A Year of "Firsts" and Much "Change"

This year has been filled with "firsts" and "changes" galore!!

We spent the "first" few months trying to make sense of the sudden loss of sweet grandlittle bird, Carter. I am not sure I will ever be able to understand the loss of a child so innocent.

We somehow got through our "first" Easter without him. Last year Carrie was here at the BlessInn celebrating that holiday as an expectant mom of baby #2.

May brought about Will's College graduation. The door for him has opened to lots of "firsts" and "changes". The "change" for us was obviously more "change" in our pockets!!!

Then in June our hearts ached as the calendar rolled around to what would have been Carter's "first" birthday.

I held the "first" Grandy Camp for 3 weeks in June with grandlittle bird, Cailyn. We had a lot of fun, and I look forward to continuing that tradition every summer...but with one "change"...it will only be for one week in future years! Whew!

July brought life "changes" as my honey's parents...Namby and D'dad...moved in with us, followed quickly by littlebird Carrie and Chris and of course grandlittle bird, Cailyn. And...my honey left his job. Now that's some "change". Ditto on the Whew!

In August my honey had his "first" day with a new job. More travel, but he works out of the house...which is a nice "change". :)

October was spent preparing for grandlittle's birthday...the "first" she would celebrate here. It was a fun day for our little "Boo", the Halloween baby!

November brought about another difficult "first" as we had now spent a full year without grandlittle bird, Carter. Another day spent with much heartache.

The anticipation of Christmas, however, helped to "change" the mood a bit. This year was the "first" we would spend Christmas at the BlessInn as last year we traveled to Illinois for the holiday. This Christmas was also the "first" time Namby and D'dad did not play Santa for all the Wilkinsons...a "change" that has been difficult for everyone in the family.

One last "change" for us this year at Christmas was the retiring of the littlebird's Santa Sacks. After about 20 years of waking up to a sack FILLED with gifts from Santa, this year was the last. We did go out with a bang though!

"Change" is hard...and so are "firsts".

I am looking forward to a more uneventful 2011. Bring it on!

Hopefully the only "change" will be my hair color!

Happy 10 Year Anniversary

Just 10 years ago tomorrow, my honey and I renewed our vows at a beautiful ceremony at Hope Church in Illinois. All of our kids were there to share in the special day. We were just 6 months shy of our 25th wedding anniversary. It was a joyous moment, and it truly signified a new beginning. These last 10 years have been the best so far, and I wanted to say Thank You to my honey!!

In honor of that day, I have included below the vows that I wrote and said to my honey on December 23, 2000.

"I believe we were meant to be together. I believe that it's God's plan, so it has to be right. He has blessed us with four beautiful children, and they're the best gifts you could have ever given me...well...and the Barbra Streisand concert tickets!

I believe that we were meant to grow old together and share our grandchildren...and some day sit in our rocking chairs...on our porch at our house by the beach...holding hands...and knowing that we've found heaven.

I know this is right because God has answered my prayers and shown me the way back to you...and my heart is full again. I love you."

I love you, Lex and am so happy to have been blessed to marry you twice!!! XXOO

Gotta love craft shows....

A while back I blogged about an "awesome" piece of "art" that I saw at a local flea market. I really am drawn to those types of things...you know...flea markets...craft shows...etc. I am always amazed at what I see.

It never fails...tucked between the fabulous deals and creativity...you can always find something that just catches your eye...something that just does not allow you to walk past without noticing.

Once again...I am speechless.

'Twas the Night Before Jesus Came...

Written by Audrey Patricia Woolverton

'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!

The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life, which was held in His hand,
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible was true after all!

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.
LET'S NOT FORGET WHY WE CELEBRATE THIS WONDEROUS DAY!!

My wish for each one of you is that you BELIEVE in CHRISTmas!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!!

A Little Cailyn Chatter

I just realized that I never wrote all the cute ways that grandlittle bird Cailyn pronounced her words during "Grandy Camp". She is so grown up NOW and speaks very well, but just a mere 6 months ago she made us giggle with her "words" everytime she spoke. Here are just a few favorites...

