Decorating for Christmas

I've got the tree up and absolutley love my origami ornaments on it. I am also using some of my own origami Christmas boxes for my wrapping this year, for the smaller gifts. I haven't gotten finished with any of the craft projects I am making for gifts this year, but hope to be done with a few of them soon. One project I'm kind of putting off is the stuff I am making out of my gourds. It's gonna be messy! Here's some pics of our Christmas decor for this year. Enjoy!!!

Thanksgiving memories

Hey y'all!

Just got my tree up and although I haven't finished with the ornaments, it's really nice. I'm so glad we got a prelit tree last year. It makes the whole ordeal of putting the tree up so much faster.

We spent the day with my mom, Granny, Aunt Merry, Uncle Doyle, Uncle Mark and my cousin Ashley. It was a really nice day for all of us. So often other relatives drop in to eat with us, so it was nice to just have our more immediate family together. Granny really outdid herself this year, especially considering all she's been thru lately with her heart condition. That lady could definately give the energizer bunny a run for his money when it comes to energy. I have no idea where she gets it from. She let me go out to the wash house and pick some cuttings off her plants so I could bring them home and start some plants for myself. I haven't gotten any cuttings from her in quite some time so it was a real treat for her and I to be alone together playing in her plants. I got a number of pieces off her airplane plants, kalanchoe and jade. Maybe one day I'll have as many as her. I just love indoor plants!

I got to thinking about all the wonderful things I have to be thankful for and there are just too many blessings in my life to count them all. Honestly. Marc and I live in a lovely home, our cars are nice (and paid for), we have 3 handsome & healthy boys, we have a few pets to love on, food in the kitchen, the best friends in the world and each other. We are blessed...truly blessed. I could just go on and on listing out things for which we are thankful.

Another aspect to this day of Thanksgiving is thinking of all the years of Thanksgiving I've had. Every year has been a little different but always spent with family...except one year. Three years ago I had a friend who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the stomach, reproductive system and it was also in her liver. It was a devastating blow to her, her family and to all of us who loved her. Her first Thanksgiving after the diagnosis was spent at home trying to decide how far she would allow the doctors to go with her treatment. The prognosis was not good and she was told her time was quite limited. She went thru the 12 months with good days and bad. When the next Thanksgiving rolled around she was in the hospital with complications from her colostamy. Her husband and children stayed home. I called her that morning to tell her Happy Thanksgiving before I left to go see mom. She told me she'd be spending the day alone as her family wasn't coming to see her til 6:00 that evening. I was horrified but knew immediately what I had to do. I called mom and told her I wasn't coming after all and drove myself straight to the hospital to spend the day with Regina. There was no way I was going to have my friend laying in a hospital bed with no one there to share the day with. It was a wonderful day. I read to her, we talked a little, she napped a little, we shared her hospital food (blegh), shared funny stories, cried a few tears and just had a wonderful time together. At one point she even had me sit in the bed next to her so I could pray over her. She shared stories of her life (a most interesting woman who at one time had been married to a sheik from Arabia). She didn't lose her battle with cancer for another 5 months. I've treasured the memories of that day as it was a most precious gift many times since then. That one day spent in the hospital with a sick friend will be my most treasured Thanksgiving memory for the rest of my life. I will never forget it, nor will I ever forget her. Happy Thanksgiving my dear Regina...you are still loved, thought of and missed.

A weekend with the boys

We had the boys this weekend and although they wear me out, they also fill my heart with joy. They are very busy young men and a challenge sometimes because they yearn for adult attention and love so much. I do my best to take time with each one alone and build them up emotionally, teach them something or just to give them some extra love. Each one has his own needs, each one has his own love language and each one has his own special way of expressing himself. I now understand what my dad always tried to explain to Cyndi and I...that he loves us both in the same amounts but loves each one of us differently. I never understood how a parent couldn't just pick a favorite. I understand this much better now that I am a stepmom. I love calling them "son" and I love that they call me "Seesa" instead of Lisa. A long time ago I nicknamed them the "monkeys", and in order of their birth they are respectively "monkey 1", "monkey 2" and "monkey 3".



