Auld lang syne

I can't believe another year

is almost at a close.  They

all tend to blend into one another

now that I'm older and it's not as

exciting to see a new year

come in.  But it still remains

mystifying how another year

could be gone so quickly.

God has brought so many

changes to my life this year.

He has given me a new

church.  I have new friends.

I have also lost friends this

year.  I've become a 

great grandmother!  Who

would have seen that coming

at the close of 2014.  I survived

a whole year during which

John was not a presence in

my life.  When 2015 was upon us,

I told the chaplain of the grief

group I was attending that

what bothered me the most

was that I was going to begin

a year where John would never

have been.  But I made it.

I'm learning a new language.  I 

wouldn't have seen that coming

at the close of 2014.

It's been lonely, too.  Sometimes

I am able to reach out.  But I am

also aware that so many people

suffer in the quietness of

their own souls.  I need to

remember that other people

are reaching out, too.  That

they are just as lonely as I.

That they need to have someone

see that loneliness and reach

out to them when they are unable

to do so themselves.  I ask

God as I go into a new year

to make me aware of people

who are struggling and hear their

silent cries even when no

word is uttered.

Enough philosophy.  

I know someone who reads

my blog (and you know who

you are) has already seen

this but I don't have anything else

ready to post!

I have had to make way too mnay

sympathy cards in the last 

couple of months.  I hope I don't

have to make any more for a while.

Unfortunately, death seems to

recognize no holiday.  I always

pray, when I am not sure, that the

person knew God.  I am relatively

certain that the people who  have

died recently were saved.  That's 

the only thing that helps (and then

only a little) to know that the person

is with God and we will see them

again.  But that doesn't take away

the pain.  I am always amazed

that when Lazurus died, Jesus

mourned his death-and He KNEW 

he was going to raise Lazurus from the

dead!  That's the human experience 

that allows Jesus to understand

our pain and anguish.  He understands

our experiences

 because he's been through

them.   What an amazing God to

be born in human form so that

He could identify with us.  It's comforting

to know that Jesus totally understands

what we are feeling.  That way if

we simply can't pray for whatever

reason all we have to do is 

cry, "Abba Father" and He

hears our heart cry.  And

what a blessing to know that

when the words won't come

the Holy Spirit groans for us.

(Romans 8:26-27).

OK, now I am done with

the philosophy, I promise!  and

to think I dropped that

class in college!  The professor

put me to sleep.  True story!

More screen cards

I couldn't get a sharp picture of the

second one for some reason, just shaky

I guess.  I'm really happy with

both of these and that's

what happens when you don't 

"wing it".  I don't really know what

use they would be as greeting cards

since there's no where to put

a sentiment.  Maybe I could put a 

white panel on the top one, but

not on the bottom as each of the

windows is vellum so anything

behind it would show through.

But I think they're pretty!

 

 

Bri will be 16 in February!  I

don't know how they grow up

so fast but I am feeling older by

the minute.  I especially felt

old Christmas eve!  Anyway....I love

how this card turned out.  It

looks a little washed out in the

picture because of the

pastel colors.

 

 

This one is a die cut of a gilded

gate which has the ends trimmed off.

 It's two gates set opposite each

other.  I'm not crazy about it, but

it's the first time I've played with

the die.  My friend, Karen, sent

it to me.  I'm not getting good

sharp cuts because of the

intricacy of the die.  I need new 

plates for the machine.  

Which I was going to

get yesterday....except that we

got an ICE STORM!!

That is my punishment

for making fun of NM.  God has

such a sense of humour.  :/

Screen card

Had I given it more thought,

I would have made this card

way different.  I didn't really

know where I was going with it

so I winged it and I 

don't like it much.  I'm planning

on doing another one which

hopefully I will post tomorrow

which will be much more

planned out! 

And another picture of my adorable

great grandson!  

I'm enjoying the fact that New Mexico

had, last I knew, 14 inches

of snow and it was still

coming down.  That's where

 my inlaws are are!  Better

them than us!  The weather might

be colder today, but still

no snow and that's just fine 

with me!  And...freezing rain.
That's my punishment for
making fun of NM.

About to fly

I have two quotes that I like

to use on cards, so today I 

was playing around with them

trying to make something new.

I'm getting tired of butterflies, 

quite frankly, since I tend to use

them a lot.  I'm not sure why 

that is.  I remembered I had

a feather stamp which 

seemed to lend itself to the

sentiment and I was pretty

happy with how it turned out.

The second one I wanted to use

a punch on since I have quite

a few and don't use them much.  I

also went looking around online

and found a neat tutorial to make

flowers using a rose die set

that I bought a long time ago

and really don't use.  So I'll probably

be using that more often since I like

how it came out.  I used glimmer

mist on it, but I don't think 

you can really see it in the picture.

Oh, nice.  I just realized that I screwed up
the sentiment on the top one!  Oh, well,
you know it's handmade that way.....
I think I'm going to add a little
bling to the bottom one in each
of the circles before I send it out.  I never
think of those things until I see them
here on the screen.

