Christmas

Christmas was pretty different than normal this year. For lots of reasons. It was still good. I didn't think it would be so I was pleasantly surprised. We basically had a big dinner with my kids & grandson Braedon. Brae got some gifts and played on the rocking horse....

Sorry for the red eye. My computer died and I am on a loaner which has none of my good editing programs. Grr. You can still tell how TOTALLY ADORABLE little Brae is though!

I know I promised y'all Dirty Santa party pictures but, sadly, I haven't seen any yet. IF and when I get them, they will get posted. I promise!

Tomorrow is the beginning of another new year. I hope 2012 will have less grief and more happiness. For all of us.

Some time between now and tomorrow evening, I will fine tune my annual list of famous people we lost in the past year and get it posted.

AND if you like tattoos and haven't checked out my new site, underground ink, you should go see it when you get a moment.

Happy New Year everyone! I'll see you in 2012!

Merry Christmas Eve

This photo and story is being passed around Facebook right now. I found it absolutely beautiful and impossible not to share this Christmas Eve.

Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.

I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away.

Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find. I am wherever there is love.

Love, God

Merry Christmas everyone. Love,

Dirty Santa party

I went to a Dirty Santa party last night at my favorite little bar here in town, Shovelheads. It's a cool place filled with mostly cool people. I feel right at home there. Around all the bikers. That's my kind of people if we get right down to the nitty gritty of the matter. They have big hearts & know how to have fun. I think that's mostly because being a real biker can be dangerous. Motorcycle accidents are increasing as motorcycle popularity increases. There are an average of 50,000 motorcycle accidents each year in the United States and thousands of lives are lost. If you choose that lifestyle, you tend to live each day as your last. You know there are no guarantees in life and you want to be free on the open road. Those are attitudes and ideas that appeal to me.



So it should come as no surprise then that a biker bar is the type of place I like to hang out at more than anyplace else. I've grown to love most of the people at Shovelheads and think of them as family. They've been there for me in times that I felt like I had no one. I really appreciate that.


Last nights party was a lot of fun. I would have pictures but my friend hasn't posted them yet....maybe tomorrow I can share all the fun we had!


Are you wondering what I got as a gift? Is it making you crazy that I'm dancing around the subject and not just getting to my point? Well chill out! I was just fixing to get there...


I got....drumroll please....


rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat...sorry, that's the only way I know how to do a drumroll...

I got Strawberry flavored motion lotion...and no body wanted to trade with me. Imagine that. (haha). It wasn't all bad though...I'm sure I could've ended up with something much worse...like the bag of butt wipes & tampons that one girl ended up with.

Well, I'm kind of stuck here...

Without pictures this really seems like the place to end this post....

Just keep looking forward to tomorrow when you can see pictures ☺

Have a great day everyone...I'll see ya tomorrow!

Howdy-do

Hello all you beautiful residents of Blogland! It feels like forever since I've been here, or even wanted to be here. I've decided that I really do miss blogging though & that I shouldn't just let my blogs sit around and collect cobwebs (at least TWO of them shouldn't do that....sadly the other ones will, but I believe I've given them a proper sendoff so that's all good.). I've been trying to come back to life for some time now. I think maybe I've finally arrived. I guess only time will tell that story. I hope you'll hang around with me. There are links on my sidebar & across the top of the page. If you have a few extra minutes, maybe you'll be kind enough to check that stuff out. I WILL be back here soon, talking & showing off pictures, I promise! I hope you all have a very merry Christmas & that all your Christmas wishes come true! As always, with love....