Breast cancer... "Survivor insight…"

I simply want to post today...from another Blog Westra World and Vicky...

she has been fighting stage IV beast cancer for a few years now...

I will let her words speak for themselves...

follow this link...

and be inspired :)

The Westra World: "Survivor insight…"

Christmas in Heaven....

Last night, One of our daughters shared this

this song with me

And Yes, the tears came! for all who have someone

they love in Heaven during Christmas...

May this bring tears of missing, love, and comfort

Christmas 2012  Our youngest daughter, My mom, Me and in the gift bag our little granddaughter.

Mom, I love and miss you!

The last of the homemade gifts are done...Repurpose Bicycle rim picture frames

Yes, you heard it...repurpose rim's...they were just laying there..behind My father in law's shop.

Destined for a trip to the Junk yard...and I had a light bulb idea...accept I learned later, I was NOT the first to have this idea! aaah sigh... But it was fun to tackle these anyways.

This is for a son! you can see him in the pic here, sitting by his pretty girl :). I gave him the rustiest wheal I could find. I scrubbed the wheals then spray painted them. I only painted the spokes on his, in a teal color.

I put burlap around the wheal and decided I would make these to hang from the ceiling. There really wasn't any work to do...the rims come with a hole big enough to use the parts I needed to put a chain on :)

This way both sides of the wheals can hold pic's. I just added some pic's so they know what this crazy wheal is about. And the clothes pin's were a medium size from the Hobby Lobby.

This rim was washed up and spray painted a off white. It's for a daughter and her family.

This rim was also scrubbed and spray painted off white for another daughter, But this daughter loves sparkle!

 I painted the rims with mod podge and added clear glitter! it sure sparkles! these last 2 rims were also made to hang from the ceiling so both sides could be used.

Burlap bows and buttons finish all of these repurpose Bicycle rim frames.

This gives you a better look at what I used to hang the chain (included is also a ceiling hook for each)

all was gotten at Lowe's for a very affordable price.. :)

Now this Mrs Claus gets to rest..and spend time

enjoying, family, friends and this wonderful

Christmas season...

  

Today we received this cute little deer from some friends

along with wonderful goodies. I don't think they have a clue how much that meant...

you see...it was our first package we received...because well because

most of the time, fun box's came from my mom...

(and this year...she is not with us. She is spending Christmas

with Jesus and I bet it is amazing...but I miss her!) or my Mother in-law...but we are close

to her now...so no packages in the mail...there is just something

fun about a package in the mail! 

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

~Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863)

I pondered today...the gifts around "How Christ was born"

Have you ever had those moments...were you sit by yourself...surrounded by

Christmas lights...and ponder? I have so many times..and each time,

I end up counting my blessings... I wanted to share

what I ponder about..when I think of the events surrounding the birth

of Jesus...

The lord gave us some of the most beautiful lesson's in the birth of his son. some of those lessons were TRUE FAITH, HUMILITY, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND TO NEVER JUDGE OTHERS. 
We are now headed into the last days to that wonderful event! The day we have picked to celebrate! I think of Mary and what it would have been like, to give birth in a stable...I Mean in all reality, a stable is a stable, filled with the scent of animals. The clean hay/straw they needed to find. The clean swaddling clothe they needed to have on hand. I ponder the wisdom of Heavenly fathers simple message, allowing this birth...to be under the most humble circumstances. I think of the worry and fear in Joseph, trying to be there for Mary and wanting to protect them both... I think Of our creator and the message he sent with this birth. Joseph was a real, true man. No ego, Just the humility of following something much bigger then him. His love and protection for Mary and this son...that was not of him! Could there be any greater message on how a man is suppose to love!? I think of Mary and how she followed, despite what the world and others may think...and the lord protected her by giving her Joseph... but the most powerful lesson is the humbleness behind Christ birth... If Gods only begotten son, was allowed to be born in a stable... why are we all so fixated on material things? (mind you, these things are perfectly fine...so long as we don't sacrifice time with the biggest gifts in our lives, children, family, loved ones...strangers..those in need..) And why..do we shy away from those less fortunate..and judge them? Mathew 25:40 "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
I ponder these things..and count my blessings and always love this time of year, because the world seems gentler, more peaceful...and I guess that is why we say we wish we could carry Christmas with us, all year around... the definition of Merry Christmas' "Cheerful and lively the annual christian festival celebrating Christ birth." May the true meaning of Christmas, every detail touch your hearts. May we embrace each other as equals, may we see past our humanness to Be an example of the messages in the Birth of Christ and realize with utter Humility the gift of that birth, and what Jesus did for us all.

Feeling so Blessed!!!

Merry Christmas

with love to all!

Chalk Board Christmas Gifts

This year, I am trying for a homemade

Christmas!

Its more budget Friendly, and only takes

a bit of time... There is

A LOT OF LOVE

put into these gifts.

I made 3 of these Chalk boards

   This one is for a daughter and her man
she hasn't really found her decor style yet...
But has some salmon color going on.
So I choose grey with just a touch of Salmon!

Grey being such a beautiful neutral, and jewels to dress
it up!

The finials add such a elegant touch!

I wanted these to be a piece of 'functional decor'.
this next one is for a Son and his girl!

Teal and Browns are there decor!
and I was trying to keep this, a tad bit more
masculine.

The finials on his are not as dainty :)

I added a lil bling for his Girl!

Do you realize...Christmas is just around the corner!

This is for another daughter and her family!

The chalk board size is 2ft x 2ft. This is Birch ply that you
can find at Lowe's cut up and ready to go for only
$7.00
The Chalk Board paint was also at Lowe's for
$9.00 a quart!!! and I have plenty left to make
some more wonderful Chalk Board
projects.