Christmas Eve baby!!!!

 

 Little Heath David made his appearance

about 630 yesterday evening.  8 lbs, 7 oz.  

I couldn't get a length for some reason.

I'm excited, but sad at the same time

because he will be at least 6 months

before I get to meet him since I

am planning on going to NC again

next summer.  Mom, Caitee, doing

fine, dad, Tyler, very proud. 

I'm sure there will be more pictures 

in the future!

The Christmas eve service yesterday at

church was beautiful, candle light and

communion.  and I was able to

share it with Cody and Pam so that

made it more special.

Sadly, I have occasion to make another

sympathy card for a friend

who lost a sister yesterday.  Death doesn't 

take notice of a holiday, unfortunately. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful and

blessed Christmas.  Remember the reason 

for the season-

Jesus' birth!!!

Christmas Eve

It hardly seems like a typical Christmas eve.  The grass

is green, it's been raining and it's warm.  Warm!!

So I'm not complaining. No tree; I got rid of that

last year and there really seems to be no need for it anyway.

Christmas eve has always been special to me, 

moreso than Christmas day.  Every Christmas 

eve we would go to my Uncle Chuck's and he had

a huge party/reunion.  I can remember

the crunch of snow under my feet

and all the colorful lights on the streets. 

The air was so crisp.  In those days

it didn't bother me like it does now.  

In his living room was a HUGE Christmas tree.  

At least it seemed like a huge tree to me.

In the basement he had a bar. There was  lots of

noise, cigarette smoke and drinking.

I got my first taste of alcohol at

one of those parties!  My grandma Sanders

called me over and gave me a sip of hers.  I don't 

know what it was, but it didn't seem so bad.  I was

probably 10 or so.  It wasn't  something I would 

have continued, but it tasted OK.  Then she 

told me I could put water in a bottle after I drank

some and it would mix in.  Thanks, Grandma!  I filed 

that away.  Eventually I  tried it with wine my dad was

 making at home.  Busted. I came home from school one

day and he was holding the jug up to the window.

He must have seen me in the window.  He sighed

and said, "Either my wine has gone bad or

someone has been watering it."  I said, "Grandma

told me to!"  I don't think she meant every day...
I was so cool coming home from school

and having some wine and my cigarette (that I didn't

inhale!)    Well, that's a story

for another time.  He actually didn't get

mad, which was a miracle for him .  How

did I get so off track?  So I've always loved 

Christmas eve.  When my kids were

older I would always let them open one

present on Christmas eve-I got to

pick which one.  We would have cheese

and crackers I ordered from the Swiss colony catalogue.

When John and I got married I started a tradition

of having the whole family (both sides) to dinner

on Christmas eve.  It was a wonderful evening of

sharing and just enjoying each other's company.

I wish I could go back to that day but so many

are gone now, either Home to Jesus or just across the 

country.  On Christmas day, starting when my oldest, Nathan, 

was only 8 months old, I started reading the Christmas 

story before any presents were opened. 

 I wanted them to understand that Christmas was 

so much more than presents  to open in the morning.

I'm glad I have those memories to bring out

when I'm feeling sad.  Memories of a more

carefree and happy time when there just

didn't seem to be the pain that comes when

you get older.    But life is not stagnant.

If it were, there would be no point.

We have to continue to grow and experience

all life has to offer.

I do have a card if you are not bored to

tears by now and skip it altogether!  This is just

a simple black and white die cut card.  I'm shocked

that I was able to get it centered perfectly

on the first try!  I can't draw a straight

line with a ruler generally!

Still no baby.  Obviously her body just isn't
ready yet.  I'm not sure why they insist on
pushing things when mother nature will
take care of it on her own if just left
well enough alone.  When I had my babies
I didn't know what they were before they
were here and I gave birth when my body
told me it was time.  Everyone is in
such a hurry these days.  Life is meant
to be enjoyed and you can't enjoy
it if you are rushing through it.
Wow, I'm quite philosophical today.
I'd better quit while I'm ahead!!

Early Christmas gifts

I got a keurig last month, so

for Christmas my sister and hubby

got me a bunch of k-cups

of flavours of cappucinno.  I don't

drink regular coffee, but I do

love the cappucinno. Then my

friend Dianne and I went to

dinner at the Mexican restaurant

at Lake James and she gave me

a big coloring book and some yummy

dark chocolate sea salt caramels.

And they're made by my very

own company-Sanders!!

I haven't been coloring lately as

I have been working on Christmas

presents, so I got down to it yesterday

while I drank a cup of cappucinno and 

ate a salted caramel!  I'm going

to be as big as a house after

the holidays and definitely am 

going to have to get back on WW and

the treadmill.  You play you pay.

It looks like I will be a
great grandma today!!!  I just
wish I was close enough to
hold him in my arms.  :(