Gloomy End......

Today is one of those days.....

You know the kind you don't want to get out of bed....

The one when you want to pull the covers over your head..

Oh I get those days here and there... a little less that I once did.

But today..... the last day of 2009, it came and got me....

Okay, so maybe it is part the weather... As I sit here and type, I look out my window
and it looks like a scene from the Shining....


I had a lot of time on my hands today and that is not always a good thing for me because it causes me to be depressed and the weather being what it is.... well let's just say it is magnifying the problem. Maybe this is a fitting way to end 2009. Out with the DOOM and GLOOM and in with a Fresh Beginnning....

Hubby will be heading home and so it is time for me to put on my happy face....

May your New Years Eve be joyful..... Mine may not be but I am Hopeful for a Joyful 2010.

2010... a New Year and a New Resolution.

I got to thinking the other day about what I wanted to change the most in 2010. As many will, it would be to lose weight and get back into shape. Now, I must admit that is high on my list but I decided that will not be my 2010 resolution because in all honesty, that needs to be my life resolution. God knows I am not happy when I am overweight but It is a battle I believe I will fight till the very end. It is harded here in Georgia to get that battle started in the Winter because not only is it Cold and rainy most days, it also gets dark early and being out in the wilderness, there are not street lights. Needless to say, I am afrad of what other creatures will be joining me in the dark. SO.... what will it be... what will be harder for me then to lose weight......

My 2010 resolution is to SAVE... SAVE... SAVE... and that means I must learn to find pleasure in myself, my family, my hobbies and in the silence that usually finds me running to the store to just fulfill the loneliness. You see, I am a compulisive shopper.. there I said it. Now even though I love to shop, I also love a bargain and that is how I shop but even a good deal, is not always the best thing. I guess losing a loved one this Holiday season, I saw that life is not about what you have, it is about how you live your life... cause when you go, those things stay here and that is not what people remember about you.. it is who you were, how you loved and how you lived. So as this year begins, I will tell my tales of how I "Saved" ($) and I am sure of my failures. So lets see how well I can do....and I look forward to watching others resolutions my fellow bloggers may have.... Happy and Healthy and hopefully Richer 2010.

Christmas Morning

Christmas 2009

Let me start by telling you that our Holiday season started with great saddness.
My Darling husband lost his dad on December 13, 2009 and we lost a beloved Opa and Father In law. Dad had been sick for sometime but as we always called him "Felix the Cat" because he defeated death time and time again. Not knowing how long he would be with us, we headed to Florida for Thanksgiving and I am so glad we did because it turned out to be the last holiday we would all have together. We noticed the huge change from the last time we saw dad and even though, he was already fading, we were able to spend some quality time with him. Most of all, he got to spend sometime with his favorite little man.. Casey. My only regret was that try as I may, I was unable to get a picture of the whole family one last time with dad.

Though our heart is heavy for the loss of our beloved Dad / Opa, we knew that we still needed to make Christmas Majical for Casey. Christmas Eve, we spend the day together just enjoying some much needed family time. We took in a movie "The Squeakle" and then enjoyed a nice meal at the "OG" for those who dont know the OG, it is better known as the Olive Garden, our little man named it the OG. Then it was off to viewing the beautiful Christmas Lights before we put Casey down before Santa made his way to our house.

Christmas Morning came early.... Little Man woke up twice before the sun. So we told him to go back to bed until the sun came up..... oh I must say the sun barely peaked out


and he came running in the room... " I got 11 presents, hurry come see.
So there was no more excuses for us.. we got out of bed. I must say the smile on his
face as he opened his presents was so what we all needed after the last few weeks. Even though he did not get everyting on his list, he said "This is the Best X Mas ever".

Serenity Now-A Mommy's Solution to Staying Sane: 27 Days of Thankful, #6

Serenity Now-A Mommy's Solution to Staying Sane: 27 Days of Thankful, #6

Has anyone seen my Creative Side

Have you ever walked into your Creative Room....

And scratched your head.....

I must confess, I not only am having one of those days...
I am having one of those years.

For years, I prayed for the ultimate girly girly scrapbook room.
Well, when we moved into the new house, I got one. It was perfect.





But for some reason, I am unable to create...
Is it because I don't have my sister to inspire me or a friend to share my love.

