joy...
passion...
creativity...
power...
wisdom...
love...
life.

Today, is a day of giving thanks to 2009....
for the joy it has brought my way...awakenings that have stirred within me....dreams that have danced in front of me....love that is abundant...and my life.
Today, is a day of giving thanks to 2009...
for the passion that I have found...creativity that has flowed....and wonderment that has been brought to my attention.
Today, is a day of giving thanks to 2009...
for the strength I found deep within...for the power that strength has brought me...and for the wisdom that strength has provided me.
Today, is a day of giving thanks to 2009...
for intentions that were followed through...for moments of true clarity...for the gratitude my heart feels.
As I leave this year behind me my heart is full...my thoughts are clearer...This year goes out with a new moon....a new BLUE moon...reminding me to be ever present in the now....as this new year only comes around once!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

This is the final post I did for my affirmation journal....but I thought I would share it here too...
Tomorrow I will do my list for the new year....from the questions that I found several posts below this one....I will also tie up my 2009 journal with a ribbon and place it away for safe keeping and begin a new journal with the WORD I pick for the year....and I am starting a gratitude journal again this year....5 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT TODAY! and will design that cover...all in all this year with all its ups and downs has had far more GOOD things in it than bad...
May you head into 2010 with a song in your heart...laughter on your lips and love surrounding you....Blessings and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all who come here....

Happy New Year!

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Oh how sick we are...

The holidays are coming to an end....and we are very ill here! Could it be the flu? Could it be food poisoning? Not sure....but the whole family is down with it.....Don't CATCH IT....it is very nasty!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.....

Merry Christmas!

“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.”
— Agnes M. Pharo

To all a very Merry Christmas....may your day be filled with love and laughter...making new memories and cherishing old.....

Just what I wanted!

We had our celebration for Christmas yesterday...Yes! I know it is not really Christmas day, but I like to be surrounded by my family for the whole day when I celebrate and not have to run off to here and there and everywhere....Christmas day, now that I am older I like to go to spend time with the extended family and watch them....it is just more tranquil for me!! LOL
Anyhow, the wonderment of a 4 (almost 5) year old opening gifts.....Saying....I think that one has my name on it....Yes...COLLIN.....says COLLIN.....opening the gift....exclaiming....IT IS JUST WHAT I WANTED!!! LOL....To almost every gift....well...accept for the clothing....LOL....
What a joyous day!!
This morning we recorded the Night Before Christmas....Hallmark came out with a book that you can record yourself reading it...Michael and I took turns reading the pages!! Now Collin will always have our voices!! Can't wait to see his face when he hears this.....I think he will be amazed and wonder how we got in the book!! LOL
May your holiday be filled with amazement!!
Because this day was JUST WHAT I WANTED!

Whril Wind....

It has been a weekend of whirl wind partying!! Festive and bright! We have gathered with friends for great conversations...fabulous food and drinks in the decorative homes of friends...We have been surrounded by friends of old and making new ones...What a wonderful time sharing stories...of travel ...of children and grandchildren...of new births...and even of those passing...We were among other Veterans who are going through their own health trials...we talked to WWII veterans...we celebrated young veterans coming home from overseas....
So I pause this morning....and give thanks for being able to once again be surrounded by all this love....I give thanks for my family...my friends...my good life....I pause and I reflect on how far I have ventured with both my professional and my personal life this year....The precious love of a child who adores us...and who is close enough so I get to see him every week...The happiness that is right in front of me that I sometimes over look...
This holiday season that is before me, is allowing me to be more aware of what it is that is most important in my life....sometimes it just takes a word...a thought...a gentle touch from a love one or even a stranger to open up your heart and let everything pour in...
Wishing all the happiness and love of this season....
Open your heart and let it all pour in!

Getting ready for...

The beginning of a New Year!! I rarely make New Year's Resolutions....because I have found in the past that I usually don't keep them for very long! It has been said that it takes 21 days to form a new habit....Not sure if it holds true that it takes 21 days to break an old habit however!! LOL...
But I ran across some questions on a kids site that I go to that made me go HUMMMM...this is something positive....(because I have found that most resolutions have to do with some negative side of myself!) On the 1st of January I will make my list.....Here are the questions...

