celebrations of the heart

sharing a life together is

sharing steps in time.

it is the giving of songs and silences

only the heart can see.

the music of love may be different to each of us,

but how beautiful the dance.

(december 28, 1973)

thank you, my dear bryan john,

for this dance!

and to all a good night!

our little Christmas Angel

this little angel has been in our family since around 1975.

each year, after all the other decorations are on the tree,one of the girls has the privilege of placing her on the tip top...her special place to be the guardian of the Christmas tree.

jessamyn in farmington

corky

brittnicassie
jamie and even nonnieand this year...the decorating was done....for almost a week..except for our little angel. so one night, without much fuss or fanfare ( since it was just papa, nonnie, asher and journey around) ......papa asked little asher if he would like the honors. at first he said "no tant to" (no thank you), but when he knew it meant getting up on papa's shoulders AND papa also using a ladder, then he thought it might be okay!

so....she's there...in her special place, being the guardian of our tree just as she has done for all these years! some things change, but they still stay the same! we are thinking of every one of you and wishing all of you a wonderful, wonderful Christmas eve day and night! enjoy making your memories for this day!

love you!

fridays funnies

a verrry serious rudolph!

thankful thursday

today i am thankful that i still hear the sounds of Christmas.

that even as i have grown older, the "bell still rings for me ...

as it does for those who truly believe."

(i love the polar express!)

christmas past

i came across some christmas celebrations

from a few years back....just a few!

christmas dinner 1971

the way we felt after christmas dinner 1971


we spent christmas day and had christmas dinner
at squaw peak ( piestewa peak) 1973......3 days before our wedding
we may have to try the outdoors thing again some day

even got a little exercise

edy joined in the festivites too


cowboy bill!
and santa always found us

wherever we have been

some smart santa he is!

friday's funnies

may be part of the reason

grandma got run over by the reindeer!

better make that plain milk

not spiked eggnog!

thankful thursday

thankful today that

dad, grandpa and great grandpa gg

is doing well and he'll be back home soon.

also thankful that i am getting things taken care of

and feeling a little lighter load.

hoping to find a little

and quiet time

to soak up feelings of thankfulness

a little holiday cheer

we had our cookie baking/ornament exchange today.

what a great day for being inside, listening to Christmas music

eating, drinking and baking!

jessamyn brought aprons for everyone and once they were on.....

we were some serious bakers!

a little holiday cheer

and some serious decorating going on

the ornament exchange went without a fight.....well almost.

there was a little stealing going on with cassie and jessamyn :)

(we called cassie and described the ornaments to her when it was her turn)

we went away with a plate of cookies

(not sure how those do through the mail, cass)

good times, shared laughter

and fun memories

and cassie wanted you to see her ornaments!

friday's funnies

shrinkies anyone?

thankful thursday

today (and every day)

i am thankful for my husband

for the almost 34 years we have been building our lives together

for being so blessed to know such fulfillment of love and friendship

i am so thankful that he is back to feeling good and like himself again

i am so thankful that we get to continue to make memories

"you're my bread when I'm hungry

you're my shelter from troubled winds

you're my anchor in life's ocean,

but most of all, you're my best friend."

i am

a lover of the ocean

i am joining cassie's "i am" idea.....

i don't know if i have always felt about the ocean like i do now.

i know that we went when i was growing up because my MOM loved the ocean.

i always enjoyed it.....but i don't think i connected with it like i do now.

maybe that is because when you are younger, you don't necessarily have the need for renewing, quiet refreshing......time for reflection.

the ocean does that for me.

i find a spot, sit down, dig my bare feet into the sand, look out at the rolling waves and something happens.....it's hard to explain...but i could stay there taking in the sound, smell, feel and motion around me all day.

i always leave the ocean feeling renewed, invigorated and refreshed...and a little sad because i know it will be a while before i can come back and share its magic.

The waves of the sea

Help me get back to me.

made with love

papa's stroller

found it's rightful little owner today,

journey rai

may you have lots of fun little adventures

with all those sweet little dollies.

and may you know...

it was made with love

friday's funnies

not sure who we have to thank for this......i believe maybe rauch!

what talent!

thankful thursday

today i am thankful for music

for the memories it finds and brings back

for the many feelings it evokes in us

for it's ability to uplift

for the way it makes us move

for the need i have..... to not only listen, but to feel it

for the part it has played in my life

starting years ago through today

today i am thankful for music

for without it, i wouldn't be who i am

it's beginning to look a little like christmas

what a great day for staying in and getting in the holiday spirit

and i am so wanting to smell that christmas tree smell

but for a few more days.....i'll enjoy the sparkle of my "other" one!

this is my favorite season of the year

hope we can all slow down enough to take it all in

being thankful

Thanksgiving

we have celebrated this day in different ways over the years,

growing up in arizona as a child meant good weather and i remember grandma packing up turkey and "fixins" and going out to the desert and having turkey dinner with friends and family there

there were the years that we went to clara and byrons out at blackcanyon city (pretty much in the desert) and rode horses, took walks, ate and visited with friends and family

and then we started having dinners in the park with all the family ..eating, skating (remember that maryann?) eating some more and of course the wonderful volleyball games! you kids had lots of room to play and just hang out with cousins

for the past while now, we have celebrated at the house, and then after our tummies settled we would play a rip roaring game of volleyball at the park...... the family has grown and with growth comes the sharing of holidays and trying to fit everyone and everything in.......and thankfully we manage to celebrate together.......for some it's every other year, but we celebrate with them in our hearts even so.

i am so very thankful for this family of ours and for all that everyone "brings to the table". with the holiday just around the corner, things get so hectic and busy and fun and hectic and busy and fun and.......i just wanted to take a quiet moment to tell you all how much you are loved and how grateful and blessed i feel that you are my family!

have a wonderful thanksgiving remembering the past and appreciating the present