Hello 2011

"Another fresh New Year is here....another year to live!

To banish worry, doubt and fear, to love and laugh and give!

This bright New Year is given me, to live each day with zest.....to daily grow and try to be my highest and my best!!!

I have the opportunity, once more to right some wrongs, to pray for peace, to plant a tree, and to sing more joyful songs!" ~William Arthur Ward

What a simple little poem, what prophetic words. I believe as humans we complicate life; if we were to follow the guiding of the Holy Spirit and invested more in our own spirit then those things that cause us angst would soon be conquered. You might find my thoughts presumptuous and unrealistic but I assure you they are not. I have lived the life where my time and thoughts were filled with ways I could manipulate my life so I got what I wanted.....I had the perfect plan and I tried with no success to make things happen that were not meant to happen. The day I gave is over to God....I mean really gave it over (I was a Christian a good 10yrs before this momentous release) and let God do what He needed done, miraculous things started to happen. When I quit trying to manipulate my life and cleared my head...I had time to think on lovely things.....I noticed things I had not noticed before......I was free to live in the moment!!!

Before you decide that I am a saint or crazy then I will reveal that I am neither and old habits can creep back in, the difference is I know I have authority over those unproductive thoughts. I am not sharing this information to be boastful or unfeeling....I just want each and everyone of you to experience a life of freedom...I share this hoping you will be encouraged and know that those mountains that you face can be overcome.

Don't misunderstand me....life is still messy and things are not always a walk in the park but how I deal with those unlovely things has changed. When life throws me ugliness I cry out to my Father in Heaven and He gives me the wisdom to see He will get me through what ever is headed my way, good or bad.

My New Year wish to you is to let go, marvel in the moments of this coming year and the years to come and sing more joyous songs!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale

Merry Christmas to all!!!

A Fireplace in FL?

When my husband first told me about our house in FL (I didn't see it until the day I moved down) he told about all the great features the house contained....big kitchen.....pool....landscaped yard....fireplace. Now when he told me there was a fireplace I was over the moon excited....think of all the winter nights we could sit around the fire and drink hot buttered rums and watch it snowing outside.......then it hit me.....it wasn't going to be snowing where we were going....we were headed for the Sunshine State (there is a reason they call it that and it isn't because it is overcast and cool!!).

Reality sometimes is cruel....then I started thinking....why would you have a fireplace in FL.....everyone I told would say why do you need a fireplace in FL???

Well let me tell you.....it may be the Sunshine State but it still can get chilly. For the first time the other day I did not sweat....I was actually cold....so I pulled out my sweaters and my husband lit a fire in the fireplace......If I would have just remembered to make the hot buttered rums then I would have been good to go!!!!

To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant,
to enact gratitude is generous and noble,
but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.
~Johannes A. Gaertner

Happy Thanksgiving to all, may the day be filled with many Blessings!!!

Facebook

Facebook.....it has me tangled in it's web!!!! I know more details about the lives of people I don't even know than I do current issues......I spend more time perusing through yearbooks looking for people I can't remember hoping that something will jog my memory.......I have virtual farms....I look for virtual treasure......I post pictures that my family cringes at...........I tell the facebook world what I am having for dinner, the random thoughts that go through my head and openly share my opinions about everything I have an opinion on.......that is a lot of opinions!!!!

I finds myself getting that same feeling of anxiety as I did in High School when I post something and no one responds or some one wants to be friends with everyone else but has not requested me to be their friend....yet I am friends with people I don't even know. I worry that I may offend someone if I don't respond to a post or I worry that I may have responded the wrong way......I have been reduced to a 42yr old teenager!!!!

How did we get to this.....when did voyeurism become a way of life???

Though there is truth in my jesting, there are many good attributes to facebook and can't forget those....I get to share in my family and friends lives since they are 1400 miles away........I get to be connected to friends I have not seen in years but their presence in my life is still a blessing........I get to send and receive words of encouragement when needed and there is always some good laughs.

Perhaps I do spend to much time on there but it keeps me connected to those I love and really isn't that all anyone wants....to be connected?

Summertime

What a happy little poem....but summer time here is nothing like the poem!!!! I have never been so wet in my entire life.....I have things sweating that I didn't even know could sweat!!!! As hot as it is here in Florida....my poor family and friends in Iowa are really suffering!!! Not only are they contending with record highs but...RAIN....RAIN....RAIN and FLOODS....FLOODS.....FLOODS!!!!

Being hot is just a way of life in Florida but the extremes of living in the Midwest can be very daunting.....the saving grace is that the weather can change in an instant. Fall is around the corner.....MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR.......and with it will bring sweatshirt wearing days and wrap your self in a blanket evenings!!!!

