For the New Year....

New Years day is usually pretty bittersweet for me.

It marks the new day of a new year full of new adventures.

A time to rethink things and think about the coming days ahead and how I want to see myself in the those days and months.

I look forward to it every year for that reason.

However, it also marks the day that my Papa passed away.

January 1, 1997 he went home to Heaven to meet his Lord and Savior and to be with my Grammy and his family, he would have been 90 that year.

I miss them both so very much.

This isn't a post about that particular day, that, I may share another time, but I wanted you to know what the first day of the new year means to me and that is a big part of it.

Ok,

Before I share with you my personal and project goals for the new year I wanted to share this....

All the Christmas stuff was down and put away except for the tree.

I saved it for last because of this..

Ummmmm, yeah....

can you see my dilemma??

Sooooo not working!!!!

So I quick went out and purchased this little life saver for $10.00!

The tree bag was the best $10.00 spent!!!!

Some of my goals......

I am really excited about the projects that I have in mind for 2011.

I would really like to make things simple as far as decorating and try to incorporate bigger punches into my decor.

Here are a few examples of what I mean..

This chair (the man chair) found its way into our living room after each child was born, after the last one it managed to stay.

I think it is about 100 years old!

Ok, not really, but it was my parents for a long time and my oldest is 12 so that is close to 100 years I think.

My goal is to replace it this year.

I have a few ideas swirling around my head for the mantel.

The white floor (sorry about the bad picture) is great.

The fact that it is sub-flooring is not so great.

Hopefully this year we can add a real floor!

And then there is my daughters room.

I made a promise to her a while ago,

you can read about that here,

and still have kept that promise, but things are progressing a little slower than expected.

I do know that we will be starting off on the right foot in the new year and hopefully we can get moving on her room..

I have ALOT of ideas for her little beach retreat!!

As far as personal goals go I want to simplify, simplify, simplify!

2010 seemed to be very busy for me and things got out of control.

I would loose things,

forget things,

and just felt so overwhelmed at times that I would have mini panic attacks.

I want to cut out the extra noise in my life and listen to what really matters, be calm and soak in things around me that I love!

I want to take better care of myself and my family.

I want to be able to relax and go with the flow as best as I can.

I do consider myself a type A-, B+ personality;

easy going,

but still a little uptight on certain things.

I know that this isn't going to happen overnight and hopefully I will learn new and exciting things about myself and those that I love along the way..as you know it is the journey,

not the destination.

I also wanted to take a moment (I know this post is really LONG, sorry!! )

to thank you all for joining me on my journey and encouraging me, inspiring me and guiding me along the way.

I have met some incredible people in blogland, developed friendships that will last a lifetime and just plain enjoyed all of you wonderful and talented ladies and gentleman!

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

THANK YOU!

I look forward to another inspiring year with all of you!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

My Christmas in Short

Hello my friends!!

I have missed you!

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and weekend with friends and family!

I can't believe that Christmas has come and gone already and we are looking at a

New Year!!

My week away was busy filled with kids, eating, shopping, eating, wrapping (ugh), making gifts, eating, celebrating and more eating with friends and family!!

I enjoyed it all!!

(Christmas Eve at my parents: my hubby in the chair, my daughter in the blue and purple sweatshirt and my nieces and nephews)

While we had a white Christmas our last snow was about a week and a half ago.

I see that some of you had your first white Christmas, that is so amazing and beautiful!!

I am ready for spring now!! (wink)

Last week I also won a couple of giveaways which I would love to share with you!

The first one was from Doberman's by the Sea.

My friend Simone has been sharing a Bavarian Christmas with us throughout the holiday and I was so happy that she did!

I had a wonderful time reading about Christmas in Germany (my great grand parents were born in Germany)

and I was so excited when I found out that I won these;

A set of Käthe Wohlfahrt’s (a Christmas store located in Christmastown Germany or Rothenburg) handmade ornaments.

