Office girls deliver!

Have you noticed anything different 

on here?!

My blog has a pretty new look...

This little cutie-pie, is a graphic designer where I work...

....and she hooked me up with a new header.

A header that sparkles....thanks Chelsea!

She's young and talented, and I am

encouraging her to set up a side business or an

Etsy site.

I'll keep you posted if she does!

I'm trying to use the new signature she made me,

but I'm having problems with the placement.

So, if anyone knows how to do that on Blogger 

let.me.know.cuz.it's.frustrating.

I thought I would share a couple of additions

in our house.

I found these little mirrors strung on fishing line

at a local store, Patina.

Aren't they fun?
...and very hard to photograph...

I thought they would bring in a fun element to the room.
And some sparkle.  Cuz, I'm all over sparkle.

I think they were using them as Christmas decor
I decided they are cute enough for all year round.

A month or so ago I found a blog post that
shocked me.  Do you know stores like Staples or Office Depot
will print out a huge image in black and white for a tiny cost?

This one is close to 2' x 3'.

 ....I think they charged me under $3.
You just have to bring it in on a USB drive.

 The image got pretty pixelated {is that a word?}.
But, I didn't want it perfect.

I knew I was going to mod podge it onto an
old canvas I had painted over.
I wanted it to look rough and aged.

So it's hanging in my hallway.
The hallway I can't wait to paint.
Someday.

And this addition is the jackpot!

Another co-worker told me she was selling a couch.
She said it was old but is in excellent condition as
it was always covered.

It belonged to her in-laws and they have pics of her
husband when he was a boy on it!

So, it's officially vintage.
And it officially works in this room.
And they delivered it and charged me $50.

Can you take it?

I've done a dance over this beauty and love that it's
now mine.

Of course, I've got a million ideas for new pillows...

Toodles,

Suzanne--see? this signature needs help!

Our only Hope

I've had enough of the crap of this world.

And maybe me getting to this point can help those 

who feel very lost and alone in the news of what happened in Connecticut today.

The individual who killed the innocent children and adults today

had to have some mental problems.  We will never understand

how anyone could do what he did.

He was a broken man.  

We are all broken.

And to God, there are no levels of "brokenness".

We are all sinners.

But, rather than focus on him, the criminal.

Focus on Him, our Savior who is in complete control.

Even when your life is a mess, He will clean it up if you ask.

He's comforting those babies right now.
He can comfort you.

Go rent this movie.

We watched it this week...my 3.5 year old and 5 year old, had lots of questions.

And I was happy to answer them.

Because this movie is truth.  It's not the fibs I have to make up about Santa.

It's our Hope.  It's our Foundation.  It's why there is good news.

Jesus was born to save all of the world.  Me, you and that killer today.

I'm glad we are all hugging our loved ones closer today.

It's better than getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

I plan to keep on building my life around these truths.

And if you need any help from me directing you to these 

truths...I.am.here.  And I.am.happy.to.help.

If words on paper don't move you, watch this

video...it's His words to us.

Prayers abound today...

 

 

Happy to announce...

I'm a little scared to say it.

At the same time, I want to stand in my 

driveway and scream it at the top of my lungs.

Yes, I said stand.

" I FEEL BETTER!"

"I DON'T HAVE UNBEARABLE PAIN!"

Thank the Lord,

all the prayers and treatments are

working...and I feel more and more

like myself.

I have this chiropractor...I'm gonna

get a picture with him to share later.

He does good work.

So does his massage gal, Sonia.

I have stretched, and iced and 

positioned myself properly and all the hard work

is paying off!!

I just have to say..thanks for listening

to my saga of back pain from surgery.

I have such empathy and sympathy for people in pain now.

I want to go 'be there' in any way for someone in pain.

I want to hug them and say "I know".

 {Not kidding, tell me of someone you know in pain,

I want to do something for them.}

Woo hoo!

I want to dance, but I don't want to mess something up.

So, I'm doing a dance like this...

 {Remember the scene in Love Actually?!}

I am here to encourage you of two things.

1. Prayer--it works

2. Let people help you 

Prayer- I have had my friends and family pray for

healing to happen in my body.  I have had my doctor

pray for my pain.  I have had strangers place their hands on me 

and ask for healing.

Most sciatic pain takes 6-8 weeks

to subside, I am at week 4...don't want to go backwards and

time will tell, but I think that says something. 

Let people help you--I have had to learn a 

tough lesson.  I can't do it all.  I do need help.

It's okay to take help.  Cuz when I do, I help the person

giving the help as well...it makes them feel

needed and that they made an impact.

And friends, you have made an impact!

And for that, you have my deepest gratitude.

Gosh...I think I just made myself cry.

 

Gonna do some celebrating tonight... 

