It's Advent Calendar time again (2012)

Oh My Goodness!  I'm soooo excited!  It's that time of year again to bring out all my advent calendars in preparation of the Christmas Season.  They all begin on Dec. 1st... so if you like to participate in this wonderful Christmas activity... you only have 2 days left to dig them out of storage, or go purchase one to put out.

My dear friend visited me yesterday and spent the entire day decorating my house for Christmas.  Katie has a wonderful eye for decorating and adding tweaking touches that takes decorations from "Oh that looks nice!" to "WOW that looks AWESOME".  I have crafty talents, but I have never had that kind of decorating eye, so I am always beyond deep appreciation for her time and talents she shares with me.  My job in the decorating process was to drag all the boxes out of storage and unload the items we wanted to use this year.  As most of you readers... I'm sure you have more decorations stored away than you have room to use... this is certainly true in my case.  But... OF COURSE... the first box unloaded was all of my advent calendars.  If I only had the room to decorate sparsely... my Christmas Tree is a must and my advent calendars... I would miss all the other items, but would still feel Christmas complete if I only have a Christmas Tree to look at and my advent calendars to do everyday.

I am truly sitting here with a big smile on my face as I type this blog, in the anticipation of beginning my daily round each morning to do all my advent calendars. This year my count is up to 14... which include... 4 wooded ones, 4 starbucks puzzle ones,  2 snowmen w/artificial trees, 1 3D that revolves, 1 wire one, 1 that lights up, and 1 homemade felt/beaded and sequined one w/pockets (this one I made myself).  All have meaning and memories behind them, and each one gives me much joy each year as I count down to Christmas.

Starting on Dec. 1st I begin my day by putting the kettle on to boil for my morning tea, then I light my fragrant scented (Mistletoe) Yankee candles, and then I begin my trek around the house to do each and every one of my advent calendars.  Some of the calendars require adding an ornament to an artificial tree, or adding an ornament onto a peg from a drawer... some require me to flip the ornaments from the date to a printed design side... some I open a drawer to reveal a lit scene... some have drawers that contain a sweet treat inside and after retrieving said treat, I flip the drawer around to reveal a piece of a puzzle that will be completed on Dec. 24 (these are my starbucks ones)... one I move a stuffed candy cane from pocket to pocket each day... and one has me retrieve a magnet ornament from a drawer and place on the revolving tree.

Which one of these is my favorite?  Hmmmm.... that is a good question, because... as I am doing each calendar I exclaim... "OH GOSH!!, this is my favorite"... that is until I get to the next one and repeat that phrase over and over and over.  Some I like because they are just so unique and cool, some I like because the of the deep sentimental value they hold in my heart... and some are just kitchy and odd, how could I not love those?

I thought my 'collection' was complete and had no intention of adding any more.... due to, where do I put any more?... but... last year during a Christmas party I won another one (the lit one), then I found one on clearance after Christmas last year and it was sooooo huge and cool that I just couldn't pass it up... and then just recently while searching for a couple of starbucks advent calendars to give away as gifts to my dear friend's sons... I stumbled upon one I didn't know existed, but went with my starbucks collection, so again... how could I pass that up?  So my collection grew by 3 in this past year, all totally accidently!  I promise I wasn't even looking!  My eye just can't help finding cool advent calendars randomly, and when it does, I just can't ignore such an opportunity.  I'm sure one day my house will be over runneth with advent calendars... which I think it already is... but until I truly have not an inch of space to put them, I will continue to enjoy these delightful calendars every single Christmas Season.

I currently have 2 grandsons, and there may be more grandchildren who will arrive over the next several years... perhaps one of their sweet faces will implore me to share a particular favorite of theirs with them and I won't be able to resist, knowing my treasured advent calendar is moving on to be their treasure... and how could I say no to that?  I would still enjoy the pleasures of any calendar I might give away to them because it would still be treasured in new eyes!

