**PRAYERS FOR MARY**

Do you know my sweet friend Mary from Isabellas Closet?

She is an amazing lady....

I believe she is truly one of God's special "Earth Angels".....

She is incredibly talented, and makes the most beautiful things..........

She has the sweetest home, which she has decorated so gorgeous,

you would swear it was done by a famous designer......

She is just the kindest, most generous person one could ever hope to meet.

She is always the first to ask for prayers whenever she hears of someone ill or in need..........

Well, today my friends, I am here asking for your prayers for Mary.......

She is very ill and very sad, and I ask for your help in praying for her quick and complete recovery........

and for peace, comfort and strength for her.....

While searching around a bit tonight, I found the following exercise for sending Angelic Healing to someone from Beliefnet.com......

I don't know if it works..........

but, honestly......

I don't think it could hurt!

Perhaps you will join me in sending the healing..........

or whatever good thoughts

and prayers you can for sweet Mary......

thank you so much!

May God Bless you!

Exercise: Sending Angelic Healing

Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit and relax.

Breathe deeply, allow your eyes to close and use your imagination to contact the angels of healing.

You may ask for healing for someone who is sick,

someone who is lonely or isolated,

someone who is grieving,

or for any human need that another person may have.

You may even send healing thoughts to someone who is quite well but who you instinctively feel may need a boost of confidence, joy, or inspiration.

Begin by thinking of the person whom you wish to send angelic healing.

You do not have to know them intimately or even know their name,

just focus on the information you have about them and trust the angels to make the connection with the right person.

If you do know this person well, then take a few moments to think of them, remembering how they look or how it feels to be in their company as well as acknowledging their current situation.

Ask the angels to surround this individual with healing energy

and provide them with the love and support required to facilitate a process of spiritual transformation.
Picture this person surrounded by angels of healing.

Each angel has a special gift to bring.

Some may cheer and comfort;

some may offer protection

while others may bathe this individual with golden rays of healing light.

If there is physical illness or disease,

imagine the light creating balance and harmony throughout the body.

If there is emotional distress,

the light calms and brightens the emotions and brings a new sense of hope.

If this person is recovering from an accident,

imagine the angels using the light

to disperse the fear and shock

that may surround them

and picture all breaks, sprains, burns or bruises healing rapidly.

Do your best to be as detached about the outcome as possible.

When you are engaged in absent healing, it is not always possible to receive direct confirmation of effectiveness.

Be content to send healing thoughts,

ask for the help of the angels,

and trust that the person in question will receive some healing or comfort.

The form that this healing may take will vary and so will the results.

All we can do is ask for the angels to intervene,

send our loving thoughts and surrender to the will of the divine.

If there is any practical support to be offered, you will be guided to do so.

Excerpted from 'A Company of Angels: Your Angel Transformation Guide' by David Lawson

So.... Happy New Year....... This is an Angel ornament I bought from the hospital gift shop on one of Steve's last stays.... Isn't she just beautiful? I bought her and hung her above his hospital bed, and so she has a special place in my heart.......

Here's hoping your new year will be the best ever, filled with love, laughter and prosperity!

Penny had asked in her comments on my last post about the little birdie ornies and how they attach, so I took a picture to show her..... they have a little clippy-thingy (such a technical term, huh?) attached to the bottom so they just clip onto the branch, which will make it very easy to find a place to display them I am sure..........

Well, New Years started very quietly for me.... DD was away to eldest son's home, and the younger boys were at a dance with our best friends....... I posted here, and then I sat here at home in my new jammies enjoying the sights of the tree..... and, yes, there were some tears, just as any holiday without my sweet Steve is.... but I really tried not to let it engulf me all night long as I have done before..... We all have delightful memories of him, and it just isn't possible to not go through a holiday without thinking of those times....... how he loved the Holidays..... I know he wouldn't want the sadness and tears, but I also know that he knows how hard it is here without him.....

But, as I said I decided to do things a little differently this year........ No resolutions........... it feels like when I do that I kind of set myself up...... and end up beating myself up if I don't follow through. Do you do that? So, this year instead of "Resolutions" I did "Reflections"...... I simply lit some candles (WoodWick candles by the way, which I will post about another time~ they are simply heavenly!!) and sat quietly thinking back over the year.......... not the tough times, nor the disappointments........ but, the JOYS.......... the LAUGHTER..... the days and the moments that if you could you would just freeze-frame and keep going forever and ever..... I'll bet you've all had times like that through your year, haven't you? Well, I must say, it made for a much more positive way to start off the New Year....

