End of another year!
Here I am thinking back over the last year.....what a fast ride it's been.
First to my family and friends...... ( all of you close and extended) ...thanks for being in my life and sharing this journey with me. Life is all about the journey, not the destination!

Now on to the memories.....Kenny had a job change, yes stressful, but a job none the less,
son and daughter-in-law are expecting a second baby boy any day now, oh the joy that will be! 
Daughter has gone back to school--yeah for that!,
We adopted 2 kittens that have become a MAJOR part of our lives--oh those mischvious little darlings!,  We somehow found ourselves the owners of a 38 ft. fifth wheel camper!-crazy I know, but we love the campground vacation times and with the new job for K, we are putting the camper in a seasonal site so we can use it at anytime and NOT waste time setting it up each visit. Come on April 1st-- the opening of the campground!
Mom fell and broke her hip, then came to stay with us for a while, it's a new time in our lives with the parents health becoming issues now.
My other father-in-law is now in the grip of alzheimers disease. How this breaks my heart, for myself but also for April. What a painful journey this is. For you family members reading this--go see him and give April your support. Time is quickly running out.
I've just hit the highlights, but the year was a roller coaster. Ups and downs.
For 2012---- bring it on, I'm ready. No resolutions, just remembering to enjoy each day and make it count!

And remember if you are waiting for everything to be perfect--you will be waiting forever!

Tradition vs. Change

Its December again. I missed posting anything about Thanksgiving this year. Yes it came and we shared it with family in 3 counties. Traveling is just part of the holiday traditions. Over the River and thru the woods to grandmothers house we go....does mean something in our family.
Today has put me in a melancholy frame of mind. So don't mind me, I'm just being a little drippy today. I'm thinking about Christmas past..................
Today seemed like the right day to put up Christmas decorations. So Kenny brought up 8 boxes of decorations for me. Oh and 2 Christmas trees, just the small ones mind you, NOT the traditional BIG tree.
Then the kind hearted guy went to bed. He has to work tonight I know, but that left me to put up all the decorations by myself. I started out with a happy heart, but as I started unpacking stuff and deciding where to put all of it, I just got fed up with the hoopla. There is nobody to enjoy it with and the trouble it takes to put it all out doesn't feel worth it.
I turned on some OLD country music...the drinking kind, and finished what decorating I am going to do this year. Wish I had a beer or two. Might just waller in my own sad feelings.


I've accumulated a bunch of decorations and I loved all the pretty things that came with Christmas. There's all my Santa's--about 75 of them, and the trees- The 7 1/2 ft. tree in the living room with all the Santa's and glass decorations. Then there is the 6 ft. western tree for the sunroom. We have another funny 4 ft. tree with lights in the corner of the living room.  I have a 3 ft. tree for the kitchen to put on the table in there. It's full of gingerbread ornaments. I collected stuff in themes for each room! All this was fun when there was somebody to enjoy it with or when the kids lived at home and enjoyed the decorations on a daily basis. The tradition of all the decorating with family is over. Time for change.
I think this will be the last year for all the hoopla. I didn't even put it all out. I'll use the cats as an excuse for not putting stuff up. No big tree this year, not all the Santas are out either. Cat's might choke on stuff !!!!!
When the season is over it will be time to give this stuff to my kids. They are young enough to enjoy some of these docorations, or I can sell some on craigslist. I just don't want the hassle of putting it up by myself. I know why my mom only puts up a little fiber optic tree now. Touche' mom. Now it's my turn to turn the holidays over the younger generation.