Advent & December Daily 2010

Album Cover, originally uploaded by Love.Peace.Happiness Family.

Advent is the season when we prepare our lives-hearts, minds, and spirits- for the coming of the Christ Child. We sweep out the corners of our hearts, cleaning up the clutter, to make space for God's hope, peace, joy, love, and presence. ~ Beth A. Richardson

This Advent Season alongside the tradition of December Daily I will be focusing on this! I am excited to partake in this!

October 2010 Happenings

October 2010 Happenings, originally uploaded by Love.Peace.Happiness Family.

Picture Fall Online Scrapbooking Class
Happy 15th Wedding Anniversary, Paul ! I love you!
Colorful Day at Fiesta Warehouse
Antique Scrapbook Finds in East Liverpool
Lovely, Victorian Bed & Breakfast
Pumpkin & Luke ... Brotherly Love
Happy 10th Birthday, Joseph!
Happy Birthday to my MOST "You look so young AUNT" in the whole wide world!!! LOVE YOU!!!
Intimate Birthdays with Grandmas & Grandpas!
Seville Crop Walk 2010
Homemade Dinners
Hot Tea
Caregivers Day Out!
Signs of Fall
Haunted House Fun
Silliness
Father & Son Cub/Boy Scout Camp Out
Baby Showers with co-workers
Halloween Parades and Beautiful Music
Family Gatherings
Neighbors & their Grandchildren
Selling Boy Scout Popcorn
Noticing the Everyday Beauty!

Joey & His Corncobs ...

10.7.2010: After The Fall, originally uploaded by Love.Peace.Happiness Family.

Happy 10th Birthday, Joseph!

You have "protected" a cornstalk and its corncobs throughout the summer months! You have asked your brother nicely, "DO NOT PICK THE CORNCOBS!" Well, last night he felt the temptation and acted upon it and PICKED IT!!! I came home and you both were upset. Your brother was upset that he made you mad, sad and angry! He just wanted to "protect" it from the squirrels ...

Well, here it is being eaten by you, the protector!!!! The night ended up better than what it started off by ...

I am grateful that you are willing to forgive, forget and MOVE ON to better things; like trying a tiny, mini corncob!! Did it taste good?

A BIg, Heart-Felt Thank You ...

Its been a STAY AT HOME kind of weekend. My oldest went on a Boy Scout Camp Out, Paul did his usual Saturday day off kind of thing; going to Hartville Flea Market, thrifting and taking a Norton Kiwansis Bicycle Ride. My youngest and I stayed at home per his request and response to be able to stay inside to rest, do laundry, go through school papers, my purse, reconciling my checkbook and to overcome this sore throat virus that is going around! And, sending out thank you cards and tally up the cash, checks and online donations to the Bike MS: Pedal To The Point 2010! We raised $ 1020.00! I am so thrilled and excited to be able to give this amount to MS! I am also grateful to all who were willing to donate monies and support through prayers! We all felt them. The above picture was taken by a photographer (and bought by us) on their way back to Middleburg Heights! They both were still smiling and memories will remain in all of us! Once again, thank you!

Daily Hugs

I thought about these all day.

My co-worker in North Canton gave me a hug today. 

She asked, " Can I give you a hug?"

I said, " Yes, and started crying!" Mind you, I rarely cry at work.

I was having a frustrating morning and THAT simple question and action made it all better!

Wouldnt it be a better place if more people would ask, " Can I have a hug?" or

"Have you had your daily hug?" or

"Can I give (or get) a hug?" 

Thank you, my sweet son for asking every day, " Have you had your daily hug?"

I will always say, "no" so that I can get a daily hug!

I am grateful for this love!

AUGUST 2010 LOVE.PEACE.HAPPINESS

• L. received 1 Beta Fish and 3 Tadpoles to finish the Amphibian and Reptile Merit Badge.
• Mini Vacation Trip to Sagatuck, Michigan
• Prayer Time with God
• SUMC Once Upon A Summer 9:30-2:00 p.m.  {Luke was the photographer this year!}
• Senior Independence Work Retreat.  The theme was "Telling Your Story"
• MS Pedal To The Point Bicycle Ride {L & J} Funraiser for MS & Bicycling Merit Badge for L.
• Middle School Orientation
• Hartville Flea Market/Garage Sales/Goodwilling with L.
• 3D Movie with J.
• L. started 7th Grade & J. started 4th Grade
• Gavin & Brody's Birthday Party
• Boy Scout Camp Wilderness Summer Camping Trip
• Piano Lessons
• Speech
• Gratitude Journaling

We are SIMPLE people ... {kind of}

I dont know why I just thought of this but, we are simple people ... kind of! 