Last year when my grandsons were not quite a year old, I bought them their first wooden advent calendar to start their collection... knowing it would be a couple of years before they would be able to enjoy it, but also knowing they would never know a Christmas without having an advent calendar.  Then this year I found two fabric panels of an advent calendar that my Mother-in-law had made for my oldest daughter back in 1982, it has long since been discontinued and very hard to find on ebay... but my persistence paid off and I scored two of them (one for each of my grandsons) back in Feb of this year.  I just last week mailed these finished quilted advent calendars to them (made very lovingly for them by me... Gigi) along with the original one I revamped and mailed to my oldest daughter who has not had a child yet (but officially the original one was made for her)... so now all 3 of my daughters have a cherished childhood memory hanging on their walls this year to continue to enjoy and make new memories with their children...  and seriously... how AWESOME is that??

Two days and I'm anxiously counting down for the advent season to begin!  My hope is that you will be inspired to begin, renew, or experience this wonderful tradition along with me.  I promise it will put a smile on your face and a giddy up in your step!  

Thanksgiving 2012

Unbelievably it is that time of year again... Thanksgiving arrives tomorrow!  WOW!!!  Where did time go??  This year I participated in the "Month of November Thankfulness" on FB... where every day my status post is something I am Thankful for.  So for this blog... I have decided to blog those posts for those who read my blog, but do not have accessibility to my FB page.

Nov. 1
I'm Grateful for having time to spend with my family... (at the time of this post, I had just been given an unexpected opportunity to fly to Kentucky for an 8 day visit with my family)

Nov. 2
I'm Grateful for the technology and devices that keep me connected to loved ones while I currently live 14 hours away from them all.  (Back in the early days of our marriage when we moved far away from home, we did not have the technology or devices to keep in touch with our loved ones... we only had RARE long distance phone calls and snail mail... I'm sooo blessed keeping in touch is so much easier these days)

Nov. 3
I am Thankful, Grateful, and Appreciative for 40 years of Joe, and for my 2nd family that came with him.  (I met my husband at the tender age of 13... we have been a couple ever since... and I am blessed that his Parents, Brothers/Sister, Grandparents, and Aunts/Uncles, have accepted me as one of their own... and think I am actually blood related!)

Nov. 4
I'm Blessed and Grateful for 54 years of being a daughter of the most AWESOME Mother... Happy Birthday Mom!!! I love you bunches, thank you for all you've done and all you continue to do for me and my family!!!  (Nov. 4 is my Mom's actual birthday... she truly has been and always is just AWESOME!)

Nov. 5
I am very Thankful and Blessed to have enjoyed the wonders of Motherhood for 32 years with 3 lovely, smart, independent daughters who have grown into beautiful young women, and are all growing their own branches on our family tree.  (As any proud parent... having my daughters has been one of the biggest blessings in my life... they continue to make me proud every day, as they reach out and enrich others with their gifts and talents, and continue to grow themselves through education, hard work, and involvement in their churches.)

Nov. 6
I am Thankful, Grateful, Appreciative, and Honored to be a citizen of the USA, where I have the freedom and liberty to worship, educate myself, speak my voice, and vote in the elections that choose our country's leaders.  My deep THANKS of gratitude for all those who serve our country to keep it free!  (Nov. 6th was Election Day here in the USA for our next President... women haven't always had the chance to vote, speak their minds, or educate themselves... I am Blessed to be of the generation who have always had these privileges!)

Nov. 7
I am Thankful and Grateful to all of those who came to my aid during my recovery time... THANK YOU soooo much to all my Caregivers and Drivers... THANK YOU to all of you who sent Get Well wishes via prayers, cards, texts, FB messages, phone calls, and with flowers.  I could not have gotten thru this without you, and am VERY Blessed for each and every one of you.  I am 90% healed, back on my two feet, will be driving in 2 more weeks, I'm almost there!  (I had bunion surgery on my right foot on Sept. 5th... it was a painful and long 3 month recovery, but I was able to manage the pain nicely and push through the recovery easier than most... I had some AWESOME folks who flew, drove, and came to my aid during that time... THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!)

