Reflections of a Year Well Lived...Part 1

New York State of Mind

All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teef!

Annual Holiday Silly String Wars!

In the year 2010...imagine the music from the song in the year 2525 if man is still alive etc.  It was a year of upheavel, challenges, bereavement and best of all Joy!  This, the last week of 2010 many are pondering the whys and whats of the last year.  Many will determine what changes need to be made...some will choose a word, a "watchword" if you will to determine intentions for the coming year.  Release was the word I chose this past year...it caused me to work on some old thoughts, beliefs and it exhausted me.  I will be entering the year 2011 with a lighter load!  Who benefits from dragging old baggage around?  So many of my friends have participated or will participate in choosing one word rather than a grocery list of resolutions.  It is easy, think, ponder, pray...choose a word...throw some into a hat and let the word choose you.  The word Grace is tickling my fancy right now...this is probably the word I will go with for 2011...the definition:

1. elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.

2. a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.
3. favor or good will.
4. a manifestation of favor, esp. by a superior: It was only through the dean's grace that I wasn't expelled from school.
5. mercy; clemency; pardon: an act of grace.
6. favor shown in granting a delay or temporary immunity.
7. an allowance of time after a debt or bill has become payable granted to the debtor before suit can be brought against him or her or a penalty applied
8. Theology:
a. the freely given, unmerited favor and love of god.
b. the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.
c. a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.
d. Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.
9. moral strength: the grace to perform a duty.
10. a short prayer before or after a meal, in which a blessing is asked and thanks are given.
11. ( usually initial capital letter ) a formal title used in addressing or mentioning a duke, duchess, or archbishop, and formerly also a sovereign (usually prec. by your, his, etc.).
12. Graces, Classical Mythology . the goddesses of beauty, daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, worshiped in Greece as the Charities and in Rome as the Gratiae.
13. Music . grace note.

Synonyms

1. attractiveness, charm, gracefulness, comeliness, ease. 4. kindness, kindliness, love, benignity; condescension. 5. lenity, leniency. 14. embellish, beautify, deck, decorate, ornament; enhance, honor.

What do you think?  Will "Grace" be an easier choice for the coming year?  Hmmmmmm...we'll see, won't we! 

If I am not back sooner... Happy New Year my Lovely Friends!

Rest In Peace Dearest Mother

Hazel Rebecca "Becky" Fogle    June 4, 1930 - December 15, 2010  As we are saddened and mourn your passing...the Hallelujah Chorus plays for those you will reunite with in the Life beyond this one! 

My husband and I will be taking in a little quiet time to reflect on the life of his beloved Mother.  Keep us in your thoughts and prayers, particulary my sweet, gentle, tenderhearted husband.  The Twenty third Psalm was being read as she passed the veil of this life into the next.

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Mom, Granny, Becky, Hazel...mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, dear friend will be remembered for her beautiful smile and loving kindness.  Til we meet again...

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Hi My Lovelies...I am off to the Big Apple for shopping, shows, sightseeing and did I mention some shopping?!  Dear Husband will be keeping the home fires burning brightly until I return.

I thought I would share the cost of the Twelve Days of Christmas for those of you looking for gift ideas!
The full list of gift prices for 2010 are as follows:

•One Partridge in a Pear Tree: $161.99

•Two Turtle Doves: $100

•Three French Hens: $150

•Four Calling Birds: $599.96

•Five Gold Rings: $649.95

•Six Geese-a-Laying: $150

•Seven Swans-a-Swimming: $5,600

•Eight Maids-a-Milking: $58

•Nine Ladies Dancing: $6,294.03

•10 Lords-a-Leaping: $4,766.70

•11 Pipers Piping: $2,356.20

•12 Drummers Drumming: $2,552.55

If you were to give all of these gifts in exactly the way that the song describes (as a true love, no doubt, would), you would spend $96,824 for all 364 gifts, a 10.8% increase compared to last year.

Have a safe and wonderful weekend!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

~The Elf Code~

• Treat Everyday like Christmas
• There is Room for Everyone on the nice list
• The best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear!

Once upon a time in the land of Princesses, Divas and Floozies there came a time of much prosperity and abundance.  An idea was hatched and a proclamation declared...hear ye hear ye...we shall share the spirit of giving with others...we have enough already!  Thus the Princesses, Divas and Floozies (who gather frequently throughout the year) charged the Princess of Quite A Lot with the task of shopping for a specially selected family.  Shopping is done, gifts are wrapped and a GOOD TIME was had by all.  And the Divas, Princesses and Floozies are attempting to live Happily Ever After. 

The true spirit of Christmas comes from a love of mankind and from gifts that cannot be purchased.  The Princesses, Divas and Floozies truly encourage those able to share their blessings and abundance to do so... many are in need.  A smile, a nod or a simple courtesy may change someone's day for the better!

Yours truly was happily photojournaling our story...AND wrapping a gift or two myself...Cheers to All!

A Grateful and Happy Heart

As we are flowing through the season of much giving, kindness and charity may we remember to always have that spirit throughout the year.  I am grateful and blessed in so many ways.  Trials and tribulations come and go...good friends and family are forever! 

I have been a busy albeit injured Santa's helper!  Apparently, yellow jackets have nests in the ground (who knew) and do not like it when you pull weeds and trim bushes around their nests...I'm just sayin...someone could win some money from the scene in my flower beds...flailing arms, tripping over light post, landing on rear end on sidewalk...numerous stings later...I am on antibiotics, steroids and anti don't scratch yourself to death medicine.  I don't know whether to lie down and go to sleep or run around the block ten times!

Sunday's dinner welcomed most of our children, grandchildren, adopted parents, my mom and of course, yours truly and the dearest husband!  We are not a Norman Rockwell depiction of any holiday.  I like to refer to our gatherings as organized chaos.  It works for us and we have a great time. 

I purchased some cutout boys and girls to keep the grandchildren occupied...imagine my surprise and delight watching the grown up children design and color "people" with as much  joy as the young children.  It was a glorious day, not without a tear or two or a frustration or two...we prevailed with loving and thankful hearts.

I am still on a pay it forward/random acts of kindness mission...there is ALWAYS someone that needs an uplift!  I like living a life that is filled with compassion, joy and giving with a dose of complaint free days (I am working on my part of living in a "Complaint Free World")  I have a purple bracelet to remind me!

Peace and Love Ya'll!

P.S.  someone is going to New York City with a group of gal pals...she is just a little bit giddy about it!
start spreading the news...I want to be a part of it...New York New York