my word for 2014...

I took these on a drive a couple days ago...

when the warm air disappeared and the cold crept back in...

and I thought they would be the perfect back drop for this post...

my word for the new year is...

JOY

joy is different from happiness, I think...

happy just kind of stays in the head...

but joy is in the heart...

so, I will center on the joy in 2014...

the joy of beauty when others don't see it...

the joy in God's creations...

seeing His handiwork more...

the joy in others...

seeing theirs...

and being joyful for them...

being the joy to others...

reminding them at their lowest that they are not forgotten...

that true joy lies in the Father...

knowing the joy of my own path...

finding the joy in the road only I can go down...

finding joy in simple things...

common things...

forgotten things...

showing others what they are missing...

see the joy?

the peace of heart?

they know it...

some of God's best work right there...

and the joy of salvation...

there's such peace in that...

so...

that's my word for this year...

so be ready for some joy from this blog as the new year unwinds...

joy = happy peace

;)

happy New Year's eve...

and a joyous New Year...

fun stuff around here today...

have you ever bought yourself something for CHRISTmas?

well, I did this year...

while shopping for everyone else, I found these...

I got 2 for me and 2 for Doug's gf, Paula...

one of hers is like this one...

and then I couldn't leave this one behind...

so guess where I found them?

and they are stretched canvas...

Walmart...

for under $4 each...

go check out their home department...

and not online...

right by the candles...

been cleaning the living room and packing up most of the CHRISTmas in there...

trees are still up, until next weekend...

the guys like them up for New Year's eve...

Bebe and Lester are taking a nap now...

Craig is on his laptop...

our winter mantle...

sneaking some spring in there where I can...

Hermie is on my new throw from Doug and Paula...

its really warm, fleece inside...

I guess the brown recliner and my throw make a good kitty bed...

DH went to the doctor this morning and he said bursitis doesn't usually show up on xrays...

and he has his doubts about it...

that the predizone is masking the symptoms and he could start hurting again once he finishes them...

hopefully, the ER dr was right and there isn't something worse going on in there...

he goes back to work tomorrow, but its only a half day with the holiday...

and then a day off and finish the week with only 2 days...

maybe it will give him the slow start back and rest in between until he is better...

cold here again today...

sure looking forward to the warmer days and lazy afternoons on the porch...

maybe I'l just go find a sunspot to nap in...

;) 

yesterday was wonderful...

we had a high of 52...

can you believe that?

so we went for a ride since neither one of us are very mobile right now...

I am not feeling as good as I was yesterday....

but it could be the cloudy skies and the cold wind blowing out there now...

looks like the geese are trying to hatch the pond...

you would think their butts would get cold...

winter is back today, though and the temp is dropping...

down to the single digits soon and wind chills below zero...

I could use spring any time now...

and some new photos of the kittens...

this is Hermie...

he is turning into a daddy's boy...

and this is Lester...

he plays as hard as he sleeps...

he is a mama's boy...

hope your weekend is going well...

at least the work week is going to be cut up a bit again...

get a nap in or read a book...

still great weather for watching movies and knitting warm mittens...

;)

doing better...

DH got me a Santa sock monkey for CHRISTmas...

isn't he cute?

we ended up with 21 CHRISTmas cards this year...

the numbers drop off every year...

and this year, I think some just ran out of time...

got up feeling so much better and had some energy, so started puttering around here...

cleaning and dusting and putting things up...

looks like the old folks' home here...

and we feel like old folks this week...

my new angel...

and some of my fun things...

DH got me external speakers for the laptop...

love them...

and sock monkey ear muffs...

and Doug and Paula got me the candle...

I took a damp rag and laid it across the label this morning and soaked it off...

I can't wait to burn the candle...

its vanilla cookie...

and I can't wait to use the jar on something else!

done a little cooking and made lunch...

took the old man outside and put his butt in the wheel chair and pushed him awhile...

until I got tired...

we are going to go for a drive, so we can get out a bit...

its 51 out there now...

so not cold at all...

no snow...

its been gone awhile...

DH told me this morning to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers...

he reads my blog and every single comment...

he was so touched by your words that last couple of days...

and he said, make sure you tell them...

