"Blessings Book"

I simply adore this little book. This is my "Blessings Book". I created it for myself to write about some of the many blessings in my life.

Serendipities.

Miracles.

God-Winks.

Things which I always want to remember, and never take for granted....They are in here. It has become one of my dearest "companions".... It brings a smile to my face whether I am adding to it, or I am reading through it. It is a true treasure to me, I keep it near where I can see it each day.... and when my time is done here, I shall pass it on to loved ones....

I hope they too will consider it a treasure.

To create my little book, I simply took an old little notebook I had for years, I think I had only written in it once..... The outside cover was a bit faded, and so I did a little "altered art" on it....... I glued on some pieces of torn scrapbook paper, a little vintage picture I printed out, a few bits of lace, and some little scrapbook "gems".

I also added a sweet quote sticker to the back... glued on some beads, and added a few sparkly-sprinkles........

On the front I also added the sweet little "Blessed" word...... because it reminds me that I am indeed blessed, every day of my life..... and I tied on a couple of pretty beads with some oh-so-sweet sheer ribbon I had to the wire binding......

Anyway.... I just wanted to share my little book with you.......

I hope it will inspire you to create a treasure of your own....

I can see I will be making more of these........ for affirmations.......gratitude journals.... etc........... I once swore I would "never" get into scrapbooking because it just didn't look like fun....... but, boy am I having fun now!

"Never say Never"

When I stand with God at the end of my life

I would hope that I would have not a single bit of talent left and I could say,

" I used everything you gave me."

Oh My!! Has it really been 49 days since my last post!?!?!?!?!?

Oh no!!! How did that happen?!?!?!?

Well.....................

My dear friends........... for not forgetting about me!

I have been very busy with a secret-for-now project for a very special lady.......

and then, while working on her surprise..........

well, more and more other projects came about which also needed my attention..........

and so, time just slipped away from me.............

oh my................

But, I am back............ the special projects are nearly finished...........

And, there is a NEW special project which will require much time and effort, for quite some time...........

I'll fill you all in on it very soon............. honest..............

But, I will surely try to do better about keeping things updated here, and not be gone so long....... because I do so miss you all when I am not here!

I would also like to send another special lady an award~ She is very sweet to "worry" about me, and she has such a delightful blog............ and so I give this "friendship award" to Jerri at Pink Passion........... thank you for thinking of me, Jerri!

see you soon my friends!

**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