Girls Night "IN"

Two years ago I started having a few of my girlfriends over after the hustle of Christmas was over, to relax and enjoy being together. When I got my new Hallmark magazine this November there was an article about a "Girls Night In" party that has become a tradition with one group of friends . I loved the idea for the title of my post Christmas party to be "Girls Night In" also. I had prepared lots of food and asked each one of my guests to bring a favorite snack to share and a gift for the gift exchange game and to wear somthing very comfortable. ( Angie wore her p.j's and robe), now everyone says that's what they are wearing next year.. Fun.. This is a busy time of year and a few friends had other commitments and couldn't come, but the ones who did had a great time.. We talked, laughed and ate and shared stories and in general had time to relax. The gift exchange was really fun and most of the gifts changed hands several times.. With hot mulled cider and dessert we ended the evening and had everyone out the door by 11pm. I just love having friends over..

The making of friends who are real freinds, is the best token we have of our success in life.

Edward Everett Hale

Have you ever?

Have you ever pushed the button on the music you are playing over and over to hear one special song. Well I told you how much I loved 2 songs on a Christmas CD my son Steve made.

One song was "Believe" by Josh Grobin from "the Polar Express".

and the othe one is "Peace on Earth", by Vince Gill.

I believe that the words to this song should be our goal for the coming year,

so I wanted to share these special words with you as my blog today.

Let There Be Peace On Earth

Let there be peace on earth

and let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth

the peace that was meant to be.

With God as our father

brothers all are we.

Let me walk with my brother

in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me

let this be the moment now.

With every step I take

let this be my solemn vow.

To take each moment

and live each moment

with peace eternally.

Let there be peace on earth

and let it begin with me.

May you have a wonderful new year and flourish in all your endeavors,

bringing peace to all those around you every day.

God bless you all

Jean

To Me from Me

I really had 2 reasons to be excited about my Christmas present I just bought..First i need to get in shape and second I need to lose some weight.. so I bought myself a treadmill for Christmas. I am excited to get it delivered and start to use it. I am going to make a commitment to myself and to all of you that the next time you see me I will be a little more fit and hopefully a little thinner.. I also bought a small t.v. to watch while I'm walking. My sister Judy has been walking on a treadmill for about 8 months and loves it. I really do want to be around for many years to come and this is one way I can help that goal be possible. I do love to walk, but not by myself.. .and so much of the year it is really hot here to walk outside, so I decided to give myself a great gift & I will have it in my bedroom and be able to walk each day..

So as far as new years resolutions go.. you now know mine......

Christmas Eve Traditions

For many years Kent and I took all of our grandchildren out on Christmas Eve to visit friends homes and sing carols to them. But as the families grew and the children grew it has become time to create another tradition. since we now have to take 3 cars to accommodate everyone. So since this is the year that I am making many changes in my life, I decided to make a change to our Christmas Eve activities.

So I started what will be our on-going tradition at grama's house on Christmas Eve.

I baked cookies early in the day and gathered all the trimmings to create wonderful cookies for Santa. I made a cute sign for each family to take. We started the evening by reading a couple of Christmas books, while we waited for everyone to arrive. Then the creativity began, the kids were excited to create their own design and make it special for Santa. We had yummy hot chocolate while we decorated and when the cookies were finished, we settled in to watch the Christmas movie, " The 12 dogs of Christmas".
It was a fun evening and I was able to deliver the last group home,with full plates of wonderful cookies about 10pm,this gives their moms & dads an evening to get ready for Santa's arrival.

I love having my grandchildren over and starting a new tradition in our family.

Giving, Sharing and Remembering

Each Christmas season brings warm thoughts of memorable experiences of holidays spent with loved ones. As you gather your circle of friends and family to celebrate, take time to recall the joys of Christmases past. . . and create new memories for younger generations to cherish. Each year we look forward to decorating for the holidays. As we pull boxes of memories and carefully unpack each one, our hearts return to those fun filled Christmases of childhood. It's the little things we recall so vividly. . . the aroma of cookies pulled from the oven, the comfort of snuggling beneath a cozy warm quilt, the thrill of laying on the floor by the fully decorated tree in the darkened living room with only the lights on the tree glowing and making wishes. The look in the eyes of a child on Christmas morning. The joys of being together with family. The special time that we remember the saviors birth.
For such marvelous memories I express deep gratitude. At Christmas and throughout the year remember to appreciate the Savior's gifts. He is, in deed the one who bestows the riches of eternity upon those who love him. Have a wonderful time this Christmas, and remember the special ways we choose to celebrate the holidays now will become the traditions we honor in years to come.

