A New Year!

Happy New Year!

 Every year, right before Christmas, I start getting this feeling of newness.

I feel like I want to start new things,  I want to reorganize, refresh, renew. 

It is always a good feeling to me. 

This past year has been a hard year for me. It has been one of acceptance of change

and trying to understand things that I cannot change. But it was a good year.

I have a very loving family that supports me and we love each other. 

We have been healthy and happy

and that means so much. 

I am going to try so hard this year to be a better person,

to be happier, but also to enjoy life and to become closer to my

Heavenly Father and my savior, Jesus Christ.

In my living room I have a that I will display below. 

It says: 

"Life isn't measured by the number of breaths you take,

But by the moments that take your breath away." 

I hope you all have moments that take your breath away,

I hope you cherish them. I know I will. 

This is my wish for all of you that read my blog, 

all of you that I love dearly.

When you are lonely, I wish you Love!
When you're down, I wish you Joy!
When you're troubled, I wish you Peace!
When things seem empty, I wish you Hope!
Have a Happy New Year!
This bright New Year is given to me to live each day with zest, to daily grow and try to be my highest and my best!-William Arthur Ward

 Happy New Year My Dears.

Love, Karen

Snow, Snow, Snow, Snow, Snow!!!!!

We woke up to some beautiful snow this morning!

Doug got a new snow blower this past fall and this is the first time he got to use it. 

He loves it. He went and did two of the neighbors driveways too.

 

This is a  picture of the neighbors across the circle. 

The snow was really coming down, now it has let up a little. 

I love the snow, but Heather and Ricky are coming home from Arkansas today.

They are in Dallas and will fly toSalt Lake. Then drive up here.

I will be a nervous wreck until they get home. 

Michelle and friends are going sledding. Now that sounds fun.

Christmas Decorations

Well, I will be taking down my Christmas decorations soon, but I wanted to post some pictures first. This is above my kitchen sink. I don't have a window there, so I put one up that I got at an antique store.

My dear friend Shaunie gave me the pitcher with pinecones and cranberries in it. I made the Noel blocks last year. Turn the noel around and it says FALL.

Our downstairs Christmas Tree!

My entry way!

The two snowpeople on the left are some I made several years ago.

Their names are Stefan and Sophia. They were fun to make.

Well, that is a tour of some of my Christmas decorations. I love them, and always look forward to getting them out each December. Farewell my friends until next December.

Winter Days Ahead

Well, Christmas is over. I will post some pictures of my house soon. I took them yesterday before everyone got here. I just wanted to write a bit on my feelings tonight. I always feel a bit sad when Christmas is done. I know the dark, cold, lonely days of winter are ahead. I think January is the month I dislike the most. It seems so sad outside. Evenings around dinner time are the hardest time of day for me. When Doug was in the Navy, the Navy Wife's Club would counsel the Navy wives to stay really busy at dinner time because that was the time that was the loneliest. It still is for me. I know Doug won't be home until 7 and it is dark at 4:30. I try to keep busy at that time with things around the house and fix dinner, but it is still hard. I do like this time of year if I get busy and work on things. Right before Thanksgiving, we moved my craft room upstairs. I haven't done a thing with it since then. I really haven't had time. I have decided that I am going to make the room so fun that I won't want to leave it. I am thinking of the pictures and lamps I want to put in it and Doug is going to move the shelf with my Barbie collection to the room. It will be a lot of fun. I am also going to set up my Cricut machine and the computer program that goes with it. I have had the computer progam for 6 months and haven't even taken it out of the box. I have some very fun ideas for craft projects I am excited to work on. I also like to do some quilting or crocheting during the winter on cold nights in front of the pellet stove. My problem is finding time to sit and enjoy the warmth. I hope I can this winter. I am determined to have a better attitude about it and enjoy it more than I ever have. 

Sweet Dreams. Karen

More pictures of the Christmas Craft

This shows the cans a little better, but not the contents. I didn't want to take them all out after I got them in. Go to the web site below and she shows you all that is in it. I must say, they turned out so cute. Just wished the pictures showed the cuteness of them. I can't wait to give them to the recipents. 

Cute Christmas Gifts for Families

This was the cutest idea I found on:http://partiesandholidays.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas. It is really good for a gift for families with children. You can't see mine very well, but if you go on the web site of parties and holidays, she has displayed it great. It was so fun to make and so cute.

O Christmas Tree

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree!

I am hoping to get my Christmas Trees up today.

I love it when my trees are up and my decorations are in place.

I really want to get this done so I can enjoy my little 'Hillman Chalet'.

I will post pictures soon!