Nov. 8
Today I am Thankful and Grateful for all the simple pleasures and chores of life that make me feel independent again... making my bed, running the vacuum, getting my hair done, clipping the toenails on my recovering foot (FINALLY), washing the dishes... But mostly for being able to be a caregiver again instead of a care needer.  (I am fiercely independent... I was born to nurture others... it truly is in my nature... and I have had AWESOME examples of women in my family who are nurturing and caregivers... so it makes it very hard for me to allow others to be my caregiver in times of need... but through life I have had the need several times, and I understand how good others feel when they can be there for me as much as I feel good being there for them... however... once my time of need is over, I am soooo grateful to do the simplest of chores that we take for granted and moan about everyday... it has been said... you always miss what you have most after it is gone!)

Nov. 9
I am Thankful and Grateful for the HUGE Blessing of being a Grandparent to two precious toddler boys and 2 fur babies, who make me smile every day.  And I'm blessed and comforted knowing these babies all have AWESOME parents!  (I've wanted to be a Grandparent for many years... now that I am, I completely understand what a wonderful gift it is!  My daughters are wonderful parents and pet owners, who nourish their children and their pets with as much discipline as they do love.)

Nov. 10
I am Thankful and Grateful to have a new dear friend in my life, and who is now my neighbor as of this weekend!  Welcome to Hutch Norma and Steve!! The giggles have just begun!!!  (Several years ago I met Norma and Steve briefly for a couple of hours on a racing outing.  This past Sept. Steve was promoted to the Hutchinson Division.  When reintroduced to him and his wife, I instantly remembered that day several years ago and what pleasant folks they were.  While Norma was in town house hunting, we had the opportunity to reconnect... all we did was giggle... she was in town for a week and we had a couple more days spent together as I was played Ambassador to the town of Hutch.  This is a hard move for them, as they are, and have been very close to their families in Ohio and will be separated from their only Grandchild - a 7 yr old Granddaughter, whom they see everyday.  They purchased a house 2 doors down from us and are now not only new dear friends, but neighbors... I'm soooo  Blessed they are now part of our everyday lives!)

Nov. 11
I am Thankful that my first thought and action this morning was to spring up out of bed with pure joy in my heart knowing I'm about to attend services at my beloved church.  I know my heart will be singing the rest of the day!  Sooooo Blessed!  (Before our move to Hutch, I had looked for 10 years to find a Church home... we had had several wonderful Church's we belonged to through all our moves... but when we moved to Columbus OH, and then to Northern KY, we just never found that perfect Church home we had known in the past.  But... that all changed the first weekend I was in Hutch house hunting when I walked in to my all time favorite Church ever!  You just know when a Church fits your spiritual needs.  I attended this Church every Sunday I was available... until last Dec. when it all changed.  We had gotten a new Pastor who was soooooo AWFUL, after 3 months of being in our Church, he had all but destroyed our Church and a boycott was actually in place.  I have spent many an hour on my knees in prayer over this issue, because all I wanted was to be back attending services in my Beloved Church.  As of Nov. 8 that all changed when he was given severance and left the Church.  Since then the Church has come back together and is back to being the AWESOME Church home and family is was before the horrible Pastor... Nov. 11 was the first Sunday service after the Pastor left)

Nov. 12
I am Thankful for growing up in a military family who taught me "Love of Country", "Pride in the USA Flag", "Discipline", and "Appreciation" for all who have ever served, who continue to serve, and those who will serve in the future to keep our country free and strong.  God Bless you all as we celebrate all of you!  (Nov. 12 was Veteran's Day here in USA, where we honor and celebrate our military past, present, and future for serving our Country.  My father was in the Air Force Reserves, and my Uncle was in the Army.  I am Blessed for always knowing how important the military is to keeping the USA a free Country)

Nov. 13
I'm sooo Thankful for the soreness I feel from my pilates workout yesterday from the Abby-nator!!! I'm back in the groove and my last step (pun intended!!!) to feeling 100% normal!!! (I work hard on my health and fitness... my favorite fitness workout is pilates... I have an incredible pilates instructor who is also a dear friend... Nov. 12 was my first day in 3 months to return to working on my fitness after my foot surgery... it feels sooo good to feel sooo sore!)

Nov. 14
I am Thankful to find such pleasure in reading a good book... I find myself becoming so familiar with the characters, that upon finishing the book, I've actually met new friends!  (I have had a love of reading since I was a child... which I give Thanks to both my parents for setting the example of reading as well as encouraging my love of reading.)