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love".

Hamilton Wright Mabie

Living Artfully

Last year for Christmas I received this book from Judy. I have used it almost every month as I searched for meaningful quips, quotes and sayings for my class projects.

I love the way Sandra Magsamen writes, with creativity and deep love for the world.

The insightful reflections on everyday life are heartwarming & thoughtful.

This book gives me a wonderful approach to daily life.

"Giving of ourselves is the only way we can change the world, and in doing so, we change ourselves for the better...Forever".

Mondays are special

I started the evening at Jason & Jamie's house with dinner, Jamie had made Minestrone soup and it was very good.. Just the thing for a cold winter evening..

Last night's special present to family and friends was warm loaves of Pumpkin Pecan & Carmel Apple quick bread.. My car smelled so good as I drove the delivery route. I just love Monday nights and getting to visit with those special people in my life.
I also got to meet a new neighbor yesterday. Karen and her husband Dave just moved into their condo this weekend. They are from Maryland, and I have been talking to Karen through
e-mail for a couple of months. It was fun to finally get to meet her.. a new friend.. Always a good thing to have new friends.
After I arrived home I had holiday visitors, Steve and Karen and family came by and dropped off their new 2007 Christmas music CD. Soon after they left a knock on my door.. I couldn't imagine who it was.. When I opened the door; I was treated to a lively Christmas Carol by the Thurston family, all clad out in santa hats and bearing a yummy plate of cookies.
What a fun Monday evening.. I truly love this season and the time I take to spend with family and friends.. I think we should make the effort to spend time like this all year long.. It brings joy to those you visit and such joy to you as well.

Life is nothing without friendship

Cicero

Believe

You know the song from Polar Express by Josh Grobin..."Believe"..

It has become my very favorite song of the holiday season. I even watched the end of Polar Express the other night just so I could hear the song. Steve and Karen included it on their Christmas CD for 2006.. I just keep hitting # 3 on the CD and re-playing it. The other one on the CD I really do love is "Peace on Earth", by Vince Gill..

When I love a song, or a movie or even a book I can revisit them often and still love them.. I wish that some of the songs that are popular during the holiday's were played all year.. I could listen to music by Josh Grobin 24-7 and never tire of it. He has the most incredible voice and it just brings me happiness to listen to it.

I love this quote by John Keats

"Nothing ever becomes real 'til it is experienced"

Can you say OUCH ! ! ! ! !

Well I told you all the story about how Morgan broke her foot...... Her mom took her to an orthopaedic surgeon on Weds. and after his exam and more x-rays it was discovered that her foot is not just broken...her arch is crushed.. that is why she has been is such pain.. So she is now in a boot to her knee and on different pain meds. Her mom Kristan flew off today to Memphis to teach classes at a scrapbook expo. So I have a house guest for the weekend..so you know what that means..pampering and movies.. She is such a sweet girl and a wonderful guest. I love having her here. They are going to do a cat-scan on Monday to see the entire extent of the damage to her foot and then she will have surgery to repair the entire foot.. She is very brave and I must say.. Has been through so much this year with her emergency appendectomy and her female problems.. Lets hope this closes out the year of 2007 and next year will be a strong healthy one for her.

It's that time of year

It's the time of year for Christmas concerts, pageants and programs. With 13 grandchildren I get to attend a number of these each year. Last night my granddaughter Maddi performed in the multi school Holiday strings concert. Maddi plays the cello at her school, she started playing last year in the 5th grade and is very talented. Last night she performed a classical solo, .. It was a very complicated piece of music and she did wonderful. I was so very proud of her and her composure the entire concert, she was so poised and looked 16 not 11. Her music teacher introduced her and said so many nice things about Maddi and her accomplishments in music over this past year. She loves to sing and play her cello & she is performing another solo this coming Sunday at church.
I spent the afternoon yesterday and this morning wrapping presents for my family & I'm finished.. I still have a couple of small things to pick up, but I'm really almost finished..YEAH.

