It's Coming!

Sorry for the lapse of time since my last post. It's getting crazy and crazier around here - at least in the world where I live! Thanksgiving, Christmas decorating, wedding showers, wedding planning and meetings and handiwork to prepare, Christmas shopping, November and December birthdays - I could go on and on, but what would be the point - you all have the same experiences happening, so you know the truth - our world now moves too fast - at a pace our bodies were not designed to embrace. It saddens me greatly because I find that most of us don't take the time we need for our own health - emotional and physical. We don't take care of our bodies, and we don't pay attention to our spiritual needs, and we don't take the time to fraternize with others for our emotional health. Enough said - you know who you are - pay attention to what your body (and your emotions) are whispering to you this holiday season. On to the fun of the season! I LOVE absolutely ADORE simply cannot wait for the holidays! They are my most favorite time of the year. It's not long enough! I can't take it all in or get enough of it! In fact, I've posted a couple of older "holiday" pictures, just to remind you of what's to come! The holiday movies, the dinners, the shopping for just the exact present you know someone will love! The crisp air - the surprise of it all! And the lights! Oh my goodness - I am CAPTIVATED by the lights! They twinkle, they sparkle, the blink on and off! It's an amazing sight to behold! And yet, when you set aside all of that, it is also the most holy, reverent and humbling time of the year. Oh, I know - who knows when Christ was really born - but this is the time we set aside each year to honor that He was born - it's rather irrelevant, I think, to argue about the exact date. The important thing to remember is that He came. And none of us will ever be the same.

Atticus Hudson

Here's Atticus with his mommy.

Here's Atticus with his new birthday toy and book from Grandma Nola.

Here's Atticus with his new "shaker" toy from Aunt Debbie.

"Maybe I can drink this - or better yet, blow it like a horn?"

"Yay! My grandma's reading me my favorite book!"

This is my great nephew, Atticus Hudson. He is my niece, Amy's, son. He will be one year old on Friday. Isn't he adorable? It's amazing to me how much we learn, change, and grow in that first year of life. He's walking, crawling, talking, eating solid food, responding to what people say to him - it's amazing. I remember how thrilled and surprised I was with every little new thing my children were able to accomplish when they were this age. Enjoy every minute - it seems like you just blink your eyes and they're all grown up!

Guess what!

Guess what this is? Give up? It's a "potato bag". Hmmmm. I've seen them all over, heard about them, and finally, at a craft sale last Saturday, I bought one. Truth is, I was thinking about giving it as a gift (sorry mom!) but decided to keep it myself. Curiosity just got the best of me and I had to try it. I don't know how it works. I don't know for sure what it does. All I know is you put 4 washed, dried, unbaked potatoes in it, then put them in the microwave for about 10 minutes, and voila! When you eat them, it tastes like you baked them slowly for an hour and a half in your oven - they are fabulous! Your kitchen's not heated up; you don't have to wait for dinner forever and a day; you can do 4 at a time - it's amazing. Doesn't take much to excite this old girl, does it? You laugh - have you tried one?

Laughing at ourselves!

I hate that phrase, "as you get older" - however, it is so often fitting, so I can't help but use it - mainly for myself as I am noticing the changes that come "as I get older". I had the distinct privilege to get to be in the presence of a couple of women on Saturday, who are a little older than me and are just great women. We went to a couple of holiday craft sales, hit a couple of stores looking for Christmas things - just ran around a little. These women have been good friends (and customers) to me over the years. During the course of the day, at one point I was in the back seat of the car when I heard one lady in the front say "I wonder if I have any pecans in the freezer". The other lady said nothing. Again the first lady said, "I wonder if I have any pecans in the freezer". The second lady said "what do you need them for?". "I need them for the salad tonight". "You keep them in the freezer?" "Yes - it keeps them fresh". "Why do you keep your coupons in the freezer?" I laughed so hard - I think my friends could be on one of those Hallmark cards, don't you? There were many more laughs later in the evening as my cousin and I later tried to enlighten these ladies on the subjects of texting, voice mail, and ultimately facebook. But the main point to this story is, again, that we ended up laughing - which is, I think, about the best medicine around! Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves - I laugh at myself all the time - especially as I "get older"!

P.S. I'd post these girls' pictures, but then you'd know for sure who they are (as if you haven't figured that out already) - they're a hoot - love you girls! Thanks for a fun day out!

Tis the season

It's begun! All the excitement (and chaos) that comes with the end of the year. The holidays, the business plans for next year, the business plans to close out this year, the gift giving and buying, the baking, the decorating, but most importantly the holding close of those you hold dear and the remembrance of what this season is all about - starting with being thankful. In all the busyness that this season brings to our lives, may we all take the time necessary to enjoy the company of our families and friends and to give thanks to God for all that we have here in America. So make a choice - set your intention right now to make sure you give out extra hugs and indulge in what's most important this season.

Blowing winds

I came home last week with a little bit of a cold that seemed to grow over the weekend and is now hopefully subsiding. That's my excuse for not blogging recently! Anyway, the winds of change are blowing like blasting tornadoes through my group. Loss of relationships, change (and possible change) of employment and all the ramifications of those adjustments - whew! It makes my head spin and I'm on the sideline of most of it, just watching (and praying). Change is inevitable - it's necessary for us to grow. It takes wisdom to know when it's time to make a change or even accept a change. Unfortunately, most of time, it is unsettling and sometimes painful, even when it is for the best. Here's hoping that all these current changes lead to a better situation for all of us. Have some sense about you, kids, as you maneuver through all these wandering paths of change. Remember to hang on to those who care for you and are supportive of you. Remain true to yourselves, learn from your mistakes. Stay extremely close to the author and finisher of your faith. I love you all.

Home again!

Maya, Mal, Alicia, Alexa, and Shanna.

Mal and Jesse.

Cheyanne and Jesse (as Yoda!)

Shanna and Cheyanne.

Lana, Maya, Jesse, Shanna, Alexa, Alicia, Mal and Cheyanne.

Salt River Canyon.

Salt River Canyon.

Salt River Canyon.

Salt River Canyon.

Salt River Canyon.

Mal and I arrived safely back home on Wednesday - just in time for both of us to nap about 2 hours, take a shower and both of us go to work - whew! What a whirlwind trip. But it was very nice to get away - the resort was wonderful - the weather was gorgeous - the scenery was beautiful - getting to see old friends was delightful - and spending time with my daughter was priceless. Here are a few pictures - I'll post more in the days to come. Here are some scenery pics and some of our friends. Oh yeah - these pictures were taken with my newer camera - congrats to me!