Aren't they adorable!!

They are so amazing and delicate!

If you missed Simone's Bavarian holiday, click here to get to the first post.

Her blog is just wonderful and has so many seaside living inspirations!

My next surprise came from my friend Carmie at The Single Nester.

This was her A Christmas Thank you Giveaway!

She has such an amazing blog filled with heart, love, honesty and she just makes me laugh sometimes!

This is how my winnings arrived.

Tea lite holders, a beautiful snowman and an adorable friends ornament,

A beautiful German Lead Crystal Angel Bell.

LOVE!

Two small books that I can't wait to read!

I love books like this that just remind you of what is important in life.

And adorable little note cards/paper that will come in VERY handy!!

Thank you, Thank you so much Carmie and Simone!

They are wonderful treasures from my dear friends!

I have already began to take down my Christmas things...

I know, I know, but they have been up since October 31st! :)

I LOVE Christmas but every year, towards the end, I start to peeter out and become a little claustrophobic and antsy to get started on some new things.

So, here is what I am looking at this week,

(This is what my house normally looks like, especially the kitchen)

I will be back later to tell you my New Years Resolution and some

projects that I hope to do to keep sane this winter!!!

Have a wonderful start to the week!!

Merry Christmas!!

Well the day is almost upon us!

I can't believe how fast time goes and how much fun I have had decorating and looking at all of the Christmas goodness out there in blogland!

I wanted to show you a package I received in the mail today. A very special package from a very special friend!

Deborah from With All My Heart..Deborah sent me these precious gifts

A sleigh ornament and a coffee ornament from Tim Hortons where she gets some of her yummy Chai Tea Lattes! Some candy canes that I will use in my hot chocolate (another of her favorite drinks), a chocolate bar (YUM), doggie treats for the four legged kiddos (they LOVE them) and a beautiful chicken wire planter that I can't wait to find a home for in my house and fill it!!

This is how it all came wrapped up! I love the beautiful colors and all raffia ribbon is just so perfect!

Well I mostly finished up my wrapping, with the exception of a few more, and placed the gifts under my tree.

See that little envelope tucked in the with the gifts?

This one right here...

This little envelope also came in the box with my my gifts with specific instructions on it!

I feel like a little kid again wanting to peek inside and see what is in it and what it says,

BUT

I promise that I will not!!

Thank you so much my dear friend!!

I wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and to know that I am so thankful and blessed for all of you!

I hold you all in my hearts dearly and hope and pray that you know that no matter where you are and who you are missing that the joy of the season comes from deep inside and that those who have left us are there in our hearts and memories and embracing us this holiday season.

I also want you to know that no matter what you believe or how you celebrate this coming week I wish you all the very best and may peace and love reign on you!!

This is my last post until after Christmas, feeling a bit under the weather and just plain run down (too much holiday fun I guess :) )

Enjoy your week and the up coming days!!!

Love you all!!

Wrapping!!!

Here is what I am trying to talk to myself into today!

(Country Living)

However, this is how I am feeling!!!

(unknown)

I hope you are getting your wrapping done!!

My Christmas Treasure

I wanted to show something,

something that I treasure dearly.

My Grammy died when I was 10 years old. Christmas was her favorite holiday and I can still see her home decked out in all its glory. She loved to put out all her Christmas trinkets and treasures and each ornament and Santa had it's own special place. I truly believe that she is the reason that mom and I love this time of year so much!

After she had passed my Papa continued to decorate the house placing all her ornaments and Santas in the exact same place.

After my Papa passed away I took only some of the Christmas things. They were things that I thought of when I thought of Christmas with them. I have the stocking that my Grammy made for myself and the one that my Papa so graciously made for my hubby. I have a candle snuffer that I remember being displayed on her coffee table and then I have this...

.

