NOVEMBER PROJECTS AND HOLIDAY STUFFIES

WOW - First I want to THANK YOU all for the great Thanksgiving wishes.
We had a beautiful time - it was just my hunnie and daughter and I - small, intimate and absolutely delicious.
Allen actually cooked the turkey - melt in your mouth...Crystalyn made all the side dishes that
were flawless...and I - I was the slave driver and enjoyed every minute of it...LOL.
Truly we had such a beautiful meal, laid back and watched football and just pigged out.
I loved every second of it!
We had enough leftovers for the next day and that was it...we were piglets.
We heard from our son overseas - he sounded homesick because it is the holidays but
it was nice to hear his voice and spend some time with him.

Then, of course, we had to watch rivalry saturday in college football...we made
homemade chili (YUMMO) and we were glued to the TV.
The best news is that the GATORS WON (my team) against the SEMINOLES (my hunnie's team)
YES YES YES - another year of bragging rights!!!
They kicked butt - Gators 45--to Seminoles 15.
That was a smear!!
GO GATORS!!!

Now this past month - I have been participating in a class called SOUL COACHING...
I truly enjoyed every second of it and met some supreme peeps...
Every day we had to write about whatever the topic had been that day...
I blogged about it at my other blog if you ever want to check it out:
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER PROSPECTIVE.

Because I had to blog every day for the class - I joined in on NABLOPOMO which is
National Blog Posting Month....I did it!!!
I managed to blog every single day for the month of November!!
I was also part of Art Every Day Month for November - I created an ATC card (my choice of medium and expression) - every single day for the whole month of November.
Now that was a creative flow that I hit right on the money - because all the cards just flowed putting them together - I did not struggle once with what to do or what direction
to go into - I love it!!
If you want to check out all the ATC card creations I made they are on my art blog:
FINDING MYSELF.
I am so proud of myself - three projects that I started and finished and did not
let my illness and depressive fog interfere or overpower me.
Truly - if you just knew how much I struggle every day to get up and do something
those three projects being completed are miraculous...my family has been so supportive and have noticed the difference!

Okay - there were some of you that asked about the PEOPLE MIGRATION project that
I was getting involved with....PLEASE email me (addy in my profile) that you are interested and I will send you the email address of the lady that created them...and she can send you your own people.
So before college let out for the holiday, my daughter brought a people to her college to hang out with her at the library while she worked on a project...she has named her people "FAT LOUIE" my daughter has a vivid sense of fun and creativity...so here is the start to
the people living here with us...Fat Louie at a college library:


the above is fat louie listening to ACDC (with headphones) on the puter.

this is fat louie - looking up myspace pages!!


This is Fat Louie phone texting people migration!!

This is going to be fun - you can tell we just go crazy - with any project - we will constantly be
including our people in our every day lives and that way - you can see where this project goes..and the fun...my daughter is thinking of making our people their own blog - OMG - she has gone over the deep end - but I like it.....LOL!

Remember that little Christmas tree that I purchased last year and took pics to show you all?
Well anyway - we decided to not put it outside this year....we have brought it into the puter room since that is the room we use the most etc...
So our little tree fits perfectly on top of our file cabinet (short one) and is decorated.
I will upload pics next time...It really looks cute and even the hunnie thought it
was a great idea...so I am always looking at the great light and a few trinkets on it!!
LOVE IT!!
We bought potted evergreen trees (about 4 feet tall each) - and that is what we are going to put
outside. I think it will look neat - of course I will take pics of that too and show you all!
We took the majority of pics off my wall in front of my puter for Christmas cards so that they are the backdrop for the tree...I think it is going to look cool!

BTW - if you would like to exchange home addresses for a christmas card exchange
PLEASE email me and I will send you my address and then you can send yours to me..
I would love to get cards from you all - you are my peeps...and for the first time
since I became ill - I am so IN THE MOOD to do fun things for the holidays and this
is one of them!!
So please do not be shy - I will NOT share your address with any one for anything....I just want to send out some christmas cheer!
Well I think I have rambled on enough - so I will end my small novel now.
Thanks for stopping by - remember to HUG someone you LOVE!!!
PEACE~!~

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ONE AND ALL!!!
What a great day to enjoy the LOVE of family and friends, eat DeLiCiOuS food, and have a day of fun!
This is also THE day to remember what you are THANKFUL for. So Here are a few
highlights (in no particular order) of what I am so VERY THANKFUL for:

