It's that time of year again....

You know...that one particular holiday that is suppose to be all about love and romance, but usually ends up being about over-priced roses and long waits for restaurant seating.

I love Valentine's Day, I proudly admit that, but I do not love the over-hyped, over-priced pressures that have been put upon this day by the retail industry (candy, card, and jewelry sellers alike). Who would have thought that one little, non-federal holiday could create such high levels of stress and anxiety between couples everywhere?! But it does.

Women start daydreaming that this is the year their favorite, romantic movie scene will play out. Her prince charming will sweep her off her feet and fulfill her every fantasy. Okay, ladies.....it's time to WAKE UP! Even the most-romantic men rarely (if ever) show up with a white, horse-drawn carriage to whisk you away to a private, candle-lit restaurant, while a pianist plays and you sip wine and dance the night away (unless you're suddenly cast in As the World Turns.)

It's time to quit setting ourselves up for disappointment and it's time to let the men in our lives breathe a little easier. It's time we take a bit of the pressure and expectations off of this holiday.

 After reading a Cosmo article featuring what men wanted us to know about Valentine's Day, I had an epiphany. The article quoted one man as saying he wanted his girlfriend to be honest about what she wanted from him this year. Previously she'd said she didn't need anything for V-Day, then when a co-worker received a larger bouquet of roses (36 to her 6), she got bent out of shape!

It got me thinking. Thinking about what I would say I wanted. But, what did I really want this year? I wasn't sure. I hadn't really thought about it until that moment.

Times are tougher for us this year and I don't want money spent simply out of obligation. I've had the "it" thing the jewelry store was promoting just because it's Valentine's Day. It isn't as special when women across America all get the identical necklace! Truly! What I really want is just a cozy, romantic evening. Something he puts his own thought and effort into. So, I headed home to tell him, straight-up, what I wanted this year.

I told him about the article I had read and about my thoughts that followed. Then I added a little twist. I said, "I want creativity, effort and romance. So, to ensure all of that, I'm setting a $20 expense cap on the evening!" He about fell out of his chair! Certainly a budget like that wouldn't allow fancy restaurants or elaborate floral arrangements. My thoughts exactly! He agreed and we decided he would take Sunday the 13th for his creative endeavour and I'd take Monday the 14th.

In the end we'll get two days of romance for a mere $40! It will take plenty of effort on both our parts to pull it off, but knowing we put aside the commercialism of the holiday to return to the true heart of the occasion will be priceless.

I'll report back on how Operation 20 turns out! ;)

enjoy your celebration of love, however you choose to spend it!

-dw.

Happy National Rootbeer Day!

There is a National Rootbeer Day?! Who knew?

A&W knew, that's who! And to help us all celebrate, they are offering a FREE A&W Rootbeer Float with an order through August 21st!

Who doesn't remember the days when the servers would come out to your car, take your order, and then deliver the food, attaching it to your car window? I LOVED that! I do not know of any A&W's that still do it, but Burgermaster still has some locations that do! We owe it to our children to let them experience it at least once. Pretty soon it may be only a days-gone-by memory we reminesce about....like Drive-in movies!

enjoy today's sweet celebration!
-d.

An "E" ticket trip down memory lane...

For those of us in our forties, we remember a different kind of Disneyland than our younger friends. We remember the days of ride tickets instead of the modern day - pay once, ride all - concept (which I truly prefer). We didn't know it at the time, but the phrase "E - ticket ride" would transcend generations and become a true measure of ride worthiness for years to come. All because Disney decided to class their ticket coupon values with letters.

As Disney prepares to celebrate the 55th Birthday of Disneyland Park, they are unveiling some retro-styled souvenirs, including a memo pad sporting the old "E" ticket artwork! Oh, the memories.
It's hard to believe my first trip to Disneyland was over 30 years ago. Since then I have been to both Disneyland and Disney World more times than I can count. It never disappoints....the magic is always there for me. Like an old friend...always growing and evolving, yet still deep inside, always the same.

enjoy the e-ticket moments in your life!
-d.

New Year...New Word!

2009 brought a lot of change to my life. Some loss. Some gain. Some scary things. Some sad things. And, yes, some happy things too. For me, it was a true celebration to see 2009 come to an end.

But now that 2009 is wrapped up and put away, it's time to focus on the year ahead! And you know what that means....
It's time to select a new Word of the Year.