As a child I remember how much I loved seeing this beautiful lighthouse during Christmas. It would sit on their beautiful marble-topped side table, in front of the window and shine it's beacon, welcoming all who entered their home. I do not know where they got it from or even if it was a gift, but I do know that when I look into it's light I am taken back to a time when life was simple and carefree. A time that I treasure near and dear to my heart. It is funny because when I put the lighthouse out and turn it on, I can "feel" those feelings I had and "see" Christmas again through the eyes I looked out of when I was a child and "smell" the scents that

wrapped themselves around me.

Does that seem weird?

It is funny how things that are so treasured by us tend to do that.

I am linking up to my friend Tracy's Treasured Christmas Linky Party over at her blog, Tracy's Trinkets and Treasures.

Won't you come join in!?

Christmas Touches

I just want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all of your words of friendship, kindness, inspiration, love and support regarding my last post!

I am truly humbled that such amazing people are out there and I am so blessed to have you as my friends!

That time was a horrible, amazing, painful, long, life-changing and terrifying experience and I would do it all over again in a heart beat for my beautiful little boy!

I also want to thank my mom ever so much for coming over every day for two months and taking care of not only me, my laundry, my cleaning, my food and most importantly her grandson.

Thank you mom!!!!!

I have been enjoying going from blog to blog and seeing all your wonderfully decorated homes! Everyone has done such a beautiful job!!!

I would like to show you a little bit more of my Christmas decor.

I am sorry that I have not posted about decorating or creating anything new, this time of the year has been very busy and seems to be flying by!!

Anyone feeling that too??

I picked up this little burlap runner at Meijer the other day for 40% off!

It was so cute, I just had to get it...

40% honey! :)

I didn't have time to iron it, the sun was actually shining today, even though it was only 19 degrees outside with a wind chill that made it feel like 9 degrees, so I had to take advantage of it!

My dining area all decked out!

My little shelf with touches of silver, black and white.

The pictures on the shelf are my favorite!

Beautiful sepia toned winter scenes.

The pocket watch is very special to me.

It is one of two, the other belongs to my brother, that my Papa had and used and carried with him. My mom gave them to us like this after he passed away and I treasure it dearly.

Moving into my family room...

remember my bi-fold screen that I made here?

Well, I finished the last door before it turned cold and leaned it up against the others because I keep forgetting to find hinges!

Anyway, I hung simple green wreaths with burlap for a Christmas/winter feel.

I dressed up my little window with some greenery, a sign, a couple little birds and a postcard that I recieved from my dear friend Deborah over at With All My Heart.....Deborah for my birthday last month.

It just felt like a perfect spot for it!

I also won these beautiful NOEL letters that have been adorned with tiny shells from Patti over at Patti's Artful Design.

(Don't worry, hubby knows that these are off limits at least if he knows what is good for him! :) )

They are just gorgeous and her attention to detail just blew me away!

Stop by and see her beautiful work, she is so talented!

Thank you for coming along and thank you again for all your lovely inspirations!

I will be in and out for the next couple of weeks, the kids will be home soon and I am trying to finish up some last minute things before that.

I am not sure how often I will posting but I will certainly be peaking in on all of your wonderful Christmas joy!!

Linking up to Cottage and Vine's 2010 Christmas Tour of Homes

My Second Chance Reminder

Five years ago today, Dec 11, 2005, I was given a second chance on life.

I left you with the post about my son's birthday telling you that his birth was full of happiness and heart ache. I was so overjoyed with his birth, which was through planned cesarean section due to complications with my daughters delivery (I do not do things the easy way).

I won't bore with all the icky details, believe me they are icky, but right after he was born I had the same complications that I did with my daughter. Thank goodness my doctor was prepared for that.

However,

What he wasn't prepared for was the fourth day after my son's birth, December 11, 2005. I should tell you that I was supposed to go home on the 10th but had a terrible headache and was not able to stand so they kept me an extra day.

