Be Strong, Be Smart and Return Home Safely!!!

My dear sister is sending her son off to Iraq this week. I want her to know what a great mom I think she is. I LOVE, LoVe, LOVE you Kari, if you need anything CALL me even if it is just to talk!! It's always hard to say good bye to someone you love but, it's especially hard to say good bye to a loved one going off to war. My nephew T.J. is in the United States Air Force Reserves and is being deployed to Baghdad this Friday January 1st. I hope he knows how proud his Aunt Linda is of him for serving his country to help insure our freedom. I love him so very much. He has grown into such a great young man and has such a sweet and caring wife who will be waiting diligently for his safe return. You will be in my thoughts and prayers daily T.J. as will Alisa, your mom and the rest of the family.

~ God Bless You and Keep You ~

~ The American Hero ~

by Roger Robicheau

The American Hero always comes through

To capture our hearts with a spirit so true

They proudly are soldiers who march in harm’s way

Insuring our freedom, courageous they stay

We should always keep clear a place in our heart

For each has a value beyond precious art

Their duty to country will not be surpassed

Please honor their courage, for some it’s their last

We live in a world which can be hard to bear

Thank God for these people, how greatly they care

Do ponder new heroes and what they will face

And pray for their safety no matter their place

Our heritage brings out the best; we all know

Our great book of heroes is destined to grow

My Wonderful Magical Home Made Christmas!!

I LoVeD my home made Christmas!...Sorry for sooo many pictures but, I had a hard time leaving any out. This darling Snowman was a gift from Diane...She is so stinkin' creative...She made this out of a plain glass Christmas Tree cookie jar. LOVVVVVVE IT!! Thanks Dianie!!

This came out kinda blurry...Aubrey made me this beautiful collage. I love it so very much...She is so talented at the graphic designs......I think she could make bank doing this for a living...Thanks Aub!!!

I also got a new camera, DVD player, perfume, pig game, gift basket full of goodies and some gift certificates...Thank you everyone!!!

We went to Carson's to watch Jace open his presents....He got so excited with each gift. He would open a gift the squeel and skip around the room. So damn Cute.

Then we went to Diane and Alan's for yummy food and to spend time with our great family!!

Jace was Playing with Parker....He was loaded and ready for battle!!

One of my home made gifts were Hot chocolate baskets, filled with candy and home made cookies....I baked about 20 dozen cookies.... Molasses, Snickerdoodles, Candy Cane Sugar cookies, oatmeal, peanut blossoms, and Orange Marmalade cookies!! WHEW! that was 2 full days of baking.

I also made several cookie sheet calander/note boards These were so fun to make and sooooo easy!!

This is a cookie sheet calander I made for my mother in law Carolyn.....She seeme to really like it!

> This is what I made for Diane.......I think she liked it!! I LOVED making it for her. She is one of the greatest people I know!!

We spent Christmas Eve at my sister Norma's......She fed us a yummy dinner, then we played Apples to Apples....what a FUN game!! I have to get this game right away!!

Sooooooo......This Christmas started out kind of grinchy for me, but turned into one of the most wonderful and magical Christmas' I have ever had!!

Merry Christmas Everyone.........LOVE you!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

From my heart to yours

~ Santa Claus is coming to town ~

Well, I have worked very hard to make this Christmas one of my favorite Christmas' ever! I have been baking and crafting like a crazy woman to turn my HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS idea into a reality!...I am happy to report that I think I just may have pulled it off!!! I will do a reveal post tomorrow. I can't show you my handy work just yet. They may not be the most extravagant gifts around but, they are probably one of the most heartfelt. I have LOVED making these special little gifts for the people I Love. I hope they know just how much each one of them mean to me. I am truly blessed to have such wonderful people in my life. ~*~ I LOVE YOU ALL ~*~ ~*~ MERRY CHRISTMAS ~*~ I want to tell my sweet husband Barney how special he is to me. He is my very best friend and I don't know what I would do without him at my side. This is our 26th Christmas together and as all of you know, there have been some big changes in our lives this year. It has truly been a roller coaster ride for me. Ups and Downs; big curves and little curves. It has been an adjustment for me to get a grip on the life changes going on. I am in a good place now and have adjusted to the quiet house. We have found, and are working at perfecting our new routine ~~~ some would say we are a little boring but I'm kinda liking the peace and quiet. We seem to have developed this quiet and calm companionship that I cherish more and more every day! I have decided that change isn't so bad ~~~in fact change can be a very GOOD thing!

The True Meaning of Christmas

Last night I witnessed a true act of selflessness that boosted my holiday spirits to a whole new level. Barney went to the gas station to put gas in the Jeep so I had enough to get to work. When he pulled up to the pump, he told me he noticed a tent with a bunch of people wearing Santa hats, and as he got out about 8 of these people descended upon him... a lady walked up to him and said "How would you like us to fill your car with gas?"...."That would be AWESOME" he said...and the other 7 people washed the windows and put gas in the car. He thought some organization was doing it....so he asked a man that was video taping it...he said everyone there was part of the King family and that's what they do at Christmas, they give up their Christmas to do this for others. They handed him a piece of paper with a candy cane attached and a quote from Charles Shultz ....saying "Christmas is doing something a little extra for someone else"..I will remember this quote for the rest of my life....THANK YOU TO THE KING FAMILY...WHOEVER YOU ARE AND WHEREVER YOU'RE FROM!!!

These kinds of things show you what the TRUE meaning of Christmas is. I am totally blown away by this show of generosity!

It's a Homemade Christmas

Well, I have been in such a funk this year. Money is very tight, empty house, our annual Christmas party canceled. It has been so very hard to feel that warm and wonderful Christmas spirit in my heart. I have tried to find it and have had a few fleeting wisps of warmth seep in but, nothing like usual.

I decided to keep trying to find the joy of the season. I try smiling every day and started thinking of ways to force the Christmas spirit into my heart...... Ok I know ... this is all so freakin' depressing!! I'm getting to the point I promise.

First, Barney and I took my sweet grandson Jace to see the lights and Santa. That lifted the

JOY METER a few notches. My grandsons both have a way of lifting my spirits just by their smile or a little giggle. When they throw in a hug and kiss....OH MY several notches.

Second, I was on my way home from work the other day and listening to the radio. They were doing a Christmas giveaway to 5 families in need. They were reading the winning letters and calling the winners. I realized that there are a lot of people that are so much worse off than I am. I decided right then and there that my little pity party was OVER!!!

I sat down at the computer and did a search for homemade Christmas gifts. I found a few GREAT ideas and started coming up with a plan for my "HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS" I told my kids that this year they were going to get one small gift. We have always gone SOOOOO overboard on Christmas that it has taken all year to get caught back up. I am NOT doing this anymore. The true meaning of Christmas is not presents but what is in your heart. That being said, I have started pouring my heart and soul into special little gifts for the people I Love. Every gift is a gift from my heart to theirs.

I would post some pictures of a few of my creations but.....well... they are a SURPRISE!! I will post them after they have been given. I have just begun to push my JOY METER up to the top!!!

I just wish I would have started this sooner. One week to make my special Heart to Heart gifts!!! Oh GEEZ~A~LOO I am such a procrastinator!!.... Off to the 'ALL THINGS CHRISTMAS CORNER' to get started.

What a Wonderful Night!

We decided to take sweet Jace out to Willard Bay tonight to see the lights. We had such a good time. He LOVED it!! Had we known before we got there that they offered free wagon rides we would have dressed warmer and done that, We're thinking of going back this weekend and doing that. He took one look at those HUGE Clydesdale's and fell in love with them. We just drove through it tonight and after we saw the lights, we parked and took him to see Santa and had some Hot Chocolate. They had a big fire pit to stand by and keep warm while you enjoyed your piping hot cocoa. It was a fun filled evening! I love watching his eyes light up when he sees theses kinds of things for the first time.

He kept pointing and saying "LOOK....there it is!!"

~HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLY SUE!!~

Kelly was born on a cold winters day December 14, 1987. I had lost my mom suddenly in October and she was the blessing I needed to help me through that difficult time. She has such a sweet and loving soul which I'm sure my mom had something to do with. We have had our UPS and we have had our DOWNS but, through it all my love for her has never faltered. I LOVVVVVVE this girl more than words can say. She has overcome so many obstacles and I am so very proud of her on so many different levels. Last March, She packed her bags and we took her to Job Corps. I wasn't real sure about her decision or how well she would do in that environment. I am soooooooooooooo proud of her for sticking it out and never giving up. She has worked so hard and is almost finished now. She has a bright future ahead of her. I have seen so much growth in her and I am so happy to see the HUGE step she has made in her life journey! At the end of the day when I look back at my life, I am so thankful that God gave me this beautiful daughter to love and grow with. She has given and taught me so much. Although I don't always say so, I LOVE YOU KELLY AND AM SO VERY PROUD OF THE PERSON YOU ARE BECOMING! I hope you have the best birthday ever!!