For those of you not familiar with the word of the Year, here is an excerpt from last year's blog entry:
Every year I, along with millions of other scrapbookers, select a word to focus on throughout the coming year. A word that embodies how I feel, what my goals are, and what I strive to accomplish in my life. It is different for everyone. There really are no rules of selection other than it should motivate and inspire YOU. And like most goals, you are asked to write it down, keep it in sight, and weave it into your life throughout the months ahead.

I have a few words rattling around in my brain, but I haven't made a final decision yet. I have, however, stumbled on an incredible idea to keep our 2010 words in the forefront of our minds and daily living.

I wish I could say I thought of it, but I didn't. The credit goes to Pottery Barn's Clay Ide.He orders personalized doormats from Williams Sonoma and instead of using a last name, he personalizes it with a word of meaning. What better way to stay connected to this year's word than to see it every time you cross your threshold?!

enjoy the possibilities of a fresh, new year!
-d.

For more ideas on honoring your Word, read Ali Edwards' blog entry HERE.

How I welcomed in the Chinese New Year!

Working for a publishing company specializing in educational materials for acupuncture clinics, you think I'd be an old pro at acupuncture treatments! But up until yesterday...I'd never even had one!
Desperate for a remedy to hours of dizziness, I made the call. I was a bit nervous to try it out, but also curious and excited to experience it first hand. Turning to a doctor I trusted completely (my boss) I knew I'd be in great hands.
It was not at all what I expected. The pokes were lighter than I had imagined and the peacefulness as I laid there was a welcome change. It was not painful in any way and I found it hard to believe that they even call what they use needles! They are so thin I could not even feel them being taken out. I only knew they were there by the slight feeling of pressure they produced.
So the question most have asked..."Did it work?" Yes, I am happy to report that it did. While I don't know exactly what was causing the dizziness (stress or ear issues most likely), I was happy to have the feeling alieviated.
I'm a believer!

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

enjoy discovering new ways to look at things,
-d.

A Day of Incredible New Beginings....

All glory comes from daring to begin.
~Eugene F. Ware

On this day of incredible history, let us ALL dare to begin...

Let us lead with our hearts, surrender to our passion, and follow our own vision while respecting the passion and vision of others.
Let us speak wiser and listen closer.
Let us dream BIGGER and try harder!
Let us be what we seek to be...without limitation, without judgment, and without criticism.
Let us enable others with these same rights.
Let us not look at what makes us different, but rather what makes us the same.
Let us unite, grow stronger and be better.
Let us begin.

-enjoy the energy and unity in the air today. Let us carry it on to tomorrow.
-d.

A Blast from the Past Returns!!!

The place I celebrated my thirteenth birthday, and created tons of fabulous memories through my childhood, is coming back!!!

If a menu containing items called The Zoo or Pig Trough are familiar to you then you probably have guessed that I'm talking about the one and only, coolest ice cream parlour in the country.....Farrell's!Yes, after a long absence from our lives new owners are vowing to re-create the magic and start this fabulous restaurant chain back up! I don't know how long it will be before it resurfaces in Washington State, but seeing as Mr. Farrell (yes, the man who started it all back in Portland, OR years ago) lives here, I'd guess the odds are pretty good it won't be too long of a wait! YEA!!!!!!

Bring it on....I'm more than ready!

To keep up on the latest info go to: http://www.farrellsusa.com/ They are so cool they even have a Facebook page! It is a fun trip down memory lane looking at the old photos people are submitting!

enjoy the times when the hardest choice you have to make is which flavor candy cane stick you want to buy on your way out of Farrell's!

-d.

Thanksgiving Reflection -

Sometimes life gets crazy and we get stressed out. Sometimes life throws so much at us, we wonder if we can possibly survive one more blow. I'm at that point. The point of wondering if I can take any more. I have had so many things hit me in the past couple weeks that I find myself physically in pain, sleepless, and crying at the drop of a hat. I know it is unhealthy and I want to rise above it all. One foot in front of the other; one day at a time. I survive with those thoughts carrying me along.

Then tonight I stumbled upon something I wrote last year following Christmas; a blog entry that was misfiled in a strange place on my computer. After a year, it suddenly popped up in front of me. It was like a message telling me to hang on longer, be stronger. A reminder that I'll make it through again this year just as I did last year as my Grandmother was placed in a memory care facility for her battle with Alzheimer's, while one of my children chose a dangerous path that worried me, and as I struggled to keep my head above the water financially and physically.

Here is what I wrote:If you believe..........sometimes magic happens!

