What a Celebration!

And while our Thanksgiving was very nice as you heard on my previous post, that's not the celebration I am referring to this morning. We just returned from a very quick trip (if you consider 7 hrs. one way "quick"!) to Virginia (we live in NC). Sunday we witnessed the renewal of vows and the celebration of 60 years of marriage of some dear friends of ours, Dick and Louise Kelley. There are no words to describe the love, commitment and devotion between these two people for each other, for their Lord and Savior and for their family. It was one of the most touching experiences of my life. And, unfortunately, I have no photos of the happy occasion, either. I've been frustrated for sometime with my little digital point and shoot-and it's failed me yet again (If anyone out there would kindly share what type of camera they have and their likes and dislikes I would be most grateful!). I am going to bite the bullet and pick SOMETHING to start with. I am looking for lightweight and a good zoom. Then I am going to sign up for classes to learn how to use it right. I may never be as good as Joel but I gotta do better! I was heartbroken to come home and see every photo blurred.

As you can imagine, there wasn't much time to visit with the happy couple during the festivities, so we stopped yesterday morning on our way out of town to deliver our gift and spend some time catching up. Not only did we have a great visit with them, but I also had the opportunity to meet a delightful young lady--their 22 year old granddaughter, Alexandria Kelley. When she mentioned that she had finished the pictures and put them in a book for her grandmother, you KNOW what my next question was! She said she not only scrapbooks but she stamps as well! That's all it took! We were two chatterboxes from that point on! She has such enthusiasm and excitement and I really hope that we'll someday have some "playtime" together. My mind was racing all the way home of things I wanted to ask her, tell her, share with her!

I am so glad we went and it was nice to have a get-away, but I am glad to be back home and getting back into some routines and begin preparation for Christmas. Also anxiously waiting to see the doctor tomorrow. While I had some "attacks" while we were gone, I did eat wrong on the way home yesterday and was paying for it last evening. Indeed, there are gall stones. The questions are how to deal with them without surgery...or with surgery as a last resort if other options don't work. But that's tomorrow, Scarlett! Today...it's back to work, put some goodies in the mail for Alexandria, tidy up at home, bring down some Christmas decorations and catch up on petting my kitties and blog-hopping! Whew-maybe I'd better have another cup of coffee first! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

Life with Cats...

Little Gray Bungalow had a cute cat video on her blog---it's a You Tube How to Wrap a Cat...check it out. Today, after finally deciding on what to get the 60th wedding anniversary couple (two chair heating massage cushions, a Hickory Farms gift package, a pretty candle and base---add a warm blankie ad their favorite movie or music and all set to snuggle, snack and relax!)-Anyway-got all that (my idea was a gift card to a restaurant)---brought it home, wrapped it. DH was fixing supper, I came out, we ate ---and this is what was happening behind us...If you didn't see the back half of Poppa Cat, it would look like Inky (king of the hill) was trying to read the card! Thankfully, there is only one claw indentation (NO HOLES!) and the ribbon is wired so its refluffable. NEVER a dull moment around our house! Blessings, Sharon

Happy Belated Turkey Day...

And, did I THINK at the time to take photos of the turkey, the trimmings, of the family at the table? Nope. Didn't give it a second thought at the time as I was so excited to have James and his girlfriend, Carmen here. Things just couldn't have gone smoother with the preparations-my dh (the cook!) and I even curled up and watched a dvd while the turkey cooked and we waited for their arrival. We all pitched in and had dinner on the table in matter of minutes and seemed to devour it just as quickly. Carmen's favorite is STUFFING---so you know I like her! That's mine, too! We followed the quick clean up with a walk on the beach and pier...so here are some photos of how we spent our afternoon...

Yes, even the KITTIES got TURKEY---Inky sure looks demanding here-maybe he didn't think he got enough?! Lol

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I'll bid you adieu with a photo of the sunset from the pier...WOW. All I can say is LIFE IS GOOD! Have a great day! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

Getting Closer...

I used to say "I wish it were so-and-so" day of the week"---and my late husband would say, "don't wish your life away!" I never really put much thought into that-being the type A-rush about to get 90 gazzillion things done. I am learning. It took the trip to to the ER (ya would think losing a spouse to cancer would get the point across!)--but I am learning...

My youngest step-son and girlfriend are due in tomorrow. I am down to my flylady home blessing hour! GO ME! Am I completely decluttered and where I want that process to be? No. But its good enough! He will see a significant change. And I am happy with the progress I have made. I just tell my bratty inner child to shut up and leave me alone when I start hearing about how I've fallen short...there's still this box or that pile. I refuse to listen to her and choose Flylady's kind words about being proud of me for the changes I've made, the progress-gently reminding myself that it didn't get this way in a day --and it won't get better overnight.

So--I am so much closer than I've ever been before to being company-ready!