Last night was my Monday night delivery to family and they all received big tins of popcorn..A tradition in our family. Who doesn't love popcorn.

Got a call around noon from Morgan, asking if I could come pick her up from school, she wasn't feeling well and the teachers all thought she should go home. Kristan was on an appointment and I was available. So we spent the afternoon watching Christmas movies.."The Christmas Shoes", and another one with Naomi Judd in it.. both were good and a wonderful way to spend a rainy afternoon with my granddaughter.

It's a baby shower

This evening I am attending a baby shower for 2 of the girls I work with at W.S. Ashley and Desi are darling girls and I have had so much fun creating their gifts. I decided to create each of them a 6x6 mini album. I worked on them all evening last night and this morning created gift bags to match their albums. I hope they like them.. (here is a look at the boy one..

Ashley is having a boy and Desi is having a girl. So the albums are the same only one blue and one pink and the embellishments are for boy or girl.

Today my youngest son Jason is speaking in church, so I'm going to their ward. Each of my children are fantastic speakers and I go to hear them every chance I get.

It is a cloudy day out but nor rain so far today.. but much cooler weather..YEAH..We have such a short time that we really get to wear winter clothes (well ...sort of winter clothes).. I love the cold weather for a change..

Good Reads

About a year ago my sister Judy shared a book she had just read. It was a novel centered around the Amish communities in Pennsylvania and Ohio. I fell in love with it and searched to find the rest of the series by Beverly Lewis. I had read about 12 of hers and then couldn't find any more.. then Judy turned me on to another author who writes about the same communities and her name is Wanda Brunstetter. I loved these books too and wanted to share both authors with you. Their writing is so enjoyable to get lost in and I feel like I really am getting to know the traditions and customs of the Amish people.

Here is a list of the books by Beverly Lewis:

Series: Abram's Daughters

The Covenant, The Betrayal, The Sacrifice, The Prodigal & The Revelation

Series: The Heritage of Lancaster County

The shunning, The Confession & The Reckoning

Series: Annie's People

The Preacher's Daughter, The Englisher & The Brethren

The Courtship of Nellie Fisher

The Postcard

The Crossroad

The Redemption of Sarah Cain

Here are the books by Wanda Brunstetter

Daughter's of Lancaster County Series

The Storekeeper's Daughter

The Quilter's Daughter

The Bishop's Daughter

Brides of Lancaster County Series

A Merry Heart

Looking for a Miracle

Plain & Fancy

The Hope Chest

I love to read and I'm always looking for new books to read.. When Judy and I go shopping and we go into the bookstores, I tell her.."now don't let me buy any more books, I have a shelf full I haven't read yet". But I always walk out with at least "1" more book to put on my collection.

On a rainy day like we are having in Phoenix today, it is a perfect time to sit in my comfy chair with a mug of hot peach tea and get lost in the words of a book I love.

If you are a reader like me, try these books out, I'm sure you will love them..

My Monday Night Tradition

Last year I started what I wanted to be a new tradition for me. On each Monday night in December I take small gifts to family and friends to help start their holidays flowing. Last night I took a gallon of apple cider and a tin of mulling spices so they can make warm spicy mulled apple cider during the holidays.

I always visit my family on these Monday nights, but I visit different friends each week. I love to make these pre-Christmas visits to friends and family, I feel so good on the drive home after I drop everything off and visit with each family for a few minutes, this helps my holiday spirit kick in.
Today I am working on baby shower gifts and my Beautiful Journey album class that is tomorrow night.
Have a great day and remember:

Make Someone's Day

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear,or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

Leo Buscaglia

Morgan's Senior Pictures

When Morgan was staying with me this weekend, we downloaded her Sr. pictures to my computer and I just wanted to share them with all of you.. if you ask me she is gorgeous!

Morgan . . . . .

This is a picture of my grand daughter Morgan, who is staying the weekend with me. She is a senior in high school and works after school at a pre-school. Her ambition is to be a kindergarten teacher as she loves working with children. She is very much like her mom in that respect. Kristan worked at pre-schools during high school and then continued working at pre-schools after high school and became a director of the pre-school she worked at.