"I had one of the most stressful pre-Christmas seasons ever this year. Between being sick for over a week and a half and having a lot of family things going on, I struggled to keep the holiday spirit alive in my house and had very little time to focus on holiday preparations. But through it all, my absolute LOVE of Christmas carried me through. One thing I held onto was the dream of a white Christmas. I haven't seen snow on Christmas since my girls were toddlers and I just felt I needed it this year. So I believed. I believed even thought the weatherman said it would rain. I believed even though everyone reminded me it hardly ever snows in Seattle on Christmas. I believed even when I woke up and it wasn't there. I believed and guess what....?! IT SNOWED!!!! We looked up as we were unwrapping gifts and saw that the rain was beginning to mix with snow. Then it turned all to snow. And it snowed for hours! And to me it was as though the Lord whispered into my ear, "Here you go. Thanks for believing and hanging in when the going got rough." In that second all the frustrations of the pre-holiday season washed away and my world was at total peace. My Christmas spirit bucket was once again overflowing with love, faith and joy. It was my favorite holiday gift and it didn't even require fancy wrapping or a bow!"

I had just been thinking about how much a white Christmas would mean to me this year the other day. I had completely forgotten that for a brief part of the day, we enjoyed one last year.

Funny how sometimes we forget in the midst of stress and frustration the simple joys that are bestowed upon us. Our gratitude slips away as we seek for help for new problems. So this Thanksgiving remember that even in times of adversity, there are many things to be thankful for. Moments that warmed our hearts. Small things that brought great joy. And people we are blessed to share our lives with.

I am thankful for many things, but mostly my family and friends who are there for me, supporting me and loving me unconditionally. And for a heart that can see goodness even during the storm, and for the faith that assures me I'll make it through one more time.

enjoy a holiday filled with reflections of all that you love and are thankful for.
God Bless.
-d.

The Election of a Lifetime!

Wow...To be even a small part of this momentous election was incredible. Never have I felt stronger about voting (all though I do every election) than this year. I was asked why I was so worried about getting my ballot dropped off in time when Obama was solidly in the lead. I realized it was because we were on the brink of making history and I wanted my vote to be a part of it.

All my life I was taught to respect people as people. To judge them by the character they displayed. Not by their heritage, skin tone, or accent. A simple ruled it seemed to me, but as I grew up, I was shocked to discover that others weren't taught that lesson. Even today, in the year 2008, there are undeserving prejudices that still exist. And that continues to baffle me.

So, as I watch the announcement that our next president of the United States will be Barack Obama...I was moved. Not because a democrat was back in the oval office, but because America voted on principle instead of prejudice.

We voted for hope. We voted for change. We voted for a man that we believe in and a man that believes in us and what we can do for our country.

And that, more than anything else has in a long time, makes me proud to be an American.

"I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change...

I'm asking you to believe in yours."

-Barack Obama

Hope Won!

We Need One Another Right Now

"I want this song to be a vehicle to bring Americans together as a whole, so that we can truly understand how much we need each other," said BeBe Winans (who co-wrote the song with Tyler Haynes and Ross Koper).

I love this song! Great message...great voices...great timing.

enjoy the music that stirs your soul.
-d.

Another Year Older...

"You don't get
older,
you get better."

-Shirley Bassey

I like to think the words above are true and that with each passing year we not only grow older, but become better people as well.

Our life experiences teaching us throughout the years and molding us into the people we are.

I celebrated my 43rd birthday yesterday...well, I've actually been celebrating for a couple weeks now! Girls' weekend in Vegas was a joint birthday celebration for my cousin and I, Rog and I met up with friends last weekend to celebrate together, and we went out to dinner with the family yesterday. I love making birthdays last longer than a day! Although all those opportunities to eat cake have seriously unraveled the diet program. Luckily, the memories will far outlast the calories!

It Did My Heart Good...

...to take part in this weekend's Crop for the Cure!

We held a one-day benefit crop and silent auction at our retreat house and raised over $900.00 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation!!!!

20 women came together to crop, mingle, and GIVE this past Saturday. We had great auction items donated to bid on, yummy food to eat, and lots of scrapbook pages completed!

I had so much fun, I have decided to make it a yearly tradition!
I will hold another benefit event next spring (if not sooner). If you have a cause you would like to have me consider, please e-mail me at: dwshain@comcast.net.
But please remember that you must be willing to dedicate your time to the event as well.

Thanks to everyone who helped make it our first annual benefit a huge success!
You Ladies ROCK!!!!

We did our best to help SAVE the COCONUTS!!!

enjoy the opportunities you have to give!
-d.