Donald (monkey 1) is the most mature of the 3. He is also the quietest of them but that's not always a good thing. Sometimes it means he is up to something. Gotta watch him with the eyes in the back of my head. LOL. He's our little nightowl and has been known to crawl in bed with his dad and I to watch late night TV on more than one occasion. He's also smart as a whip and quite the ladies' man, he's just got some quality that girls love.


















Marcus (monkey 2) is precious and loves so much to help. He loves to work with his hands and to be taught new stuff. He is a constant challenge at keeping him busy. If something needs to be done around the house, he's the man. He's the handiest of the 3 boys and works very well with tools. He's also the man when it comes to doing the yardwork. He loves it! We have to tell him to stop or he'll mow everyone's yard! He's such a helper and has a servants' heart.



















Christopher (monkey 3) is the baby. Quick to turn on the tears and get in my lap if he gets hurt. He likes to be babied. He's a daddy's boy and whatever Marc does, Christopher is doing as well. He's Marc's helper most of the time. He jokes all the time and is definately the comedian of the boys. He was the most skeptical of me when I first met the boys and it took a little time for him to trust me, but now when I ask for a hug he is the first one in my arms and will give me a big ole kiss on the cheek.



















I adore my boys, even though I didn't give birth to them. They're not perfect, they're not the little girl I always wanted but they are mine and I couldn't love them more!

Marble Christmas balls

Here's one of my favs to hang on the tree. I have a number of these made and will be making more this Christmas season for gifts. It's been a while since I've posted one of my crafty projects so I thought I'd show these off. I love em!

Blog Slacker

I haven't blogged much lately. Too many things going on, but at the same time there's not much to write about.

I am excited about Christmas this year. I wasn't very happy last year at all...or the year before. I sure hope this holiday season continues to be a joyful one for me this year. We're thinking about getting the boys new bikes for Christmas. I've picked up some stocking stuffers here and there over the past few months. I've bought Marc one gift already and need to be shopping around for the best deal on his "big" present. Maybe since Circuit City is closing, they'll have some good prices. I'm not sure what I want. Truthfully, I have most everything I need but there are a few little things I'd like. He's set on buying me a GPS since I still have a tendency to get lost all over Paulding County. I think I'd rather have a couple of bookshelves...plus they're much cheaper than a GPS.

My craft endeavors of late haven't done a thing for us financially, but they have brought me lots of personal enjoyment. I guess that's a good thing though. I like to express myself, but I wish that others appreciated my artistic stuff as much as I. I know the economy plays into what people are willing to buy, so I keep my prices low to accomodate but it doesn't seem to help.

I had a thought on helping a local restaurant host an indoor Christmas Craft Show but it seems that there are so many other events are going on that no one is interested in participating. Sigh...I thought it was a great idea and a win-win for everyone involved. Hungry shoppers come in for lunch while out buying Christmas gifts, they get a chance to shop locally made merchandise. Some of the people I know are soooo gifted and make the most wonderful stuff of very high quality.

Gosh...this seems like I'm being fussy. I'm gonna sign off, go get the doggies in and get ready for bed. Sweet dreams!

I'm all pooped out today y'all

Did my first craft show today. It was a smaller one, which is why I chose it. I wanted something a little less stressful til we figure out the logistics of transporting, setting up a canopy and such. It was a full day and VERY windy! I did think to take some pretty marbles to put in my boxes to weigh them down so they wouldn't blow away. However, I ran out quickly and the boys saved me by running out and finding me some rocks to put in the remaining boxes. Oh, and we figured out real fast that the Christmas tree I took to display my ornaments needed to be tied to the canopy...after it blew over with a big gust of wind. Hahaha! The top on our canopy blew up really high and we kept having to adjust it. We've since returned it to Walmart and I'll be looking for a better one before our next outdoor show. ;) My face and lips are wind burned and chapped. I am flat worn out, I tell ya. I have no idea why I should be so tired except for battling the wind and the stress of managing the canopy and my stuff all day. Everyone was having the same issues pretty much and the wind was stressing them out too.