The Burlap I got at the Hobby Lobby for half price. $2.50!!
and I needed 2 rolls to make these 3 Chalk boards.

The jewels/embellishments were found also at Hobby Lobby in the clearance
Isle! they were only $1.10- $2.25 and there were
several on a card!!!
The Burlap edging was put on with Mod Podge.
(I so love Mod Podge)

The finials were found at Hobby Lobby for approx
$1.25 a pair!!!

Next to the 2x2 ft Birch ply is also 36 inch trims at Lowe's
as you can see in this picture. I had a thinner and thicker trim
I needed 6 piece's and each piece was approx $1.39. We cut the trim to 2ft.
we used 1 inch flat head screws and wood glue :)

I am pleased with how these Chalk board Gifts
came out! I hope they will like them,
and find them useful and fun!
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a wonderful Sunday!

A Lil 5th wheal Christmas....

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

everywhere you go

Take a look in the five and ten

glistening once again

with candy canes

and silver lanes aglow

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

toys in every store

but the prettiest sight to see

is the holly that will be...

ON YOUR OWN FRONT DOOR...

Oh Yes..the prettiest site we see...is on our own front doors!

welcome to my 5th wheal and the

gotta 'PUNT' Christmas..as most of my precious things were buried

in the storage unit...after our move...

But not this Vintage wreath I made..from my  mom's old wreath

that she wanted to toss...last Christmas...

I used her vintage Angel she gave me...and added my 1940's 

Christmas cards..and sparkly balls I made..

with Vintage lace and tulle..

Arn't the lil vintage angels...just the cutest things?

Oh how I love them..and for reason's un knowen ..anything Vintage makes

me feel peaceful..

maybe because to me it cry's out 'simpler times'

old fashion manners, gallantry, and sweet sweet dreams.

Even the Vintage Santa's and elf's seem happier!

I found a little country tree...perfect for a 5th wheal..

And sum homespun country stockings...

I added a wonderful vintage sign...

And a old country snowman...Ho Ho Ho 

and some other fun little things...

that created...

 My little Vintage Country Christmas

and then for the first time ever...I mean ever...I headed into the

5th wheal bedroom

There I had to have another lil tree...what is it about the lights on a tree...

soooooo cozy!!!

and I added my Mom's wooden snowman :)

And a warm winter wishes....

And a little vintage sceane I created last Christmas..

and I was done...

In doing this...I felt at home, in this 5th wheal,

till the right home comes along...

and I did it just in time, for my first precious visitor in over a year...

because I have been living this past year in everyone

else's space...

One of my Granddaughters! and she loved it!

and she is coming back...

because Nana's lil house on wheals suits her just fine

the toilet works different, the shower is small,

But its cozy..and there is warmth and love..

and after all, no matter were you are...

the prettiest sight to see is the holly

that will be, on your own front door :)

Enjoy this magical season...because it is magical

and it's the leading up to Christmas

that makes the heart Cozy and peaceful!

Family Christmas Wreaths

Life's Most beautiful things 

are not seen with the eyes,

but felt with the heart!

Is there anything truer???

I made 7 wreaths and have 1 to go...the wreaths I have made go to my 5 siblings and there families

and to 3 daughters...

This is wreath #1 for a daughter, a family wreath can be anything...

it can hold pictures of Christmas past...

or vacations..anything..and these wreaths can be anything the owner wants it to be...

But I includes pictures of our Mom, Our Grandma, Our Omi (Gr grandma)

For it's all of ours..first Christmas without her. (wreath # 1)

This 2nd wreath is for my sister...and its a Christmas Memory pic of her and our Mom

hers is burlap and silver. None of these wreaths are 100% alike.

(wreath # 2) a added little heart sparkle...like stars from the heavens..

This is wreath #3 For a Brother and his wife. This sister in law loves the colors Eggplant and brown...

these wreaths can be used year round

or just for Christmas...whatever they wish to do...

(Wreath # 3) 

Personalizing them...was fun! and did you notice something in the last two...

(wreath # 3)

They only have 1 picture frame! This was due to budget constrictions...

I am sending the other wallet pics I have and ribbon so they can

add more frames if they like... (and if not..I know what to give them next year)

does that seem to frugal???

I tend to LOVE giving..and thus with Christmas i have to stay on tract

because my list is so Looooooooong! 

This is wreath #4 for a daughter...a single daughter :) she can add frames

as her journey in life continues on...

I wanted her to know, that the many hours she stayed

with her Grandma during treatments in her neck of the woods...

was a priceless gift to her!

(Wreath # 4)

Grandma felt loved and cherished with her by her side...these

two had a special bond...and in the end of her life,

Our daughter got to care give for her Grandma.

And Grandma's favorite colored rose..was pink...

This is Wreath #5 for My brother and his wife, and there 4 children

this sister in law loves Yellows and browns and whites...

(Wreath #5)

So I made sure she got the cottage style  button :)

(Wreath # 5)

I put a pick of there 4 kids with our mom in the frame...

But there are other pics ready to go...in more frames :)

This is wreath #6 and Finally I found a whole family pic with my mom!!!

This Brother has 2 children and his wife loves reds, golds and browns :)

There Kids are so young..this wreath is a wonderful way...

for them to remember the grandma that went home...sooner

then we ever had assumed!

Faith, hope and love...

that is how we are getting through this Christmas...

I don't think  there's any better way.

Wreath # 7

This is for My Bachelor brother, kept simple..and I look

forward to the day, extra frames will be added...

as he finds the person to journey through life with :)

(Wreath # 7)

This will be a hard Christmas for him...but we  are all aware

and will do our best..to show our love!

(Wreath # 7)

Life's Most beautiful things

are not seen with the eye's

but felt with the heart....

Don't you agree?