Friends...

I was tagged by Shannon a couple weeks ago and haven't had time to respond yet (I will), but today saw a quicker quiz on her blog to play along with so here goes....

1. Who was your very first "best friend" growing up?
My neighbor, Shelly. We were inseparable for years!

2. Who was your favorite junior high friend?
A new girl transferred into our school named Kim...we became very close and would go on to be best friends all the way through High School.

3. What is something nice a friend has done for you lately?
Debbie is always doing something nice for me so it is hard to pin it down to one thing! And De Ann is helping me a ton, by helping my mom with her taxes! You girls ROCK! Both of them are always plugging the new retreat house for us too!

4. What is your favorite thing to do with a friend?
Depends on which friend....Get together for scrapbook weekends covers most of them. Go to D Thai with De Ann and Katrina. Go to the movies or tropical getaways with Deb and Jim. And there are too many things to list that I love to do with my very best friend....my husband. Play Scrabble, go camping, snuggle on the couch watching movies, the list is endless!

5. What is one topic of conversation you and a friend talked about recently?
Politics. With true friends you can talk about anything. You teach each other and gain better perspective by seeing the other's views from their vantage point.

6. If you and your friend went out to dinner tonight where would you go? What would you order?
If it was De Ann it would most definitely be out for Thai - Thom Kah Soup - as we are both craving it like crazy!!! If it was Debbie it would be somewhere casual for appetizers. She'll order Nachos or Fried Mozzarella and I would order Chicken Strips or Bacon Wrapped Prawns. With Rog, it would be The Keg for a nice, juicy steak or Tony Roma's for ribs!

7. Who is your closest friend that you've never met in person?
Fortunately, I get the chance to meet most all my friends in person. The one person I haven't gotten to meet face to face yet is Jolene in Arizona. Someday....

8. What is one gift you can give to your friend today that cost nothing? Will you give it?
My time, my support, my love. Whenever a friend needs me I try to always make time for them and they have my love and support everyday without question. I most likely will not see any other of my friends besides Rog as I am working all day, then it's off to the comedy club with him and his friends tonight.

It is hard to answer a quiz about friends and only specifically mention a couple. I am very blessed to be surrounded by many friends in my life. We talk, we laugh, and we support each other through life's ups and downs. And while some I talk to everyday and others only once in a while, they all hold a special place in my heart. They each bring something unique into my life. I know at the touch of the dial they will be there for me and I hope they know that I too, will always be there for them.

They have strengthened me in my darkest days; they have celebrated with me in my happiest moments. They keep me focused when life fogs my path and they are always the rock on my shore keeping me anchored. I cannot imagine life without them.

So, girlfriends...and you know who you are...thanks for just being YOU and bringing your perspectives, your passions, and your personalities into my life! If I had a dollar for every tear we've shed or laugh we've shared I'd be a bazillionaire. You make every day of my life feel richer! The love you fill me with is immeasurable! Thank You.

I want to include some pics, but will have to come back and add them later...gotta go to work!

enjoy the friendships that allow you to be yourself and fill your life with love!
-d.

Number 200!!!

Today is blog entry #200!
It is hard to believe I've had that much to say! (Not! LOL!)

I decided to take the plunge into blogging in January 2007 after following a couple friends' blogs and wanting to "join the party!" I love to write, share my photographs, and pass along things I learn so blogging seemed the perfect fit.

Now, after one year of writing and sharing, I can say...It has been a great party! One that I don't want to end. I love the opportunity to share great news, shopping finds and random facts. I love the way it has allowed me to form some incredible friendships with extraordinary people I may not have otherwise gotten to know. I consider myself very blessed to have blog-friends all across the country. And most importantly, it allows me to stay in touch with family and friends that I just don't get to see often enough even though they may be close in distance and emotion. It is a fabulous, technological world we live in and I am happy to be a part of it!

So thanks for hanging out with me at my very own little party day after day, week after week! I'm glad you're here! Now...where the heck is the cake?! LOL!

Here are some interesting little 200'isms to share on this special 200th blog entry!

200 is....

• An HTTP status code indicating a successful connection.


• The sum of dollars given in the classical Monopoly game to a player passing Go.


• The number of NASCAR races won by Richard Petty.

So here's to another 200 entries of successful connection, collecting our $200 for passing GO, and winning even more great friends as we race along on the SuperBlogger Highway!

enjoy the milestones you've collected along your journey!
-dw

*200'isms courtesy of Wikpedia

Love is in the air....

