2012 Is The Year To.......

Yep, that's the word that keeps jumping out at me. I don't do New Year's Resolutions...however, this year I've been noticing some people are choosing one word as their focus for the New Year.  Now, that appeals to me.  Without thinking about it, I guess I chose "Adventure" as my word last year because I was starting a new season of my life. 

This year I've chosen the word "Simplify" because it's time in this season of my life to do just that!!  Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is...organizing and getting rid of stuff.  Living with less things.  One in, two out. When I bring something into my house, I get rid of two things. The normal rule is one in, one out but somehow that never seems to work — things still accumulate. Instead, if I get rid of two things then things will stay simple!!!

Another way to simplify is Start your day with peace. I love this one, because it’s so easy to implement and yet it can have such a powerful effect on my day. When I first rise, I want to do something that is calming and peaceful. That might be prayer, running or walking, having a quiet cup of coffee with a book, watching the sunrise, meditating or yoga … whatever works for the day. It can be 10 minutes or an hour but I want to find some peace in the morning and use it to calm myself throughout the entire day!

Next to simplify my life, Eat only 7 things. I want to continue to strive for a healthful lifestyle. So...to simplify things I will limit myself to non-packaged foods. I'll try to eat only seven things: fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean protein, lean calcium, beans, nuts, good fats. Nothing from a box (this will be a yearlong challenge I know)!!!!! This means I must cook my food!

As the year progresses, I'll add one of two more areas to simplify!!!  For the moment, this is where I'll start.  "Our life is frittered away by detail... Simplify, simplify, simplify! ... Simplicity of life and elevation of purpose." - Henry D. Thoreau

Do you have a word that will describe 2012 for you???

Seriously Thursday?! One More Time!!

Seriously???!I've been wiped out from all the refurbishing work and Christmas activities for 3 days!!!!!!!!!!!  Time to get back to work!

Seriously???!I'm ready for some snow!!! Last year's snow storm spoiled me...hope we don't have to wait until February!!

Seriously???!I'm in trouble...I found all these DIY decorating blogs and the things they've done to "refurbish" their homes are incredible.  Should make for an interesting 2012 around here to say the least!

Addicted 2 Decorating



Rambling Renovators

Kara Paslay Designs

Seriously???!I need suggestions for my 2012 blog title.  If you have a suggestion, I'd love to hear about it!!!!

What's On The Horizon?

I can't believe 2011 is coming to an end!  What a year it has been...retirement , starting a blog, line dance classes, cooking lessons, trips on my motorcycle with our HOG friends, our trip to Fiji, birthday celebrations, fun times with the family, starting the adventure of refurbishing of our 30+ year old home, wedding anniversaries, holiday celebrations and so much more!!!  How blessed I've been this year!  Thanks so much for reading my blog, I am honored to have you as guests each and every day!

Now it's on to 2012!!!!!!!  Although I have no idea what all will be in store for the coming year, I do have a few things I know will be happening!  I'll be LOH (Ladies of Harley) Officer for the coming year...heaven help us all; I'm going to the Canary Islands with Harley Man...Whooo Hooo; Bman and I will continue our cooking lessons into 2012; there will be more refurbishing projects on the horizon (yes I am a glutton for punishment); there will be purging and getting into my "less is more" lifestyle; there will be a family cruise to celebrate my parent's 60th Wedding Anniversary (how awesome is that); a Welcome Home celebration for Merv; the beginning of an "Infinity List" for me; many unknown adventures await also!!!

So...I need your help.  I can't change the url for my blog unless I switch over to Wordpress (which I am contemplating for the future) but I can change the title of my blog for 2012.  I'd love some suggestions as to what the new title might be for the coming year!  So please let me hear your suggestions!!!  You can add a comment here on this post, on Facebook or by email.  All suggestions are welcome!!!

Traditions???

 

Whew, Christmas had me in a whirlwind of events!!!  I actually put the tree up on Friday (that's what happens when you do refurbishing right before Christmas!!), presents under the tree on Friday and had the house looking a little festive by the time the girls and family arrived the afternoon of Christmas Eve!!  Talk about a miracle!!!!

Do you have traditional activities you do at Christmas?  We do and it is funny how my girls still expect them to continue each year....it's great!!  Due to all the refurbishing work and just getting the house back in some kind of order, we didn't get to participate in one tradition this year which is the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.  We did however, have our traditional Christmas Eve dinner together and then Wii bowling until all were ready for bed.  We also still have stockings stuffed by Santa for Christmas morning!!

Christmas Day, we had our Christmas breakfast together...then it's opening presents and stockings.  Bman found the Christmas Pickle on the tree this year and pocketed $10.00!!!  Then we were off to South Carolina for the day to celebrate Christmas at my parent's house with all of our family members and Bubba's family!!  Mom and Dad did a beautiful job preparing the house and the awesome meal.  Then it was time for "Crazy Santa", a tradition we started 4 years ago!!!!!!  It makes Christmas so much fun because we don't have to buy tons of gifts...we each take one $40.00 gift.  Crazy Santa is somewhat like Dirty Santa (I changed the name because I just don't like calling it Dirty Santa)!!  We started playing Christmas games last year and due to my refurbishing I didn't get to organize these for this year but they will return next year....I already have them printed out and ready to go (lesson learned!!).

The best tradition of all....celebrating Christmas with all of our family members!!  Priceless!  Hope you had a wonderful Christmas filled with old and new traditions!!!

