Happy New Year....2010

Happy New Year Everyone!!!! Last night we had our annual New Year's Eve party. Hubby and I started hosting a party about 3 years ago or so. A bunch of our Remote Control Airplane friends were sitting around at a Christmas Party and started talking about New Years...everyone said we are not doing anything, so Hubby and I said, come on over to our house and lets hang out together. So that started the annual party. This year was another fun time. I love to entertain. So yesterday I hit the grocery store with my list of goodies, hit the ABC store for my special beverages and then came home to get ready. Daughter #1 came over and helped clean, thank you Daughter! I made a bunch of goodies and printed off the recipe for my new drink. I was all ready by 7:00pm and the guests started arriving. It is so much fun to just hang out with people that you enjoy. We talk, laugh, eat and drink. And this year we played Wii....what fun that was.
New Years night is a night to reflect on what good has happened to us in the last year and be thankful for all that we have been given. Last night after everyone left and I went to bed, I was laying there thinking that I am sooooo thankful for my family and friends. I have a great life and love every minute of it!!! So to all my family and friends....Happy 2010!!! I love you all!!!

Children...

My beautiful daughters (am me in the middle)

When our children are born we promise to give them all that we can and love them no matter what. And from the day my first daughter was born I have done this and continued with daughter number two. No matter what the situation becomes no matter how good or bad, we love them. It's just how I was raised and how I feel. My daughters are my greatest blessing that has been given to me. When they need hugs, I give them out, when they money, I give it out, when they need a shoulder to cry on, I have two...when they need a ride, a key to a locked door, a pony tail fixed, I'm there.

Remember that cute little baby powder smelling head to that all grown up adult. I can hardly believe that it has been 25 years since my first was born...25 years, where did all those years go? Mom, I do understand now when you said that time would pass quicker when you get older.

So my beautiful daughters, your Dad and I are here now and will be here forever....just try and get rid of us! We love you!!!

Holidays.....

Just returned from four days at my parents home for the Christmas holidays...what fun we had!
Thursday evening started off with Christmas Church service at my Mother-in-law's church. It was and is always a very nice service. Really gets you in the holiday spirit with all the singing and fellowship there. I was a bit sad on Christmas eve, this is the first year since 1984 (when my oldest was born) that I have not spent Christmas eve with my girls. Now that they are adults, they have adult responsibilities and they had to work Christmas eve, so they drove up to my parents on Christmas day. I was so excited to see them! Christmas day started off with my girls and future son in law arriving and we opening our Santa gifts. After that all the family started showing up. We had another round of gift opening and then lots of picture taking, food consuming and lots of laughter! Christmas day two was spent with my best friend and her family. We exchanged gifts, ate lunch and just sat and enjoyed each other's company. Christmas day three was spent at my Aunt's home. The extended family came, more gifts, more food, more pictures and more laughter. I'm finally home and exhausted! I plan to get to bed soon....sleep well...and tomorrow is a Cindy day....not sure what I'm doing, but the household will be working...I may just sleep all day!!! Hope everyone had a great Christmas holiday!!!

Holiday Season

Well all, it's that time of year we all love and we all hate!!! Love the time we spend with our family, the time spent with friends, the look of excitement on our children's face, all the party's and the beautiful decorations. We hate the hustle, the stress and the expense of Christmas. We all know that Christmas comes every year on the same day and every year I say, "How did this creep up on me?" It just seems to do it every year. This year I swore it would be different and no it is not! My decorations are finally up. My shopping is almost complete. My cards are not even started. Tomorrow night is my annual Bunko Christmas party. All my friends come over for dinner, drinks and dice! It always proves to be a fun night. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas season and hope all your dreams come true...think about me for the next 13 days....I'll still be shopping!!!

Jackson....

This week we found out our beloved 12 yr old Jackson had cancer. The Dr. called me at work to tell me the sad news. As the Dr. discussed Jackson's cancer, the treatment and whatever else he told me all I could think of was, I'll be losing our beloved friend, family member. Our Dr. is great! He was very kind, compassionate and extremely gentle while breaking the sad news. After much discussion, we have decided to make him comfortable and love him for the rest of his time with us. He is on medication and is now eating and drinking like crazy..which is great, we have not seen that in a year. I know it's the medicine and I know this is temporary, but I'll take it for now.
So for tonight and the remaining nights, "Sleep good my puppy, I love you".

Jackson....

Over the last year our 12 year old black lab, Jackson, has been losing weight...we haven't been able to figure out why he wasn't eating. He has lost 24 lbs in about 15 months. Last week I made a Vet appointment for him and today was the day. We had an appointment with the Dr. that we started with 25 years ago when we first moved in this area. Within the first 5 minutes of the Dr. examining Jackson he found a mass in his abdominal area. After blood work, urine test and x-rays it was determined that the mass was in or around the spleen area. Four hours later he was in surgery. And about two hours after that I finally received the call that he was doing well and resting comfortable. The spleen was removed and in about 5 days we will know the results of the biopsy.

Our animals become part of our family. We bring them in our homes in various ways...they are picked, found, rescued or just show up. Jackson was a found puppy. About 14 years ago our beloved first four-legged child, Sandy, passed on to the next life and I thought we would never love another pet. A year later, our sweet Jackson was found by one of hubby's Navy friends. The friend was unable to keep him and offered him to us. Our daughters were at their grandparents for the week, so we took the 5 pound ball of fun, bathed him, he was full of fleas, fed him, took him to the vet and fell in love with him. After the okay from the Dr. we introduced him to our girls. They loved him! But, immediately he was hubby's dog, would follow hubby everywhere. Jackson grew to be 85 lbs, would eat anything the girls could slip to him and loved to run around in our yard. Open a car or truck door and he would jump in, never to get out without his ride around the neighborhood! He gives unconditional love, asking nothing in return but a rub under the chin. Today sitting there in the waiting room before the Dr. took him back to surgery I was thinking about all the fun and love he has brought to us. I am so grateful for him today and grateful that he made it through surgery and is resting comfortably tonight. Tonight, I pray he will not be scared that we are not there with him and I pray he knows we will be there tomorrow to pick him up and love him for the rest of his life, whether that is a short time or a long, long time. If you have pets, give them a big hug tonight and remember they are only here for a short time...make it the best. I love you Jackson...sleep well and pain free tonight..see you tomorrow!!

Observations....

It's been a while since my last post, things have been wild and crazy in my life. So thought I would fill you in on an observation I made today...I have started working out at our local recreation center, and hopefully will continue for a long time...I recently told my mother "my a@@ was spreading and everything jiggles!" She laughed as did I, but knew I need to get it together. So back to my story, I was walking on the treadmill today at the rec center, (it overlooks the gym) while watching everyone file in and out of the gym looking at all the beautiful goods for our annual Christmas Stocking Craft Show. As I watched the patrons and the crafters I was drawn to one gentleman. He sat behind a table filled with beautiful handmade blankets. As patrons approached his table he greeted them, answered questions and was very pleasant. I watched as he carefully unfolded blankets to display to curious patrons and then meticulously folded the blankets back up and put them back in their original spot. I was really drawn to the careful attention he gave each patron as well as each blanket. As I continued to walk and watch, I kept thinking about this gentleman, did he make these blankets? Did his wife? Mother? What was his career? What a great guy he must be to come to a craft show, sit for two days, sell blankets to patrons and keep these blankets so organized.
Do you ever sit and wonder about people, your co-workers, your boss, your grocery clerk...what do they do on their off time? You just never know...are they athletes, are they artist, are they craftsman? Or are they blankets salesman? We never know...so we must never judge a book by it's cover as the old saying goes.