I Danced With My Dad Last Night


Last night, I danced with Dad.  It was a short dance, and I'm not entirely sure I remember the tune.  It was a lovely dance, where I did not attempt to lead (bad habit I have) and Dad took me in his arms and lead me around the dance floor as if we'd been partners in Dancing with the Stars all season.  When we were done, he asked me if I liked to dance to songs like the one that played.  I told him I did.  Afterward, we sat on a couch and he asked if I would make a "cover for a wedding dress" for Sue.  Not sure who he was referring to, but I figured I'd find out if I just let him talk.  Unfortunately, that didn't happen.  I woke up. 

My Dad passed away in 1975.  But every once in a while, I get a visit in my dreams.  This was the first time we've danced during his dream visits.  I woke up feeling refreshed, a bit melancholy, but at peace.  Ah...there's that serenity I was looking for!!

Do you ever have vivid dreams about someone who's passed?  Do you ever wonder whether it's a spirit visit to tell you all's well or whether it's a need that you have to talk to that person that brings them to your dreams?  I can say that visits from my Dad almost always leave me feeling calmer about my world.  So I choose to think that my guardian angel realizes my need for reassurance and shows up just when I need him.  What could be better than that?!? 

I'm thinking I'm going to have a great day today.  I'm going to get a lot done.  Now if I can just figure out why I woke up with "United We Stand" by Brotherhood of Man playing in my head!!!

What a Charming Word!

As I mentioned earlier, my word for 2011 is SIMPLIFY.  And when you select a word of the year, it's nice to have that daily reminder to keep your focus.  Back in 2009, I was introduced to the wonderful world of Lisa Leonard Designs when I received a gift of a charm with my 2009 word (Gratitude).  Each year, Lisa has a special charm that is created with the Word of the Year in mind.

So I couldn't resist this year's charm.  I'll probably be wearing it most days.  Isn't it gorgeous???

Thanks LLD!! 

And...Tag, I'm It!

Oh how delightful it's been to read the responses to the current blog tag that has been virusing thru some of my fave blogs.  I do enjoy getting to know more about my favorites.  But then it happened...one of my faves sneezed the virus my way!  Thanks, Laura!!

So without further ado, I answer the following 19 questions to fulfill my part of the tag.

1. if you have pets, do you see them as merely animals, or are they members of your family?
Barney is most assuredly a member of the family.  Our little cockapoo is nearly 15 years old and he thinks he and grandson #1 are peers. 

2. if you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?
That everyone would stop judging others for thinking differently.  As my mother would say (although she never embraced these words), "Live and Let Live." 

3. what is the one thing most hated by you?
Boy, hate is such a strong word.  And it holds such negativity.  So hating anything is a waste of energy to me.  What I strongly dislike is being lied to. 

4. what would you do with a billion dollars?
I have no idea.  I guess it depends on whether it came in all at once, or a little at a time.  I'd make sure my family was comfortable, but I could do that with a million. 

5. what helps to pull you out of a bad mood?

My grandkids.  Never fails.

6. which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?

Can't see how you can have one without the other.  I'm lucky.  I've got both!

7. what is your bedtime routine?

Check email one last time, wash face, moisturize, and read my affirmations and gratitude statements.  Head on pillow.  Out.

8. if you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your partner?  We worked together.

9. if you could watch a creative person in the act of the creative process, who would it be?
I would have to say, I'd love to watch Leanne (fly on the wall observation) create a blog header.  I'd love to know what goes on in her head; what she envisions.  I've seen her in action once she's got her idea and it's amazing to watch, but I'd like to watch her as it develops in her brain.

10. what kinds of books do you read?
Lately, I've been reading books about law of attraction, the power of feeling.  My Texas friend says I like "chicken soup" books.  I'm kinda all over in interests.  Faves:  The Red Tent, Angels & Demons, The Help, and the Gregory Maguire books that show an alternate view of some stories we loved as children.

11. how would you see yourself in ten years time?
Retired, enjoying my family, enjoying trips with my PG, taking pictures, blogging, scrapbooking my mounds of pictures.  And that'll be in less than 10 years.  

12. what’s your fear?
Funny how certain words keep popping up in your life at times.  Because of all the reading I've been doing lately (see #10), I can honestly say that nothing comes to mind if I think about what invokes fear in me.   

13. would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to visit outer space?
Nope.  Especially if I had to deal with the TSA.

14. would you rather be single and rich or married, but poor?
Isn't being married (in the right relationship) being rich in spite of the money in your pocket?  Okay, I'll answer the question.  Married but poor, because my life wouldn't be the same without my PG.

15. what’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
The first thing?  After a couple glasses of water during the night?  Guess!!!   After that, a cup of tea.

16. if you could change one thing about your spouse/partner what would it be?
Have him realize that you CAN put a dollar value on time and that wasting time is wasting money. 

17. if you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?
Nothing comes to mind.  Hated my given name growing up, but it fits me now.

18. would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing that special someone has done?
Forgive?  Yes.  It only weighs on ME if I don't forgive.  Forget?  Not necessarily.  I'd have to be in the situation to determine that.

