Embracing change...

"apple blossom" amaryllis

...NOT  that change, I'm pretty sure I will never embrace that one, but then again I'm sure there is wisdom even there.

January always seems to be a month of reflection for me.  I attribute that to the let-down after the holiday rush and the dreary weather.  I am sure that those of you who are snowed in have at least seen the sun shine a few times...not so, here.  It lends itself to cabin fever, dark moods, wondering and reflection.

This week I will finally get to meet my new grand-daughter.  Whether she make her way here on her own or with the help of the doctor.  To say we are anxious and excited are understatements for sure, and I have no doubt this event is contributing to these confusing emotions that have rattling around my head.

There has been much extended family drama as of late and although I make a choice to not be involved in it, it is nevertheless exhausting to me.  Why these people, who are adults, can not act like grown-ups is baffling.  The jealousy, pettiness and back-stabbing feels like middle school all over again and again and again.  Oh, the game playing and the sneaking around other's backs, is just...just...just...too much and I don't want to spend any more time on it.  I am sure all families get this way on occasion but it seems to be a way of life for some of mine!

My son is the first child, grand-child, and great grand-child and now his daughter will be the same.  I only wish that my parents were here to share this wonderful and exciting time with us as they completely adored our children and would be beside themselves at the thought!  They would have been thrilled for us too, and would have acted like grown-ups!  My only other wish would have been for my daughter-in-laws mother to be here.  To be without a mom, she passed when Lauren was a teen, at this most blessed time would be unbearable. And the un-uttered wish of my heart: Matthew...

So, to my sweet Maude-Lily;

travel safely here dear one, we have waited so very long for you to come into our lives and we will be waiting with open arms and full hearts when you make your grand entrance.  You will be amazed, as will we, you will be treasured and loved beyond measure.  I know that when I see and hear you that I will be surrounded by mom, dad, Mattie and Myrna as they are as much a part of you as I am.  Sweet dreams...

I know, I know...

...I really need to post something but there isn't much to say.  Who knew that it was even possible for me to run out of things to blather about!

No baby yet...

have a good weekend and take care y'all.

Five hundred pieces...

google images

...500 pieces, of me.  Five hundred bits of information.  Five hundred peeks into my heart and soul, my life, my loves...500 pieces of the puzzle of my life.

A few weeks ago, when I realized I was about to hit the five-hundred post mark, I began to wonder about the purpose of this blog and whether or not I had said everything I intended to when I started it..500 posts ago.

In short the answer is NO!  What started out as a place for me to quietly vent about some personal issues has become a source of great joy, inspiration and support.  It is very comforting to me to know that I can come here any time, day or night, and there is a community waiting to hear what's on my mind.

This is my spot, my little piece of the universe..of eternity perhaps.  And so I move forward, making a few changes along the way, out with some of the old things, room for something fun and new. And always, always, room for new ideas, room to vent when necessary, room for thrifting and junkin', room for a few hundred photos, room for my sad and pathetic attempts at decorating and gardening, and room for a view.

What would you like to know, see, do, in my part of the world?

“*We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.”* — Thornton Wilder

Three word Thursday...

Any. Day. Now...

The battle in Seattle...

...no, not the one you are thinking...at least not football.  Just a quick bye-the-bye to say I finished my first round of radiation.  Check, over and out.  And now I'm going to take a little rest.

Thank you for helping me to get this far...we will win, I'm sure of it!

Crystal ball...

...yesterday at this time the weather persons, who do this for a living, were predicting 7-10 inches of lovely white snow.  Let me just say...I love snow.  I love it's pristine beauty, the silence it brings, and the blanket of white that changes the light above and the young-tender hearts around us.  But, but...I do not like ice.  OK where was I? 

Predictions of snow, lots of it.  Schools closed. Roads de-iced. Parking lots, drive-ways and sidewalks salted. Chains and yax-trax at the ready.  Candles, batteries, and can opener standing by.  Extra blankets, gloves and scarves by the doors.  Cookies baking in the oven...

when I got up this morning it was 42degrees and raining.  Talk about raining on my parade!  (and they get paid for these 'predictions.')

Dear America,

we are so much better than this.

We MUST do better by each other.


Tucson, you are my second home, you have my heart.

Sad, lonely, a little empty...

...and in need of a good wipe-down.

Just a few short weeks days ago my home was shiny and bright.  It was full of laughter, food, love and celebration.  It was a happy place as were her owners.  But now...now...the party is over my friends.  The New Year has begun in earnest and slowly, ever so slowly, my home is making it's way back to it's humble pre-holiday beginnings.  *sigh*

The paper chase...

...continues.  You may recall, a few weeks ago, that I planted Paper White Narcissus bulbs and tried to force them into blooming by Christmas.

I bought the bulbs in a kit that included, well...bulbs.  I was a little disappointed, expecting more, but after reading the directions found that I needed nothing other than the bulbs, a small shallow bowl (or tall square vase in my case), some marbles or rocks and a little water and light.  Pretty doable right?

remember this?

here they are on Christmas Eve;

I am totally hooked on these little guys and they were SO simple to grow.  I received a few plantable bulb kits for Christmas so tomorrow
I am going to 'make' some dirt and get them planted too. 

I'm bringing Spring this year!

p.s. spell check says 'plantable' is ot a word...true?

Embracing the New Year...

...I have be strolling through all your wonderful blogs today, catching up on your holiday celebrations and anxiously reading your New Years' resolutions.  Oh my, do you ever have some lofty goals for the year!

I decided, this year, to do something different for me.  I saw this a few weeks ago on a few other blogs and thought I would give it a try.  Choosing a word, a mantra perhaps, that will be your guide throughout the coming year.

Oh yes, I still have all the same old, tired resolutions; *take better care of myself *exercise more *lose 10,20,30 OK 40lbs  *go to church more often  *purge the house  *be more frugal...

This year I decided that I would begin the year, end the year, and live every moment of the year...to embrace the year and all it's possibilities.  I've decided to stop being an observer in my life and to jump in and live it.  Sounds ridiculous doesn't it, but when you are mired in illness and depression the hardest thing to do is participate...in anything.  I will embrace life and live it with joy.  *to play *to dance *to sing in the rain *to run through the sprinkler *to fly kites at the beach *to build sand-castles *to go on picnics *to learn how to play mah-jong *to take more photos, even if I am a sotc girl  *to bake *to read  *to...*to...*to...

embrace life
embrace joy
embrace new ideas
embrace forgiveness
embrace possibilities
embrace passion
embrace love
embrace, embrace, embrace

Welcome to 2011 Jj, this is your life, now go forth and live it, live well, embrace your dreams.



Embrace

1. ( also intr ) (of a person) to take or clasp (another person) in the arms, or (of two people) to clasp each other, as in affection, greeting, etc; hug


2. to accept (an opportunity, challenge, etc) willingly or eagerly

3. to take up (a new idea, faith, etc); adopt: to embrace Judaism

4. to comprise or include as an integral part: geology embraces the science of mineralogy

5. to encircle or enclose

thank you Merriam-Webster