My Inheritance

I have become a raving lunatic somewhat obsessive over things that belonged to my Mom. I have a big box (I do wish it was bigger now) of some of my Mom's clothes. I had planned on cutting them up and making lap quilts for myself and my siblings.....and maybe Dad.....But when I pulled them out to begin the cutting and disassembling.....I couldn't do it. No, I froze. These were her things. Does she need them now...? No. Will she be sad if I make them into something we all can cling to...? No. So why can't I cut them? Because I'm crazy, that's why.
Owls...not usually my thing...not even really my Mom's thing. But she had a necklace that my Dad gave her as a gift early on in their marriage. It is a silver and onyx owl. I have seen it around my Mom's neck for as long as I can remember. Did she wear it constantly? No. Did she have jewelry she liked more? Yes. But this wise old bird just reminds me of her. So now what do I do?I buy owl stuff. Lots of it. Mostly at thrift shops and then I paint it....but even my new address book has owls on it.
Earlier this year my Dad gave each of us kids some money that my Mom had been saving to give us....sort of an inheritance, if you will. As far as inheritance sums go....it wasn't a huge chunk of change.....but it wasn't anything to sneeze at that is for sure. I have been saving some of each paycheck I get for subbing. Not a lot....but it has added up. I have been looking for something to spend it on. I thought maybe I'd put granite counter tops in my kitchen here. I had it all picked out. I was ready. But then the thought came to me.....if I move.....part of my Mom (not really but this was the thought...ok) will have to stay behind in this house. ((Remember....crazy)) The money belonged to my Mother....my Mom. How could I leave a part of her in this house in Minnesota. As irrational as that sounds here, out in the open, that was my line of thinking. That money came from my Mom.....I just couldn't spend it on granite. I decided that liposuction was my next option. But...I'm not quite at the fitness level I want to be at (you know....so it doesn't go to waste!!)....so that had to wait. Then it hit me. Braces. I have always wanted to have straight teeth. We didn't have a lot of money when I was growing up and my parents chose to get braces for the child who had the most jacked up teeth. Unfortunately, that child didn't continue to wear his retainer and thus his teeth didn't stay where they were supposed to. Oh well......My sister Kim and I have this one tooth that is crazy. Really, if the angle is right, most people can't see why we hate the smile thing so much. But on the inside....we can feel it and we don't like what it looks like in our minds. So I started the process a few weeks ago. I have a friend of a friend for my awesome orthodontist. She is brilliant, and kind, and just fabulous. She presented 2 treatment options. Plan one involves about 4 years worth of time. Seriously....I'm 37.....I have my man....I don't need to be in braces for 4 years. Plan two....much less invasive. Plan two should wrap up within 7 months....but she is shooting for closer to 5. I have clear brackets on my top teeth and they will be shaving a little off the sides of the big gopher teeth 4 front teeth to make them all fit together nicely. So far...the pain is minimal. I think I was expecting it to be much worse. I just remember my poor kids and how much pain they were in. Maybe age and perspective and the fact that I really want this makes it more bearable. As I was paying the nice lady behind the desk....I felt like I was in the Geico commercial. Paid in full......discount. Paid with cash....discount....Lucky day....discount!! It came to about $400 less that the original price with all my discounts and the surprise "lucky day" discount. My insurance did cover some of the x-ray costs. So I walked out with all the money I got for Christmas in tact. WOOHOO!! Now all I need is a feather boa and I could be Josie Gellar. I look totally rufus!!

Some Kevin Photos

For Christmas, Kevin sent me a photo camera card. I stuck it in my computer and here are a few of the images I found. Here he is at the MTC. He is always having so much fun.
I don't have names or places......I just know my first born. Man, I miss that kid!!
Goofy, of course!!
Look how good he looks!! Be still my heart!!
And happy.....always happy. This is truly one choice spirit. I am so blessed to be his Mama.

Merry Christmas

On Christmas Eve we open one gift. It is the same every year....pajamas. At first the kids were resistant to the idea....now they like it. We did miss Kevin a whole lot this year. He is doing great and loved the pj's we sent him. I didn't get a pic of Jo modeling hers like I usually do. Oh well.
This was one of her favorite gifts this year. A very personalized ornament with the date that she officially became a licenced driver.
She was so good to me this year. Yesterday I was feeling pretty low. She did everything she could think of to make the day easier for me. She even told me that we could wake up at 6:00 a.m. to see what Santa had left for us....AND she would do it with a smile. She totally rocks. I love this kid. My kids are always trying to get me to sleep in on Christmas morning....(mostly for Kevin it's all for show. He is as excited as I am)...She made the sacrifice for me and got up as promised. The smile came later....
The dogs even got new toys. Now I can throw away the yucky old ones.
My sisters enlisted my Dad's help and bought Jim some fishing lures. One can never have too many lures....Thanks guys!!
Darla, my love, thank you for posing for the pictures.
Jo loves hats. I think it is for the same reason I buy so many blankets. We hate to be cold. She also got a bracelet making kit. She is all sorts of crafty....I just love that.....so proud. ((sniff))
Jim LOVES to read. I got him a couple of books that I know he is going to love. One of them is a dog breed book. Thus incorporating 2 things that he loves....books and dogs.
This happened on Christmas Eve. Not sure how or why. I was just minding my own business, cooking away, and CRACK!! There it is.....Oh well......
And then there is the snow that I requested for Christmas. I was happy to see that our recent purchase of snow removal equipment won't go unused.
Of course, what I didn't realize is that he was going to clear the entire yard!! HAHAHA Seriously, we have very little snow left on the grass. But....in his defense.....my short, pudgy little dog now has a nice place to potty.
So a tons of left-overs sit in the fridge....wrapping paper fills the trash....we are (mostly) happy and are grateful for the blessings of the Season. What did you do for Christmas?

