28 December 2009

Gifts of Love

I received two very special gifts for Christmas.
Both of which filled my eyes with tears...
one was a picture frame necklace with
a picture of my youngest son...Blake...
when he was very young...
It is one of my favorite pictures of him...sigh
The other was a poem my parent's found and
put it in a frame with pictures
of Blake with our family...
My son Blake is a special needs child
who has cerebral palsy.
Blake was born 3 months early...
he weighed 1lb 3oz...
he is the heart and soul of our family,
our greatest inspiration and
 a true gift.

This is the poem...

Heaven's Very Special Child

A meeting was held quite far away from Earth.
It was time again for another birth.
Said the Angels to the Lord above...
"This child will need much love.

His progress may be very slow.
Accomplishments he may not show.
And he'll require extra care from
the folks he meets down there.
He may not run or laugh or play,
His thoughts may seem quite far away.
So many times he will be labeled
different,helpless and disabled.
So let's be careful where he's sent,
we will want his life to be content.
Please Lord, find the parents who
will do a special job for you.
They will not realize right away the
leading role they are asked to play.
But with this child sent from above
comes stronger faith and richer love,
And soon they'll know the privilege given
in caring for their gift from heaven.
Their precious charge, so meek and mild
is heaven's very special child.

Oh...couldn't even type that without crying...
I am so grateful for all of the
extraordinary people in my life...
my family, my friends and my blog friends.
I am the luckiest girl alive!

23 December 2009

My Wish For You

As Christmas approaches...
I remember all those I love
that have gone on to heaven...

I reminisce about Christmas' past with
my children when they were young
and I even think about my own childhood
and all of the lovely memories I have.

I wait in joyful anticipation as I will
be surrounded by my family
during this wondrous time of year.
And I will enjoy the blessings that
I have been given.




I also think about the birth of our savior...
who was sent to save us all.

My wish for you is simple and sincere...
may God surround you with his love
and may his peace be with you
this Christmas and all through the year.

From my heart to yours...
Merry Christmas!


20 December 2009

Makin' A List

Oh...did I ever tell you how much I love
to cook and bake....well I do...very very much so.
I love food...and it loves me back just a
little too much...my middle section is proof.

I would rather have a brand new cookbook,
kitchen gadget, pot, pan or bake ware over
anything else...even jewelry! Yes...I know...
it may be hard to believe but it is true!

One of my favorite sites for online shopping is 
It is a cook/baker's dream!  

Here are a few things that caught my eye today...

Crown Porcelain Platter

Chef Hat Ramekin for Souffles.


Eiffel Tower Cookie Cutter

Spanish Paella Pan

And my biggest pick... this wood fire oven.

Well..I'm definately ordering the cookie cutter and
the chef hat ramekins for now...
the rest...I'll put them on a  list for another time.

Bon Appetit and Happy Holidays

14 December 2009

Christmas Is Coming

Finally....I finally have some Christmas decorations up...
I'm not done by any means but...
at least it looks like Christmas is coming
to the "Z" House!



I still have some craft projects to do to fill in
the tree with as well as some other areas
that need a little something...



And I ran out of  lights...some of them didn't work...
Sound familiar?



It's amazing what some greenery, lights and shiny stuff...




can do to make your spirits bright...



Merry Thoughts and Glad Tidings to You!

08 December 2009

Childhood Christmas Memories


I have many vivid Christmas memories from
my childhood...from my Dad dressing up as Santa
to my siblings and I in matching outfits. 

But one of the things I always treasured was a small
white tree adorned with vintage ornaments and
bright colored lights that my mother and I
decorated together for my bedroom every year.  

Sadly, the ornaments and tree disappeared over the years.

 I stopped by my mother's the other day...
she had a surprise for me...
it was a box of ornaments like the ones from my childhood.

A little teary eyed...I told my mother how much I loved
that little tree and the ornaments when I was a little girl...
and how much I loved her for always making me feel special.
She hugged me and said she remembered...
and I felt like that little girl all over again...


Me at Christmas Time when I was 4 years old.

Christmas--that magic blanket that wraps itself about us,
that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance.
It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may
be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be
a day of remembrance--a day in which we think of
everything we have ever loved. --Augusta E. Rundel

01 December 2009

Do you see what I see?



I know that it's December....but someone should tell
the plants in my window box on the gate to my house!

I have long since cleared out the plants in the planters
 outside which shriveled and turned brown...
but these beauties cling to life...

Every time I pass through the gate they
bring a smile to my face...

They refuse to give up...
they are beautiful in spite of what is
happening around them...
and they stand tall in the face of adversity....

Inspiration is everywhere...
sometimes right before our eyes! 

Happy December!