;)

with everything that went on the last four days...

we have had a wonderful CHRISTmas season....

and we had so much fun with the toy drive and buying toys and putting them out...

sneaking around and dropping some off...

we were all together for CHRISTmas eve and CHRISTmas day...

even though we took turns napping...

and we did our share of eating...

its going to be awhile before we take down the decorations...

and DH has an appointment Monday to see what is in store for next week...

I need to go back next Friday for a follow up...

so we are just going to kick back...

pop our pills, take naps and eat fudge...

have a fun weekend!

;)

mending here...

boy, its been a fun couple of days, but we are better...

DH had a good night and his pills are working...

he sees another dr on Monday...

I saw mine today and got the boil lanced...

different antibiotics...

and go back in 7- 10 days...

so we are doing better...

taking my cold medicine and taking a nap...

;)

update...

Craig called...

bursitis and they gave him some meds in the er...

and they are picking up other meds at Walmart and will be home...

follow up with his dr on Monday...

its in the hip, so no moving around for awhile...

thanks for praying!

Prayers for my guy...

not been a good couple of days here...

and Craig just left with his dad for the ER...

severe back pain and he broke out in a cold sweat this morning trying to go 5 steps...

stubborn, no ambulance...

I have been down the last 2 days...

I got dressed to go with them, but it took all I had to do that...

so handed Craig the cell phone, cash, insurance cards and sent them on their way...

I thought he had thrown out his back, but now this morning, not so sure that's it...

could be appendicitis...

so, better to know...

keep us all in your prayers...

jingle bells...

our oldest son, Doug and his gf Paula were here for Sunday dinner...

made meatloaf, green beans and potatoes and cole slaw...

and we opened some presents...

Paula will be with her family on CHRISTmas day...

this is what they found for me...

a sweet little primitive angel...

which I love...

complete with rusty heart and wings...

and a vanilla cookie candle, my favorite smell...

and then today I got this in the mail from a dear blogging sistah...

she is one of a kind and I love her dearly...

I am not sure if you all know this or not...

or even if she knows this...

but butterflies are the symbol for fibromyalgia...

got things lined up to do the next couple of days...

Craig just left with 2 critters in the cat hauler...

on their way to their furr ever home...

Myra and Buckus...

mother and son...

a little bitty girl only had one wish for CHRISTmas...

a little orange kitty...

and guess who had one...

Craig works with the lady and he is meeting her in town in about half an hour...

so, there's going to be a happy little girl in a bit...

that leaves us 4 kitties and a dog...

enough for us...

Lester and Hermie will stay with us...

Craig works tomorrow until 8pm...

he will swing by and pick up his brother after work and then we will all be together for CHRISTmas eve and CHRISTmas...

the boys want to open presents CHRISTmas eve, when they get here...

then we will all cook the next day...

well, Lester wants to cuddle and won't leave me alone...

so I guess its time to get off of the computer...

Merry CHRISTmas!

prayers, please...

our neighbor passed away this morning from cancer...

if you could remember his family in prayer...

it would be so appreciated...

but we need prayers for his granddaughters, too...

Tori, the one who so bravely fought cancer and had a foot amputated...

is going in for a lung biopsy in the morning...

there are spots...

and some are glowing...

it could be cancer again...

and her sister with Crohns is having a transfusion tomorrow also...

the family is coping...

there is a peace to them all...

but they so need divine help to get through all of this...

this is my request for today...

remember them in your prayers this weekend...

welcome to our temporary winter wonderland...

went to bed with it snowing and sleeting and woke up to things like this happening all over town...

our bushes were sure hanging low...

I think they might be depressed...

took a few photos is a bit under statement...

more like a hundred...

it was a very wet, heavy snow and it clung to everything...

you know, if you are going to get it...

that's the very best kind to have...

so while I was waiting for it to quit making white outside...

I took some photos of what I played around with the night before...

I had one small tub and a basket of CHRISTmas to put out...

and put out I did...

so this is how this is going to roll this year...

not too much, just enough to make it fun...

and it won't be a major job putting it all back in a couple weeks...

yeah, can you believe that?

just a couple of weeks and this will all be over again...

there's not enough time between thanksgiving and CHRISTmas for me...

anyhoo...

here is outside again...

and I rode with DH up to get the mail and stop by the store...

not too bad and it was above freezing, so it was warmer than its been all week...

so I got to play in the snow and take lots of photos...

that's one serious farmer...

and back home to the roses...

shh....

they're sleeping...

have a wonderful day...

and count your blessings...

;)