JOY . . .

I truly believe that you can find JOY in every day . . . and in doing that life is a bit easier.

Still working on this - (the painting and doodles - not finding joy) . . . I do that every day!

We celebrated my mom's 90th birthday this past weekend.

Not exactly as we had planned - but it was really nice.  My brother decided to make the trip to celebrate her birthday even though we postponed the full party.  (We now have to find a date where we can use the taco truck we had arranged . . . maybe we will use that to celebrate the day we can get everyone together again.)  We were able to get most of her grandchildren and great grandchildren to participate in a "Zoom" birthday party?   We all sang Happy Birthday and she blew out her candles.  I had baked pie for her birthday, but Avery she had to have a birthday cake - so thanks to Avery - she had a cake also.  

Talk about JOY . . . it was the kind that brought tears to our eyes.

Clay being Clay - he didn't stay long, but it made the weekend so special for her.  

I asked people to send mom birthday cards.  This was really fun!

She ended up getting more than 70 cards!  It took her awhile to go through them all.

There were fancy cards, old cards, handmade cards, recycled cards, photographs, cards from family, cards from old friends, new friends, and people she didn't even know.

JOY!

I love this photo of Mom and Dad on their wedding day 70 years ago

April 15, 1950

A lot of life lived in 90 years.

The secret to living well and longer is: 

eat half, walk double, laugh triple and love without measure.

Peace ~ Love ~ Grandma Dona

What a Spring Break!

7 days . . . over 3200 miles . . . 6 states (twice) . . . snow . . . rain . . . wind . . . fun stops along the way . . . junk food . . . some good food . . . 

. . . and my mom now lives in California.

Life changes . . . so you may as well enjoy the change and have some fun!

Halloween 2017

colorful day. . .

My mom sorted the colored pencils . . . and I wonder why I am the way I am.  

“But there's a story behind everything. How a picture got on a wall. How a scar got on your face. Sometimes the stories are simple, and sometimes they are hard and heartbreaking. 

But behind all your stories is always your mother's story, because hers is where yours begins.” 

― Mitch Albom, For One More Day

good things this week . . .

. . . and just like that 

. . . I'm not quite so busy and it feels wonderful!

 ICAD prompt . . .snow flake

 . . . the 60's

 . . . invent a prompt

I went with "out of my comfort zone" . . . and this sure is.

 . . . neon sign

 . . . winter

GOOD THINGS THIS WEEK . . . 

1. Charlotte and Mom together

2. Owen started T-ball

3. index card challenge

4. Last day of work 

5. Summer 

6. Coronarita 

7. Staying up late

8. Spending time with Mom

9. Ice Coffee

10. Feeling relaxed

Happy Summer!

good things this week . . .

"Finding joy is probably tantamount

to finding yourself and being

comfortable in your own skin."

~ Morgan Freeman

PEACE ~ LOVE ~ LILY

GOOD THINGS THIS WEEK . . . 

1. Coffee, tea, and cute cookies at work . . . 

2. Being disciplined and not eating the cookies

3. Quotes

4. Shopping with Lily . . . popcorn and root beer!

5. My brother sending me pictures of Mom and Oscar

6. Walking and taking pictures

7. Flowers

8. Getting plenty of sleep

9. Eating healthy . . . and feeling great

10. Getting reacquainted with my Shabby Charlotte dolls . . . 

Peace ~ Love ~ Joy

just because . . .

charlotte ~ tomatoes ~ and Love You notes . . .

 Swimming with Daddy . . . 

 So many cherry tomatoes this year . . . I am going to have to find a delicious way to use them tomorrow.  We had homegrown tomatoes on our hamburgers tonight . . . I will hate to have to go back to store bought ones this fall.  I love the colors I seen when I look out my window. 

My mom left yesterday . . . I miss her.  She was with us long enough that it seems funny to not have her around.  We are finding these little notes all over the house that she left for us to find.  They made me both smile and cry.  I am missing her, but I am so excited that she is next able to get back to Iowa and see her sisters (my wonderful aunts!!!!) . . . and spend sometime in our hometown visiting.  She was really looking forward to that.  Love you too Mom!

Mom's dresses . . .

Mom has been decorating some more of the origami dresses that I folded.  It has been fun sitting with her working on something . . . it has been ages since we have done that together.  If only we had "The Aunts" here with us.  I have to say that little Halloween dress is my favorite. 

dressed up little dresses . . .

I am so lucky to be spending some time with my mom.  She thought my little origami dresses needed a little dressing up . . . so we got out stickers, ribbons, buttons, and glitter . . . and dressed up the dresses.  We glittered some of the skirts . . . those should be fun to decorate tomorrow.  

Mom's doll

This was my mom's doll when she was a little girl.  I have always thought it was so special - especially since mom has always liked dolls.  I am now wondering if there is a picture of her with the doll . . . I will have to ask her about that.  I also just thought that I am going to have to ask her if she remember is she had a name for the doll.  I believe my grandma made the doll clothes. 

For some reason I have always liked the shoes. 

I do not remember ever seeing this doll dress before - I am guessing it was also made for this doll.  The fabric is so fine and delicate that I don't even want to iron it. 

She didn't go in my suitcase . . . I put her in my carry on.  She is so fragile.  She actually in need of some repair.  Her head needs to be reattached . . . which probably looked a little weird when they ran my carry on through at the airport.  Right now I have her setting on the bed in my craft room . . . I actually just set her there to take these photos.  Richard saw here sitting there and asked me if I was really going to leave her out.  Everyone, myself included agree that she is more than a little spooky looking. (Even spookier when her head isn't attached).  So if we wake up in the morning and she has moved . . . well, then she may not stay.  LOL 

I think we have watched too many scary movies.