1- For all of you - TRULY your comments, support, fun emails, questions (guess you get
the idea)..have made me feel like a million bucks...you have helped me more
then any of you could realize fighting this depression and staying positive about my
illness, and all the ugliness that constant pain brings!
PLEASE know that you all are always in my prayers - I am always wondering what you,
my peeps, are up to....you bring a true smile to this crazy woman's heart and life!
THANK YOU

2- For my family - my kids - who make my heart complete and my hunnie who
makes my soul complete...they are my rock..my sounding board...and my comic relief.
Just hearing "I LOVE YOU" has the greatest medicinal value that money just cannot buy.
I LOVE you all more then mere words could ever express!
SHMILY

3- For the roof over our heads and the food on our table every day....PRAISE GOD...
I sometimes listen to the news - and just cry (yes - truly cry) because so many people
have lost their jobs and/or homes, some now homeless and cannot even afford to feed themselves, their kids etc.
For such a rich nation - it is devastating to see and hear.
We live from check to check - but THANK GOD we have those checks - and yes
we have to now watch every little penny - but at least I have those pennies...and
I can afford the electric and phone and my house and gas for the car....
I have never seen such instant devastation then the condition of our nation and its people
who are suffering! Truly Heart Breaking!!

4- For those men and women in the military - fighting to protect us and others...
GOD BLESS THEM....I am in awe of their courage and devotion!

I could go on and on - there is so much more this year that I am more aware of to be
THANKFUL for...but those are the highlights...I pray and hope that your blessings are over
flowing and your worries few!


Here is a bit of inspiration to share for this beautiful holiday - enjoy...

Thanksgiving Action


All across this country as... Thanksgiving Day draws near,
We all make preparations for... this joyous time of year.
We celebrate Thanksgiving... as we think about the reason,
It also is the day that always... starts our Christmas season.

Thanksgiving Day until we reach... our welcomed brand New Year,
It is a time to celebrate... and also shed a tear.
Sharing with the ones we love... our family and our friends,
It seems our hearts have much more love... until the season ends.

Each year finds us different... as we sit down to the meal,
And those that share the meal with us... determine how we feel,
To have your family there with you... enjoying those you love,
But each year can be different... if one has gone above.

We never think a time will come... when we will lose someone,
We think about when they were here... enjoying all the fun.
The holidays are special... as we go from year to year,
And never think about a time... when one just won't be here.

For years the holidays have come... and gone without a change,
The family's gotten bigger... so some chairs were rearranged.
Adding to the family... is a blessing we enjoy,
A brand new baby daughter... or a bouncing baby boy.

A daughter or a son-in-law... we welcome to our midst,
And hopefully become a part... enjoying all of this.
Each new member brings a change... as we enjoy transition,
And beam with joy as they become... a part of our tradition.

But this may be a year of change... you lost someone instead,
There is an emptiness around... this change is what you dread.
For years they were a part of you... enjoying all of this,
But now there is a void around... and it is them you miss.

So as you try to do the same... without them being here,
It's difficult to share the joy... and not bring forth a tear.
But we must also realize... the love we have for them,
And love the family here with us... the way it's always been.

So as you gather for your feast... with those you love the most,
As a guest for dinner... or the tired, but blessed host.
Enjoy the love of family... on this very special day,
And just before you eat the meal... just bow your head and pray.

Thank you for my family... and the friends who've come our way,
Thank you for the love we share... while gathered here today.
Thank you for the loved ones... who were here but have gone on,
Thank you for the years we had... we treasure every one.

Thank you for a heart so full... we want to share with others,
Thank you for the families... that now share with one another.
Thank you for this time of year... when love just seems to grow,
Thank you for this time of year... and why we love it so.

Thank you for this holiday... but let us realize,
Today is all we really have... and it's before our eyes.
So raise your heads and hug the ones... sitting at your table.
Tell them how you love them so... today... while you're still able.


[ by James A. Kisner © 2001 (PoppyK1@aol.com) -- {used with permission} ]



I THANK YOU for stopping by....Have a BEAUTIFUL and BLESSED day!!!
HUG EVERYBODY TODAY and tell them how much you APPRECIATE them!!!

THANKFUL THURSDAY - SHUTTLE - PEOPLE MIGRATION

I cannot believe another week has flown by...geez - the time is flying and I am so not ready
for holidays or anything!
Before I get to THANKFUL THURSDAY....let me catch you all up on life here.
Last week the Shuttle Endeavour went up to the space station - it was a night flight - and the last one for the shuttle mission. You would think because we live in Florida that Floridians have seen hundreds of flights take off and we are used to it...but that is so NOT true...
every flight there is traffic for hours on end just to see it night or day....it just takes your breath away to just be here so close yet so far away...it is amazing!
A night flight is awe inspiring...the beauty of it just cannot be captured in words - the experience
of seeing it speaks volumes...
my daughter went outside to get some pictures but they are a bit blurry but I am going to share with you all...just to get a sneak peek at a shuttle experience - (in case you have never seen it).

