One of the Greatest Christmas Joys

I must say that today I got to experience one of the greatest Christmas Joys. The gift of giving to those who would not have Christmas otherwise. Our favorite motorcycle group sponsored a family for Christmas. Dennis and I, and the Green's went with the worker to deliver Christmas. We sponsored a family of 7 and we had three huge tubs of gifts to haul up 2 flights of stairs and they decided to open them in front of us. They also allowed us to take pictures. One of our members gave a beautiful Porcelain doll for the 4 year old little girl. If you could have seen her eyes, when she opened that doll, ohh my! So many times a 4 year old doesn't appreciate something of this nature, but she handled it like it would break. Her eyes were so big, it was unexplainable. She hugged this baby, and carefully placed her in a special place on the couch. She opened her other things and loved each one, she kept telling us thank you and she took her colors and colorbooks and sat down and colored, staying inside the lines. Oh my, she did a beautiful job! Every member loved things, the babies loved the things we got them, by their smiles and trying to play with them and going towards the toys. The adults kept saying Thank You with so much meaning, it was like...just saying Thank you, it was from their heart. To see these people and how much they appreciated everything we took to them, was truly a great gift of Christmas to me. It will definately be something I am sure we will continue to do. Isn't that part of the meaning of the season?

I am so thankful I can give things to my family and we are not in their position. We cut back this year, and we feel very good about those gifts we are giving, even with the cutting back. We are really looking forward to the "time" together and the sharing between us this year. I feel so fortunate.

Its Winter

Well, you can definately tell it is winter in Iowa. Ice and snow. Dennis had to plow last night, poor guy was up and off to work by 11 pm and then to regular job by 4 AM and hopefully will be home by 3-4 today. The guy needs sleep. We didn't go to the Honda Riders Dinner last night because he found out how early he would have to get up and so decided he needed sleep. Said he almost fell asleep driving to Panora. YIKES! Hate to think about that.

My week is most awesome, as of now, I have lost 55 pounds. I am so happy. I wanted 5 more by Christmas, but that probably is not going to happen, however, it will happen in time. Just the fact the weight is still coming off is the best.

I am not looking forward to the 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ice that we are to expect tomorrow. That is just uncalled for, guess we need a long talk with the weather man. Snow, I suppose, cold I supposed, no ice...

I am thinking I am actually going to get to bake something this year for Christmas. I hope so, I miss doing that.

I am so thankful, however, for having all the seasons we get to enjoy in Iowa. I wish they were not so severe sometimes, but the change in seasons is usually pretty and I have a part of me that does enjoy them. I don't think I would want to be somewhere that doesn't have a change at all. I miss riding the motorcycle in the winter, however, if we just didn't have all this ice and some of the snow we still could ride! LOL

Well, tonight will make the Christmas Cards and hopefully finish cleaning up our office/scrapbooking room.

Christmas Shopping

Well, really am feeling good about this year. I have had so much trouble getting around for so many years shopping has been a huge chore. Dennis and I shopped for about 4 hours yesterday and today I went with Louise for about 3 hours and it is done. Got great prices on things, got things I wanted and didn't spend tons. Kept in a budget, and all wrapping is done. I have 2 gift cards to pick up and one other thing, then all done. I am usually rushing to wrap when people are on there way to our home for Christmas. This year its done, I can enjoy wrapped gifts under the tree, and just enjoy. I won't be rushing. The days before Christmas I can enjoy, taking them off and don't have to hustle and bustle and have the stress. I am now truly looking forward to Christmas! It will be such a fun time this year.

Dennis and I went to a candy store inValley Junction yesterday cause I needed specific flavors of jelly belly's for something I am making. Well can you believe that they are $7.59 per pound. I am guessing we went to the wrong place!

Dennis got a big cushion that is supposed to be a doggie bed for Max, well, Max is on the love seat and the cats have taken over the cushion. It is so cute!

Well, I am so thankful for what I have been given health wise this year. The fact that I shopped for 2 days and wrapped all and am not over come with serious pain is such a blessing. I can't believe that I can do so much that I wasn't able to do for several years.

The Ups and Downs of Christmas

Why is it that we feel Christmas must be so commercial? What is the real reason for the season? Tonight, I have just spent several hours working on something for a family our motorcycle group is sponsoring. How wonderful it was to have my "stash". I think what I did tonight with my dear friend Louise, was probably the best gift we could give. We were able to obtain some pictures that were taken of the family and they have not seen them yet. I used my wonderful photo printer and we printed several and then we put them into frames that we got for the family. One of their requests were for picture frames. The pictures were not the correct sizes to be for 5 x 7 or 8 x 10, etc. So, when they printed we figured we would be matting them. Well, instead of matting, we used ribbon, stickers, and other embellishements and we embellished the pictures in most cases, in one case we embellished the frame. We did 8 of these. They turned out, well, in our opinion, beautiful. I know if someone had done these for me, I would definately cry for joy. They were so personalized for the family from what they were wearing and what we know of them. I can't wait until delivery day and see their faces. To me...this was a huge part of Christmas, doing something for others. Something from the heart.