I am also getting closer to being able to work on some Christmas projects: 11 gift bags to prepare for a friend's order, Christmas card order, some new things I want to try for preschool and staff gifts...and, since I organized, an impromptu craft show! Theresa and I will be traveling to Topsail for a craft show we hadn't planned on doing-until now!--on Dec. 4th. Since my stuff was all neatly put away and labeled, I can pull it out and go! No fret and worry! So I am looking forward to all of that...

I am also exactly one week away from my new doctor's appointment! Yes, I am still in some pain (I think I have a gall stone that's SLOWLY moving and will hopefully be leaving the body soon--sorry if that's tmi!)--and patience with me is running thin (my darling husband is quite worried...)--but it's not unbearable and I really do not want a repeat of the nightmare experience from our local hospital and my former MD. A good laugh? I told a friend I wish I could find a dr. for me as good as our vet-and she just said, "Ask your vet who she goes to!" Well---duh! So I did! She laughed-she's not been to a dr. in sometime but one of her staff recommended an internist (another thing dh has been suggesting...) so it's just a matter of time. I've said it before and I will say it again---if your physician does not listen to you, does not welcome your questions, does not answer your questions and poo-poo's alternative therapies...FIND A NEW PHYSICIAN! Do not pass go. Please. Just because they have "MD" after their name does not mean they are God. Bottom line-I MAY have to have surgery-but I am going to understand what other options are available, what other therapies I might try-and save surgery as a last resort--not first as the former MD's answer was as she was "too busy to listen!". God put it there for a reason-I am not too crazy about having parts taken out! End of soap box!

Looking forward to a quiet, relaxing day tomorrow-blog hopping and maybe even some crafting until the kiddos arrive. DH cooks-GOD BLESS THE MAN!!--so I am relegated to assisting (which means dishes and making things fit in the fridge-or finding things in the fridge!).

Until then, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

Lost and Found...

My good SU scissors have been MIA for months. I've looked high and low--but not high enough! Even though it feels like 70 outside...I am in the middle of switching out summer clothes for fall and winter. Hence a trip to the attic--darling husband unloading 3 large storage boxes...and, in the bottom of the second one...here's a roll of packing tape (ok-I was labeling the boxes as I went), a screwdriver (no clue---!)and, drum roll please...my SU scissors (which I was probably using, at the time, to cut the tape for the labels)! Lol. My first grade teacher, Mrs. Fassett, always said I would forget my head if it weren't attached. And yes, I am a SHE (side-tracked home executive!) I am just laughing and shaking my head. My best-laid plans of getting organized...! Oh well. I am down to---finishing our bedroom! We moved mattresses around yesterday (although I am still hoping Santa shows up with a sleep number bed! or a hot tub...mini cooper would be nice...oh-wait-side-tracked--Uh-Hum....) and now doing the clothes swap thing. Then its down to odds and ends. Later today I will confer with hubby and see what pics to rehang. Tomorrow it will be straighten up and then wait for company on Wed. I think...I cannot say how good it feels to have decluttered. It's taken longer than I hoped/thought-and there's still my craft room to go---but it's been SO WORTH IT! I am hoping next week I will have some crafty things to post! Break's over! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon ps/thanks for the good thoughts and prayers-no mystery pain attacks! : )

Whew...! So what the heck was (IS) it, Anyway?

It's been a PAINFUL week! I have few clues--but after learning on Tuesday that a good friend had passed away, I was hit with another "attack". It started just under my breastbone in the middle this time, radiated to the back and, on a scale of 1-10, was at an 8 for about 3 hours! Repeat again Thursday night. My "I am going to get to the bottom of this" attitude while waiting for the new doctor appt. on Dec. 1st kicked in---I researched gall bladder remedies (as that's what they said back in Sept. although my symptoms then didn't match up with gb) and as I was coming home from the grocery and doing a "diary" in my head of events (stress involved in each onset), food (dairy was different--more of it...) the lightbulb clicked. I was---allergic to milk and eggs as a child. I outgrew it-and developed different (food) allergies. But I have had a lot of dairy lately and, have to confess, cheated with some of the foods I know are no-no's. I eliminated dairy yesterday, tried some home remedy recipes for gb--and made it through the night with NO PAIN! Interesting! Very, very interesting. We shall see what happens from here on out. Going to be a great weight-loss program as there's not much left I can eat! Lol. Anyone with any ideas, recipes for low-fat/dairy-free ---PLEASE pass it on! I am also wheat, corn and soy allergic! My next goal is to find a dietitian/nutritionist who can work with us. My darling husband has done an AWESOME job but cutting out dairy---eliminates A LOT MORE STUFF!

I am back on track with decluttering our bedroom today and preparing for company. I am proud to say that I have stayed on the Flylady program and there's not much to do in the rest of the house as far as "home blessing hour"! Just the usual tidy! It also made the nights of pain and days of recuperating easier---I was able to RELAX instead of looking and piles of clutter and thinking "oh---I should be doing" or worse-getting up, going on and doing despite my health!

I am actually getting excited about some things I want to make and do for gifts for Christmas-cards that need to be done, etc! Simply because, after decluttering, I have TIME on my hands to do it with! Off to finish! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon