Prayers for a Friend

I am a firm believer that there is nothing I can’t handle, as long as God is with me. I am blessed that I have so many friends to pray for every night and every day. All prayers are heard, though not all of them are answered to my satisfaction! But they are answered, and for every closed door, there is an open window. I just have to look for it, usually in the most unlikely places. But trust me, the window is always there, open and waiting.

A few weeks ago, an online friend of mine who suffers from cancer had to have a brain tumor removed. He is a true warrior, in every sense of the word. He is also one of the most giving people I have ever known. There was never a stray anything that he didn’t take in. After the last major hurricane hit his area, he personally gave of his time and money to fix his neighbor’s homes, providing shelter while repairs went on. He wasn’t afraid to argue with anyone, and he was always offering of himself to anyone that needed a hand.

I have lost touch with him in the past couple of weeks, and fear for the worst. I know he is a fighter, and not even death makes him afraid. But I will pray for him to get better, so that he can finally come out this way to meet us, as was his wish to travel cross-country. And if God has closed that door, then I pray to find the window, where I can look up to the sky and see him arguing with the Archangel Michael.

Because that’s the way he rolls 🙂

How to Have a Successful Wine Party

First, you add WINE!!

NOT the wine consumed...

Then you add FOOD!!

There was more. Trust me.

And then you stir that with a lot of love and FRIENDS!!

And we are older, but just as cute. Trust me.

And all that leads to lots of talking and laughing and forgetting about the time.

Wine Parties…there should be a law 😉

New Year, Better Me

No, not a new me. Forget that. That would entail plastic surgery and a dye job. Every new year brings many resolutions. Some are physical like exercising more, and eating better. Others are spiritual, and still some are emotional, like keeping in touch with relatives and making sure to communicate with family.

My friend Fly Over Here had a wonderful post about why she doesn’t make resolutions. I tend to agree with her: the future is always in flux, and we can’t plan too much ahead because of it. Sure, I want to see the stuff on my List of Things to Do Before I Die™, but I am realistic enough to know that I won’t be able to complete it. For me, it’s enough to have a list. Tying myself down to a goal like losing 10 pounds or reaching a 10 mile walking goal is unrealistic for me, when I really don’t want to do that. Making a priority of my family and making sure my kids have learned the right life lessons? Yes, THAT is a worthy goal, but one I keep to every day.

So, resolve to keep yourselves happy and thankful, even for the small worries and the rough patches and the sad tidings. Life comes full circle, and the trick is to make sure that you are happy when you come to the end of it.

As Hubby told me, Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body,but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “WOW!!!! WHAT A RIDE!!!”

So, Happy New Year, and many blessings to y’all!! 😀

Apparently I Shouldn’t Be Trusted With Wine, Either

Last Saturday night, I was invited to a wine party hosted by a friend, where we would be participating in a gift exchange involving ornaments. We had a great time, and if anyone ever gets the opportunity to form a wine club, do so!! Yes, it’s mostly ladies who meet, but the gentlemen also have to opportunity to be fawned over and treated as kings of the moment.

Wine does that to women, you know.

Anyway, because I am the only one of the group that doesn’t live in the neighborhood, I have to drive, so my alcohol intake is very minute. At most, I drink maybe half a glass, and then just have water. When I get home, I will then have a glass of wine before bed. That’s pretty harmless, unless you happen to get a phonecall from a friend.

Friend: I was wondering if you could do me a favor.

Me: Sure, what’s up?

Friend: I have a gift exchange coming up, and I would like to give something more personal than a gift card.

Me: What did you have in mind?

Friend: Well, one of your canvases would be perfect.

Me: Oh sure! I can do one. Any theme in particular you would like?

Friend: Christmas, or Harley Davidson?

Me: Christmas it is…

So now I have yet another project to do this week. That makes about 20. But most of them are ornaments like this one:

Busy week for me, but at least I’ll be doing something I love, right?