19. if you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?
Brownies. But they gotta be good!!!! 
 

Okay, questions answered.  The next part is I have to tag others and if they are interested, they can answer the same questions, or different if I saw fit to change them.  As Laura mentioned, I know not all like to play along.  But I will name one lucky blogger:

Cindi at So, That's Why.  Cindi, feel free to play...or not.  Copy questions below and roll with 'em, or make up your own...or not.

1. if you have pets, do you see them as merely animals, or are they members of your family?
2. if you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?
3. what is the one thing most hated by you?
4. what would you do with a billion dollars?
5. what helps to pull you out of a bad mood?
6. which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?
7. what is your bedtime routine?
8. if you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your partner?
9. if you could watch a creative person in the act of the creative process, who would it be?
10. what kinds of books do you read?
11. how would you see yourself in ten years time?
12. what’s your fear?
13. would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to visit outer space?
14. would you rather be single and rich or married, but poor?
15. what’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
16. if you could change one thing about your spouse/partner what would it be?
17. if you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?
18. would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing that special someone has done?
19. if you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?

Saying Goodbye

A very dear friend lost her mother this week.  Well, to be honest, she lost her mother little by little over the last few years.  Her mother suffered from Alzheimer's. 

But as I learned over at Bossy Betty's yesterday, it's now time to celebrate life.  And Fleming wouldn't want it any other way. 

Auntie Flemmie loved crossword puzzles.  She enjoyed playing scrabble.  She loved Wheel of Fortune & Jeopardy.  She shared a recipe with me and it's the reason I make a pretty decent pasta sauce.  It was her home that welcomed us during her family parties.  It was her most beautiful smile that just made me feel all was okay in our world.  Not that age matters, but she was 92.

This was the prayer that was on the back of her prayer card:

One gift, above all others

God gives us to treasure

One that knows no time and place

And one gold cannot measure.

The precious, poignant, tender gift

Of Memory...that will keep

Our dear ones ever in our hearts

Although God gives them sleep.

It brings back long remembered things

A song, a word, a smile

And our world's a better place

-- because

We had them for a while!

(Author unknown)

Rest in Peace, Flem.  Thinking of you fills me with serenity.  I pray the same for your kids and grandkids.

Taking Life's Side Trips

Don't you just love spontaneity??

In my two weeks off, I've been working at simplifying my life.  That means boxing up and bagging up all the things that really don't need to be in my home anymore.  And some of the toys and books I've "found" have been here since my oldest grandson was a toddler.  They'll have a better home elsewhere.  So some of them seemed appropriate for my daughter's home or for the daycare her kids attend. 

My intent on Sunday was to drop off these toys and books and get back home for more boxing and bagging.  What a wonderful surprise when my 3 year old grandson invited us to the River Trail Nature Center.  Although it was windy enough to be bitter outside, they do have an exhibit room and playroom.  We were able to play some games, sit in a fox's den, use my new camera to take some pictures of sparrows and woodpeckers and turtles, OH MY!! 

  

"This is a cardinal.  It's my favorite bird."



Cheating at fishing game.  (I'll get him next time!!)



Coming in for a landing.
Hope there's room at the feeder!





Turtles sunning themselves under the sun lamp.



That's a woodpecker hanging upside down. 




Who's watching who??
SIL says that sparrows are boring.
I think they've got some magnificent colors!!

 

In the Fox Den with another visitor.



Watching for deer and coyotes.



Today, Ali Edwards' post is "Long Live Spontaneous Adventures."  I happen to agree. 

Life is Good!!

My 2011 Word

As I mentioned yesterday, my 2010 word (Serenity) wasn't as successful as I'd hoped.  So I did some soul searching on why it was harder for me to embrace and I realized that my life has too much stuff in it. Call it disorganization, call it clutter, call it my past!  But it's time for change. It's time to declutter. It's time to SIMPLIFY.

sim pli fy  verb

a.-  to reduce to basic essentials

b.-  to diminish in scope or complexity

c.-   to make more intelligible; clarify

Yep, that's my word for 2011 - SIMPLIFY. What's so funny is that as I say the word, I experience an AHHHHH moment. Have you ever had one of those? Where just one word fills you with serenity and peace? Where you feel all sorts of gratitude?? Wait, what's this? A connection with ALL of my words??  Hmmmm.... interesting. Maybe that's the way it's suppose to work!

I started to approach my blog buddy/Scrap Cellar Chick Leanne to help me out with creating a visual for my word. Then it dawned on me (don't you just love/hate those "duh" moments?)...KISS! Keep It Simple, Superstar! (yeah, I know it's usually "stupid" and not "superstar" but I'm not about to call myself stupid!!).
And so, this is my first step into SIMPLIFY!  Can't get any simpler, right??

And here's my plan for 2011...There are so many people in this world who need things. And there are so many things in this place I call home that it's time I get the two of those situations to meet up. It's time for me to SIMPLIFY. And it's not just my home. It's my diet, my scrapbooking, my relationships. I don't believe we were put on this earth to lead complicated, cluttered lives. I believe we serve God best by simply being our uncomplicated, uncluttered, simplified selves.

