cutest werewolf ever . . .

We attended Charlotte's school play last night!

It was wonderful!  She was wonderful!  She gets a bit nervous now that she is a little older, but I think she may be a natural when it comes to being on stage.  She had so much fun and it was a treat to watch her and the whole group perform.

Cutest werewolf ever!!!

When is monster not a monster?

. . . when you love it!

Cousins . . .

This makes me smile!

charlotte & chalk . . .

 This is the skeleton that Charlotte came up with.

I love how it turned out.  

She seems to be into making things look creepy these days . . . 

. . . I wonder where she gets that from?

every little thing she does is magic . . .

 I have spent a good part of my life being the only girl . . . 

I have two brothers . . . I have two sons.

Then God blessed me by bringing Jennifer and Sarah into my life . . . 

. . . and now I have these amazing girls.

They are unique . . . and beautiful . . . and full of magic.

Little girls definitely are full of magic.  If you don't believe it . . . just spend some time with one. 

blessings . . .

Charlotte drawings . . . 

. . . and weekend doodles.

Thank GOD for these five blessings.  

painting with Charlotte . . .

"Creativity is contagious, pass it on."

~ Albert Einstein

I spent more time playing with Charlotte this weekend than I did creating, but time spent with my granddaughters is time well spent.  When I did sit down to paint . . . she had to paint also.

Then she told me she wanted to be an artist when she grew up . . . painted and drew 5 quick pictures, put prices on them ranging from $10 - $100, hung them in her room -  which she told me was her art gallery and told me I needed to buy one from her.  This little girl always has a plan.

Happy New Year!

The past couple of years I have chosen a word for my year.  Sort of way to get me thinking and keep me motivated in areas that I think I need take care of.

In 2017 I chose the word FAITH . . . oh how it was tested and how I grew in my faith.

Last year I chose the word CHANGE . . . with some specific things in mind.  About half way through the year I felt like I had let myself down and was not making the changes that I so wanted to and needed to make.  Life has a funny way of working out . . . and the last part of the year was filled with so many changes that started me on a journey the has changed the course of my life.

Some day I need to go into more details about that.

So this year - 2019.  

I have decided to not be quite so serious (Life is serious enough without making it more so.)  

So I have chosen the word CREATE.  

I need to create more . . . I need to get back to this blog . . . 

and I need to use creating as part of my journey.  

So this year I will write . . . and sew . . . and stitch . . . and paint . . . and take pictures . . . and doodle.

Along with that . . . I will find joy in the small stuff.

I will play and be silly.

I will LET GO AND LET GOD!

I will be messy.

I will PRAY - and enjoy this life that God has given me.

Happy New Year!

three girls and a boy cat . . .

 Little girls are full of magic . . . 

 . . . and silliness!

They make life pretty special!

Then there is this guy . . . he is around a year old now.  We adopted him back in February.

He has been making us smile and laugh ever since. 

Find JOY in every day!

celebrating . . .

I tend to take very few pictures at weddings . . . especially when it is someone I love.  I want to enjoy and celebrate.  So I have very few pictures of Sarah and Daniel's wedding, but will share a few that I  do have.  This is Sarah and her Uncle Whitney . . . an emotional dance . . . with Sarah missing her father on her wedding day.  Sarah was such a beautiful bride!

There were these two "Bridesmen"

 . . . and these three characters.  

How they make me smile!

. . . and always some crazy Grandma love!

Beautiful wedding!  Fun night . . .  celebrating love and family!

enjoy the little things . . .

Another doll that was stuck away before it was finished.  

This little doll is very special to me.  It was created with the help of my granddaughter Charlotte.  Charlotte asked me if she could help . . . so she drew the face and picked out all the fabrics and yarns to use for this doll.  She was three years old at the time. Original post here.

It really only needed a few small touches in order to be finished.  I am not sure why it got stuck away . . . but glad she is finished now.  

If my grandchildren have taught me anything, it is to take the time to enjoy the little things.  

Life is good . . .

 My birthday crane!  

Avery's first visit to the zoo.  

Birthday wishes . . . . 

The kind of silliness that makes you smile . . . and touches your heart. 

An eye popping zombie toy . . . because my desk needed one.

(Some people just get me.) 

Getting a whole bunch of wishes from Charlotte!

Life is Good!

Once Upon A Time . . .

I love that she likes books!
I love that she likes to pose for pictures like this!
I love her legs!

happy new year . . .

I love new beginnings . . . big or small.

I love starting a new school year at work . . . using a new journal . . . moving into a new house.  (I haven't done this in years, but the first few years of our marriage - Richard was in the Navy - so we moved often).  I always liked unpacking and making a new place our home.  He accuses me of recreating this feeling on a regular basis by rearranging or redecorating . . . or reorganizing closets just because I get in a mood. He's probably right.  So a NEW YEAR . . . I have to love it - right? . . . I do, but to be honest this New Year hasn't really felt like a new beginning to me.  Maybe because I had my mom visiting me for a couple of months and I had to say good bye to her . . . and right after that I got sick.
 . . . or maybe some years are just like that.  

So I find myself 17 days into this year without the usual feeling of a new beginning. 

A few years back I started choosing a “Word for the Year”.

Now that I am feeling better, maybe that is a good place to start my new year . . . choosing a new word. 

Last year I chose the word FAITH.  I was feeling like I needed to worry less . . . and let my faith get me through things.  It may have been a case of “be careful what you wish for” 
. . . because I definitely had to draw on my faith.

I watched my son deal with some things in his personal life which hurt him and tested him.  I am happy to say he got through it and because of his own faith he keeps moving forward.  It is hard for me to watch my children hurt – even if they are adults and I know that life can be hard and I know they will get through it and life will eventually get better for them again.  Sometimes all I can do is love them, let them know that I am there if they need me, and pray!  I prayed a lot last year!

Then there was Richard.  A few years ago he was diagnosed with throat cancer.  Unfortunately he had a recurrence this past year . . . and according to his doctor, “It came back with a vengeance.”  
Did I mention I prayed a lot last year!

Two rounds of chemo and 45 radiation treatments later . . . beardless, weighing 30 pounds less, and not being able to taste anything . . . he made it through that.  His scans continue to come back clean and we are thankful each and every time they do.  His strength and determination through his treatments was amazing.  He has gotten a little wacko since his treatments ended . . . we are dealing with that.  I am finding that the hardest thing about dealing with him having cancer has come after the treatments.  This seems to be true for both of us.  Life can be hard and I know we will get through it and life will eventually be better again . . . WAIT!!  Life is better again!

Let’s see . . . after that Richard tore his rotator cuff and had to have surgery.  In light of the cancer – this seemed like a small thing, but it is has been a little trying not having him able to do the things he normally does.  It was during this recovery that he made the comment that he hopes this next year is better than this past year.  I have to agree, but . . . This past year ended with Richard being cancer free, we have a beautiful new granddaughter, his beard grew back, I have amazing children and grandchildren who I see regularly, and in spite of whatever life throws at me I have a faith that gets me through.  Now more than ever I realize we have to celebrate the good days and love each other through the bad ones. 

So my word for next year . . .

CHANGE

I have some very personal reasons for choosing that word . . . and if I get in the right mood I may just tell you all about them. 

one more thing . . .

 She was a little hesitant to walk through this shed.  

. . . then she did this. 

 I guess it reminded her of something spooky.

great day for a GREAT day . . .

 We took Charlotte to pick out a Christmas Tree on Saturday.

The weather was beautiful.  It was a great day to be five!

 She wanted to do everything and go everywhere . . . 

and if you let yourself enjoy a day through the eyes of a five year old - you can have

nothing but a great day!!!

 I am thinking Richard looks a little bit like Santa? . . . 

or does Santa look a little bit like Richard?

I just like to smile,

smilings my favorite.

~ Buddy the Elf. 

a butterfly and some ornaments . . .

There was a very unique butterfly in my yard this week.

One of a kind . . . very colorful . . . and prettier than any butterfly I have ever seen. 

I think this is the beginning of what is going to be my Bohemian Christmas tree this year. 

 I have a lot of pom poms to make . . . and ideas for other ornaments . . . and a week to get enough done to fill up a good sized tree.  Wish me luck.

I am going to use these God's Eyes, pom poms. some painted sticks, tassels, paper cranes (because I have a lot of them).  Any other ideas are welcome. 

I should have taken a picture of bits of yarn all over my floor . . . it's only going to get worse.