



After the truck was unload and good-byes were said, we dropped off the U-Haul at a rental place nearby and headed home in my car. We hit lots and lots of traffic but were treated to the most incredible sunset. I tried taking pictures but I was busy driving so they didn't turn out so well. I just ended up with lots of blurry pictures. Howard was sleeping so I entertained myself with talking pictures while I drove. I took this one of the traffic ahead of me...


And this one of the traffic behind me...


I bet the car in back of me thought I was nuts when I stuck my hand out the window and took a picture of them. Trust me, it doesn't take alot to keep me entertained!

Mashed Potatoes and All Things Pink

Macey's sister Mckenzie (my daughter's best friend) started a blog about Macey and her recovery. Mckenzie reports daily on Macey's progress. Here is the link if you'd like to check it out for yourself:

http://mashedpotatoesandallthingspink.blogspot.com

Macey's picture pops up immediately on the right. She's changed her hair color since I last saw her in October but you can see what a gorgeous girl she is. She looks beautiful in the picture but is truly stunning in person! By the way, all of that hair had to be shaved off for surgery. I believe she has staples from her forehead all the way to the back of her head. It's ok though, it's only hair!

As you might have guessed, she loves mashed potatoes and all things pink!

How About Some Updates...

Happy Monday all! Can you believe Christmas is only 11 days away!?! Yikes is all I have to say about that!

We came home at the end of last week with Brandon in tow. He had an 8 day hospital stay and was treated for Pancreatitis. He's doing much much better now and is watching his diet very carefully. He has to be careful to not eat greasy or fatty foods and drink absolutely no alcohol or he could have flair ups from time to time. Trust me, he doesn't want any flair ups, ever!

Macey is improving daily and is a Christmas miracle for sure! She came out of her coma and has her complete memory in tact from what they can tell. She was also extubated recently and is now talking, but in a low, raspy voice. At least 2 surgeries are needed but they we're waiting for her brain pressure to stabilize, and thank goodness it has. Macey's family is so thankful for all of the prayers on her behalf, and say thank you to all. They have literally felt covered in prayer and give all the glory to God for sparing Macey's life. They are so grateful.

Although Macey has shown great improvement, they are praying for signs of movement on her left side. They've seen no movement there at all. She has come so far in such a short time but does exhibit problems associated with right side brain injury. She has a long, difficult road ahead of her but she definitely is our Christmas miracle!

As for me, I'm hobbling right along (with crutches) with the best of them. Believe me, this is such a royal pain but really, what can you do about it. It just makes me appreciate my health all that much more and I'm looking forward to and counting down the weeks until I can walk normally again. I feel like my life has been put on hold but I don't for a minute forget that I'm at least at home and not laying flat on my back in a hospital bed like Macey and so many others out there. My problems pale in comparison and I know it.

So much has transpired since Thanksgiving but there have been highlights, and yesterday was one of them. Do you remember last Christmas when my best friend Cindy moved to Oregon? Well, yesterday I got to see her and spend time with her, along with some other very close friends. I just love these women and spending time with them was great for the soul. It's so true that you don't know what you've got until it's gone because let me tell you, I've missed Cindy (and Kathy!) beyond words.
















(Lee and her grandson, myself, Cindy, Gina, and Kathy)

Cindy, Kathy, and I were the 3 musketeers at work for alot of years. Boy, those were the days! Last year Cindy moved to Oregon, Kathy started doing dialysis in the hospital setting, and would you believe those 2 girls left me high and dry...well not exactly, at least I've still got Lee and Gina!

Take care friends and Happy Monday!
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