2012 ~ A Year In Review

Every year offers up something different. Sometimes we find ourselves wishing for time to fly, other times wishing it would stand still. Some years bring exciting changes, while others offer no relief from the humdrum of the daily grind. There are years that find us grappling with loss and heartache. It can be difficult to keep our balance. 

The thing I find most comforting, no matter the weather or season, is that God never changes. His love and grace and mercy are constant. His promises are yea and amen. As the words from a favorite hymn say, there is no shadow of turning with Him. That simply means He will never turn His back on us. It is believing this that helps me get through anything.

It's been a tradition for me to take a look back this time every year, so here are a few of my memories and images from 2012:

January ~ The girl joined the 21st century and got a smart phone.

February ~ My precious sugar plum brought me many a smile as she chased a ball around the yard.

  

March ~ The Man and I enjoyed an eight-week trip to Florida that included visiting the Atlantic coast ...

... and exploring Captiva Island, the place where one of my favorite authors used to go for quiet writing retreats.

April ~ We returned from a long road trip and spent much-awaited time with sugar plum.

May ~ I enjoyed a blessed Mother's Day Sunday with family ...

... and afternoon coffee in my little garden.

June ~ My beautiful daughter celebrated a birthday ...

... and my niece and her husband opened a little shop called Rosy Revival.

July ~ We spent a few days in one of our favorite getaway places, the lovely San Antonio.

August ~ The Man and I celebrated 32 years of marriage.

September ~ As summer came to a close, we spent a few days on Galveston Island, another favorite getaway close to home ...

... and I got a helping hand in the garden.

October ~ Twin sister and I celebrated another birthday.

November ~ We spent a week in beautiful Branson, Missouri ...

... and spent Thanksgiving Day at the hospital with my dad, after learning he'd fallen off the roof the day before.

December ~ We enjoyed Christmas Day, surrounded by family, and most grateful that Daddy was home and recovering from two surgeries, resulting from his accident.

***

As I step into the New Year, I want to be mindful that, no matter what may trouble me or bring me pain, beauty and goodness are all around me, just waiting to be discovered.

Here's wishing you and yours a healthy and prosperous New Year!

***

Rosy Revival Has A New Home ~ Come Look

Life has been off kilter since Thanksgiving. I’m sure that’s why I’ve not mentioned that Rosy Revival moved into a new home in November—a bigger, more spacious place to sell all of those lovely things they sell.

If you’re ever in Old Town Spring, please stop by and check them out … and I’d love you to go “Like” them on Facebook. They’d love it, too. :) Rosy Revival is located at 26504 Preston Avenue (Old Town Spring), Spring, Texas.

In no particular order, here are some pics from my visit today, and a couple I snagged from their Facebook page. Enjoy the view!

I'm in love with this magnificent vintage desk! 

If only I had a place for it.

I think I'd like to live here.

That corner table is simply spectacular, 

as are the stacking tables!

They have a variety of amazing candles. 

I'm burning my "white pear" fragrance right now and it's filling up the whole house. Intoxicating!

It's such a cute place. I love the color scheme.

That little curio cabinet is to die for. 

Pic doesn't do it justice.

There was a matching table and chairs for this gorgeous hutch, but they've sold since this pic was taken (snagged from Facebook).

My favorite thing today was wearing polka-dots.

 

Hope you enjoyed the tour. 

Rosy Revival is a dealer for CeCe Caldwell's chalk and clay paint. They can ship anything in the store. Call them at 832-458-2400, or message them on Facebook for pricing and shipping details.

***

Christmas 2012 in Pictures

It was a very Merry Christmas at Mom and Dad’s place. Daddy is never happier than when he’s surrounded by his family, and, except for my son-in-law, they were all there. 

We ate, we laughed, we played games, and we all were entertained by sugar plum. She’s our only little one for the moment, and what a blast we had with her this year. 

As for food, it doesn’t get any better. Mother may not have the most modern stove (it’s harvest gold, if that tells you anything), but the dishes it has cranked out through the years could win blue ribbons. 

Speaking of modern, everything about my parents’ home could use a major upgrade, but the memories that have been made in and around that house, over the last four decades, are priceless. 

Here are a few of my favorite images.

Christmas Eve, Mom and Dad exchanging gifts.

Christmas Day, three sisters and a niece strike a pose.

One sugar plum to steal your heart.

Family gathered around Daddy. This is the chair where he spends most of his days now, except for when he's having a rehab session, or eating, or playing Dominoes. He is so anxious to walk again. We pray for that end.

