Holi-DAZE?!?!?!?!

Isn’t it the truth? So much to do – and so little time to do it! I usually have my Christmas cards addressed and ready to go – either by mail – or by mailboxes at church – BEFORE Thanksgiving! No, I am not an over-achiever – just someone who enjoys sending a special card for the holidays! But alas, not this year! No excuses – just don’t have it done!

I am getting some help and taking a clue from my friend Angel at the Weld House blog, I am shopping for some peace of mind, right along with this time for peace on earth!

Have you visited Shutterfly to shop their amazing selection of photo cards? Oh My! It is so hard to pick out just one, but my favorite is not really a card…it’s this! Perfect for a relatively new YaYa such as myself…plus anyone else who cannot let one day go by without seeing my sweet granddaughter’s grin!!

The party invitations are just as AH-dorable! A keepsake and an invite all at once! How could you go wrong?!?! AND if you are a blogger…get this...bloggers can get 50 (count ‘em) 50 FREE holiday cards from Shutterfly! Do you hear angels singing?!?!? Sign up: http://bit.ly/sfly2010: http://bit.ly/sfly2010.

Look out holidays....here we come! Can't wait to check "CARDS" off my list!!

It's Fall Ya'll!

Lovin' this weather! Kylie is attempting a little more walking each day - and loves the grass! Barefoot and in the grass is the way she rolls! These cooler temps do a world of good for me - I so enjoy Fall!

Got Wheels?

It has been so long since I have posted - but I DID just get this cute picture today - so I am jumping at the opportunity to share it with you!

Miss Kylie loves to be in the driver's seat - in fact
when her Mom said it was time to go - she cried
like someone had just taken away her best friend!

Time seems to fly...

YaYa's girl is a year old & she had her big birthday party today! Whew! YaYa is exhausted! :-) I wouldn't have it any other way! Lots of family and friends got to join in the fun at the church Family Center. Lindsey did a great job with the cupcake stacks and snacks, plus games for kids young and old to play - including "great" grandma!!

Kylie had her first bite of cake and got the hang of it pretty quickly! At first she just squeezed the icing through her fingers, but once it hit her tongue, it was gone! She didn't get all that messy, but Mommy swooped in and took her into the kitchen and hosed her down with the vegetable sprayer! I think she also managed to down a few bites of rice and beans from Jennifer, plus a dum-dum lollipop with her Daddy, and maybe sneaked in some ice cream and KoolAid. I hope her little system can handle it!

She received so many wonderful gifts - and no duplicates, either! I have been told that some of the toys are coming to my house to live - the noisy ones especially! Kylie was dressed in a sweet little parfait-colored sun dress to start - barefoot of course - but before the cake fest, she donned a pink onsie with a cupcake and candle - and spent at least two seconds, maybe three, in her pink marabou-trimmed party hat. She received plenty of clothes - and a pair of shoes to knock around in. Wonder if she'll keep them on her toes?

Kylie was so pleasant during the entire party - happily being passed from one person to another - and no breakdowns at all. She was really into her 'cell phone' and 'ipod'....she is so into buttons!!

I'll have to get some photos to share soon. What fun it is to be a YaYa!! Love you sweet girl!! XXOO

Would you like______ with that?

I am one of those people that generally knows what she wants when she places her order at the drive-thru. I also speak slowly and at a level that can be heard. I also have the courtesy not to be on the cell phone when placing my order, asking someone to "hold on", or have the music in my car playing so loudly as all patrons can enjoy it as they wait for their turn.

How many times has this happened to you? After the pre-recorded greeting plays and you wait for an actual person to take your order, you do so, being sure to include any special instructions such as 'cut the onions' or 'sweet tea'. You tell the person, "that's it" when they ask if they can get you something else, only to have them recite the extras, the add-ons, etc that are available? Really? I already said 'that's it', but I imagine what I could say "Please include napkins with my order and yes, you can add a straw. Some ketchup or honey mustard would be nice, and by the way, please don't turn my order of fries upside down in the bag!". Another irritating feeling is when the employee says "order when you're ready" and when I recite my order, they say 'wait a minute - what was that?'. They should be ready!

Once I get to the window and they ask if I want salt/pepper/sauce/dipping sauce/ketchup, etc before the handoff which usually includes a drink, I appreciate it if they wipe off the cup where the soda has over-flowed and securely attach that plastic top. Just this week, I have had 2 different cups collapse in my grip, popping of the plastic top and shooting out ice and soda. One person just looked at me as I held my half-soaked hand with the cup still in it - not bothering to offer a napkin. Once she did hand me a handful and I wiped up the mess, she walked off before I had a chance to give her the mess of napkins back. The second person at least offered to take it back, apologize for the warped lid, and wipe off the cup. Beware the cup that is too full so that when you insert your straw you get a sticky mess all over your car console! Seriously - a little room at the top is ok!

Believe me, I don't mind waiting a bit for my food to be hot and correct to order! But please, don't have my food hanging out of the window as if it were a brass ring I will grab for as I drive by! Also, if its not asking too, too much ~ a pleasant "thank you" and invitation to return would be nice - not a 'thanks hun' or 'here ya go darlin' or 'gee, you smell good' (yes, that actually happened!)

What would it be like if when I got to the window to pay for my order, I started to ask: What was that total? Is that amount in US dollars and cents? Would you like that in cash? Paper or coins? Pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters? How about half-dollars? Do you prefer correct change? Would you take a cashier's or personal check? Do you accept the Diner's Club credit card or debit card? Do I have to sign a receipt? Do you have a pen I could borrow? How hot/cold is that drink going to be anyway? Etc....etc.

One more thing regarding the 'sandwich artists' at the local sub shop - they must really be into the 'art' side of the sandwich making, because when they asked me if I wanted cheese on my sub, I asked what kind they had available. Their reply was that I had the choice of the white...... the yellow..... or the orange. Hmm....what color do you suggest?

Thanks for the insight, slugger! (see more @ conspiracy of happiness)

A New Creed - from the United Church of Canada - I like it!

We are not alone,
we live in God's world.

We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.

We trust in God.

We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God's presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.

Thanks be to God.

The Knots Prayer

Dear God,

Please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart and my life. Remove the have-nots, the can-nots and the do-nots that I have in my mind. Erase the will-nots, may-nots, might-nots that may find a home in my heart. Release me from the could-nots, would-nots and should-nots that obstruct my life. And most of all, Dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind, my heart and my life all of the 'am-nots' that I have allowed to hold me back, especially the thought that I am not good enough.

Amen

Author Known To God