God must have been really looking in on me that day because 1:00 Sunday morning I woke up with chest pains. The nurse gave me Tums thinking that it might be heartburn. I, however, have never had heart burn. The pain continued through the early morning until I couldn't stand it anymore. It is a pain that is hard to describe but it was THE most uncomfortable pain that I have EVER experienced!

After a blood test confirmed that I was indeed having a heart attack and about 12 hours after I first felt pain, I was in the cath lab and they were looking for the problem.

They found that my arteries were dissecting or splitting open. I had no idea what was happening to me as they had given me a sedative. Apparently they rushed out to my family (mom, dad and hubby) and told them that if they did not do the surgery now, that I would not make it. My dad looked the surgeon (who is one of the top thoracic surgeons in Michigan) in the face and asked "Are you good?" and he calmly responded, "Yes I am."

The next thing I remember was waking up in a cold room with tubes and wires coming from me and an odd sensation overtaking my body! The nurse told me that I had just had open heart surgery (double bypass) and asked how I was feeling.

I laughed!!

Yes, laughed! I thought that there was no way that this was happening to me! I was a healthy 32 year old woman with no heart issues ever!

I remember everything as it was yesterday, my family and friends by my side, my poor husband throwing up in the bathroom and having some sympathy chest pains of his own (they actually had to take him down to have a EKG) He just loves me that much! :) and all the wonderful nurses and doctors that took care of me! I cannot say enough wonderful things about the Meijer Heart Center. They truly have an amazing facility, employees and doctors that care and are there to help.

I wound up having another heart attack on the 13th of December and they were able to stint that, which was another blessing!

My dad didn't leave my side for three straight days and nights after that, he slept in those awful lounge chairs that sort of recline, and kept his eye on my monitors. I am tearing up right now thinking about him and how much I love my dad and needed him during this time. I love all my family and friends for helping me and being there for me. My mother in law kept my son for two weeks, while I was in the hospital and took care of him along with my daughter. Bless her and my sister in law who was also there to help.

I was not able to hold my little boy until I was able to sit in a chair and was disconnected from certain tubes, which was about 6 days later.

THAT was the hardest part of everything!!

My heart attacks were due to a hormone in a pregnant womans body that is released about two weeks before birth. It helps soften the soft tissues, in which this case were my arteries, and makes your hips flexible and all that fun, wonderful stuff that happens during childbirth.

This is rare for all those who are reading this and are pregnant or are thinking about becoming pregnant.

And please take into consideration that I do not do things the easy way....

EVER!!! :)

I thank God everyday for giving me this second chance and I know that I am far from perfect and I have those days when I complain or I am angry at something or find myself feeling sorry for myself and that is when I look at this.......

and try to remind myself what is important and try to move past whatever it is that clouds my heart!

I wanted to do something different and I hope that it is ok with Sue from Beach Bungalow!

You see Sue gave me a blogger award, which I thank you so much Sue, it really means a lot that you would think of me!! You should visit her blog, it is full of love and inspirations! She is the sweetest and will make you feel right at home!

I was asked to share 8 things about myself and I wanted to share with you 8 things that I hold close to my heart that came from this little ordeal! :)

1. We are not invincible! I know that I would feel like bad things would not happen to me but there is no guarantee that we will be here tomorrow.

2. Life is WAY too short!! Enjoy every single moment!

3. During times like this friends and family are one in the same and mean so much!!

4. God has a plan for me. (Not sure what it is yet, but I am sure that one day I will know what it is)

5. Always thank your nurses and doctors, the things that they had to do.....that is why I am not in that line of work! :)

6. It is ok to feel sad, mad, glad, irritated and to complain, we are only human. But, always keep in mind what is important and what really matters at the end of the day.

7. Forgive.

8. No matter what you believe, we are all the same on the inside, treat others as you would want to be treated, it is you that you have to live with.

Sorry this was long, but I wanted to share with you a bit more of who I am, and that time played a huge part!

Have a great weekend, I am currently doing my last craft show!!