The above picture is after about 30 seconds into the flight...it lit up the sky as if it was
daylight - so awesome.....all the high school football games STOPPED when the shuttle went
up because the skies looked like the middle of the day - it was amazing...
as you can see there were alot of cloud cover which will explain the next picture....

The above picture is when the shuttle hit the high clouds and those are the colors that it put off.
Absolutely outstanding - you just cannot help but be in awe seeing it in person.
The green hues were wild.

NOW - I am also involved in a little world peace project going on (I just happen to stumble upon it - it is interesting). It is called People Migration. There is a lady from Montana who is an artist and she made clay figure (small) that she just calls people...she decided to promote world peace by offering to send these people to other people - who would share some of the people with people they knew...with the people you keep - you take pictures of things that the people are doing....(is any of this making sense?) She initially made 910 clay people...and does not
charge anyone for mailing them to you...she just wants you to play along and take pictures of what these people are doing...all in the spirit of peace and friendship...now how cool is that.
Anyway - I got my people the other day and this is the picture of their arrival:

Now one of these people will be heading to Canada to a friend of my daughter's so that she can enjoy a people and take pictures of a people in Canada.....
One is heading to Japan to the wayward son....I am sure a people would love to see what army life is like...and my son is crazy enough to jump right in on this project...
on the bottom of each clay person is a note tucked up inside that tells you about the project and where to email or upload the pics to....
What a positive way to get people together to do Good!!!

Okay that was all the fun news....now onto THANKFUL THURSDAY...
Here we go:
1- I am thankful for the people migration project and for my people - something fun and to be creative with...now how cool an idea!!!
2- I am thankful for my hunnie making me some awesome coffee this past week....it has been
especially delicious...and in the cool weather - just perfect!
3- I am thankful for the MUCH cooler/cold weather - it feels wonderful to breath it all
in and not feel stiffled or struggling to take a breath.
4- I am thankful for my hunnie planning out Thanksgiving dinner...he even did the grocery shopping for it...I am blessed!
5- I am thankful for my bird SPIKE who has found it even more necessary lately to mimic the words I am saying - he is just cracking me up...he already says quite a few words but lately
he is going overboard...lol

So what are you THANKFUL for......?
Well I think I have made up for not writing any entries this past week...
I hope you all enjoy the rest of the week...and how exciting - ESPN NFL NETWORK has a football game now on thursday - so you know where I will be...LOL
Remember to HUG someone you LOVE~!~
PEACE

THANKFUL THURSDAY

WOW - another week just flying by.....I am really busy with the course/class I am taking online
that I seem to not have enough time with much else. The class is going great and I am learning a lot about me - so far so good!!
I do apologize for falling behind in dropping by your blogs and/or leaving comments - this month just seems so busy with creating artwork every day, and NABLOPOMO, and the class - but I promise soon I shall be back to normal!! (whatever normal is)

Today is THANKFUL THURSDAY... at least I made it here for that...can never forget things I am THANKFUL for.
So without any further delays - here we go:
I AM THANKFUL FOR
1- the weather - for the humidity being low and the cooler weather arriving...makes it
so much easier to breathe!
2- for all the new peeps I have met through my Soul Coaching class...what a BEAUTIFUL group of encouraging and inspiring peeps...I am in awe!
3- for sleep - finally - being able to calm my mind enough to get some real sleep - and it feels wonderful!
4- for our dog Big Head (he fits his name) actually it is LT...anyway - he makes me laugh
he has discovered my cockatiels and stands on his hind legs in front of the cage and tries to talk and lick the birds...just too funny - strange dog - LOL
(promise he cannot hurt them or get to them)
5- for my hunnie - who has been super about rubbing my back this past week - it really has helped with the pains.
6- for all of you - you made me feel wonderful when you stop by and leave such encouraging comments and all - it touches my heart - more then you know!

Thanks for stopping by and let me know what you are THANKFUL for...
Blessings bring Abundance~!~
Remember to HUG someone you LOVE!
PEACE~!~

VETERAN'S DAY 2008

Today's entry is dedicated to my dad, a US Marine who served on board of the USS Bataan, and all the veterans that truly risked all they had and all they were
for God and Country...
I truly hope that no one ever forgets - Keep their spirit alive - honor them every day of the year
Make sure their legacy is passed on to the next generation.

