Wishing you All a very wonderful New Year!

Well, you would think that things are winding down, but here we are in the verge of a new year and I'm still trying to deal with 2011.  I have a friend that is not expected to live over the next 6 months, but she will see herself into 2012.  Instead of becoming down when given her test results, she simply replied that she would spend Christmas 2012 with Jesus and Warren (her husband that passed earlier), with a sweet smile on her face. She is ready, and I admire her courage and positive outlook.  I know that she is correct in her statement.  She will be present with her beloved Lord and her husband in 2012. 

2011 has seen my husband and I through a difficult transistion, but not one so tough as my friend.  Gary was laid off from work in November 2010, but kept consistantly looking for work until he found a job very similar to the one he had, only in Florida, so 2011 saw us through a move from Tennessee to Florida.  We were 3 or 4 months apart, but we made it through.  We still own our property in Tennessee, and we are still renting a small place here in Green Cove Springs, FL.  2012 will continue to be an adventure for us as we see where this is all taking us.

My brother's barned burned down about a month ago, and in it tons of personal items and property of his, and our tractor and tiller.  $9000 worth of equipment for us, and that doesn't even scratch the surface in what my brother lost.  Insurance companies and adjusters......fighting us, and we are fighting them....Bottom line, he and I both got dropped by the company, Tennessee Farmers Insurance.  I don't suggest anyone insuring anything with them after this ordeal.  After almost 20 years with that company they dropped him, and after 8 years, they dropped us.  Why?  Because they actually had to pay out on a claim.  What a mess!

But, we all managed to come to the end of 2012 intact. My family is healthy, we are safe.  My son Travis is still deployed overseas aboard the USS The Sullivans ship.  He made Chief this year after only 10 years in the Navy.  We are proud parents, and wishing him everything he wants from his career, and thankful that we have our own children and yours serving to protect our country.  I tip my hat and heart to all active duty military, veteran's and to those who lost their lives doing so.

So with that, I pray you all have a wonderful New Year! 

Time To Sneek Away For Some Last Minute Shopping

Time for me to sneak away today, over to St. Augustine, Florida, and do a little last minute shopping.  Getting my crazy jingle jangle bracelets on, my oh so short sleeve Christmas shirt, cause it is going to be in the 80s today and I'M LOVING that warm weather!  Have to get ready for some baking also, and cooking.  Plans are to pick up my 14 yr old grandson from the airport on Saturday, then Christmas Day, head to my Mom's in Tallahassee Florida, with 3 grandkids in tow.  I'm sure my Mom will love all the activity, but probably thankful it will be for 1 night only!  Have to get back home for work on Tuesday. 

Hoping to find some crazy fun stuff today!

I Can't Get Away from Tradition!

Well, it is for sure, I cannot get away from my traditional "wait to the last minute" to get things accomplished before Christmas!  The shopping isn't finished, the baking hasn't begun, and I still have to cook several dishes to take to my Mom's in Tallahassee, Florida.  But one thing is for sure...obviously things are not out of the ordinary for me right now! LOL....seems I'm always running behind at Christmas time. 

Today I'm babysitting 2 of my grandchildren so that their Mom can do some last minute things herself.  I found myself getting short tempered with their interuptions and finally just put all my work down, walked out on the porch, and decided to give those kids some undivided attention!  It worked...they are great, just needed to know Grandma was there for them. 

I have so many ideas running through my head, that I'm looking forward to January for new beginnings and lots of creativity flowing around here.  However, I still have some major organizational things to finish, giving me more room to bead, design, and draw.  Moving to a smaller place has been difficult for this old pack rat!

Holiday Preparations

It has been a long time since I've posted here on my blog.  So many changes and things going on in my life!  But....I'm back a little at a time.  Am I ready for Christmas?...."NO!"....but slowly getting there.  I have suffered a creative lull for the past 3 months, and hope that the first of 2012 finds me working away on new designs.

My oldest son Travis, did make Chief this year, in the Navy.  We are very proud of him.  He is currently deployed and will not be back in the States until April of 2012.  He received his orders recently to report to San Diego, CA once he returns, and that transistion will begin.  It is bittersweet news to me, as we have had him on the East Coast for 10 years, and have been so blessed to be near him.  We will just have to make it a plan to travel to the West Coast at least twice a year if possible.  My youngest son Ben and his family are still in Oregon, so we will at least get to see both.  Very hard to have your children 3000 miles away and not be able to hug them, but we still can love them wholeheartedly and stay in touch by phone, email, text, etc.

This Christmas, we will not get to spend it with them.  But we are very thankful for their health and pray for their safety and prosperity for the upcoming new year.  So I guess that explains me having my "tinsel in a tangle" for sure.  They are so loved and missed.

We have tried our best to downsize our "things" since my arrival here in Green Cove Springs, Fl.  I have had 2 yard sales with my Mom, and 1 with my daughter-in-law.  I had 2 before I left Tennessee.  I still have a shed full of "stuff"....and plan on getting rid of what I can emotionally part with early in 2012.

On Christmas Eve, our 14 year old grandson Tristan, will be flying into Jacksonville, FL.  We will pick him up that night, and then travel to Tallahassee, Fl on Christmas Day, to spend it with my Mom and Paul. I think if I had to speculate on what I've learned through this move to Florida, and the transistions, mistakes and problems that resulted, I would give everyone of you this advice that you have heard before.  "Don't Sweat the small stuff, and don't stress over the big stuff!".....It will all work out!  So MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Oh, and by the way!  My brother's barn/apartment combo burned down over Thanksgiving.  We lost our tractor that was in it, and goodness knows he lost so much more property and contents than us....BUT WE ARE VERY THANKFUL no one was hurt, no pets, no lives lost, and grass will grow and be greener underneath the pile of rubble where the barn once sat. 

I have some photos to share in my next post, but trying to resize them and arrange them for you.