Question 1

What are some games or activities you like to do that you find challenging and fun? (Resilience)

Question 2

What are some games or activities you like to do that make you laugh? (Emotion Awareness)

Question 3

What are some new things you've been wanting to try? (Goal Setting)

Question 4

What are some things you can do that leverage your strengths and skills? (Empowerment)

Question 5

What are some things you can do that are fun and will make someone else happy? (Optimism)

Approval...

We got the VA approval for the CAT scan and it has been scheduled for January 7!! Now, although this seems to be several weeks off, Michael is happy because it gets him through the holidays without having to face anymore tests should something be found when it is done....Bringing us boldly into another year of survival....February we will be beginning year 3! It has been a long road so far....sometimes very bumpy...other times a few detours...some surprises along the way...
But for now....we count our blessings that we are still venturing down the road of LIFE!
Happy Holidays to all....
May your LIFE travels bring you that much closer to the realization of all your dreams.

Get together...

We want to our first Holiday get together last night....Arriving at our destination around 6:30...thinking that we would make our appearance and stay for a short while.....BELIEVE it or NOT we did not arrive home till after 12:30!!! Time just flew by...we enjoyed good food...good laughs...good company!! And it was amazing that Michael tolerated it so well considering he is usually sound asleep by 9:00 every night....I felt NORMAL....I felt FESTIVE...I was GRATEFUL for the time with friends....and the NORMAL of the night....We have more to go to and I am hoping that they all go this well....Last year we were in such a medical state that we could not go anywhere really....So this was amazing....HAPPY...HAPPY...HAPPY today...
A bit tired....but HAPPY!

this is a great story....

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a
pole which she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. 'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.' The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?' 'That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.' For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.' Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

still a little fearful!

So we took the little love to see Santa....He was still a little fearful of him and would not sit on his lap....but at least we got him to walk up to him this year!! LOL He wants a Ford Pick up Truck...the motorized kind that you ride....Cost: $360.00!!! Think he just might be in for his first big disappointment! We keep telling him that Santa doesn't make that many....and he says that's OK because they have them at Wal Mart....So then we said that they cost a lot of money...and he says that's OK because I can give him money from my bank...and Mommy's bank...and Daddy's bank...any your bank Moma....and even Papa's bank!! SMART KID!

Update...

Happy Holidays....
A moment ago I realized that I have not given an update.....Must be all those lights flickering on and off! LOL..... We are still waiting for approval from the VA for the CAT scan....Michael's new teeth are being made and he will have a fitting for them on Wednesday!! (yeah!!)
Michael is hoping that the CAT scan is not scheduled till after Christmas (not my wish!) I can understand that he does not want any news to disrupt his holiday....So I will make NO effort now to get this process going faster than it will under normal red tape!
The holidays are approaching rapidly....I am making a list...checking it twice!! Deciding to take on all the invitations that come our way this year if only for a very short visit....It is hard to do this, but I am UP to it!! So festivities are being planned....the calendar is getting filled with parties and socializing....and the twinkle is in my heart and eyes!!
May it also be in yours!!

Do you?

Believe in signs?...Things that come your way to give you a message? That if you are aware of them they will show you things that perhaps you overlook...
I know people who think that things are just a coincidence...that nothing is connected to anything else...that things just unfold...or you make things happen....
I do not follow that theory....I believe in signs....I watch and listen...some signs smack me right upside the head...others have to come a series of times before I actually see them...actually hear the message....
And this has been the case this past weekend.....Signs ....Telling me to reach out....telling me to seek out something that I lost....showing me that perhaps now is the time to do that....Signs....I'm not sure why...but these signs have shown up in the past couple of years a little more....but the one that came across my life on Friday...was loud and clear....reaching my heart....and this is the coming year that I will do something about it....
Do you believe in signs???

Getting Ready....

I did a lot last night....moved furniture...dusted..vacuumed and cleaned...I would say this is nothing new...but....I am getting ready!! I put the tree up last night...lights on...and now I am waiting for the little love to come....TODAY we decorate!! Put on the carols...break out the eggnog...and get festive! Today...the season of Christmas begins here for us...and we will prepare to make it the best ever!!
We are still waiting for approval for the CAT scan from the VA...and the mind set is not to fret over when it will be or not be....but rather to just get ready....to bask in the warmth and the love of the holiday...