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29 December 2011

2011: The year that can’t end soon enough!

new year clockThis year started out with returning home from a short vacation to Michigan. I was hopeful that 2011 would have lots of good things in store for me and my family. My best friend got married and had her first child. We welcomed another little one into our extended family (my sister’s newest grandchild). My cousin and his wife had their 2nd child. All seemed to be heading in the right direction.

Someone else had other plans. As many of you know, my father was diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer on April 2nd. From that point on, my life changed completely. I have spent the greater part of 2011 in tears, stressed out, dealing with Bell’s Palsy, battling depression, almost losing my cat, other family drama that won’t be mentioned in this blog, and am ending the year with an Upper Respiratory Infection. Focusing on the positive has been difficult for me this year.

I lost my job ~ no huge loss to me ~ in August, but have since found gainful employment with the State of Florida in the Department of Corrections. I am grateful for this job and couldn’t have asked for a better boss or group of people to work with. I have found a church that I am happy with and enjoy going to services when I can. I am trying to become a better person for myself, my family and friends, and hopefully for that someone that God has chosen for me (and I hope he shows up soon, lol). Oh, and the world did not end on my birthday this year, lol!

Above all else, I am very thankful that God has a purpose for me and my life here on Earth. What it is I have yet to figure out. I think know the year will end on a positive note! And for the first time, in a long time, I would like to end the year by sending a Birthday Prayer up to my beautiful daughter on what should have been her 16th celebration of life. I never got to know you as God saw that it was not meant to be. I harbor no bad feelings for His decision as I know you are with me all through the year. Someday, we will finally meet and I will get to hold you in my arms. For now, I will continue to hold you in my heart.

Here’s to leaving 2011 where it deserves to be and looking ahead to a wonderful and prosperous 2012!!!

2012 frog

19 December 2011

Meet Me on Monday ~ Christmas Edition

I love the questions this week! The hostess decided to make them Christmas related. Here are the questions:

Questions:
1.Wrapping paper or gift bags?
2.Real or artificial tree?
3.When do you put your tree up?
4.When do you take your tree down?
5.Do you like eggnog?
6.Do you have a nativity scene?
7.Favorite Christmas Movie?
8.Favorite Christmas cookie?
9.Where will you eat Christmas dinner?
10.Angel, bow or star on top of your tree?
11.Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
12.Do you like Fruitcake?
13.What are you most excited about the holidays?
14.Do you open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?
15.Will you still be wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?
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And my answers:

Questions:
1.Wrapping paper or gift bags?

christmas wrap

Wrapping Paper

2.Real or artificial tree?

Evergreen-Everlasting-Image1

Artificial

3.When do you put your tree up?

christmas decor

Usually Thanksgiving weekend, but definitely by December 1st!

4.When do you take your tree down?

remove decor

New Year’s weekend

5.Do you like eggnog?

no eggnog

Um, that would be a big NO!

6.Do you have a nativity scene?

0133916-R1-050-23A

Does Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus and the 3 Wise Frogs count? LOL…I don’t think I have one,

but will get one whenever I finally have my own home.

7.Favorite Christmas Movie?

wonderful life

“It’s A Wonderful Life” is my all-time favorite Christmas movie.

miracle

I also like “Miracle on 34th Street”

8.Favorite Christmas cookie?

gingerbread men

Gingerbread Men

9.Where will you eat Christmas dinner?

nr dinner

I don’t know. Probably at a dining room table somewhere, lol!

Location changes every year.

10.Angel, bow or star on top of your tree?

angel

Angel

11.Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

crowds

Crowds

12.Do you like Fruitcake?

no fruit cake

Um, that would also be a big NO!

13.What are you most excited about the holidays?

PC214173

I love seeing the Christmas Decorations.

14.Do you open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?

Christmas

Tradition has always been to open a small gift on Christmas Eve

and everything else on Christmas morning. (Yes, that’s me)


15.Will you still be wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?

christmas eve

If I were buying presents, yes I typically do still wrap on the Eve.

This year, nope, because I am not buying gifts.


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If you want to join in on the fun, be sure to check out Never Growing Old’s blog!

03 December 2011

A Little Re-rendition of an old favorite!

PC035721

O Sparty tree, o Sparty tree

Your Green and White delights me!

You’re Green when summer days are long

You’re White when winter goes by slow

O Sparty tree, O Sparty tree

Your Green and White delights me!