Farewell to 2010- A Year Full of Change

As we leave 2010 behind, I am struck by how much life has changed for my husband and me this year.  We moved last January from St. Louis, MO to Severance, CO.  To do that we drove both vehicles across icy windy highway.  Once we settled here, I started work.  Hubby is retired.  Shortly after that I found I had breast cancer, and that knocked me for a loop.  I had surgery, and no chemo or radiation was needed.  I am so thankful to the Lord for that.

We spent time taking drives to new places here in Colorado and enjoyed the spectacular scenery.  This fall I did three craft shows from November 19 to December 1.  It was crazy working full time, plus hauling my things to these places.  Bill, my husband, was an incredible help with this, and we found that we have fun working a craft show together.

Neighbors we barely know came by and gave us a fabulous platter of goodies.  It was so pretty I took a picture of it before we ate any of it.

After the craft shows, I got sick with a cold and then bronchitis.  Somehow we got prepared for Christmas, and had a wonderful time with our family here. Our son came in from California to join in the festivities.

I had neglected to come up with a nice centerpiece for the dining table, but crafty as I am, I managed to piece together a really nice one about two hours before the meal.  I found an inexpensive wreath we have, some white trim, a long red candle, a square vase, and some marbles. The marbles went into the vase with the candle in the middle. The wreath was placed on the table, and the white trim was draped around it.  I was quite happy with it when I finished.

I learned  a lot this year, and am so happy to be close to my daughter, Mary and her family.  Our grand-baby turned one in September, and we were able to participate in the party.

When it was time to decorate the Christmas tree, I put up the ornament I got for Mary when she was a baby.  Today I took the Christmas tree down, and as I removed that ornament it crossed my mind that I had not cried when I put the ornament on the tree weeks ago.  Now, you need to understand, that for the past 8 -10 years I always had a good cry when I laid eyes on that ornament.  Mary, my daughter, was not at home and was living in other states.  I missed her.  How significant, that this year I did not feel the need to cry.   I see Mary all the time, and her husband, and her step-children, and our fabulous new granddaughter.  No tears needed!

Life is good, and we are blessed by the living God!  Let's all look forward to 2011 with anticipation and hope.  Happy New Year!

Teddy Bear's Picnic

If you have been following this blog, you know that my daughter had her first baby last year.  I was so enamored of the baby who lives here in Colorado, that I packed up all my worldly goods and moved from St. Louis to Colorado to be near her and to watch her grow up.  It's hard to believe, but one year has passed since her birth.  I don't regret a moment of making this move out to Colorado.

My granddaughter's name is Maggie, and we celebrated with her in style last week.  Her mom created a Teddy Bear's Picnic for her and the family.  First Mary, my daughter, created darling invitations that she mailed to us.  They were on pink card stock, with a cute poem inside and the dates of the picnic.  She used Maggie and her bear friends in a picture that she glued to the front of the card.  Don't you wish you could be at their picnic? :-)

The weather cooperated beautifully for the party outdoors in Maggie's back yard.  We had some of a bear's favorite foods, salmon salad, lox, cream cheese and bagels, berry salad, and of course cake.  What bear would ignore a good chocolate cake?

Maggie got all dressed up in a sweet purple and white dress.  For those of you into "all things handmade", this is a handmade dress that Mary bought at a small shop in Salida, a quaint town nestled in the mountains.

Then Maggie enjoyed her first birthday cake, and I mean she REALLY ENJOYED IT! She totally immersed herself in the experience.

What a memorable day!