Many Americans mistakenly believe that Veterans Day is the day America sets aside to honor American military personnel who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained from combat. That's not quite true. Memorial Day is the day set aside to honor America's war dead.

Veterans Day, on the other hand, honors ALL American veterans, both living and dead. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for dedicated and loyal service to their country. November 11 of each year is the day that we ensure veterans know that we deeply appreciate the sacrifices they have made in the lives to keep our country free.

Here is a short story from John McCain himself - that he told last Veteran's Day..and I am passing it on to all of you!

JOHN MCCAIN'S REMARKS ABOUT THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE!!!

In light of the recent appeals court ruling in California, with respect to the Pledge of Allegiance, the following recollection from Senator John McCain is very appropriate:
"The Pledge of Allegiance" - by Senator John McCain As you may know, I spent five and one half years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. In the early years of our imprisonment, the NVA kept us in solitary confinement or two or three to a cell. In 1971 the NVA moved us from these conditions of isolation into large rooms with as many as 30 to 40 men to a room.


This was, as you can imagine, a wonderful change and was a direct result of the efforts of millions of Americans on behalf of a few hundred POWs 10,000 miles from home.
One of the men who moved into my room was a young man named Mike Christian.
Mike came from a small town near Selma, Alabama. He didn't wear a pair of shoes until he was 13 years old. At 17, he enlisted in the US Navy. He later earned a commission by going to Officer Training School Then he became a Naval Flight Officer and was shot down and captured in 1967. Mike had a keen and deep appreciation of the opportunities this country and our military provide for people who want to work and want to succeed.


As part of the change in treatment, the Vietnamese allowed some prisoners to receive packages from home. In some of these packages were handkerchiefs, scarves and other items of clothing.
Mike got himself a bamboo needle. Over a period of a couple of months, he created an American flag and sewed on the inside of his shirt.
Every afternoon, before we had a bowl of soup, we would hang Mike's shirt on the wall of the cell and say the Pledge of Allegiance.


I know the Pledge of Allegiance may not seem the most important part of our day now, but I can assure you that in that stark cell it was indeed the most important and meaningful event.
One day the Vietnamese searched our cell, as they did periodically, and discovered Mike's shirt with the flag sewn inside, and removed it.

That evening they returned, opened the door of the cell, and for the benefit of all of us, beat Mike Christian severely for the next couple of hours. Then, they opened the door of the cell and threw him in. We cleaned him up as well as we could.

The cell in which we lived had a concrete slab in the middle on which we slept. Four naked light bulbs hung in each corner of the room.

As I said, we tried to clean up Mike as well as we could. After the excitement died down, I looked in the corner of the room, and sitting there beneath that dim light bulb with a piece of red cloth, another shirt and his bamboo needle, was my friend, Mike Christian. He was sitting there with his eyes almost shut from the beating he had received, making another American flag. He was not making the flag because it made Mike Christian feel better. He was making that flag because he knew how important it was to us to be able to Pledge our allegiance to our flag and country.

So the next time you say the Pledge of Allegiance, you must never forget the sacrifice and courage that thousands of Americans have made to build our nation and promote freedom around the world.
You must remember our duty, our honor, and our country

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Freedom is Never Free

To the many who have fought to make and keep us free. THANK YOU!!!

I live in a Country
Where I am free.
I know about the men
Who fought for it to be.

I thank God everyday
That I live in this Country
And not in a land
That is far, far away.

I know freedom is never free
It took brave men and women
Who shed their blood
And fought hard for you and me.

So, if someone tells you that freedom is free,
Just smile and look at them
And tell them that freedom
Took someone dying for you and me

Freedom comes with a very high cost
It takes our young people and tears them apart,
It grabs a hold of families and breaks their hearts,
It's paid for by the blood of those we've loved and lost

So, you see my friend,
freedom is never free
It is paid for by others
Who set our Country free

Next time you see a war Vet
Don't forget to say "thank you"
It was only because of them that you can be you
And as you look them in the eyes, you will see no regret!

Right or wrong, they fought a good fight
And they would do it again
For you and for me,
Just to make sure things remain right

THANK YOU - FROM MY HEART TO YOURS!

THANKFUL THURSDAY AND TIDBITS

WOW - it seems to me that the weeks are just flying by - it is already THANKFUL THURSDAY!
I am liking the idea that I am keeping this a regular routine - at least it gets me to my blog - this is a good thing...
before I get to that tho - I have been following through on my commitment to creating
art everyday - have had some wonderful reactions to my ATC cards - this is a good thing
because it is just feeding my soul with positive energy and reinforces what I feel is the right
track I am on!
I also have been faithful to the soul coaching class I am taking - have really woken up to a lot of feelings, issues, energies, just things that I did not realize before..so much more growing left to do but it is also feeding my soul!

