I hope everyone has a wonderful day. We are staying pretty simple this year and not making to many leftovers except of course for a large turkey. It seems the simpler you stay the more calm things are. I think my most favorite thing my youngest daughter and I have made was a Red Velvet cake. It turned out so pretty and it is sooooo yummy.

There is a special give away today over here at Scrapping Servant Hopefully you will be able to take part. If you aren't able to make it over maybe I should do a give away of my own? Hhhhhmmmm, if enough people are interested I may just do that.

Many blessings to you and yours this day. Search for your heart for the things you are thankful for, then don't let them go!! Scrapbook them!!

Christmas????? Oh my!!!

I know that everyone seems to be saying it this week BUT I can't believe Christmas is only 7 weeks away. I find myself not really in the holiday mood. I'm not sure if it is I have so much to put together or if my mind is just changing. Over the years the way I approach Christmas is so different. I don't want to give gifts that don't have any thought to them. I would rather give nothing than impulse buy........that is a BIG step for me!!!

This year I took a challenge from Ali Edwards and chose a word for the year. I may have shared it before but my word has been contentment. To be honest with myself I have to say I have been anything but content this year. I just can't seem to put my finger on it. I do feel a shifting taking place as Christmas is approaching.

I'm going to slow down and take a few things in, sites and sounds. The forecast is for snow this weekend. We shall see.

Ready Mom?????
I can't help but wonder if as a mom you are truly ever ready for your babies to get older. My youngest is inching closer to being a teenager and it seems she is changing everyday. When did she start to get a womanly figure anyway? I know it happens but geeeshh, can't my baby stay a baby for just a little while longer?? Probably not...........I'm thankful she isn't showing to much interest in boys her age other than to have them as friends. I'm sure she has her eye on one and I hate it admit it but their is probably a young boy or two that is setting his sites on her. Let's just hope they continue to stay scared of girls for a little bit longer!!

So to you my darling daughter, I wish you a little belated birthday. Never doubt, how much I love you so desperately.
Keep smiling, laughing and choosing to be happy creating joy in your everyday life!! You have brought me many days of happiness as a mom, even through the days of misunderstandings, that bring us both to tears. Hold onto your faith in God and keep an open ear to him as we enter into another year of adventure in your wonderful, beautiful life.
I thank God for gracing me with your presence. What joy and sunshine you bring to my days!!

Hearts all a flutter.........
I do believe I am caught up on some sleep. My energy level is increasing and I just feel good. I honestly can't remember the last time I felt like this.
The leaves are falling from the trees and I can feel myself settling in. This is going to be the week, that I start to play catch up on the little things, that I have let go because of lack of energy. Yipppeee!!
This is one of the sweetest faces ever. Who would have every thought that my Granddaughter would love to eat lemons. Reminds me of hot summer days sitting on the back fence eating lemons myself when I was about 10-ish. I don't know how I did it! Now I can't even think of eating something that sour without my jaw tighting up. So what does a little girl give her Granny for her birthday, that would have her heart all in a flutter? With a little help from her Mommy of course, she made me a card with dancing lady bugs. The lady bugs are her tiny finger prints, sigh. This is one card that will have a place of honor in my scrapbook.
It is funny how something so simple can make your world a little bit brighter.

Updated Sites and Sounds......
So my more later, has turned into MUCH later. Oh well, just enjoying what time I had with my daughter/granddaughter. Soaking up every possible minute and getting in as many hugs and loves as I possibly could from each of them.

A harvest of fruits and vegetables were found everywhere we went in Pike's Place. My family was getting a little irritated at me, as I was taking pictures of things I love about this place. I will share more later as the urge comes over me.

The same weekend that we picked up the girls was my birthday. What a wonderful present.........I really didn't plan the flight that way but it was a bonus! My morning was greeted with a smiling, little blonde headed girl saying 'Hi'. Followed later that day, with lunch/dinner(or lunner, as my children call it) with my Dad and Step-mom. To which I received a beautiful new set of Prismacolored pencils from my parents and flowers from my youngest daughter Michaela. The flowers have faded away but they were just beautiful. The pencils have yet to be sharpened because I just love the newness of them. I'm sure it won't be to long before the day is taken to sharpen each one. I already have my sketch pad ready, just putting a new cover on it this week.