Last night Morgan & I decided to stay home and snuggle down since it was still raining HARD...and the roads were treacherous; so I fixed dinner and we watched a couple of the Christmas movies that are on TV this month.. Love having her here with me this weekend.

Rainy Day......

We are not ready to start building the ark yet, but it hasn't stopped raining since yesterday around noon. It rained all night and it's still going.. The air is so clear and you can see forever, which is a wonderful thing in our area, since the air quality can be so bad.. I stopped by my house last night to check on the past leak in my kitchen and it is leaking again..:-(..so sad.. I am nervous to go check it this morning.. Looks like I have some major repair work to schedule at the house..
I have my granddaughter Morgan staying the weekend with me. She is so fun to have stay over, a perfect house guest. On Weds. after school, she was standing next to her friends car and talking to her when Alli put the car in gear and ran over Morgans left foot. Morgan screamed and then Alli put in forward to see why Morgan was screaming and ran over her foot again.. It was a silly accident and when it comes to weird things happening to anyone, you know they happen to Morgan.. So needless to say our day of shopping and movies is out.. She will assume her position on the couch and I will get to take care of her.. It is so fun to have someone staying with me..I love it.. I can cook for her and pamper her for 2 days.
Have a wonderful day and I'll chat later.

Rain - Rain- Yahoo-Rain

What a wonderful rainy day this is.. Living in the desert southwest, we don't have many days like this. the weatherman had predicted rain for today and everyone was anxious for it to begin. This morning on the way to work it was misty, but not raining and by the time I got home around 1 pm it was just starting to rain and it hasn't stopped in 4 hours. We are suppose to get rain for the next 24 to 36 hours and our desert needed it so bad. the good thing about rain in the desert is that the mountains up north are getting much needed snow.. It is a stay at home day and work on projects.. I have a baby shower next weekend to attend for 2 girls from work..so I've got to get busy on their gifts.. I'll share when I'm done. Have a safe weekend and watch out for the crazies on the road..

Moments

In life, there are no ordinary moments.

Most of us never recognize

the most significant

moments of our lives

when they're happening..

Kathleen Magee

What a wonderful thought to start the day with.

If we just take the time to look around us and see what is

really happening in our lives, what a joy.

As the old saying goes ,"take time to smell the roses".

At this special time of year let's all take our time and

cherish each day and the wonderful things

that are happening all around us.

Remember:

"You don't know what you get back

until you give".

Give joy to others and reap
the benefits ourselves.

Have a wonderful day.

Give Me 5

This weekend I worked on a large bulletin board for Williams Sonoma.. We are having a corporate visit today and they wanted the board re-done, so I volunteered to do it. I love this kind of thing. It is based on the theory that when you sell an item you should make sure that the client has everything they need to use that item when they get home; Say they buy a waffle iron, you would suggest waffle mix, syrup, a mixing bowl, measuring spoons and maybe a spatula.. 5 things that would add to the sale.. I love the way it turned out. I also made wooden plaques for the visitors: Pat our new VP (she was the very first district manager I had when I was the manager in 1985), Janet the new regional manager and Wynter the district manager.. Pat's says Believe, Janet's is Inspire and Wynter's is Dream. I made cards with that theme for each of them to go with the plaques from all of us in the Biltmore store.

I had fun making these projects and loved working on them & I can't wait to see everyone's reaction at work.

I really need to get hopping on Christmas gifts. I have been buying through out the year, I now need to gather it all together and see just what I have and what else I need to get to make Christmas complete.

Happy Thanksgiving

It's 6 a.m. and I'm getting ready to put the turkey in the oven, just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful day. I am so thankful for all my blessings; one being my friends and their love and support. So thank you for all you give to me every day and may the Lord bless you and your family on this Thanksgiving Day.
I love this quote by Booker T. Washington " I learned long ago that those who are the happiest are those who do the the most for others.". so lets do for others during this holiday season and know that the smallest of efforts can yield positive results.
Have a fantastic day.
Jean

Snowman Lane

It's "Snowman Lane" at my place.. Just love snowmen and have been collecting them for a few years. I have my entire place decorated for the holidays with snowmen.. It is so warm out I have the windows open and have been sitting at the dining table doing my Christmas cards today..watching the golfers go by..

Last night we had our monthly "All About Me Club", at Connie's house..another fun evening. We created layouts entitled "For One More Day", and "Escape".. It is so fun to share with each other our journaling on the pages..

Turkey & Dressing

One of my favorite things to do, is to fix Thanksgiving dinner. Each year I start early and love the smells and the memories and the enjoyment I get from preparing this meal. For the last couple of years we have had this wonderful "event", at my son Steve's house and I haven't prepared the turkey.. They all asked me to bring my dressing and a couple of the other traditions from Thanksgivings past. But this year we are having the dinner at my youngest son Jason's home. When we were deciding who would bring what, I was asked to bring the "TURKEY" and the dressing..Yahoo.. Since I am working again at Williams Sonoma and Thanksgiving is a BIG DEAL with WS, I am going to brine my turkey this year.. I haven't ever embarked on this procedure before and it is an all new thing for me.. But I hear rave reviews at the store from clients who swear by it..so I'm going to do it.. For the last couple of weeks I have gotten to be the one preparing the food demo for the day and presenting it to the customers in the store. I made a pumpkin pie with all the fixings from the store, pie crust mix, pumpkin pecan butter and even the pie tin and the leaf cutters to make the crust SO CUTE.. this week we had (now get this) mashed potatoes, no, not just any mashed potatoes.. I peeled, quartered, boiled and then riced them. Then added hot cream infused with chives and melted butter. After this was blended into the potatoes I added sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese.. put them into a casserole and topped with more cheddar cheese and baked them..YUM-OOO. They are so awesome.. Yesterday I prepared focaccia stuffing with our turkey gravy.. Wow what fun I have being able to cook.. when I go to work.. I tease the staff that we get to work there and we get paid and win prizes and get a discount.. What a fun place to be..fun customers, smells & tastes and great associates to work with.
I am excited to fix my turkey and will let you all know how the brine goes.. Have a wonderful week and take time to reflect on those things you are thankful for. Each year after we finish eating and the evening is winding down we sit around in a circle (all 20 of us) and share what we are thankful for. The grand kids love to share and are so honest in all the things they are thankful for. I am thankful for my family, they are so supportive and such a strength in my life. I am thankful for friends and their love. I am thankful for the knowledge that I am a child of god and he blesses me every day of my life.. I am thankful for wonderful memories and new beginning's. Yes I am thankful for my life..

For just one more day

Next week at the "All About Me Club", one of the pages we are creating is entitled " For just one more day". The homework asked the questions : Who would you like to spend just one more day with.. What would you do, what questions would you ask them.. when I taught this page the first time, I decided that I would make it about spending another day with my mom. She died so suddenly and there were so many questions I still had for her, that no one else could answer. Even though I would love to spend another day with Kent. So for the page for next week's class; I thought about it again and would love to spend time with my parents or even my grandparents, since they died while I was young, but in reality I would really love to have "1" more day with Kent.. To have an entire day to look into his eyes and laugh and talk with him.. To do those things that we loved to do together and be with him for an entire day.. I would cherish that opportunity and ask him so many questions, like. What is heaven like? What does he do all day? Can he see me and watch over me? Can he give me inspiration and help me when I need it? Just to have him put his arms around me and kiss those soft sweet lips again.. and look into his eyes - to feel his love for me and our family. As I wrote the journaling piece for this page, I missed Kent so much.. It is hard this time of year, when everything centers on family and traditions. But I have such a wonderful family that all live so close and support me in every way. I am truly blessed and feel so thankful for each of my children and my sister who are all so close to me.

God Bless America

This morning I was watching the broadcast from Temple Square with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and they were singing patriotic songs in honor of Veterans Day. As they sang the theme songs for each branch of the armed forces and then God Bless America tears ran down my face. I am always so touched by the songs that celebrate our country and the freedom we cherish. I received an e-mail the other day to send cards to wounded veterans in the hospital and thought what a wonderful idea, to help show my appreciation for all the brave men and women who are fighting to protect our freedom. Remember to keep these brave heros in our prayers each day and ask the Lords help in protecting them and keeping their families safe while they are so far away from home.

I have conquered the Mountain

YAHOO.... I have conquered the mountain of boxes in my garage. We stacked the boxes into the middle of the garage so I could organize and sort out where each went. I still have some organizing and sorting to do, but I can now see my car and can walk thru the garage.

before I conquered the mountain...

The boxes in the middle are empty & broken down. I have to keep the 2 trash cans inside my garage.. uck

It is amazing how much room I really do have in my garage now that the mountain is gone. Since my garage is long and narrow I have to keep it un-cluttered so I can maneuver around in there. I am putting one of the work benches from the house in the middle (like a kitchen island), so I have a work space for my wood projects.

I had a great class last night at Mad Scrappers and am looking forward to tonights class. Tomorrow I am having my carpet stretched at the house and having it cleaned from top to bottom.. so it will be ready to show and SELL... I am going to tackle the rest of the garage at the house and pitch and clean it all out. Till tomorrow..Hugs to you all

Embrace Change

I read this quote this morning and think it defines my life at this point:
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

As I get settled into my new home I have many feelings going thru my mind. I am excited about the change in my life, still I am nervous to make such a drastic change, I am proud of myself and the decision to sail away from the safe harbor, I am looking forward to meeting new people and making new friends, but most of all I love it. I am the only one living in my building of 5 units at this time. The buildings around me are slowly starting to have people move into them, but it is really quiet around here. The evenings are so quiet .. it is really pretty and peaceful.

This week I am teaching my annual Christmas Card Class at Mad Scrappers. My classes are tonight and tomorrow evening. We are using the new Candy Candy Lane line of papers and embellishments from Imaginisce.

Next Weds, the 14th. I have my 2 regular advanced card classes.




Then on the 28th I am teaching a darling mini album (designed by my sister Judy) called "SHE". It is all in black and pink and filled with fun quotes, and embellishments a great gift idea.
I am slowly getting boxes un-packed and things put away. Soon I'll be ready for a party..
have a great day.

Whew, moving day finally !

All last week I loaded my car and made the run between my house and the condo.. I had everything moved except the heavy boxes and the furniture. Saturday morning the "wonderful" moving crew arrived at my house at 8am, with a huge furniture truck and lots of willing helping hands. Jason hopped into the truck and the assembly line proceeded to fill the truck.. Would you believe that in "1 hour" my house was loaded and ready to go. I love it.. Wow did those guys move.. We then had a caravan to the condo and in about 45 minutes everything was un-loaded and they were on their way. My boys, Steve, Jason and Don stayed to help me get organized. Jason and my grandson Kelly started putting together my new table and chairs on the patio. Steve, Don and I started to arrange the furniture in each room.. Kristan took all my discards to Deseret Industeries for re-sale.. Grant checked out the new TV and kept everyone up to date on football scores. Around 3 we were all winding down and everything was to the stage that I could finish, slowly unpacking boxes and sorting things to find homes for them. What a fun busy day.. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful supportive family.

Moving in

Friday at 4pm I finally got my call to come and get my keys.. I was so excited .. We headed for the condo with a truck and a car loaded. I was so glad that I had my sister Judy and her husband Jim with me. We fit all the totes and boxes into the condo and Jim started to hang the rod for my drapes on the arcadia door. Judy and I un-packed and stocked the kitchen.. We worked until about 8pm and then headed home. Stopped at Desert Ridge and got a cool drink and sat around the fountains and relaxed. It is really beautiful there and the weather was beautiful. Saturday we loaded up the truck and my SUV again and had another day of unpacking. Jim started to install the ceiling fan in the living room, while Judy and I finished the kitchen. We went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner that night and then walked around Kierland Commons after dinner. Sunday, Judy and Jim had appointments and obligations at their rental properties, so I stayed home and packed many, many boxes.

This morning Judy and Jim left..so sad.. Love having them here.. I headed for the condo around 9am with a car full. Jason met me there and finished installing all the ceiling fans. Steve and I went out to get me a new TV..(my other one in the living room is dying). Found a great deal and I'm ready for hook up tomorrow. I have the window treatment guys coming to install all my blinds, the cox guys coming for phone, cable & Internet. Then in the afternoon I have security coming to install my system.. More tomorrow..