A Brand New Year

My, my, my ... where oh where did 2011 go? I must admit that I was glad to ring in this new year of 2012 because I wanted to erase the last few months of 2011. As many of you know, my daughter was in a serious automobile accident on 18 November; by the grace of God her life was spared and altho' she suffered a broken left clavicle, two breaks and numerous fractures in her pelvis, she was still with us. She is on the mend and, in time, God will heal and repair all the hurts.

New Year's Day found Mike, Armani, Bubba, and I homeward bound from Utah -- a long 10-hr drive with only one stop for gas, potty, and food to go! Having been away from home since 1 December, I had lots of mail to go through. Accomplished that and went to bed at 6:15, up at 12:30, back to bed at 2:00 until 7:30! Needed the rest to de-stress, rejuvenate, and prepare for the return to work, etc.

Really enjoyed just relaxing, playing on the computer, and contemplating craft projects for the coming month on Monday. Unpacked, washed all the laundry, and had a great dinner of salmon with ginger butter.

On Tuesday, returned to my job ... very glad I have one when so many are seeking employment and unable to find it! Thankful that I didn't have too many emails to wade through or phone messages which had gone unanswered during my hiatus. Mike made BBQ ribs in the crockpot and some dirty rice ... dinner was absolutely scrumptious!

Wednesday found me dragging a bit ... tried to wrap myself around college homework but just couldn't! That means I will be crashing tonight to get my threads answered before the due time of midnight on the East Coast. Dinner last night was hot soup and grilled cheese sandwiches like only Dad can make! Tonight we will join with my office mates for our monthly Dinner Club -- Zesta Cucina -- should be enjoyable and tasty!

November 1st --- Live-it List

Today is my brother Kenneth's Social Security birthday -- 62 -- hope you have a totally terrific day! I can't be certain where these past 10 months have gone this year and I know I have definitely not accomplished all I wanted to but ... time marches on, stands still for no one!

Been doin' a lot of soul searching the past several weeks and thinking about my Live-it List -- not yet ready to call it a Bucket List! Have prioritized my first 15 items below:

1. RETIRE ... yes, I am shouting! I want to spend my days in quiet solitude with the Lord, chatting with my hubby, texting with my daughter and my baby sister, volunteering, and creating! What an absolutely glorious thought!

2. Travel ... this category will account for several of my top 15 but the first will be to move to our retirement location -- the jury is still out on exactly where that will be but straw votes say it will be somewhere sunny and hot!

3. Bucharest ... I have had a passion to travel to this location from the time I lived in Europe and missed it while spending so many long weekends in Italy!

4. Women's Retreat ... Would love to be totally immersed in praising the Lord ... of course, I would love to have my sister Becky and my cousin Cathy in attendance with me! God has been so, so good to me and I just need to have an outpouring of the Holy Spirit ... where two or three are gathered ...

5. Family Reunion ... Some of my fondest memories are of family gatherings while my grandmother and mother were still alive! How I long for those rendezvous' with all the aunties, uncles, cousins, siblings! Good food, great conversation, and awesome memory making! Would like to plan one for summer 2012.

6. Volunteer Vacation ... Have been looking through opportunities to help others less fortunate than myself while enjoying the culture and custom of a different location or country.

7. Sophia ... Yes, another place that I have longed to travel to ... I am intrigued with wanting to learn all that I can about this great big ol' Earth of ours -- the people, the food, the culture, the beauty!

8 and 9. Road Trip ... I would like to travel to the farthest point East in the US to the farthest point South to the farthest point West to the farthest point North ... How glorious to discover the history of our country with the greatest history buff -- my hubby Michael -- on a Trike (my no. 9)

10. Broadway ... Just once I would like to go to a Broadway play, sip latte in Times Square, visit Ellis Island (up close and personal -- the grand ol' lady too), and celebrate New Year's Eve there in the wild cacophony of people, sounds, and anticipation of a New Year.

11. Birth ... I want to be in the delivery room as my daughter Melissa delivers her first child ... a baby changes everything and promises hope for a future.

12. Spa Retreat ... I want to be totally pampered ... I miss the days of living in Seoul, South Korea, and going to the public baths for the most luxurious hot soak, pumice stones taking away all the extraneous, and lathering up with the most gorgeous smelling soaps ... scalp massage, facial, the works!

13. Cooking School Experience ... To learn at the master's hand ... I am an avid fan of Food Network and the Cooking Channel and I never grow tired of trying new recipes.

14. Rome ... I want to spend a glorious week in this most romantic city with Michael! We have both lived in Europe but have never experienced the beauty of Rome together!