As I am typing on a laptop; I am listening/watching my old television; which is a counsel no, its not your flat screen television but an old television; the one that sits on the floor with a picture tube. It was my Grandpa and Grandma's.  But, its simple.

Last night as Luke was at UMYF; the leader asks if he has a cell phone; I said "umm ... no!"  ALL THE OTHER KIDS DO!! Well, not Luke and his friend; so now there are two of them without cell phone and its simple; he isnt getting one!! We know where he  will be at and where he is going! 

Oh, she also asked if he has a FACEBOOK account; I said; "umm no!"  ALL THE OTHER KIDS DO!! Well, his friend that has no cell phone does have a FB account; but he is 13!! {We will think about that one}  Thankfully, his birthday is in April.  We are simple ...

Its hot today!! Its very hot today! Its very, very hot today!  We dont have A/C in our cars or in our HOME!  It usually isnt too bad in the summer but, this summer; its HOT!!  We have fans in the windows;  ceiling fan in our dining room and more fans throughout the home!  We are simple ... {Well, my husband is}  I just play along!!

We have hand me down furniture, we have lots and lots of pictures, scrapbooks, clutter, old trinkets from family, China Dishes, Fiesta Dishes from the Hartville Flea Market, piles of laundry to be folded, washed and folded, old concert tshirts of my husband's that were handed down to the boys, file cabinets full of old greeting cards in chronological order that I sent to my LOVE during college, antique cameras, an Old Victrola case, old MAD magazines, ... simple stuff!

We have an old home.  It was built in the 1900's.  Not a 2010 home.  We live on a simple street in a small, simple town.  We have simple neighbors.

We are simple people and I like it that way!  I wouldnt change a thing ... well maybe; having an air conditioner for those hot, summer days!!

Tonights Dinner Is:

15 Minutes Creamy Fettuccine Alfredo
By Kym in Ohio on May 04, 2002
http://www.food.com/

Photo by lazyme
12 Reviews

Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 20 mins min
Serves: 4





About This Recipe from Kym in Ohio
"This is very good and quick and easy. Not sure where I got this recipe."

Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, cubed
3/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup milk
8 ounces fettuccine pasta, cooked drained

Directions
In large saucepan, stir together cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, margarine, and milk over low heat until smooth.
Add fettucine after already cooked and drained; toss lightly.

3D Movie and A Borrowed Keyboard

Cats & Dogs 3D Movie Night

Grandma "M" loaned us her Bigger Keyboard

Vacation Day for Mom!

Dad took Luke to the Hartville Market.  It was the 1st and Last time before school will start.

My mom, sister, niece and great nephrews came over today.  Thank you sissy!!

Received a thoughtful prayer and card from a heart to heart friend in the mail.  Thanks Kim!

Joey and I went to see the 3D Movie of Cats & Dogs, ate popcorn, drank coca-cola & giggled.

School supply shopping.

Saw our sweet  2nd & 3rd cousins: Cora and her girls

Coccia House Pizza with the in-laws.

Joey couldnt wait to practiced piano on the bigger and better keyboard. Thanks Grandma M!

I am grateful for these things today!!

School Will Be Starting ...

Luke will be in 7th Grade.
Joey will be in 4th Grade.
Luke will at the Middle School.
Joey will remain at the Intermediate School.
My boys are growing up so quickly.
Paul and I will be celebrating 15 Years of Marriage in September.
I love him more & more each day; its the everyday kind of love!
He is so gentle, patient and sweet!
School will be starting on August 25, 2010
Bright & Early for Luke
Same time for Joey
I love my life; as a wife and mother!
Thank you for this day of rest {& catching up} around the home!

Good Morning!

For some reason; I cant seem to sleep until now.  And, I am checking to see if this works ... I cant wait to check!!!

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...Crickets
I am thinking...of expressing my gratitude in new ways and more often
I am thankful for...my health, family, friends and working
From the learning rooms...Experiencing God and Celebration of Discipline (New Reading Material)
From the kitchen...cereal, WHOLE WHEAT ENGLISH MUFFIN, and Gatorade (the boys had BK and DH had leftover pasta and chicken
I am wearing...Khakis, Red shirt, blue shoes
I am creating...new way to capture the EVERYDAY
I am going...away on a work retreat soon; one day overnight in COLUMBUS
I am reading...SEE ABOVE
I am hoping...to be more grateful, experience GOD fully, knowing and doing the will of GOD
I am hearing...TV, Joey "playing" shooting games, making noices of shooting guns, crunching of cereal, local train going through town
Around the house...Remnants of being away for acouple of days
One of my favorite things...Being more present and aware
A few plans for the rest of the week:  Celebrating Pedal to the Point with DH and Oldest Son
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

FOR TODAY Idea from:  http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Summer Is ...