Today, I sit here and know I need to get started on my Christmas Card but don't know where to start. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Need some inspiration. Anybody got any to give... Okay, so maybe I am on my own. So I am heading in my room.. wish me luck.

Reflections continued

I began my week with the challenge to love myself as i am, to work harder at being healthier. My focus on eating healthier was off to a good start and I am motivated more than ever to continue to work on this and to begin to shed those unwanted pounds. I know to do this, I must not have unrealistic goals or I will fail. My only goal is to get back to a healthier weight one pound at a time no matter how long. This week, I will begin start walking daily and working up to more aggressive exercise program.... again one small step at a time.

I read some great inspirational blogs from Brave Girls Camp and one thing I read really hit home. It talked about learning to love the skin your are in. Making promises to your self. I promise to not criticize myself because by doing that, I sabotage myself. Like my husband says to me " It is not what's on the outside that counts but what is in the inside." I am lucky because my hubby loves me for who I am big or small.... I need to stop shutting him out because I need him on this journey. Thanks you BGC.... I have learned alot from your sharing and will use your words to continue on my journey. Oh and I can't wait to attend one of the retreats... goal # 2.

Reflection in the mirror

My visit with my sisters was awesome but after looking at some of the pictures we took, I knew it was time to look long an hard at the "Reflection in the Mirror" It has always been a life long struggle with weight and loving who I was. Looking in the mirror, I am my own worst critic. Never happy with what I saw, is it just me or was that what everyone else saw to. I often wondered if I could just love the person staring back at me, then it would not matter to me what everyone else thought or just maybe no one else is judging me but me.

So today, I decided it is time I start loving the women staring back at me in the mirror. Beginning today, I will love the person I see. I will not criticize her, I will not belittle her...She is not perfect but she is beautiful. I know that by loving me again, I can love my family more as well. On this journey, I will share my ups and downs, I also vow to get back to a healthier weight to go along with the happier me. This will not be easy but nothing worth fighting for ever is....

" You are beautiful, you are strong, you are Brave."

Nathalie

Our First Annual Sisters Weekend was born because for the first

time in our lives, we found each of us in different cities and states. The first one was at my house in Georgia. I knew I had to come up with something creative to start our weekend because there has always been that who can out do the other.. it is usually Christine. We were younger, our mom always dressed us the same so I decided to get is matching PJ's just like when we were younger. Mom that one was for you. Then I headed in my scrap room to create a goody bag of sweets. This was something they could take home to remember our great weekend,

Our first day started off with a Quilt Festival for Christine. The beautiful quilts gave Gerri and I inspiration to do our own... but when I was told it required ironing, I quickly changed my mind. I will have to leave that to my older sisters. Sorry... We then headed to take some pictures by an old barn and the new barn with the no trespassing sign. Lucky we did not get shot at.

Our next stop was the famous Burt's Pumpkin Patch but on the way we decided to stop at the Apple Orchards since none of us ever saw them before. This is where we decided to get silly... first we took the usual posed pictures then I told Chris lets get some action shots and I began jumping in the air and Chris snapped away... soon we were laughing so hard we were peeing out pants. It felt good to just let out guards down and be kids again. You know I would love to show you these pictures but as funny as they were to look at, I would not post them for anyones pleasure. But I must say Casey got the biggest laugh of all. We then headed to the Pumkin Patch were my sisters were amazed at the size of the pumpkins. You don't get that in Florida.

We then headed to Charming Charlies that reminded me so much of my old favorite in Florida. Casey was spared this shopping trip to his delight... one trip to the store with Aunt Christine was enough for him. It was then home for dinner, drinks and more sister talk.

Day two started out with cold and rain but that did not stop us from spending the day at the Gold Rush Festival. Thought the weather was not good, we made the best of our last full day together. As the day came to a close, we relaxed by the fireplace. It was a great weekend and as I sit here and write this I am smiling from all the great memories and crying because I will miss my sisters very much. It has been a hard year being away from them for the first time in our lives but i am thankful that I know that I have two great sisters who will be there for me no matter what.

Today my sisters woke up to a freezing house of 58 degrees and were excited to get home to their families... or was it to leave my freezing house? Sorry girls. I was always the cold blooded one. I love you both and look forward to the next Sisters Weekend... Where to?