WORD

It's that time of year again, where like many, I have been giving a great deal of thought to what my word should be this year. What do I want to do this next year to make me better, to make life better. What do I hope to accomplish.

There are so many words and/or short phrases that would exemplify what my train of thought is at this time in my life, so many words that would represent exactly what I look forward to doing in 2010. The choice for a word has not been an easy one for me for many reasons.

This year, in particular, my word needs to shed light on a rusty old way of being. Not that there's anything rusty with this spunky 53 year old. But I have shed so many troubles and burdens, so many bad things in my life this last 1.5 years, and there are changes in my life that have been happening, almost without my knowing. So many changes, in fact, that there have been times when I suddenly stop forward movement and think, WOW, did that just happen, and when did I change to that, and how. OK maybe I don't need to know the how. I'll settle for the fact that many wonderful things have taken hold of my heart and being this past year and it's all happened fast and furious and all for the better.

A couple of years back, I bought my friend Heather, and myself a copy of "Lean Forward" by Mary Ann Radmacher. Today, I still carry my worn, torn, dog-eared version around with me and read often of the many suggestions and writings that Mary Ann shares in this wonderful book. I always think of a line from a poem in the book "lean forward, full of the possibilities" There is much depth and meaning in that line for me, as well as this line from another poem in the book: 'for all the ways you taught me dirt as an opporutnity to grow.'

I suggested to Heather that this might be my word/phrase for the year. But on deeper thinking I decided not. Like many people, trapped in circumstance, leaning forward has never been a part of my life. As I started looking back over the year behind, I realized that that is exactly what I have been doing this year past, leaning forward, full of the possibilities.

This past year I have leaned over the jagged precipice of my past life and looked into the new valley below. A valley filled with the good and bright and beautiful. Self growth like tall trees towering over clean rivers where the past has been swept away on swift currents, gone, but lessons learned.

Leaning forward has shown me new ways, new life, new hope...and it has filled my heart with a true longing to CELEBRATE my life. Not just for myself, but for my girls, my granddaughter. I want them to know that there is always hope, regardless of the circumstances in your life at the time. And that it is never too late.

And so this year, 2010, I will CELEBRATE my life. I will do things for myself, like take a photography course, and another and another. I will decorate my small home with those things that are favorites of mine. I will laugh, a lot.... I will smile as much as I can, I will smile at strangers. I will not justify to myself or anyone else why or what I do for myself. If I want to take great pictures without making money at it, I will do so. If I want to write, without selling my fiction, I will do that too. I will not justify the things I love to do. Nor will I set them aside any longer.

I will CELEBRATE my 54th birthday. I will CELEBRATE the 24th birthday of my daughter Shawna Leigh, the 20th birthday of my daughter Kaitline Jane, and the 1 year birthday of my beautiful granddaughter, Marley Jane.

I will CELEBRATE family, friends and sisters. I will CELEBRATE being alive. I will CELEBRATE the bad times, because those bad times are merely stepping stones to the great. I will CELEBRATE who I am because for all my faults and human frailties, I LIKE WHO I AM BECOMING. I CELEBRATE for me.

On my agenda this year are photography courses, a little bit of new camera equipment; 100 mile bike ride (at least one) and several benefits bike rides for various researches. This too, is a celebration for me. To be fit and healthy and to be able to do something I love, and do it in an effort to help others as well. Icing on the cake.

So this year, I will CELEBRATE, long and loud, even if loud is only a whisper on the wind.

I hope you find many things to CELEBRATE yourself in the year ahead. I wish you great peace and joy for the year and prosperity, in all ways in 2010. Love and Hugs.

The Magic of Christmas

I've always felt it so magical at Christmas. Ever since I was a little girl. For me, this picture says it all....the joy, the love, the magic...

Hope your Christmas was merry and bright, filled with joy, happiness, and the love of family.

Kaitie is Married!!!!!

Wow, yes my baby had a baby this year, and she just tied the knot. It was absolutely wonderful and awesome and I love my son-in-law, and he is a good daddy a good hubby and just always there for my girl.

I cannot tell you how much I love and adore my girls. They are so vibrant, smart, alive and wonderful. I look at them and see all the wonderful things that are waiting to happen for them. I am just so amazingly grateful for them.

It was supposed to rain on Friday, so we expected that the kids would be getting married in the courthouse itself. But it ended up being sunny (much to much so) and so they went outside and got married. I myself am not well prepared for the kind of sun and shade and all of that type of lighting so I didn't get any great pics, although, I will be taking some professional photography courses this next year. Depsite the odds, the fact that I was a tad emotional, and that everything was at the snap of a button, I got a few pics. Here are just a few from the day.
Filling out paperwork at the courthouse (we only had everyone inside this office and the laides there were cracking up at us the whole time)

This handsome little dude is my daughters sister-in-laws son, Damien...He is just a character. Every time you snap a pic of him he's gotta run up and see... The beautifuly lady with him is my daughters mother in law, and the other grandma to my little gd Marley Jane...this is Michelle.

I think the only reason my dd Shawna showed up was to admire her neice who slept nicely while we went through this whole shebang. Shawna is enthralled with her little niece....can ya tell?!!!This is my beautiful daughter, and the bride, and of course, the guy with her is my son-in-law. Kaitie and Seth Butcher. They were so cute. They made a few mess ups with the vows, and cracked up a few times, but you can see the look on their faces. They are very very young, but they have been together for quite a while now...they love and trust each other, and I believe in these two...I really do.