I got to meet lots of new people and network a lot too. One lady told me about an indoor show coming up in a couple of weeks at a nearby church. I may be sharing a booth with her at that one. I think indoors is best, as there are no weather issues and less stuff to take to the show to set up. I am also putting together a game plan so that set up and take down for a show goes more smoothly. A list of what to take...a list of what "job" Marc, the boys and I have to do. We're gonna each be in charge of two things for each show and hoping that will make things go more smoothly. This was an invaluable learning experience and fun too, since I got to hang with friends all day (I knew most of the crafters). I got some great pics too! I'll post those later as I need to format them to fit in my blog a little better. My first item is to get my craft room/office back in order. We just brought all our stuff in and sat it on the floor. Right now I'm headed to my bathtub filled with bubbles and then to bed. I'll see you all later taters!

Loves!

No photos today...sorry peeps.

I didn't get any new photos to post today. Sorry about that. Just an update. Marc got well and got me sick all at the same time. I had a terrible bout with the stomach bug. Went to the doc, he prescribed Phenergan (which I have never taken before). So, I got home with my prescription and took a pill then proceeded to sleep for almost 24 hours! It worked...as in I was knocked out and had no idea I was sick. Marc was worried cuz he'd try to wake me and see how I was feeling. He said I mumbled and made no sense then I'd pass right back out. I don't remember any of it.

Good new is that I seem to be all better now! I am still eating kind of bland but at least I can eat now. :)

The leaves...they are a changin'

I had to take today off, due to my dear hubby being sick. That man is never sick, much less admits to it when he does get a sniffle. It started last night after he went in to work. He felt cold, clammy and nauseous. He thought he was just having a low blood sugar moment so he stopped in at a convenience store to get some crackers til time for him to go eat. It stayed down for about 30 minutes. He ended up at the station with his head in a trash can. Thinking that was it, he went back out on the road...for about 20 minutes. Finally around 2:00 this morning, he had to admit he was sick. He'd seen the bottom of the trash can a few times by then and was running a fever, achy all over and nauseous. He came home and woke me up to tell me he was sick. Then proceeded to become best friends with the trash can in his bathroom about 8 more times by around 10:30 this morning. I decided to take him to the doctor. We ended up having to drive all the way to Cartersville to a Doc in the Box, in order to see someone that takes our budget insurance. Yay for HMOs. Finally got out of there around 3:30 with a prescription for nausea and the advice to basically let it run it's course as long as he could keep Gatorade down. Bless his heart. I feel bad for him as having a stomach virus is terrible! The good news is that his fevers have stopped and he's now in the recliner taking it easy.

On the way to the Doc in the Box, I noticed how pretty the leaves were up Hwy 61. As I said in a previous blog, my camera is going to start going everywhere I go, so I took a few pics while I was driving (kids...don't try this at home). Here's one that I kind of liked and thought I'd share. The leaves are gorgeous and my pic doesn't do them justice but I thought I'd share nonetheless.

Now I have to get back to a sick cop...

OK, now that's just an insult...

I get back with the car we have to detail. While waiting on Marc to come outside, I sit on the steps for a few minutes. I saw a leaf on the step, the leaf did move a little but with my headache I decided my eyes were playing tricks on me. Well, I planted my tush on the step and jumped up with a yell...I sat on a bee!

Now I'm done with this day. I've got a headache and a stinger stuck in my butt. I'm so done...

Oh my goodness! HORRIBLE HEADACHE!!!

I have no idea why my head is pounding the way it is. It is literally making my neck, shoulders and my stomach hurt. Too bad I have a car that HAS to be detailed today. Otherwise, I'd be in bed with the covers pulled up over my head. I'm trying to stay in a good mood in spite of feeling so incredibly bad. So far I am keeping my mood light. Maybe it's because the house is quiet so I have no additional noise to add to the pain?

I did manage to find some really cool settings on my camera that I had no idea about before. I am so stoked! Now I'll be hauling my camera everywhere with me! Maybe I'll even get some cool pics to post!

I gotta run now...a dirty car awaits me. Love y'all!