Sugar plum opening her gift from my sweet daughter.

A Minnie Mouse kitchen. (She's in love with all things Minnie Mouse.)

Her nana and papa got her this adorable stroller and doll.

Three sisters had one daughter each. They're all classic beauties ~ the cousins.

~~~

Taking a few photos outdoors is a yearly tradition. This is sugar plum with her nana (my big sis) and papa.

Thankfully, the rainstorm came through the night before, instead of Christmas Day. Water was standing everywhere, but we were grateful for sunshine. This is a favorite shot of sugar plum with her papa.

Sugar plum loved running with The Man. 

She calls him Unctan (her version of Uncle Stan.) 

I think it's clear who's pulling who here.

The Man and I with our beautiful daughter. She's just as beautiful inside as she is outside, if I may say so.

Me and my gorgeous niece, Leslie. She is the daughter of my twin sister and I love her dearly.

Sugar plum took turns being passed around.

Twin sis and her lovely daughter.

As the afternoon wound down, we had a little fun decorating sugar plum's head with ribbon and ornaments. 

She was all in.

As was my niece, who actually started the whole bow-on-the-head tradition many years ago. It's just not Christmas until she's had a bow on her head.

***

There was a changing of the guard this morning. Big sis will stay a few days with Mom and Dad, which means The Man and I are home for a short while, enjoying wrapping ourselves in the familiar, yet finding it oddly new again.

That's it from here for now. Until next time, I trust you all had a wonderful Christmas, surrounded by the people you love.

***

Merry Christmas to You!

Remembering Christmas past, 

and wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas. 

May the light of the Christ child shine in your hearts all year long.

***

These Days in December

This has been the oddest December in my memory. The Man and I have spent 99% of our time (since Thanksgiving) here at my mom and dad’s, helping take care of Daddy since his fall (you can scroll on down and see the backstory, if interested). We put up Mother's little Christmas tree, and The Man got a few of Daddy's Christmas lights shining bright.

It’s not that my parents really need us, physically. We do help, of course, but my mom can roll Daddy to where he needs to go, and Daddy is able to roll himself somewhat, although on carpeted floors it is a challenge. 

The main reason we’re here has more to do with emotional support, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. They tell us over and over how thankful they are for the gift of ourselves. We tell them how blessed we are to be able to spend this time together.

The days take on a slower rhythm here. Daddy doesn’t have a television, doesn’t listen to the radio, outside of the news, doesn’t have Internet, doesn’t care much for listening to music more than a few minutes at a time (which is surprising, being he is a wonderful singer and musician and has recorded four or five albums in his lifetime). He reads the newspaper and his Bible, and whatever magazines come in the mail.

When he is not being wheeled to take care of life’s necessities, or to the table for a meal, he is confined to one chair in the house (it accommodates his injury the best). His days are long and monotonous. My heart breaks for his immobility; it’s just not him to be still.

Mother and I (and The Man) work on the daily crossword puzzle from the newspaper. Some days, it takes all three of us (and a little help from Google, thanks to my smart phone) to get ‘er done. 

In the evenings, we gather around the table for a game or two of Dominoes (the only game my dad enjoys playing), and cups of hot chocolate or coffee, or both.

The Man and I seldom leave the house together; we tend to go out one at a time. But yesterday, we made sure things were well before heading into the city for a little outing that included a bit of shopping, talking, and eating. 

The Man isn’t exceptionally keen on hats, but he liked this one and wanted to buy it for me (and two others). Merry Christmas to me! He even took my picture with my smart phone’s camera. (He’s getting way too techy, I tell you.)

This post has already reached the too-long stage, but there you have a look at what’s been happening behind the scenes. Events such as this remind us of what is important in life.  It's also made me all the more appreciative of the wonderful man I call my husband. 

While I miss being home, miss my little routine, miss puttering around the house and the yard and hanging out on my side of town, miss being able to visit my friends in blogland, miss my daughter, my church family, my sisters, my nieces, and my sugar plum (sometimes their absence brings an ache that lingers for a long time), I realize how rich these moments with Mom and Dad really are. Sometimes I watch them when they’re not looking, and the love I feel in my heart threatens to spill over in a downpour of tears.

Lord willing, we will see the faces of other family members, come Christmas Day, and there will be lots of food and fun and laughter. Their presence will be our gifts this year. The way I see it, who could ask for more?

Until next time, sweet friends, I hope your Christmas season has been filled with the people you love. 

***