Health.......I had my consultation with my surgeon Dr. Young, very nice man and took the time to explain what he would be doing. What I could expect after surgery and the weeks to follow. After a little bit of a snafu with the insurance company surgery, was scheduled for Monday, September 17. Everything went fine and they only had to take out my left thyroid. I was more sore, I believe from the breathing tube that had to put down my throat durning surgery than the surgery itself. The only thing that was frustrating was that the meds they had me on caused me to get dizzy, which then caused me to have a migraine, to which I would take migraine medication that made me more sleepy. A total double edged sword. I talked to the surgeons office the Thursday after surgery and told them what was happening. They said as long I was not in extreme pain then I could stop taking the pain medication......yippee!! No more migraines after that was done. At the same time they heard back from the pathologist who was doing further tests on the tumor they took out. There is no cancer!

It is interesting how you can pretend that you are okay, on the outside and then you get good news that your fear is not reality. I spent a little time crying and thanking my gracious God before breaking the news to my family. Things like this make you slow down and enjoy what is right in front of you. So that is what I've done the last few weeks, slowed down, enjoyed being alive and healthy. Being able to chase after my Grand-daughter, having her take a few steps to me sharing a cookie that she had had in her mouth(no I didn't eat it, just gave it back) and spending a 'little' more on coffee with my daughter. It was a simply wonderful time.

Sites and sounds of just a little bit of everything.

I have had a wonderful few days! Picking up my Daughter and Granddaughter were at the top of my weekend excitement along with celebrating my birthday. At the airport she asked me to pick her up and I couldn't have been any happier. The fact that she decided she needed my sunglasses wasn't to bad either.

The only agenda we had was to spend time at Pike's Place and then take some Seattle skyline photos at Queen Anne park. It was such a beautiful day, not to hot or cold. It was so full of life, wonderful sounds and beautiful colors. I do love to browse and I could spend so many hours just looking at everything. Not everyone in my family feels this way, which is sad but they adjusted themselves for me. More later........

The day, the day, the day!!
Tomorrow is the day!
We drive to Seattle to pick up Nicole and my Granddaughter. Everyone has decided they are coming along. Michaela is a little disappointed in not having a total girls day out. That just means I NEED to plan something else for us to do while Nicole is here. It still will be an adventure. I look at it this way, I don't have to drive now with Bruce knowing how to get around the Seattle area. That just means he will be the chauffeur and we can tell him where to go.....he he. I'm just hoping it won't all be to overwhelming for Piper.
Looking forward to spending time at Pike's Place and maybe even getting to go into my favorite Scrapbook store the Mad Scrapper. A girl can dream!!

Well it is done. My thyroid surgery is scheduled for Sept. 17th at 9:30am. I have an awesome doctor, who took the time to explain everything so I had no questions. I go in this upcoming Thursday for all my pre-op stuff.
A week from today I'll be driving over to the airport and picking up Nicole and Piper. So very excited! Michaela will be traveling with me. I have admit that this is something she and I need. Some girl time, being pre-teen is a rough age for her and I right now. We just have to keep the communication flowing and I believe we will make it.
Off to start my Saturday, 'trying to Piper proof my house'. LOL Can't wait to hold her!!

LOTS of stuff happening on the home front.
We are getting the school routine down and it seems to be going easier than I thought it would. The next few weeks will be interesting as we add homework and mid week church into the mix.
My Daughter Nicole and Granddaughter will be coming to visit in 9 days!! Just a little bit excited, it has been almost 8 months since I've seen both of them in person. Nicole will be having another baby in January but she is hoping that "He" will decide to come a little early. Yep, it's a BOY!! A Grandson, Elijah--middle name to be decided at a later time. My son in law will be staying on the home front, working this time. All are hoping to set time aside next Mother's Day to come visit........what a gift. Also hoping to take a trip with my Step mom to see Elijah, shortly after he is born.
On the health side, it has been a waiting game for doctors to get their paper work in order to forward to the surgeon. I have to admit the last couple of weeks have been a blessing to just take the time to breathe and get the kids ready for school. My doctor called yesterday and I have my surgical consult tomorrow 11am. He just 'happened' to have an appointment.........ya, right! Can I tell you how wonderful my God is and how well HE knows me. Knows me enough to NOT give me to much time to think about it. Just like when I have to go to the dentist and they tell me I have to have a filling done. Can you come in the next day.........sure! No time to think about it. It is just better for me that way.

Time just seems to get away from me. I get wrapped up in life and before I know it another day has gone away.
Today marks the Saturday before the first day of school around here. School supplies, new tennis shoes, a few new clothing articles are bought. This past Tuesday the kids had orientation at school, they met their teachers, found their classes the usual boring stuff. Hard for me to believe that my two youngest children are entering Middle school and Jr. High.
Bruce has taken the kids on an overnight hike to Mr. Rainer, honestly I didn't realize how much I just needed to have a little time with no agenda. No errands to do, no one needing anything from the store, just a little bit of peace.
It has been a good day!! Now for a good nights sleep!!!!

