Traveling Tuesday

This morning I got up in the horrible fog and took my time getting to Austin. You see today is my mother's 84th birthday and I surprised her by coming to Austin to go to her Birthday dinner tonight. She was stunned, but said she had a feeling....Wha a treasured day, getting to spend the evening with my mother and my sister.

This time of year is hard for a lot of people and my family has difficulty with it too. My brother committed suicide 4 years ago December 26th, just 6 months after my father died of alzheimers and 1 month after we had to put our 11 1/2 year Chocolate lab to sleep. My father and brother both loved Christmas...and usually go over the top. My brother and I used to see who could collect the most Santa statues/figurines. All cute, no tacky ones of course. Dad had red paper bells that he hung from everywhere and we would go the day after Christmas to Cornelius and Neiman's to shop for a new box of ornaments for the next year. Dad loved to make fires in the fire place, make fudge, pop popcorn and play cards. SRM, one of oldest friends and I used to get our homework done early (I prob. just skipped it), so that we could enjoy this bonding time with my parents.

I long for my family to be close, since my Dad got sick and my brother died, things aren't quite the same. My wonderful hubby and I have started many fun traditions for our little family oif four. We started picking names for stockings and then we are all given the same amount of cash and we go to Target or Wally World and sneak around, try not to get caught and buy stuffers. We have such a great time!

I seem to be rambling today, sorry, I guess I just needed to get it off my chest. I know with God's help that I will make it through.He will make me strong! I am asking for prayers too for a job. I would like to find something to help out with LSH's bills.

Until the next time...thank you for listening!

Ellen

Thanksgiving

This may have been my favorite Thanksgiving! Lauren was home and what a treat, Mother came down and stayed with us! She stayed for 3 nights...that may be a record for her. She loves her bed! She is almost 84, works 40 hours a week, keeps a pretty busy social schedule and except for a little hearing loss seems to be doing great! I was so excited she was coming that I had a few friends over (about 12-15) for a dessert party to meet her. They hear all of the stories about growing up with her and have been dying to meet her. I think it went well and she loved all of our friends...except maybe the one that thought that she voted for the President in office...which she did NOT! No really she did love her too! She got to meet my wonderful neighbor, when she brought some sweet potatoe balls over for us to try. She thought she was so cute and sweet! I miss our coffee times and hope we have another one soon!

Thanksgiving Day, we cooked the big bird, dressing,gravy, sweet potatoes and last minute preperations, got dressed, packed up the car and drove to my oldest (since we were 2) friend and her family, then on to my brothers. We had a lovely dinner with my brother, his wife, their 2 children and my brother's oldest son and his family. It was the first time I had seem JB (great nephew). He is so cute. He is learning 3 languages all at once....pretty inpressive, isn't quite 2 yet! He fell in love with my Lulu. THe other neice and nephew were so good and so much fun. I wish I got to spend more time with them. Time with family is so special and I treasure the time I have with my mother. I wish she lived close by, but I guess I shouldn't complain about 2 1/2 hours...I just wish I saw her more regularly. You see we haven't always gotten along. Her perfectionism and my nonperfectionism haven't always worked well together. I am saddened by our relationship for all of those years, but am thrilled that we are able to have so much fun together now. I pray that I have more good years with her and if not that I can be there for her and remember all of the good memories we are making now. I love her so much and she is the strongest woman I know, I am so proud that she is my mother!

I have almost finished L.S.H.'s room. I made a dust ruffle, pillow sham and a couple of throw pillows. I just need to find that right mirror at the resale/thrift store to re do for over her chest.

My list of projects is now as follows:

1. Finish J's curtains
2. Start Papaw's quilt
3. Becca's t-shirt quilt.
4. Put Thanksgiving things away.
5. Finish board for over desk.
6. Frames for forks.....to clip notes to.
7. Hang shelves and frames above desk.
8. Finish Sally's quilt.
9. Misc. Christmas projects.

Wish me luck!

Sorry for all of my rambling!

I pray that you had a blessed Thanksgiving and will remember that Jesus is why we have Christmas and to celebrate him more than the gifts!

Ellen