WOW - the election is over - and "none of the above" did not win - so I guess we will see
what direction our nation heads for! Thank God for NO MORE political ads - now that was getting on my nerves!
The weather has been pleasant - not too cool but comfortable - this is good because I can breathe!

Now - in case you have not heard - the case of the toddler missing CAYLEE is taking on many directions....Cassie Anthony's lawyer sent in a 30 page brief claiming that if anything happened to Caylee - it was an accidental overdose...WHAT WHAT WHAT- I cannot believe this chick and her lawyer - Cassie made some claim in some statement that the Orlando Police will never break her - if she was innocent what is there to break - well now we know - she used chloroform on her daughter and it was too much and she died...OMG - I would not be surprised if something happened to this chick once she is put in regular population - they can only keep her separated in county jail but NOT IN STATE...she is in for the surprise of a lifetime!
Her murder trial will be insane - I can see it now! EquuSearch is holding the biggest search in Orlando this coming weekend - they are determined to find this child - I pray they do just to give her grandparents true closure - because they are just so torn they do not know what to do!

okay - time for THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!
1- I am thankful for my family who let me sleep today because I had such a migraine - bless their hearts!
2- For my dogs - who kept those who were drumming up votes for their politicians house to house, at bay - never had to deal with any - YAY
3- For the cooler weather - I can breathe
4- For that creative spirit still stirring inside me - it has allowed me to create everyday this past week - WOW this is saying A LOT
5- For football - I just cannot get enough of it - I just love cheering on teams
6- Again for you my friends - thanks for your kind, caring, encouraging, inspiring comments - they truly feed my soul and heart and make me want to keep coming back without feeling
overwhelmed or alone~!~

What are you THANKFUL for this week - share!!!
Thanks for stopping by - Remember to HUG those you LOVE!!
PEACE~!~

GO VOTE

GO VOTE GO VOTE GO VOTE GO VOTE GO VOTE!!!
I already voted by absentee ballot (thank God for those) and was done with that last week or so.
I am so done with all the political ads on TV.
Now we wait!!!
I do not care about who you vote for just VOTE!!!
It seems this election is going to be close and crazy - so make sure that your voice is heard!
Well that is it for me as far as political talk.

Heard from the wayward son - he is fine - doing his army thing - the news he had to report is that he got a promotion - YAYAYAY!
I am really happy for the kid - he is talking about re-enlisting next year- I reserve my opinion on that - but if it is what he truly wants then I am all for it!

Well - this entry is a short one - just wanted to make sure I got my voice out there and encouraged all of you to VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!
Thanks for stopping by - Remember to HUG those you LOVE!
PEACE!!!

WEEKEND FOOTBALL AND STUFFIES

It is sunday night and I must say that I have enjoyed a wonderful weekend full
of football and play time on the puter.
OMG - have I mentioned yet that the GATORS kicked some major butt against the
Georgia Bulldogs - YAYAYAYAY - the final score 49-10 that was a butt stomping of a game!
Then I watch Texas Tech play number 1 TEXAS...and TEXAS went down...it was
glorious! This means that the FLORIDA GATORS move up in the standings even more - (is that success that I smell in the air - lol).
Then Today - in the NFL - Buffalo wins - Giants win, Tampa Bay Wins and I am presently watching the Colts leading the Patriots. Just a great weekend in sports - at least for me..lol!

Yesterday I began my month long commitment to NABLOPOMO (National Blog Posting Month) and Soul Coaching and AEDM (Art Every Day Month). It might seem like I am
over loading myself - but I really wanted to push myself into accomplishing something fairly short term and creative and it would benefit me both spiritually and emotionally. All three things pretty much intertwine together - but I really want to complete them all.

So every day I am adding another item that I have created in some form here at my art blog
FINDING MYSELF
I am blogging every day at my collaborative blog about my walk through Soul Coaching which also covers me with NABLOPOMO. You can find that here:
MOTHER & DAUGHTER PROSPECTIVE
Free feel anytime to drop by those other blogs and check out what is going on...there is
still time to join in on the fun if anyone is interested...if I can do it - trust me - anyone can do it!

Well I Thank You All for stopping by - Remember you can always find me on TWITTER (hint hint) have you at least checked it out yet...it really gets addicting because you just send out short messages about what you are doing or anything really - and you can follow other people and find out what they are doing...I love this stuff...(I think I need a real life - LOL)
Remember to HUG someone you LOVE!!
PEACE~!~P.S. Here Is A Maxine For You All!