My favorite times in the fall are the mornings....a cup of coffee taste even better on a fall morning......sitting on the porch watching the squirrels labor as they prepare for winter and seeing the birds fly with a rejuvenated spirit because they now they are headed for some new adventures.

I am inspired by the warm colors that dot the landscape and the smells that waft over me as I drive down the road or walk into a shop selling seasonal fare. I am giddy over the displays that the store proprietors create and I am full of anticipation knowing that the Holiday festivities will soon be upon us. I am ready to wrap myself in a sweater and sip a Pumpkin Latte and watch the show that the great outdoors performs.......Oh the longings for fall are equal to the longings of being in the Midwest during that magical time of the year. This year I will have new things to experience and new stories to add to my life....it is OK to ache a little for what you don't have....just don't forget to be open for what is ahead of you.

Wordless Wednesday

I Missed My Callilng

After running across these AWESOME pictures of my youth it has become clear to me that I missed my calling as a world famous model!!!!

I must admit....that bustline is a bit enhanced.....I wish they were like balloons now........I wouldn't need them lifted!!!

I have pondered these pictures and decided.....I haven't really changed that much....when I have an audience....I Showboat.....much to my husband's chagrin!!!

I love to laugh and I find laughing at myself can be very therapeutic.....have you been in touch with that free spirit that lives in you lately???

I think I need her to come out more often......I do wish I had her flat stomach!!!

We Aren't in Kansas Anymore Biscuit!!!

It is official, we have made it to the Sunshine State.....it is true the sun does shine a lot down here!!!! The Dogs and I have been here about 3 weeks; we are very glad to be reunited with The Donner!!!!

Let's Go, Let's Go....there are adventures to be had!!!!

Grandpa...Are we there yet?

Dad, the dogs and I started our adventure one very cold and muddy Iowa March afternoon. We hopped in the vehicle....that was OVER packed and headed to my In-Laws in Warrenton, MO for an evening of hospitality and rest. The next morning we hopped in the over packed vehicle again and headed south....and headed south.....and headed south....do you get the picture?

I am very grateful that my Dad was able to take the time and go with me....of course being the stubborn girl that I am I was determined to drive down here by myself....but my Dad insisted that I didn't do that and so our journey began!!!

Thanks to the Tomi the GPS we made it through Downtown Atlanta with out any problems...
we were only 1/2 way though.....Yikes!!!!!

The dogs were so good...they slept most of the way and when we finally got here (4:30am) they were soooooo excited to see The Donner.....it had been since Thanksgiving that any of us had seen him. Raven was the most excited.....she cried with joy at being reunited with her Daddy again......in fact she has been just a happy girl since we have gotten here. The other dogs are enjoying their new home as well....they enjoy having their own yard again.


The house.....what can I say other than it is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I had only seen pictures of it and thought it was pretty but once I got here I fell in love!!! I have a kitchen made for a cook....and boy do I like to cook.....a fireplace with a custom made mantle (I know it is southern FL...they say we will use it).......and a back room that has been designated my space for creativity!!!!! There are a few projects we need to work on but nothing major...a little paint here and a little paint there....just to make it our own.......that is such a relief!!! We enjoyed our little cottage in Kansas City but it was an ongoing project that seemed to have no end in sight......I am glad that is not the case here.

Home Sweet Home

There are so many other things to do......like Beach Time!!!!

Dad and I took a break from the boxes and headed to the beach!!!

Nothing says FL like a concrete porpoise!!!!

I do miss my Family and friends in the Midwest but I look forward to lots of visits and calls from them!!! I must get back to my pool time....Oh, did I mention it had a POOL!!!!! Come by for a visit and a swim sometime!!!!

Welcome....Come on in...we will show you around!!!

Here is some nice comfy carpet to lay on....go ahead try it!!!

This is where we get to eat!!!!

There are fish on the wall but they don't move!!!

Yikes....look at this mess!!!!
I don't know how any creating will be done back here!!!

Look a giant water bowl!!!

Let's take a dip!!!

Exciting Times

My goal this year was to make a blog entry at least once a week....so far I have bombed on that!!!! I am not going to worry about what I haven't accomplished....I am only going to look to the future and be hopeful of what is to come.
We may have a house and with lots of prayers and a little luck I could be living with my husband again in February......YEAH!!!!! I have sooooo enjoyed my time in Iowa, spending time with family and friends....and it is going to be very hard leaving. My heart will always belong in Iowa but I am getting excited about the move to Florida. There are so many things to explore, so many people to meet but................Visitors are WELCOME!!!!
For Christmas I got a lovely picnic (wine) basket and I cant wait to take it to the beach and enjoy some time with my husband. Being with The Donner again will be a little weird, we haven't lived together for almost a year....I guess we are going to have to date again!!!

Those Were the Days

I was making a killer fashion statement in the above get up!!!!