Nov. 15
I am Thankful for Plan B... Which is usually 'Mo Better' than Plan A!
Shopping excursion fails
Cookie Baking Prevails!
(Plan A was a shopping excursion to Kansas City - a 3 1/2 hour drive from Hutch - for Christmas shopping with my two Best Buddies Abby-Pilates instructor, and Norma-new girl in town... I had to cancel out because of not being able to be on my foot for an 'all day of shopping'... so... just because we wanted to spend the day together with some quality 'girls time', we ditched the shopping trip and decided to just gather together for cookie baking.  'Mo Better' is a term Abby uses frequently)

Nov. 16
I am sooo very Thankful to be living in the wonderful little town of Hutchinson (aka Hutch)... where time has stood still, no one is a stranger, people are genuine, and welcoming, and just want to be your friend.  A stroll down Main street on any afternoon comes with Church bells and Chimes ringing, and not only is it like living in Mayberry, it reminds me so much of the hometown of my youth!  Such a privilege to have been given the Blessing of the experience of Hutch!  (We moved from Cincinnati OH, to a teeny tiny town in the middle of Kansas 2 1/2 years ago... Hutch truly is a treasure to be discovered and I will always be Grateful we have had the opportunity to be moved here for work purposes.)

Nov. 17
I am Thankful for the loving example set by my in-laws as they celebrated their 56th Wedding Anniversary today!  HAPPY Anniversary Mom and Pop!  (This post pretty much speaks for itself)

Nov. 18
I am Thankful for all the gifts and talents the LORD has Blessed me with, and for the gifts and talents others have taken time to teach and share with me... May I always 'Pay It Forward' every opportunity I have.  (I come from a family who are artistic and/or crafty... who have created things from hand, from pure necessity to works of art.. and because I grew up surrounded with this, I learned how to problem solve and think outside of the box.  My Grandmother allowed me to be 'under foot' while she cooked, and while she encouraged me with great patience my love of cooking... my Mom and Aunt continued to share their cooking knowledge with me after I married and needed recipes or 'how do you do this' questions.  My Mom/Grandma/Aunt all work with their hands creating garments, quilts,  and decorations from whatever they had at hand.  I appreciate being taught 'the right way' to do things, and never wasting anything.

Nov. 19
I am Thankful for the Glorious Sunny weather we have had here in Hutchinson this past week, and that this week of Thanksgiving we will be enjoying temperatures in the 70's!  No whining here!  (I am a sun worshiper... I LOVE LOVE LOVE the sun!  I want to be outside as much as possible... therefore I like the heat and begin to whine when temperatures dip below 75.  The temperatures of Kansas is just one more reason why I love living here)

Nov. 20
I am Thankful for handmade gifts.  As a giver and receiver of handmade gifts, I know the love and thought of the individual the gift is being made for that goes into each one... and the remembrance of the maker each time the gift is seen or used.  Handmade gifts are my most precious treasures!  (This post goes perfectly with the post of Nov. 18)

Nov. 21
I am Thankful for everyone who has come to visit us over the years no matter where we have lived.  They have taken vacations, holidays, long weekends, and/or stopped by on their way to or from other destinations.  We appreciate you for making us feel special, and our doors are always open, the welcome mat is always out!  (Having moved away from my childhood home, all my friends, and relatives the day I married... I have lived far away from my loved ones most my life.  We have met many new precious friends along our moves, and to all new or old friends, and family... we appreciate you thinking of us and coming to spend time with us!)

Nov. 22 - Tomorrow
Tomorrow has not yet come... and there are still 8 days left to post "Thankful Thoughts" in the month of November... I must stop here for my blog.  But... for tomorrow and the rest of the month of November... I am Thankful for you my readers, I am Thankful for every thought, deed, and prayer on my behalf, I am Thankful for every privilege I've been given or will ever receive, I'm Thankful for everyday I wake up and everyday I crawl into bed at the end of the day, I'm Thankful for having GOD in my heart who keeps me trying to do the right thing to everyone everyday.  I wish you many Blessings in your own lives and a Very Happy Thanksgiving 2012!  May God Bless you all!