Cookies and Ornaments

Have I mentioned that I have the most fabulous peeps? I do....they inspire me every day. They are smart and witty and so darn good lookin'. We are unstoppable when we get together. We went to Fargo last week. Oh....so fun....the 4 of us in Fargo for twelve and a half hours....man!! It was awesome!! Ever since I have been here (third Christmas now) they have included me in their cookie exchange. Last year we even added ornaments to the exchange. I am constantly amazed at their creativity. This year was no different. This is the ornament that I made. I used some of my old buttons and some new buttons some wire and a little ribbon. Easy peasy.
These are the ornaments from my friends. Clock-wise from the top....we have a snowflake from Heather, a wooden heart form Renae, and a hand-made drawing from Salena. I love her creativity and in-a-pinch thinking. She had a photo of us all that she thought might work.....but our heads were too far apart. So she improvised and we took one today that will work. Oh, BTW....she is the tall one in the pic.....and yes, she is really that tall!!
These are the yummy cookies that they made. Mine are not in the photo. I made Ginger Snaps and they are yummy. Again, from the top, moving in a clock-wise manner....Renae made the Kiss Cookies, Sandies from Heather and my all-time favorite...Pumpkin Chocolate Chip from Salena. So tasty.
This is the four of us at a local eatery celebrating Renae's birthday. We always have such a great time. I love these women. They make Minnesota a place worth being.

It's Just Different

Last year was the first Christmas without a phone call from Mom. I had already done one Christmas here in Minnesota without seeing her....but I have always talked to my Mom on Christmas, until last year.....of course. I thought this year would be better. I wouldn't feel the loss so acutely. No such luck. Last year I can compare it to an open wound, seeping it's bloody sorrow into every facet of my day. This year it is more like a freshly scabbed wound, still tender and sore. It doesn't feel any better....just different. I have some cousins that lost their Dad very unexpectedly 2 months ago. I have felt their loss and have assumed I have an idea of how they are feeling. I told them a month ago that next year would be better. I guess I should never assume to know.....until I have lived it. Well, I am living the second Christmas and can tell them now....it doesn't get better.....it just gets different.

My New Favorite....

I do love Nativity scenes. They bring the Christmas Spirit into my heart quicker than anything else. I have a few in my collection. These are some of the new ones. The ceramic one on the left I bought last year at Target on their 75% off sale. SCORE!! I received the small clay one from a young friend this year for Christmas.....yes, I opened it early.....it's just how I roll. The Willow Tree Nativity in the center is the last one my Mom gave me. The metal one on the right I made this year. Yep, I made it.....or assembled it really.
I ordered a kit from HERE. It came with all the metal pieces ready to screw into any old wood. I got a chunk of 2x6 and spray painted it in the basement in my workshop. Then I took it to the garage and ran the sander over it for a while. After it was a bit scuffed up, I painted on and wiped off some dark stain to shabby it a bit more. I love it. I then tied a bow around the star for a pop of color. I can tell already.....it will be one of my favorite Nativity sets for years to come.
I am linking to Between Naps on the Porch this week. There are some fabulous transformations linked there. Go check them out!!

It's More of a Twig....

In my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) our congregations are divided up into wards depending on where we live. If there are not enough people in an area to form a ward....we form a branch....or as we affectionately call it....a twig. The area we pull from is approximately 120 miles by about 80 miles. On any given Sunday we have about 25 faithful members that drive as far as 70 miles away to attend church on Sunday. My family drives 40 minutes from our home every week....and an extra trip for the annual Christmas party. Last year we had to call it a night a bit early on account of snow. This year was a treat. We got to stay the entire time. These salt-of-the-earth people are as humble and fervent in their testimony as they come. We don't have a clique problem.....like you can find in bigger wards. We have a 2 hour meeting schedule instead of the usual 3 hours. And we have such a good time together. I don't think I have laughed so hard at a church party as I did last night. We have 2 young men in the ward and they are a riot! They are fun to kid around with and I like to talk with them. It makes me miss Kev just a hair less. Today we showed up to church and found the parking lot covered in a 4 inch blanket of snow. After a little teasing and cajoling the young men found it in their hearts to shovel the sidewalks and a few trails through the parking lot. What I didn't know is they were out there for most of the first block.........piling snow around every side of my car!!! I think they cleared the entire parking lot!
This is what it looked like as I came out from primary......the boys could barely contain their glee as they showed me the fruits of their labors. Oh, they were so proud. So many emotions hit me at once. A little bit of exasperation hit me as I hoped the hadn't scratched my paint....but mostly I laughed. They did promise to dig it out for me.....as they congratulated themselves on a job well done. And then it hit me. They only tease you if they like you. (How many time have I said that to Jo?) We were being initiated into the club....we are officially in....I know I can count on these boys for anything now. And I hope they know that they can count on me too.