I feel like I've been celebrating Valentine's day for a month already!

I decorated the retreat house weeks ago, I decorated our house on SuperBowl Sunday and we both already got our gift from each other!

We each got a new snowmobile helmet. While it may not seem the most romantic gift...I LOVE mine!!! and I think he is pretty happy with his too. I have been wearing a helmet that I got when I first started riding - fourteen years ago - and while it isn't as bad as it sounds, it was due to be replaced. And, it didn't match my coat either...reason enough to need a new one, right?!! Now everything matches perfectly!

When roger arrived home the other day, I met him at the door, threw my arms around him and said, "Happy Valentine's Day Baby!" and gave him a big kiss. He looked a bit puzzled and said, "But it isn't Valentine's Day yet." I quickly replied, "Well it MUST be, because my new helmet came today!!!" I stepped back so he could see it, all out of the box and opened up! He was surprised that I had ripped in to it and already had it on...with the coat, no less, so I could see how HOT it looked! LOL! It made him very happy that I was soooo excited about it.

That is really what Valentine's Day should be about. Not how much money you spend, or making sure you bring home the traditional long-stemmed red roses, but rather what will make your loved one's face light up. What makes them momentarily giddy with excitement!

So we will have a nice, home-cooked dinner tomorrow then head up Friday to the mountains to do a little snowmobiling...with our new helmets. His boss has a cabin and has graciously allowed us to use it for the weekend. A wonderfully romantic getaway for two. Perfect.

enjoy making your loved one happy tomorrow!

-dw

Review, Reaffirm, and Resolve...

New Year's is a time of reflection for many of us, myself included. While some struggle with where they are when they reach their milestone birthdays (30, 40, etc...), I never have. I tend to get that way with every holiday season and year's end. The same questions beg answering each year. Am I where I want to be? I am who I want to be? Some years I feel blessed to be exactly where I want to be and some years have been so earth-shattering that I want to be anywhere but here!

The other night Rog and I were looking at some old pictures left on an SD card and were trying to figure out when and where they were shot. I finally realized "Hey, these are from the wedding last year!" He responded with, "...whose wedding?!" After a quick toss with a sofa pillow aimed directly at his head, I said, "YOURS!" He quickly tried to save himself by explaining that it didn't seem possible that our wedding was only a little over a year ago. And I have to admit, I agree.

It seems like this year took the span of three years. We had a lot of family stuff going on. BIG stuff. Kid issues. The loss of Rog's dad. My dad's heart attack. Selecting a place and then moving my Grandmother into assisted living. Rog's mom staying with us for a couple weeks. His sister and bil here visiting. So many big events. Not to mention our cruise. 4 litters of puppies. Melissa's graduation. A major job change. Opening the Retreat House. The list just goes on and on. How ever did we fit ALL of that into one year?! No wonder we are exhausted!!!

But after all of that, when I ask myself that same ol' year-end question...Am I happy where I am at in life? My answer is, Yes, I am. Am I who I want to be? Well, like any ever-evolving project, I am not completely finished, but I am happy with who I am right this minute. I know there are things I need to still work on (my weight, my income, my patience level...), but overall I am content with the person I have become.

Like many of us that consider ourselves still "in work," I have things I resolve to try and improve on. So I will share that list another day. I need time to really think it through. Why make resolutions, some may be asking. Well, because I know, and Stephen Covey agrees, we are more likely to achieve the goal we write down and share out loud. So...I will make my list and get back to you.

Did you write a list? What is your greatest 2008 resolution? Did you write one last year that you achieved? Do tell.....

enjoy the accomplish of goals achieved!!!

-dw

Top Five Things...

I loved about this Christmas holiday. (Tagged from Melody's blog.)

With things being a little more stressful than usual this season, it seemed an ideal time to look past the chaos and reflect on the positive things that made this holiday great!

1. Okay, if you read yesterday's blog entry you already know this first answer....It snowed on Christmas!!!!! And in Seattle that is not your average every year sort of thing. So having a white Christmas tops this year's list!

2. Our house was filled with love and laughter BOTH days of Christmas! Christmas Day is celebrated at my house every year, but this year we started early. My parents and Grandmother came over Christmas Eve and we cooked and wrapped all day, had a great last-minute dinner (after realizing pizza places don't deliver on Christmas Eve! LOL! Who knew?!), and decided while the kids were away celebrating with their Dad that maybe Santa should deliver the adults' stocking a wee bit early. You know, to allow more time in the morning to focus on the children! So we opened our stockings and laughed and joked and had a fabulous time! It is one of the best Christmas Eve's I've had in years!