Funny thing about these one little words -- once you pick the word (or it picks you) you start moving in that direction.  You start wanting it in your life.  Every day, all the time.  How cool is that?!!??

I'm headed over to Leanne's.  She's got a linky thing going for our words for 2011.  And, of course, a thank you to Ali Edwards on starting this revolution.

2010 Word of the Year Review

 Hard to believe it's been a year since I selected my Word of the Year.   Inspired by Ali Edwards, and nudged by my friend Leanne, I began this Word of the Year journey in 2009.  Ali E. says it like this: "A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow...One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities." Tangible, intangible, feeling, thought, emotion.  It can be any of those.

 

Charm by Lisa Leonard Design

 My first word was Gratitude.  That word and the gift of a word charm from Leanne helped make it a gratitude-filled year.  What's nice is that this word had such an impact on my life, that I literally saw a shift in how I look at things, how I react to things.  HUGE impact!

Found at a little out of the
way place in Arkansas

My 2010 word is Serenity.  I had a much more difficult time searching for serenity in my life this year.  Mostly because I didn't focus on the word as I should have.  Oh, there were spurts.  And how wonderful those were.  But overall, not so successful with increasing the serenity in my life.  

So here we are, just a few steps away from entering 2011.  It seems like only a couple years ago that we went thru the Y2K craziness.  It's now time for me to choose my 2011 Word of the Year.  I've got it and will share it with you before we wrap up 2010.

So what will your One Little Word for 2011 be? 

Believe

Christmas 2010

Don't you just love when song lyrics keep playing in your head?  No, I'm not talking about the haunting feeling you get with "It's a Small World".  I'm talking about songs with a message that resonates within you.  


One of my favorite Christmas songs is a song that can be played 365 days a year.  Although it is the most popular song in the Polar Express soundtrack (sung by Josh Groban), it really isn't JUST about believing in Santa.  Here is the part of the song that stays with me, playing over and over in my head (and heart).  

Believe in what your heart is saying

Hear the melody that's playing

There's no time to waste

There's so much to celebrate

Believe in what you feel inside

And give your dreams the wings to fly

You have everything you need

If you just believe  



I hope your Christmas is joyful, restful, reflective, and filled with love. 

May it be the Christmas of your dreams.

Merry Christmas, my friends.

Christmas Traditions

When my brother was an infant, my aunt and mother started a tradition that lasted until my aunt passed away.  My Aunt Marge found the Christmas card that my mother had sent her the year before, and because she liked the picture of the cherub on the front she put a new date on it and sent it to my mother.  So it went, back and forth each year, with maybe one year when the card got "lost." 

In 1985, a similar tradition started with my siblings.  But it wasn't a card...OH NOOOO.  You'd have to understand how twisted the sense of humor is with some of my siblings to comprehend how this ever kept going.  You see, we gift a pig's head. 

2007

It started off as a doll, then it lost its body, then it lost one of the eyes.  It was just ugly.  In 2003, the nieces and nephews pleaded with us to end this bizarre tradition.  Nah...that's not gonna happen.  So I gave him a bath, fixed his eyes, gave him some hip sunglasses (aging, y'know), added a little color to his cheeks.  (Chicagoans, note the box...Marshall Field's!).

2008

When this tradition first began, the recipient of the pig's head one year was able to decide who got it the next year.  But now, we just have a white elephant gift exchange and that's one of the gifts.  So there's no telling who will end up with it each year.   

2009

(Clearly my daughter was not thrilled to be the recipient last year!)

This Sunday is the family Christmas with my siblings and their kids and grandkids.  Can't wait to see who gets to bring home the most prized Christmas gift ever!!

Do you have any bizarre traditions?  Share!!

I Hate the Cold!!

Here in the Midwest, we are in the middle of winter.  Yes, I know the calendar says not yet.  I know the official start of winter is December 21st.  But Mother Nature has a different idea. 

And as I sit and look at the temperatures on Weather Channel, I can't help but shiver!!  You see, I really hate cold weather!

You will never find me on a ski slope or an ice rink.  I will go out and shovel snow, but I'm not gonna be happy about it.  I will even go out and help my grandson build a snowman.  Not for long, but I'll do that.  There's nothing about being cold that I find appealing.  I can actually get creative with chattering teeth!  Yeah...I just hate the cold!!

So how ironic is it that when I make my Christmas cards each year, the theme is LET IT SNOW! 



Let It Snow 2007-2010

These are some of the cards I've made over the last few years.  I enjoy making them, but there have been times that I made 'em but never mailed 'em.  Don't ask me why.  I have no idea!!

So why do I make let it snow cards when I hate the cold?  Simple...I love the beauty of a snowfall.  I love how quiet the streets get when there's about 2 inches on the ground.  It's one of the most peaceful moments I know.  

The Weather Channel forecast
at 5 a.m. this morning



I'm not going to pay attention to the forecast for today.  Instead, I'm going to focus on the calm and peaceful feelings I get when I think about a blanket of snow covering our area.  And I'll just pretend that someone else has to shovel it.   

I think I'll go address some "Let It Snow" cards.  Maybe I'll get them mailed before Christmas!!