Christmas 2011

This free slideshow customized with Smilebox

Book Club Christmas at Belle's

 

Delicious dinner and caroling at Belle's book club Christmas dinner.  Hilarity ensued!

Jingle All the Way

Why do I love working at an elementary school?  Christmas!  Who can resist a tall tree in the lobby, decorated with hand-made angels, gingerbread men and stars?  Who can resist Kindergartners singing "The Twelve Days of Christmas" giggling all the way?  Best of all possible jobs at holiday time!  Merry Christmas and God bless us all.

This is not my original idea, but I love "stealing" great ideas that I come across elsewhere online so I have begun posting on my Facebook page one thing that I am thankful for each day.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday (great food, football and parades, getting together with those you love and giving thanks for all of God's blessings, no presents to buy) so I always look forward to November.  But trying to be mindful of all of my blessings adds to my joy at this time of year.  Why not try it?  The photo is from our Baltimore weekend to celebrate Paul's granddaughter's first birthday, so I am thankful for this time to be with family, meet Maia's relatives and celebrate Maeve's milestone!

Happy Halloween!

Mike took this photo of Ray, camped out by the kitchen table and hoping to snag a snack soon.
Doesn't he look jaunty in his Halloween scarf?  Yep - he thinks so too!

Love Story

If you can, check out this amazing story, done by Story Corps. It is the sweetest, most loving thing I have heard in a long time. You can find it under "Danny and Annie" from Story Corps on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNfvuJr9164&feature=player_detailpage#t=50s

Get some tissues and sit back and watch. Then go kiss your loved ones!

Aloha!

Relaxing in Hawaii - so beautiful! Not able to post photos due to hotel internet restrictions but we have taken some lovely ones of Pearl Harbor and the sights around Waikiki. We'll be sure to share them with you when we return!

Serenity Now!

I have my beautiful sister-in-law, Tammy, to thank for this photo of serenity that was taken at my parents' cottage in the country. Nothing captures summer like a day drifting on the pond in the country. Thank you, Tammy!

Family Medicine

We spent four happy days with my brother and his family from Oklahoma City here this week. It was great to see how my dad perked up while he was here, because it was nonstop action with three growing boys in the house. Family medicine can be the best kind. It will be sad to see them go but we are hoping that holiday time might bring them back. I'm already starting my letter, "Dear Santa, Please send that cute white van this way in December. I promise I will be good . . . ."

Wedding!

Paul and I were married on July 1, 2011 in a lovely, small and intimate ceremony at our church, The Chapel at Crosspoint, by our pastor, Jerry Gillis. My parents and our children were in attendance. We feel very blessed to be surrounded by these family members and friends. Afterward, we took a "mini-moon" to Niagara Falls, Canada to the Sheraton overlooking the Falls. We spent the rest of the weekend relaxing with family and friends in what was a picture-perfect holiday weekend here in WNY. Many thanks to all who sent us their cards, prayers and best wishes!

Collector

I just saw this charming drawing on another website. Loved the bike, the basket, the books! You can see more at http://johannascott.tumblr.com/post/6465522553/i-spent-this-afternoon-wandering-the-renegade. The artist is Tahlia Lempert and you find more of her work at: http://www.bicyclepaintings.com/

Bloom!

These are recent photos taken at my parents' home of their flowering trees. The pink tree was one of two brought from Coles Garden, a wedding and event center in Oklahoma City, where we have loved ones. Welcome Spring!

It's the Pits!

There was a sign at my grocery store (Wegman's) today that said, "There may be pits at times." Philosophy at the olive bar! Who knew??!! Watch out for those pits - whether they be small ones in olives, bumpy ones on the road to work, dark ones in your thoughts, deep ones with our loved ones. There may be pits ---- but may we be able to climb out or avoid them by keeping vigilant or by having someone bring us a ladder!

Waiting for Spring

This photo is from Kristin Espinasse's regular e-mail called French Word-a-Day. I love the juxtaposition of the work boots and the glorious Spring flowers. No beauty comes this close to home without some effort. Waiting for the day when I put on those books and dig in to my Spring garden. Waiting for Spring . . . .

Wedding Blog - Not Mine!

One of our librarians-in-training shared her wedding countdown blog with me recently. It is too sweet and clever not to pass on. Could there be some ideas here that we can use? How creative is the use of old books and date due pockets for invitations! I know I will be checking back regularly to see what appears! Enjoy!

Our countdown to July 1, 2011 has begun!


The Bridal Countdown

Groundhog Day

The groundhog says spring will be early and I swear that I can hear the entire northeast whispering "Hooray!" after what has been a tough winter so far. We had a snow day here but the promised storm has not been as bad as predicted, at least here in suburban Buffalo. Lucky for me that a sweet he-man showed up to clear the snow off my drive and sidewalks. He knows that I am under the weather and graciously took on a few hours of work to make sure the snow was completely removed.