15. Quilt ... the fabric that binds the heart and home! I want to design and make a quilt for my daughter and each of my siblings that will serve as my hand print in their lives after I have gone home to my Father's house.

This is my entry in the Just Ask Bucket List Getaway Giveaway. Just Ask offers a breast and ovarian cancer screening and is encouraging people to share 15 things that I want to enjoy in my lifetime as a reminder to be aware of my health. Want to enter? Head over to TodaysMama.com to get the details.

Our Grand Prize Getaways include:

A family vacation to Universal Orlando^® Resort! (+ prize rules)

A Las Olas Surf Safari!

Family Winter Vacation Getaway at Park City Mountain Resort

More Prizes!

We’ve even got a few $500 gift cards for our extra entries to go towards crossing something off your bucket list. To qualify…

1. Go “like” Just Ask on Facebook. (Come back to this post leave a comment letting us know you did.)

2. Share this tweet: Did you know you can get screened for Breast/Ovarian Cancer http://on.fb.me/JustAskHBOC #justask (Come back to this post and link to your tweet in the comments.)

3. Go “like” Today’s Mama on Facebook. (Come back to this post leave a comment letting us know you did.)

Each item counts as a separate entry.

Contest closes on Saturday, November 12th at Noon MST. Winners will be announced Monday, November 14th. Good Luck!

One Week Down

My DH has been gone for one week ... I have not slept well at all! In fact, went to bed at 5:45 pm last night! Have purged the kitchen cabinets for expired spices, etc.; matched up all containers with their lids. Today I am at my crafting table working on cards! It is such a great outlet for anxiety! Hope everyone is having a great weekend -- will post some pics later on today of the cards. This set of 12 is for a giveaway that I sponsored at Shabby Chic Boutique. One of the talented Air Force wives who run this online boutique is my lovely daughter, Melissa.

Crafter's Digital Art Center (CDAC) Progressive Freebie Challenge

Oh my goodness .... if you haven't joined this fabulous club, now would be the most awesome time to do so. The CDAC Progressive Challenge is a proactive freebie challenge. What that means is as long as you are proactive by making and submitting cards to this challenge you will continue to get freebies offered in a large variety of styles. These images are created by the artists that have groups here on CDAC and by those that participate in the CDAC drawing Challenges. This is a fun way to get and use fabulous images that will be offered during these challenges. You will have a full two weeks to enter the challenge, so not only will you get these images free, but if you participate in each of the challenges during that series you will go into the drawing for the Grand Prize. EVERYONE that plays is a winner, because EVERYONE that plays earns the next challenge's images for free. Repeat the process again, and you will receive the next freebies emailed to you again and so on and so on.. Let the fun begin!!!

July 14 --- It's Happening

Be sure to hop on over to Tiddly Inks on July 14 for their new release with Make it Crafty! This will be the hit of the season -- the fusion of Victorian and Steampunk images! Can't wait until July 14 -- go there now and have a try at winning 5 Tiddly Inks images!

As the Deer Panteth for the Water

My time with Jesus this morning was over Psalm 42:1: As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God (KJV). This truly speaks to where I am this morning -- my soul longing after God. So much devastation in the world, lost lives, lost homes, lost souls ...

As the deer panteth for the water -- So my sould longeth after thee -- You alone are my heart's desire -- And I long to worship thee.
You alone are my strength, my shield -- To you alone may my spirit yield -- You alone are my heart's desire -- And I long to worship thee.

I just love this song. As I read my Bible, the words just kept playing in my brain. Facing some tough decisions in my personal life and seeking the strength of my Lord and Saviour for guidance. He alone will stand beside me all the way and provide the courage and strength I need.

On my creative side, would like to let you know that Tiddly Inks is offering some terrific blog candy. Hurry on over there and link up for an opportunity to win and to get some freebies.

So Much to Celebrate

WOW, today is a totally fabulous day -- it is the National Day of Prayer and there is no better opportunity to turn all your cares and blessings to our Lord and Savior than today ... but remember, there is no place or time we cannot pray! Take time each and everyday of your life to thank God for the blessings He heaps upon you ... don't forget, blessings come in different packages and some might not be as easy to swallow as others ... but they are all blessings He has given us!

It is also Cinco de Mayo -- take time to explore and try a new, or old, culture and food today! There's nothing quite like chips and salsa!!!

And last, but definitely not least, today I had the awesome opportunity to enter a Mother's Day Getaway Giveaway ... two round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines plus a prize package. This fabulous opportunity is being offered by Simple Mom; give it a try for yourself ... altho' have to admit, I hope I am the lucky winner!!!!