Happy New Year!

I never quite "got" the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne, but that's okay...I love that tune just the same...it always brings a tear to these sentimental eyes.  So, here we are...bidding adieu to another year and welcoming in a brand new, fresh and shiny one.

Not wanting to torture you with a lot of sappy reflection, I thought I'd share with you some photos of my life this past year....

Happy gatherings with friends

Watching my amazing hubby continue to push the envelope!

Meeting a favorite instructor, and sharing a class with one of my best friends

Learning new techniques

Spending time with 3 of my favorite young men

Easter Joy!

Celebrating Shotzie ~ 34 years old

Welcoming sweet Tyler into our hearts

Celebrating our Kiki ~ 38 yrs. ~ with our "other family," the Dels

Cleaning out....

To make everything fresh and shiny...

A visit to Seattle

A sad and "moving," farewell....

Wildcat football, once again

A birthday visit from my brother and SIL

Being selected as a "Remarkable Mom" by Tu Nidito

Celebrating my honey's "65th" in Chicago!

Phoenix Trunk Show hosted by our dear friends ~
Nancy, Ashley, and Lacey

Decking the Halls

An unexpected gift ~
gorgeous hand creations from my dear friend, Kasia

A Holiday visit from our Dels

Tonight will be a special evening for us as it has been for the past 6 years... Ron and I will celebrate a New Year's Eve with Debbie and Rick ~ dinner at a hamburger joint, then on to a movie!

So, my wonderful blessed friends and family, I'm sending you all the love and gratitude this ole' heart can manage...thank you for sharing my life with your gift of friendship and love.

May God continue to bless us all and may we make 2014 a spectacular year for all we meet!

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Priceless Memories

I could write on and on and on about Christmas memories from childhoods past,

but with gifts to wrap and a Feast of the Seven Fishes to prepare for tonight, 

I will keep this blog post short.

Instead, I thought I'd share the ornaments which adorn our Christmas tree every year, and why they're priceless to our family...

Shiny Brite ornaments from my childhood

As newlyweds, these were purchased at Lord & Taylor on December 26th...who could've afforded them before Christmas?!

Chldren came along and so did precious ornaments made by their sweet, little hands...

Gifts made by dear friends

December vacations

Summer vacations

A wonderful career

Traditions ~ Hide the Pickle

                                                       

 

Remembering loved ones who look down from Heaven...

From our home to yours, we send you love to last throughout the coming year.  May your hearts and homes be filled with the blessing of the Christ child, as we prepare for Him.

Friendship ~ Priceless!

Where would we be without friends?  Where would they be without us?  The Creator planned this one beautifully and blessedly.

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Our precious Phoenix friends, Nancy & Mike ~ Ashley & Sean ~ Lacey & Tim....all played critical roles in facilitating the success of my Phoenix Holiday Trunk Show on Sunday.

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Nancy & Mike opened their beautiful home for the venue....

Decorated to the "nines".....

Holiday treats and goodies which wouldn't have been possible without the help of daughters, Ashley and Lacey....

And the dads and grands stepped in to help with "kid duty"....

To top off a perfect weekend, I got to make lots of new friends and clients!  AND a visit by Karen Valentine ~ the amazing, oh-so-talented lady who designed this beautiful blog for me.  We had only spoken by phone, so meeting Karen was SO exciting!  You can meet Karen right here

Time goes by much too quickly when we're with friends ~ near or far ~ there's never enough time....

Thank you, Roach/Turner/Craumer families for your love and support.  Your friendship is a jewel in my heart!

A very special "shout-out" to my baby brother, Erik, who celebrates his birthday today....

Yes....where DOES the time go?

Speaking of time...eight days and counting ~ I've got much on my plate before Christmas arrives....wrapping, baking, cooking, last minute decorating....as I'm sure many of you do as well.

BUT,  I will make time each day for quiet reflection ~ to energize my patience ~ to keep in mind the real importance of Advent ~ and the anticipation of the coming Blessed Hope for the world....

Have a beautiful week, dear ones!

This Week....A Chicago Birthday!

Ron and I spent the past four days celebrating his birthday, a BIG one....#65 ~ in Chicago!
Our flight was delightful ~

We found Chicagoans to be so friendly!

Lovely accommodations on the Magnificent Mile ~

Breathtaking views from our room on the 39th floor, both day and night ~

The daily temps never got above 29 degrees, but there was no wind in the Windy City last week, so these "desert rats' were loving the change of climate and brisk air.

Among our activities was a tour of the north side of the city ~

Fabulous views from atop the John Hancock Building ~

In the center of the large photo is our hotel!
Someone heard that Ron is in the window business,
so they gave him a job!! (see lower right corner)

Shopping along Michigan Avenue ~

Lots of dining experiences ~

Learning about Chicago at the Chicago History Museum ~

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Getting more Christmas spirit at Broadway in Chicago to see "Elf, The Musical" ~

A perfect ending to our trip was Mass at Holy Name Cathedral, Archdiocese of the city of Chicago ~

tour the Cathedral here

It was a wonderful celebration of my sweet man, and we got to experience a city to which we had never visited together.
We look forward to a return visit ~ perhaps in more temperate weather!

I'll be MIA this week as I prepare for my Trunk Show in Phoenix on Sunday.  Our sweet and dear friends, Nancy, Ashley and Lacey, are the hostesses. If you're in the Phoenix area and would like to join us, email me and I'll send you the info.

Have a most wonderful week, dear friends.  It's a very hectic time of year, but please remember that at the end of the day all the little problems, annoyances, worries, and bothers really don't matter.

Take time for that midday cup of whatever your pleasure, put your feet up and close your eyes...you deserve it!