Yam I am! (Yes, I am)

Swim soup (swim suit)

Hula hoop (tube for pool)

Swim gobbles (swim goggles)

Peeuter (computer)

No, my not! (No, I’m not)

Hotgog (hotdog)

Pool towlull (pool towel)

Ham stamp (hand stand)

Shashlight (flashlight)

Mikey favor (microwave)

And one day I said she was "adorable" and she turned to Jessie and said "we can get a Dora bowl at the store"!

She is growing up so fast right before my eyes!

Can you "see" me now???

I learned a long time ago that with age comes many wonderful benefits. Let me list a few...
* adult children
* grandchildren
* a bucketful of friends
* knowing "who" you are...and being comfortable with that!

But there are also some "not so wonderful" aspects to getting older. Let me list a few more...
* achy joints...you know when you get out of bed in the morning in stages (and very slowly)
* hair in places it should not be
* saggy (baggy)skin
* weird toenails
* hot flashes
* loss of memory
* loss of hearing
* loss of sight...you know, when you can no longer read the fine print unless you take OFF your glasses...hold it as close to your face as possible...under the brightest of lights!

Those of us that wear glasses have all read something in that way! Those of you that do not wear glasses normally...or at least "claim" that you only need them to read...have it a little harder because first you have to find your glasses then go through all the stages above!

A dear friend of mine, and her husband, wear their glasses just to read. You can be in their home at any time and find several pairs of glasses in each room...on the end tables...dining table...kitchen counter...and bathroom sink..even tucked away in drawers. Outside you can find them on the picnic table...in their cars...in the barn...and on the porch.

My friend even keeps a pair at my house in case she can't find hers when in need.

So...the other night we had just left a restaurant after having dinner with our friends. The guys were in the front seats while my friend and I were in the back. Why does that always happen????

My friend was digging in her purse for something...I don't even remember what now. While digging she found her cell phone...which she never has with her nor knows where it is. And of course when she finds it the battery is dead!

But also in her purse she finds one...no two...no three...wait, four...ummmmm five...six...oh my, seven pairs of glasses and two pairs of sunglasses!!!! She said every time she leaves home she throws a pair in her purse in case she does not have a pair in there. LOL!!!!!

I think this is where the * loss of memory comes in!

And...how about this one for those of you that always wear glasses...
* isn't it the strangest thing that you have to make sure you have your glasses on to hear something???

Splish...Splash

So...Saturday is pool cleaning day. Now, Sebastian does a really good job, but in the fall especially he needs a little assistance from me to get all of the leaves out. If I left it up to him he would have to be running around in the pool the whole day! It's tough to find good help these days! Geesh!

Now...you may be wondering why my pool is still open??? Well...simply...I forgot to call the pool company to close it until the 2nd week in September. When I did call the lady that answered the phone said "When would you like it closed?" to which I replied "Oh, the beginning of October would be great" to which she answered "Well, the first opening I have is October 23!" Now...I ask you...why didn't she just say that right up front?????

So, although I do a quick cleaning every day before work, Saturday is pool cleaning day. Complete with brushing and skimming and chemicalizing...is that a word??? I did finally turn off the heater on October 1st...after much prodding from my honey. Since no one is swimming anymore, and rarely using the hot tub...I figured he was probably right. See, my honey...I do say you are right sometimes!!

What a beautiful day it was. The sun was shining. There was a slight breeze. A perfect fall day. Cailyn was playing in the rocks by the pool, and I was scooping out leaves with the skimmer...keeping one eye on her so that she did not get too close to the edge and fall in. Thank goodness I was doing that!!!

In fact, I was paying more attention to her...and not quite enough to what I was doing. And so...guess who fell in!!! That's right!

Now I wish I hadn't listened to my honey and was still heating the pool!!! One never knows when the mood may strike you to take a little dip!!

BRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!