And of course I thought about the many, many things I am blessed with, and so very thankful for.......... One of those things being all the wonderful ladies I have met through my blogging.... what an amazing thing........ I have met some of the sweetest and dearest people whom I have laughed and cried with, just as they have done with me I am sure.......... and, talent....... oh my....such incredibly talented people I have met! And, one of the really remarkable things, is when one of those who I look upon as ultra-talented, actually sends me a note, or posts here...... ohmygosh, my reaction is how you would feel if a "celebrity" were to knock on your door just to say "hi".......... oh, and if someone who is just so, so incredibly talented and artistic should compliment my work, well, you might as well just call "the home" 'cause I just about go nuts........... Anyway, I do so enjoy doing this, I hope to do it for a long time to come, and I look forward to visiting with you all here and on your lovely blogs as well...........

Ok, so I got a bit "sappy" there............. it's ok........ Valentines Day is coming you know.......... and you just gotta Spread The Love........

Well, here we are........ the absolute end of the year........and, yes, I am still here........ Christmas was not as I had imagined it would be................ however........ it was a delightful one........ filled with what I can only describe as Christmas Miracles........... beginning to end.......... And, instead of beating myself up about being late for everything, including the Virtual Holiday Home Tour, I thought, well, why not still do it? Perhaps I could still share a little with my friends........ perhaps, just perhaps, there is someone out there who is not absolutely sick of seeing Christmas decorating...... better late than never, and all of that you know.......... So, lest you think my poor tree is still in-a-box, (I will not tell you, however, WHEN it came out of the box~ some of you may not believe it, and some may even faint if I did!)...here is my Christmas tree........... ta-da!

It is, brand new ..... bought the day after Christmas last year..... 7 1/2 feet tall! I decided to decorate it very, very simply this year....... All of the decorations, except for the birds and snowflakes, were purchased from the Cancer Thrift Store, or Goodwill.......... some appear to me to be vintage..... I'm so glad I was able to give them a new home........... I hope you enjoy looking at them with me..........

A very pretty pink one with frosty swirls~

This one is gold with white frosting..........

very light purple-lilac with chickenwire-looking netting........

some pretty white snowflakes........... perfect on a white tree.........believe it or not....

Remember the Street-Faire I went to at my son's house? I bought these sweet little ceramic birds in a shop there, for just $1.85 each..........can you believe it? They are so adorable I shall have to find a spot for them all year round...... I couldn't possibly shove them into a box......

A sweet golden Angel ornie..............

And a pink frosted teardrop ornament........ just so pretty............

And, here is one of our Velveteen Rabbit Stockings........... I had purchased one for each child one year when they were small..... it was a year when the movie was very popular.......... and on Christmas morning there was one of these hanging up for each child....... they were thrilled!

And, for one of my newest and sweetest friends and a fellow-snowman-lover, Colleen, of Main Street Memories, I simply must include a picture of a Snowman Angel I made a few years back:

And, as a reminder to us all............ a special wreath, which was my Mom's........ with a very special message............. something we should all remember every day:

HA! You didn't know it snowed in California, did you? Ahhh..........well.......... you just have to BELIEVE............

On this New Year's Eve, I hope you are all well, and happy, and with someone you love..........I love you all............and I thank you for visiting me, and allowing me to get to know you this year...........And, tonight as the clock chimes twelve, and one year turns into the next......... I am beginning a new tradition........... and I shall remember you all as I light my candle of prayer.....

I wish you health................

I wish you peace..............

I wish you happiness.............

and I wish you LOVE..............

I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.

~Harlan Miller

Oooh, how fun! Tracey from Notes From A Cottage Industry is hosting a Holiday Home Tour next week~ I'm in! How about you?

So...... what does a Mom do when Christmas is fast approaching, and she has like a bazillion and one things to do around here to get ready?????

Well, of course! She goes away to visit the eldest son for a few days!!!