To the ones that make me laugh....

Lately I have had the chance to realize I have some really, great girlfriends.

And, I have all different kinds of friends.

Different ages that come from different places in my life.

The thing they all have in common is, they are fabulous women.

I made a decision right after college to have women in my life that make me better.

Women that make me learn and will keep me growing.

So many of you have come around at this time in my life.  

You have lifted me up in your own special way with your own special talents and personalities.

I am in awe how many different ways someone can make you feel good or at least make your situation better.

I have women who email me, who chat me, who call me, who text me, who pray for me,  and friends who let me know they care.

This isn't a post to brag about all the friends I have...but maybe it is?  

If this becomes writing about friends and recognizing who you are and what you do, 

then that's what I want.

Because I can truly recognize and enjoy how you make my life better and how 

I hope I am that to you too!

Alright then, I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna write about who some of my friends are and what they bring to me, and certainly the other people in their lives, because of their talents and their hearts.

I don't know if I will name names or have pictures...we will just take this as it comes, k?

Laughter and humor.

A lot of you make me laugh, but I have this one friend....we adore her.  We know if she is there, we will be laughing like the gut-busting kind of laughing.  

She doesn't just make me laugh, she is good to my kids...always bringing a gift or toy, it doesn't have to be new.  Most times, its something that brought her joy when she was younger.

The other night she was texting something and making me laugh, to the point my incisions hurt from my surgery.  

We were doing this thing we do where we say stuff that is the opposite of the truth.

Me, "I have to gain 30 pounds before my 40th birthday, my clothes are falling off of me and I am down to a size 2."

Friend, "I have so many pairs of Tori Burch flats, they are only $195 a pair, so I bought 5!"

 

Might sound stupid to you, but we found it hilarious.

I love you friends, lately you have warmed my heart and made me tear up....cuz I feel the love in a big way.  And I want you to know--you all have a different way of showing that love, it's unique to you and who you are....and it's super cool to sit back and watch.

Thanks for the laughs...go, get one of your girlfriends and do something fun,

or whatever you need at this point in life.

Get your girlfriend and have a good laugh,

it's good medicine.

I'm thankful for mine.

{All pics are from Pinterest and WeHeartIt}

It's not always your normal Christmas.

It must've started when we decided to have 

Thanksgiving at a restaurant this year.

That made it clear that the holidays will

 be different this year from others.

And that's cool.

They can't all be the same.

You have good years and bad years in life, 

if you are really being honest. 

Some are more memorable than others too.

I remember saying once that 2009 was a tough year.

I wonder if I will remember why when I am 80 years old. 

This year will not be like the others.

Mainly, because I am off my feet.

I am doing all my shopping online, which is easy.

But, because I'm not my healthy self, 

I don't have the opportunity to roam the stores 

and peruse and get excited about the season.

{That equals spending less money, I can

guarantee it!}

I'm excited, just in a different way.

I bought a pink Christmas tree.

That's different, no?

There must be a market, cuz they make them.

This little 4 foot high tree is gonna do it for us this year.

I just don't have the energy and the wherewith all to lug out all the decor and go get a tree.

I found it at BigLots for $16...bada bing! 

 I'm done.

And I assigned the tree decorating to my little elves and sat and snapped these pics.

It sure made them happy and isn't that all that matters?

We probably won't go to Macy's Christmas downtown this year

or sit on Santa's lap, so I got creative.

We go for drives with ice cream cones from McDonald's. 

We check out Christmas lights and I do my best to explain a manger scene.

The best part?

Driving and listening to them squeal at all the lights.

And its good, a little easier than year's past.

Maybe all of this compromising-- because I can't walk much

 will provide new traditions. 

And maybe someday I will be able to say,

"Remember the year we bought a pink Christmas tree?".

And about the tree....I can sense that it's not gonna

be liked by the traditional folks......

I saw one last year at Home Goods for$100. 

 I am kicking myself that I didn't buy it.

It looked more like this...

I think that's perfection.

 ....so if YOU are out, and on YOUR feet and YOU see one.

Will you give me a call?!

Thank goodness I can still do this.

Toodles, to all my friends, who walk with ease...

Shop Local!

Today is support your local business day!

Since I can't be on my feet too long, I am

shopping online....Etsy, in particular.

Reminded me that I did some modelling recently.

I guess I could do this today, cuz I was sitting the entire time.

Go to this shop.

Take a look and get yerself a scarf...

you'll be supporting my friend Annie's cutie pie Grandma...

and what could be better than that?!?

I am an enormous fan of supporting women's businesses.

If you want me to support yours with a plug or a

giveaway.  Let me know.  I'm here to help. And sit around with a 

heating pad on my butt.  And bark orders to my kids.