Good Bye 2008

We're having a very quiet NYE - watching the celebrations on TV, reading books and making thank you cards.

For nearly 20+ years we had an open house every New Year's Day. Blackeyed peas, pork, saurkrauat and cornbread - with 40-60 people coming and going during the day. Last year we ended the tradition as Bill was out of town up to the last minute. We enjoyed our day so much we decided to put the open house on h old for at least a few more years. Maybe we will do it again, but for right now it's nice to just sit back and contemplate the upcoming year.

I will be going to Michael's too! There's a 20% off all purchases tomorrow only and I might as well see if there's something I can't live without and, of course, what would it be without a mocha from Starbucks. I will be cooking a pork tenderlooin with veggies, blackeyed peas ( a must ) and cole slaw = but it will be in small amounts compared to years past!

Hopefully, I will talk to my daughter and friends on the phone during the day wishing everyone a happy New Year and then Friday, it's back to normal! We begin another year for real. I have often made resolutions, usually about losing weight or some other self improvement thing - those still need to be made, but mostly I want to just be a nicer person - I want to be a little more thoughtful, a little more kind and hopefully bless every path I cross - loving everyone a little bit more including myself.

Good night and Happy New Year - See you in 2009

Christmas 2008

It's two days after Christmas and as I reflect on this holiday I find it was quite different from those past.

The differences began with our tree. I used all Stampin' Up decorations. Ones I made from the holiday kits. I also made lots of fabulous snow flakes with the Big Shot and the snowflake die. As I said in an earlier blog, I loved the old time feeling it gave me. I really didn't miss all the glitter and glitz and will keep these ornaments and add to them next year.

I finally discovered a great way to display my Christmas cards - a Christmas card tree and added to it every day. Finally, a way we could enjoy every card that arrived.

On the not so good side, my sweet Bill (husband) was not feeling at all well. We did go to his mother's house a couple of days before Christmas, but no hugs were allowed so we didn't chance sharing the "gift" of the flu. That's one gift no one seems to want. We did get to see our niece and nephew play with the gifts we gave them and had a short but nice visit.

We went to church Christmas Eve, but it was to the 5:00 pm service with my mom. Bill and I always go back for the 11:00 service, but this year he felt to bad so we stayed home and went to bed early. We slept late Christmas Day, opened gifts late, ate breakfast and spent the rest of the day laying around. I didn't even cook a special dinner. As I said this was quite different from years past!

Our daughter and granddaughter came for Thanksgiving as is their tradition, so we didn't see them and because I left my phone on silent from church on Wednesday we didn't talk to them on Christmas Day. We made up for it on Friday and had a great visit via phone. It was nearly 80 degrees here and probably 28 degrees for them in northern Indiana! I wish we lived closer so we could spend every holiday together, but that's not the way it's to be. I made special cards for them - cased from some very talented ladies at SCS. What would I do without the talent that is shared? Make pitiful cards for sure. lol

On a very good note, our dear Megan (stamp club member) who has been "diagnosed" with an unknown blood disorder/autoimmune disorder was home from the hospital and able to open presents with her family! That was a major blessing - prayers continue for her healing.

On a very sad note, Puppy Cropper, my dogs best friend passed away suddenly on Christmas day. What a terrible loss for the Cropper family and for all who knew Puppy. He will be greatly missed for a very, very long time.

It's been quite a year, but I'll reflect more on that as it draws closer to the end. Good night for now.

Fun with friends

Thursday night was a fun time - two of the young women from stamp club came over and we made calendars for Christmas gifts. We sorted through papers, punches, and had a blast. We, or they, accomplished a lot. One made 8 and one made 9 calendars - hate to admit it but I made two! Just couldn't concentrate - it was much more fun to watch them and visit. Footnote: a few days later I made eight myself to give as gifts. Here are a few pictures.

My stamping was just for me, then I became a Stampin' Up demonstrator for the discount and now I'm so thankful for the new friends I'm making. Seven of our members have come from either the Stampin' Up website or bumping into someone at Michaels and then bringing their friends. Stamping has helped me grow closer to women I've known from church for years, but now with a common interest our friendships have grown and developed. Who would have thought so much would come from rubber stamping?

December Stamp Club & Christmas Tag Class

We had two fun nights last week. On Tuesday night we had our regular club night making two cards and a small calendar. We took a break from the holiday cards and just made two that would be appropriate for friends during the cold winter months. The calendar has magnets on the back so it can hang on refrigerator or a file cabinet. They make great small gifts or stocking stuffers.

Our gifts tags were the idea of SU demonstrator Mercedes Weber and used punches and scraps of paper. It's always good to have a way to use those scraps and anyone who knows me, knows I love punches! So this was a great fit for me. A picture of a few are below. These were mine, some the others made were much, much better! The best part is we all had fun -

Now just in case I'm not back here before the new year - I want to wish everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS or HAPPY HANUKKAH. I pray that everyone's holiday will be safe and happy .

Bev

Holiday Rush

Wow - can you believe it's nearly Christmas! I can't - even though I've done most of my shopping, mailed most of my cards, decorated my tree and hung my wreaths it still doesn't feel like Christmas. Some years I would say that's because it's 80 degress outside, but it's 43 and that's cold for here so that's not the problem. I wonder if others are feeling this same way?

I had a blast doing my tree this year - I made the ornaments from Stampin' Up kits and big snowflakes using my Big Shot and the snowflake die. The tree is so simple it gives me a sense of

relaxation and it makes me feel like I've gone back in time - to a time when life was so much more simple. This is my mom by the tree and this is another special year - she's 98! Can't believe it can you? Every Christmas with her is another very special blessing. My mom was 36 when I was born and it's amazing to think we've had so many wonderful years and so many Christmas trees! lol

I made my cards too. I had so many cool stamps that I ended up with four different designs I actually mailed out and others I made and hung on my own tree! In an earlier post I mentioned that I had always wanted the perfect way to display cards we received and it occurred to me to hang them on a tree like ornaments and that's just what I've done. Love it! I even decorated my envelopes because I had a stamp set I loved and didn't want to use it for cards - my husband says I look for work, but in this case I love what I do.

Happy Stamping,
Bev