I just hope I don’t glue myself to the chair…again…. 😉

Thankful Changes

Oy…finally!! We are moving into Autumn quite nicely! Today brought a cold (cool? Cooling, maybe?) front through South Texas, encouraging the leaves outside to start changing somewhat. We don’t get the glorious colors of Autumn in New England here, but neither do we get the blizzards and power outages and ice-covered roads. Soon enough, the squirrels that run on my rooftop will go hibernate somewhere, and my dogs will no longer perk up and go insane at the sound of pitter patter.

Another wonderful thing about Autumn is my favorite holiday: Thanksgiving. I’m not sure why it is, but I love it. Cooking vast amounts of food, trying to be overheard above the din of football and kids, visiting with family, taking the time to give to others less fortunate and being thankful for everything in your life, is what makes this day so special.

Of course, there will be a lot of preparations, and tears for what we have lost, and have gained, and prayers for those who cannot be with us, and for those who are lost and afraid. But also smiles for our loved ones, and teasing and laughing and lots and lots of unbuttoning of jeans.

I pray y’all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and know that I am very grateful for each and every one of you 🙂

Blogosphere News

As y’all know, I’m a relative newbie to the intertubewebnets. True, I have blogged for a while at H&B, but I have only had my own blog for a few months. It’s a work in progress. Or regress. I’m still not sure. Maybe it’s more stagnant than anything. Whatever the case may be, I’m here to have fun, and y’all are here to make fun of my mishaps 😀

Anyway, I wanted to take the time to introduce a new blog on the scene. Our friend QueenBee has decided to come to the Blog Side™!! Her blog is full of the wisdom that comes with her eventual ruling of the world. If only her rules would be followed, the world would be a better place, indeed.

Not her crown, but she deserves it!!

So, let us all be faithful minions, and go give her some windbaggery love!!

Being Happy

One of my favorite movies is Pollyanna, the story of a girl who always found a reason to be glad. I have always been of the opinion that happiness is all around: one just needs to find the right “fit”. Sometimes I am a grump, I admit, and don’t feel like looking for happiness in anything. Wallowing in misery is something I can do well, too. But it is so time consuming, and in the end no one, and I mean NO ONE is willing to put up with my doldrums, so what’s the use, right?? And that’s where Pollyanna comes in. It does take effort, but I do manage to find something that makes me happy at least once a day. I’m not happy all day, mind you, but I am happy every day.

Always, always, always look for a reason to be glad. I promise, the search is always worth it 🙂

Fashionistas

A friend of mine, the one who is crazy about shoes, loves to post photos of fabulous dresses as well. And by “fabulous” I mean “in the five figure range”. This morning she showed me this confection:

Me: I like the flow and the ruffles on the top that Valentino is famous for, but that flounce at the bottom hurts my eyes.

Friend: One word: V A L E N T I N O!

Me: Two words: B A D G L E Y  M I S C H K A !!

More like this:

It’s one of my grails to own a Badgley Mishka gown. I can only hope one shows up at the Goodwill store in my size someday. The funny thing is, Eldest owns one. And by “funny” I mean “tragic”. She needed it for a runway show, and I found it majorly reduced, in her size, and the Saks’ Off 5th store. Talk about lucky.

Now, if only I needed a gown for an occasion besides housework 🙂

Thursday Sithy Funny

Ok, have lots to do today, and haven’t the time to write nonsensical musings, so I will leave y’all with the funniest sign ever:

And though I have a mild language preference for the blog, I could NOT pass this up.

Courtesy of my friend Darkwolf 🙂

Dangerous Liasons

My friend The Nomstress is here for a quick visit, planning to take Son for a week. And when she is in town, bad things happen to my checkbook:

These are Trollbeads, and they are addictive. Hubby will attest I have….a few. And yesterday eldest got her very own bracelet for her birthday, composed of the Chakhra beads, which I had been collecting for over eight months. Anyway, Nomstress tells me she needs to go to the Trollbeads store to exchange a leather bracelet.

Best laid plans, and all that rot.

They had just received a huge lot of “universal uniques”, which will fit other brands of bracelets, as well. And they were sooo pretty!!! So I caved. And it didn’t help matters having Eldest and Nomstress cheering me on, either.

Sigh….. 😉