Cub Scout Crossing Over
Boys Scout Camp
Earning 2 Merit Badges:  Shotgun and Signaling
Working on Merit Badges
Baseball
Piano Lessons
Cub Scout Trip to Mammouth Cave/Wright Patterson Air Force Museum
MS Pedal to the Point
Having Fun
Sweating
Watching 2nd Cousins
Enjoying a cool evening after a HOT SUMMER DAY
Quietness
Visit from the Seville UMC Youth Group (Catching Up)
Friends

Summer, Salsa and Silly Bands

Today, I took the day off to be home with my husband and my youngest. My oldest is at Boy Scout Camp for the 2nd year. He was excited and we are excited for him. I love Mondays and Days Off! It was a good day. We had breakfast, cleaned the downstairs, organized school papers (more to go in that area), picked up husbands bike, lunch, coffee, visited with grandparents, $1.00 Ice Cream Cones at Buehlers, shopping, made homemade Salsa for the 1st time (Thank you, husband), Tacos, cleaned some more, laundry ... It was a good day! And, the day ended with a much needed cool evening! I LOVE cool evenings! As I close; I am praying for the Boy Scout Camp staff and counselors, the Boy Scouts and their leaders and their parents and siblings!

Walking ... Praying ... Worshiping ... Children!

While we try to teach our children all about life, Our children teach us what life is all about. - Angela Schwindt

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day!, originally uploaded by Love.Peace.Happiness Family.

Thank you for serving and defending our country! Thank you for the freedom! We remember you on this special day!!!

100 YEARS OF BOY SCOUTING FUN

Joey learning how to fold/unfold the American Flag with fellow Cub Scouts!  He was listening and following directions so intently!  He was so serious!!! It was really neat to see!  Thank you fellow leader and teacher!  You did a great job!!!

Joey participating in the Boy Scout Obstacle Course; after the thunderstorm!

We arrived to Camp Manatoc at 1:00 p.m.; celebrated 100 Years of Scouting, survived the thunderstorm and at 7:00 p.m. that evening we finally saw Luke!  He was as grumpy as he looked , tired and hungry!  He had a great time with his fellow scouts and leaders!  He couldnt stop talking about what they learned and accomplished!  He apologized for his "grumpiness." 

On the way home {EARLY} we took a little side trip through the valley. We past the Blue Heron nesting ground and saw this; it was so cool!  We promised Joey since he couldnt stay for the Boy Scout Retreat, Closing Ceremonies and Fireworks we would get ice cream at Friendly's!  By the time we got here (15 minutes down the road); he was happy and content!  I loved seeing the birds flying around and seeing Joey's expression and wonder!  It was a beautiful day with ALOT OF  BOYS in one place!  Camp Manatoc did an awesome job! 

Happy 100th Birthday, Scouting!

Happy Mothers Day!

Gift from the boys; an antique box and a framed picture. (Thank you, Mom for thinking of me)
Cherry Amaretto flavored coffee
Sunday School
Serving Blueberry Coffee Cake to my Jr./Sr. High Sunday School Class
Crime and Punishment Skits
Grace
Church
JC Kids Choir
Eyes of Love
A gift of a potted plant from L.
Opening a Mothers Day Card from my darling husband
Made the following collage on Picasa 3 for two homemade Mothers Day Cards
Surprise visit to Mom M.
Dinner with Mom B. with my brother, sister in law, sister, brother in law and my family
Spending time at Mom B's afterwards
Dairy Queen for a "craving" of a Hot Carmel Sundae on a special Sunday

It was a wonderful Mothers Day! I am blessed to be a mother of two wonderful boys!!! They give me such joy!!!

The Beginning of May

Today:

I love the smell: Fresh Cut Grass by Luke

I love the sound: Birds Chirping
I love the taste: Orange Flavored Cookies, Cherry/Almond Flavored Coffee and Fresh Mint Iced Tea
I love the sight:  Smiley Joe peeking in the back door window wearing his bicycling helmet.

I love the feel:  Of being home on Sundays, relaxing, windows open, cool air flowing in the windows & capturing the everyday.