I know I am looking so forward to the weekend. Tomorrow is only Thursday and I really wish it were Friday. I need to sleep in! LOL I know we have two different Christmas party/dinners on Saturday night for two different motorcycle groups. These are always fun, just food and companionship, sharing stories of things we did through the year. I think we are going to end up at the BMW dinner at Chuck's Restaurant. That place in itself brings back memories! I know we will enjoy either one, but I am pretty certain thats where we will go.

Today I am thankful for Dennis, and the things he does for me and how he has shown me so much more. How he is so wonderful about all things in my family. How he gets along so well with the boys father, Jim. He respects him as their father and him being a part of our life. It is so wonderful that I was so able to find someone that has never asked me to change and is so supportive of what I do and has always tried to help me in so many ways. He gives himself to protect our country, so far being state side always. He takes his job very seriously and I know that with people like him we can have our freedom that we so enjoy. I hope that everyone can have someone that special in their lives.

Winter wasn't so bad

Well, we didn't get hit with as much snow and ice as we thought we would. Here in Des Moines we only ended up with 1.3 inches of snow after the ice. I think they said there was about 1/8 inch of ice. My only problem was that the silly doors on my car froze shut. Thankfully my neighbor was getting ready to leave when I was going to start my car and he came down and pulled it open. Thanks John! Travel to work wasn't bad at all. Walking wasn't even bad underfoot when I got there. However, you would have thought some of the other drivers were here for the first time from Florida or something. They drove like idiots. I am surprised there weren't more accidents today than there were.

I felt really proud today. A student that used to be a student aide for me was in working on something for a class. Before she left she stopped at my desk and asked if I had lost a lot of weight. OMigosh, it felt so good. YES! 50 pounds! Long way to go, but it is happening! I can't stop! Tricia, you will never know how good that felt for you to say that. I do notice cause my jeans are 3 sizes smaller and other clothes 2 sizes, but it really felt good for someone else to notice again. It might be what I needed to get past my plateu for now.

Sometimes we get to feeling like our lives are not good. Like we don't have what we should, like things are always bad. I hear students say this all the time. They are so down on themselves. I share with them, I have been there. I know the feeling they are sharing. I tell them to find anything in the morning when they get up...anything and realize the positive from that one little thing. Soon life is more positives than negatives. Something positive might be that they had a bed to sleelp in, a blanket to cover up with, or they can see the sun when it comes up in the morning. I had a student share with me that they are doing this, something different every day and they said it is making things easier, they realize not everyone is against them, and they do have lots to be thankful for. So, leading up to my item of thankfulness for the day...

Today I am thankful that I was able to walk into the building at work on my own. I remember 4 years ago being told that I probably wouldn't walk much longer. I cried and Dennis gave me thoughts to remember, keep pushing and keep talking to new doctors. Today, I walked into the building on my own and was only in very minimal pain. That feels so glorious! What a great feeling! Without being able to walk, I probably would not be able to enjoy riding the motorcycle with Dennis, which is a true love.

Christmas is close, I still need to get about everything, but only buying for the boys and Tina. Not sure what yet, but we will see.

Winter is arriving

Well, I fell backwards and haven't posted for a while. Thanksgiving weekend, the wifi in the hotel wasn't working very well and then life was too busy, or so it seemed. This is really something I want to try to keep up.

Work has been tough. Lots of special issues and I always feel bad for those that are struggling. However, when I leave and go home at night, I know I have truly been needed. That is a very good feeling in itself.

Thanksgiving in Iowa City was a fun time. All the boys were there. Dennis' dad looked really good and that was a surprise after he had been so sick this summer. Very pleased to see him look like he did. He seems pretty cozy in his motor home and seems pleased with it. It was great to see all the brothers and Stephanie looked so cute pregnant. There will be a new great neice come January. I am so happy for her.

Dennis' National Guard Christmas Party went very well, considering I wasn't real excited about it. It was much better than last year. We brought side dishes, food was better and the company was better. We set with his Sgt Major and his wife and they ride motorcycles, so we had great conversation. It was a short party, and so he got to leave early and that was nice also.

Looks like we are headed for real winter tonight. I am cringing cause my blazer is not running properly, so I will be taking the taurus and I just don't like it on crappy roads. LOL...not as much control with it for some reason. Oh well, I will make it and life will be ok. Dennis went to Chris' tonight and they worked for several hours, but now his heater is working. Thank goodness. Life is getting better! They are saying possibly more ice than snow and that doesn't make me feel good at all. I worry a lot about Mike cause he walks to and from the studio to home and he works so late at the studio. I hope he wears lots of warm things. College life is that way I guess.

I think I am going to start listing one thing every day that I am greatful for...

Tonight I am greatful to have the two wonderful boys I have been blessed with. I could never ask for more. I am so greatful to have them.