Symbols of the Season

Late one Christmas Eve I sank into my easy chair. Admiring the tree with its decorations, I couldn't help but feel that something was missing... The kids were in bed, the gifts were all wrapped, the milk and cookies were in their place for Santa. It wasn't long before the tiny twinkling tree lights lulled me into a deep sleep.

I don't know how long I slept, but all of a sudden I opened my eyes and there stood Santa Claus himself next to my Christmas tree.

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot just as the poem described him. But he was not the "jolly old elf" of Christmas legend. The man who stood before me looked sad and disappointed with tears in his eyes.

I had to ask, "Santa, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" "It's the children," Santa replied sadly. "But the children love you," I said. "Oh, I know they love me and the gifts I bring them," Santa said. "But the children of today seem to have somehow missed out on the true spirit of Christmas. It's not their fault. It's just that the adults, many of them not having been taught themselves, have forgotten to teach the children."

"Teach them what?" I asked. Santa's kind old face became soft, more gentle. His eyes began to shine with something more than tears. He spoke softly. "Teach the children the true meaning of Christmas. Teach them that the part of Christmas we can see, hear and touch is much more than meets the eye. Teach them the symbolism behind the customs and traditions of Christmas we now observe. Teach them what it is they truly represent."

Santa reached into his bag and pulled out a tiny Christmas tree and set it on the fireplace mantle. "Teach them about the Christmas tree. Green is the second color of Christmas. The stately evergreen with its unchanging color represents the hope of eternal life in Jesus. Its needles point heavenward as a reminder that man's thoughts should turn heavenward as well."

Santa reached into his bag again and pulled out a shiny star and placed it at the top of the small tree. "The star was the heavenly sign of promise. God promised a Savior for the world and the star was the sign of the fulfillment of that promise of the night that Jesus Christ was born. Teach the children that God always fulfills His promises and that the wise will still seek Him."

"Red," said Santa, "is the first color of Christmas." He pulled forth a red ornament for the tiny tree. "Red is deep, intense, vivid. It is the color of the life giving blood that flows through our veins. It is the symbol of God's greatest gift. Teach the children that Christ gave His life and shed his blood for them that they might have eternal life. When they see the color red it should remind them of that most wonderful gift."

Santa found a bell in his pack and placed it on the tree. "Just as lost sheep are guided to safety by the sound of the bell, it continues to ring today for all to be guided to the fold. Teach the children to follow the true Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep."

Santa placed a candle on the mantle and lit it. The soft glow from its one tiny flame brightened the room. "The glow of the candle represents how man can show his thanks for the gift of God's Son that Christmas Eve long ago. Teach the children to follow in Christ's footsteps... to go about doing good. Teach them to let their lights shine before men that all may see it and glorify God. This is what is symbolized when the twinkling lights shine on the tree like hundreds of bright, shining candles, each of them representing one of God's precious children, their light shining for all to see."

Again, Santa reached into his bag and this time he brought forth a tiny red and white striped candy cane. As he hung it on the tree, he spoke softly, "The candy cane is a stick of hard, white candy. White to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus. The shape 'J' to represent the precious name of Jesus who came to earth as our Savior. It also represents the crook of the Good Shepherd which he uses to reach down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like sheep, have gone astray. The original candy cane had three small red stripes which are the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed, and a large red stripe that represents the shed blood of Jesus so that we can have eternal life. Teach these things to the children."

Santa brought out a beautiful wreath made of fresh fragrant greenery and tied with a bright red bow. "The bow reminds us of the bond of perfection which is love. The wreath embodies all the good things about Christmas for those with eyes to see and hearts to understand. It contains the colors of red and green and the heaven turned needles of the evergreen. The bow tells the story of good will towards all and its color reminds us of Christ's sacrifice. Even the wreath's very shape is symbolic, representing eternity and the eternal nature of Christ's love. It is a circle without beginning and without end. These are the things you must teach the children."

"But where does that leave you Santa?" I asked. The tears gone now from his eyes, a smile broke over Santa's face. "Why, bless you, my dear," he laughed. "I, too, am only a symbol. I represent the spirit of family fun and the joy of giving and receiving. If the children are taught these other things, there is no danger that I'll ever be forgotten."

"I think I'm beginning to understand at last," I replied. That's why I came," said Santa. "You're an adult. If you don't teach the children these things, then who will?"

-Author unknown-

For All You Moms!

Several of the blogs I read were talking about a great tradition they've started at their homes over the last few years and even though my girls are grown I thought of all of you and your lovely little ones when I read the blogs.

Since Santa is scheduled to visit tomorrow night, go check out I Caught Santa!!!  You can create a photo of Santa at your house and then show it to your little ones on Christmas morning!! In three simple steps anyone can upload a holiday photo, add Santa Claus and print it as proof… or share it via Facebook and Twitter. Last-minute shoppers can purchase Gift Cards and eGift Certificates for loved ones with children, making iCaughtSanta.com a great gift idea even if you don’t have kids yourself.  One of the blogs even had a coupon code: Coupon Code for Santa Photo : SANTA50 and get your entire order for 1/2 price!

So go check it out today!!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

How Many Years???

Ah, today marks our 38th wedding anniversary!!!  Yep, it's true....Harley Man and I have been married 38 years!!!  Wow!!!!  Love you my dear Harley Man!!!!!!