3. Rog and I decided to make our relationship a higher priority. It is easy to get distracted with all the family drama we've had to face in our few short years together and we made a promise to work harder on being better partners to each other and a better team together. That truly is the greatest gift we could ever give to one another. Although the pocket-size digital camera he bought me was nice too! ;)

4. We have a large dining room table and I love it!! You see, it is more than just having a BIG table, but having a lot of friends and family to fill it up! The more the merrier and all... We had friends stop by on Christmas as we were getting ready to eat and they agreed to join us. We quickly grabbed a couple more chairs and we were set. To me, that makes the best holiday!!! A BIG, FULL table.

5. Christmas night at the movies. I love movies and I love Christmas so it is to me the perfect way to end a great day. We saw National Treasure: Book of Secrets and like the first, I really enjoyed it. I love that this time of year offers so many great movies to choose from. Yesterday Deb and I took a break and saw PS: I Love You. A great romantic comedy, while a little sad at times, it had me in stitches the rest of the time. Next on the list...The Bucket List, 27 Dresses and Charlie Wilson's War. Like I said...I Love movies!

So there they are, five things in random order that I loved about this Christmas. Not to be confused with what I am most thankful for this Christmas; which would only need one answer. Hands down, the love and support of my family and friends. I am truly blessed in so many ways, but above all else by having so many people to fill my life with love and joy.

So what are your top five favorite moments? It's your turn.... We all took time to say we were stressed out, behind on time, and frenzied to complete our holiday tasks, now let's take a second to say what made all the craziness worth while. 'Cause no matter how stressed it makes us every year...would we have it any other way?! ;)

*I still have not gathered together the three cameras we used to take holiday photos this year, so I will post pictures another day.

enjoy the post-holiday time to catch back up!

-dw

When you really Believe...

...sometimes magic happens!
I had one of the most stressful pre-Christmas seasons ever this year. Between being sick for over a week and a half and having a lot of family things going on, I struggled to keep the holiday spirit alive in my house and had very little time to focus on holiday preparations. But through it all, my absolute LOVE of Christmas carried me through.

One thing I held onto was the dream of a white Christmas. I haven't seen snow on Christmas since my girls were toddlers and I just felt I needed it this year. So I believed. I believed even thought the weatherman said it would rain. I believed even though everyone reminded me it hardly ever snows in Seattle on Christmas. I believed even when I woke up and it wasn't there. I believed...and guess what?! IT SNOWED!!!! We looked up as we were unwrapping gifts and saw that the rain was beginning to mix with snow. Then it turned completely to snow. And it snowed for hours!

And to me it was as though the Lord whispered into my ear, "Here you go. Thanks for believing and hanging in when the going got rough." In that second all the frustrations of the pre-holiday season washed away and my world was at total peace. My Christmas spirit bucket was once again overflowing with love, faith and joy.

I hope you all had a truly blessed holiday and found moments that touched your heart and rekindled your spirit.

enjoy the reflections of your special holiday memories,
-dw

Back in Washington...

Rog and I arrived home from Arkansas late last night seeing only little snipits of proof that we had missed the winter's first snow fall. The snow was being washed away quickly by the pouring rain. It is still pouring this morning and flood watches are quickly taking over our top local news stories. We have had over 3" of rain since last night!

We went to Arkansas for Rog's nephew's wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony and the time with family meant the world to us. While it was a quick trip, we were blessed with lots of time to visit and catch up. We spent the night at the reception hotel on Saturday and stayed up till the wee hours laughing and joking with Rog's sister and brother-in-law. It felt so good to be there to celebrate a happy occassion this time.

The church was decorated all in white lights, tule, and holiday trees, wreaths and flowers. It turned out sooooo beautiful. The flowergirl...aka: the "snow angel"...was led down the aisle in a white and red sleigh as Martina McBride's In My Daughter's Eyes played...it was absolutely breathtaking.

enjoy your precious moments with family
-dw

Happy Thanksgiving...

"You give but little when you give of your possessions.

It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."
— Kahlil Gibran

Wishing you time with loved ones, a bounty of delicious foods,

and most importantly...

some time of reflection to be thankful for all that you have.

I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt,
that I am sooooooo truly blessed!

Thanks to each of you who brighten my life

with your friendship,

warm my heart with your love,

and keep me strong with all your support.

Have a very Happy Thankgiving!!!

enjoy all that there is to be grateful for...

-dw