TFL Love and Hugs

Tis the Season

Christmas is fast approaching. I am looking forward to time with Family and Friends. I am also very excited for this coming Friday. Kaitie, my youngest daughter, is getting married. It isn't a wedding ceremony, like we wish, but we are going to the Courthouse and the kids are tying the knot.

This is something that they both want a lot, espeically for the baby. They have thought much on this and I am happy for them. My Christmas gift to them is paying for the license and the ceremony and everything. Gosh, cannot believe how expensive it is just to go see a justice of the peace. But whatever, they are happy about it, and I am happy for them. So, I am hoping to get a bunch of pics on Friday of the two of them and the baby.

Speaking of Marley Jane, I cannot believe how much she has grown. Kaitie sent me this picture this morning and my jaw about dropped. I feel I haven't seen her in forever she has grown that much.

I hope to have some great pics on Friday...Talk to you then.

I just love Christmas

Last year there were so many struggles going on in my life that at this time of the year, I was pretty down. This year has been such a great year in so many ways. Even though there have still been struggles, they have been the types of struggles that involve recovery, growth, hope and new beginnings. I am so excited that the Christmas season is here; I'm excited to be a grandma and have the baby here for Christmas; I'm excited that my youngest daughter, and mother to my gd is back home in California where I can be near her; I'm excited that my oldest daughter has her own place, a cool new car, a great job, and is doing what she wants right now which is going to school. I'm happy to be single. I may not always want to be single, but right now, it's so awesome. I'm happy for the friends I have, the job I have. I am happy. I am truly excited about Christmas this year.

And because I am feeling so Christmasy, I have been making lots of cards and gifts and goodies and all of that. Here's a card I'm pretty happy with. I hope to have more tomorrow, but just felt like posting this now. Here's another one (with the flower...lol). Don't you just love this digital Hero Arts StamI think it is so cute. I just printed it on white cs/cut out the image and added some fun stickles in all sorts of colors and I think it is just cute!

I just really love those little flowers. They are so stinkin cute and so easy to make...and it's amazing how versatile there are. Make them with paper, with felt, with newspaper, or anything you can think of. I think the first time I saw these was when this amazing and one of my all time fav artists made them on a project she did for "Creative Therapy." She used newspaper strips, and glimmer mist. They were stunning.

OK...I'm off to get a couple of cards done and a layout that I am going to frame for a friend for Christmas. Before I go need to show you just how happy (not to mention the cuteness here) of my little gd is....she even smiles when she sleeps.

Sigh......I just love this little girl!

My New Etsy

Hey, I have started an Etsy Shop. Marley-N-Me Designs will host several types of product, including altered birdhouses, lots of other altered items (because I so dig altered items); cards, and who knows what else I will get myself into.

This little darling is so cute. All dressed up for the holidays. You can see more pics on my etsy. Just click on the sidebar link.

This started as an idea last year when I made and gave for Christmas gifts, several altered birdhouses. The compliments and the praise was amazing. They are really cute, and I totally get into the really intricate details of altering these. It's so much fun and they are so cute. I have several in my house that I keep because I love birdhouses.

The Marley-N-Me Designs has absolutely nothing to do with the movie....If you follow my blog, it's my Granddaughter's name (after BOB MARLEY....not the movie)...and it just is so cute that I couldn't resist. OK so I had another name, but it's taken. LOL.

Anyway, I hope you will come and visit the Etsy. In just a few weeks I hope to have several more items for sale, including lots of birdhouses (not all Christmas themed)....and just other fun things like cards, etc.

So Thanksgiving was awesome...very quiet. I went up to Grass Valley and made dinner for Kaitie and Seth, and spent some quality time with Marley Jane. Kaitie and Marley spent several days with me and I got some good G'ma time in, which I totally love.

OK...Off to fix dinner. Love and hugs, and OK...I just have to because she is just too stinkin cute....besides she's G'ma's girl....this is Marley N Me.

No those are not naked men in the background...Jeeesh!!!! (seriously...I don't know what it is).

Hugs

Auntie Shawna

OK...yes Heather, I scrapped again. That would be two los in two weeks which is a lot more than I have scrapped all year long. I guess I am finally getting back into the swing of it and enjoying the heck out of it too.

This picture is one of my favorite pictures from the week Marley Jane was born. This is my oldest daughter (Auntie), Shawna. Look at the joy and love on her face as she holds her niece for the very first time.

I am digging this new EK Success Scalloped Border Punch. It is so beautiful and just, WOW. Any, almost everything here is Urban Prairie. Love those Thickers too...fun style. Lots of rub ons.

Well Thanksgiving (USA) is here this coming Thursday. I know that I will be with Kaitie, Seth and Marley Jane. Don't know if Shawna is coming or spending time with friends. I would love to have her but she is a very independent gal and I want her to do whatever makes her happy.

I plan on enjoying my granddaughter and Kaitie and Seth's company as much as possible. Along with eating too much...lol...it's inevitable, believe me.

There are so many things to be grateful for this year. I have an ever growing love of life, peace, harmony, happiness; two beautiful daughters and my first grandchild. I have a new sense of adventure and confidence in myself; I have shed 13 years of negativity that being married to the wrong person brought to my life. I have friends, fun, and good times. I have a great life!

What do you have to be thankful for?

Anyway, thanks for looking. For those of you in the States, I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving and start to the holiday season.

Hugs and Love.

L