What a fun weekend we had! Seems they were having a Dickin's Holiday Faire in his town on Friday night.....and, oh man, was it fun! The downtown area blocked off, and lots of street vendors and yummy foods, like chili & pizza!! And then there was the little shop that had all Christmas ornies for half~price!! And, of course those two words are my weakness.......

So much fun..... I can't wait to go again next year! Now, I would be showing you pics of the whole thing, but I left the camera in the car~ duh~

Oh well, you will have to settle for the above picture of son's pretty tree~ don't you just love Christmas trees? Isn't it wonderful how everyone decorates theirs with a different style? I honestly don't think I have ever seen an ugly tree, and I don't think I could ever tire of seeing them...... And, of course this would be where I would insert pics of my lovely Christmas tree.... but, ahem..... I don't think you would much appreciate a picture of a box, which is where my tree happens to still be right now...... ahem.....

Anywho...... it was a great time, and a nice break.......even if I do have so much to do here......

And, of course no trip to Son's is complete, without a trip to my favorite shop.....

the Cancer Society Thrift Store of course!!

I just always find the most delightful things there........ and, I am doing my part to "recycle" aren't I? And, helping such a good cause at the same time....

And, I have never come out empty handed......and this time was no exception! A new~to~me fleece sweater...... ball of crochet thread...... a few Christmas ornaments~which will look lovely on my tree (if it ever comes OUT of the box!)

And, books~~~ woohoo~ Books!!! At least one is a secret......ooooh, you'll just have to stayed tuned to hear more about it!! And, one on Angels........ and....... this delightful book~

Wow! what a neat book!! For just $3, thank you very much! It is filled with recipes to make from boxed cake mixes, 478 pages of over 150 Cakes!! And, oh so,yummy looking, I can't wait to try them all!! Don't worry...... I'll share with ya!! Well, not the cakes......but, some of the recipes!

Like this one......... which just happens to be the perfect one to take to a friends house when they have invited you for dinner, and of course, Momma always taught you that it isn't polite to go to dinner without taking something...... so, this was not only so easy to whip up, but it was delicious as well~ "try it........ you'll like it"!!!

From "easy~peasy" beginning........

To....... "tummy~yummy" end..........

And, here is the recipe:

*BLONDIES*

SERVES: 20

PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES

BAKING TIME: 20 TO 25 MINUTES

1 Pkg (18.25 ounces) plain yellow cake mix

2 large eggs

8 Tblsp. (1 stick) butter, melted

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Place cake mix, eggs, and melted butter in mixing bowl, and mix on low speed untill ingredients are moiistened, about 1 minute. Stop mixer, scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula. Add the choc chips and mix on low another 30 seconds, just to incorporate. Mixture will be very thick.

3. Scrape batter into UNGREASED 9"X13" pan with spatula. Using spatula or your fingertips, press the batter out evenly over the bottom of the pan so that it reaches all the sides.

4. Pop in oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few crumbs attached.

5. Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool for 30 minutes before cutting into squares.

6. Go into garage and find your tree~in~a~box.....

IT'S A "CODY" CHRISTMAS!

Isn't he just too cute!?!?

I found a really neat online photo-editing site..... this is how I shaped Cody's pics, and designed the Christmas Card......and most of the features are free! You can upgrade for a few more features, but honestly, the free ones are more than enough to have fun with! And, you can link to your Flickr or Photobucket site from it!

Take a look and play!

Picnik.com

I discovered another neat blog this morning...... It's wonderful, she is featuring one of my favorite blogs today, I have added a link on my sidebar, and here is a link for you:

Today's Creative Blog

I tell you, there are some of the most wonderful, beautiful, creative blogs now, and the Holiday crafts, and cooking, and decorating are just awesome! Talk about "eye-candy", I could just get lost...... like a kid in a candy store! Even when I wasn't feeling so hot, I was able to "window-shop" here from my room.... I just love it!

And, as if that were not enough...........

there are the Magazine sites with the most wonderful ideas as well!

Mags like:

Better Homes and Gardens

who has this adorable feature of Snowmen to make!

Snowmen

And, I love their "tip of the day" which is:

Don’t worry about taking down

Christmas decorations on Dec. 26th.

Leave your snowmen decorations

up all winter long.

So, there are some cool things for you today........

it really is so good to be back!

I missed ya!