Totally FUN FIND for me a couple of weekends ago!! I LOVE bowls!! Now just to decide if I want to use them for food OR in my scrapbookroom BECAUSE they just make me happy!!!

I haven't taken part in Funky Photo Friday in a long time. With summer and everything going on health wise in my life I just needed time and rest.
Last friday's photo assignment was of sunsets. These were taken the beginning of the summer durning a walk with my daughter. Enjoy!!!

I so love the contrast between the dark and the bright oranges. Something about it just makes me sigh. Total beauty.
My daughter saw an angel in this one. Straight over our house.

Well my doctor, the sweet one that she, is called me at 7:30pm last night. She asked if I had heard from the oncologist about my biopsy results, 'no, I said'. To which she answered 'I have the results right here. Would you like to know what they are?' Well, duh!! lol You have to understand that my doctor is incredible, she LOVES us and she was soooo excited to see the news, she just couldn't wait to tell me. Nothing like complete service. My 'tumor' is benign!! God is so incredibly wonderful!! I'm happy, relieved and thanking God for His love for me!! Now I wait to hear from the surgeon, to see when we can schedule to have this lump taken out.
I can tell you, in something like this, that your life takes on new meaning. You can get back to life but you aren't the same person, you find yourself changed. You look and think about things differently. You stop making lousy excuses for why you haven't done certain things. You realize time isn't to be waisted. Was this the lesson? To show me how strong my faith is and to see who I really am? Even to help me from making lousy excuses? I think I have only begun to see what this all means.
So here is to precious time and not taking it for granted. To leaving the lousy excuses behind and getting on with life. A life that leaves the bad stuff of the past, behind right where it belongs.

When you are a child you hope and pray you never have to face bad things. You have the attitude that certain things won't happen to you. Then you know what happens? You grow up to realize that everyone faces bad things in their lives. Sometimes you have a measure of control but in most cases there isn't any way to control your given situation.

A few weeks ago I went with my instinct and a light push from Ali Edwards to go in and have my thyroid rechecked. I had, had an ultra sound done on it in the spring and from what I was feeling it seemed to have gotten bigger. My doctor set me up for another ultra sound within a couple of days of seeing her. The imagining office that I went to, was so on top things that they got the results back to my doctor the same day. I loved the fact that she called to talk to me after hours, but not because there was something drastically wrong. I was impressed that she cared enough to take her own time to call me. There are not many doctors in the world these days that would do that.

So I'm glad I went with my instinct. It has grown slightly in width but especially in length. The ultra sound shows that it is one mass, which is good. My doctor forwarded my information to the oncologist so I could have a needle biopsy done. That appointment was yesterday, now we just wait to see how to proceed. My oncologist said that because it is pressing on my larynx that I will want to have it removed. Yes, I have thought about the dreaded 'c' word and even talked with the doctor about it. The oncologist said that with it being solid that in most cases it is benign. With half of my thyroid being removed we will see if the right side will pick up the slack from the left. If not I will have to be on medication.

All in all I'm arming myself with information and making sure I have many prayers going up. I am peaceful, calm and thankful that God has everything under His control. This is something I can't control. I LOVE how God surrounds me with special people in my life that help to raise my faith. They help me to keep my eyes on Him, the one who made me and knowns every step that I am going to take in my life.

The days seem to get away from you when you have company. Your house is turned upside down, only for you to realize how much you are used to having order in your house.
My DH took our oldest daughter and a couple of hers friends on an over night hike last night. My two younger children wanted to spend the night at my parents house. So you guessed it, I was by myself for the evening. Totally odd to have an evening to myself. I ended up going over to a girlfriend's house to help her get started on organizing her scrapbookroom. Then I stopped at my local grocery store and picked up a good Chicken Caesar Salad. I just didn't feel like cooking for myself or heating up leftovers.
Well, the house will go from being quiet to being loud, as soon as everyone gets home. I'm going to try to get a move on, on cleaning off my scrapbook table! Just because it is in the familyroom people think they can pile their stuff on it.....frustrating!! Especially when you want to scrapbook!!

What is the meaning in a name, mainly your name? I was tagged a few days ago to talk about the meaning of my name.

Here is what I found:
Pronounced: JEW-al/JU-el
Orgin: Old French
Meaning: Plaything, delight, joy
Literal meaning: Precious gem
Given name may derive from it's use as a term of affection
826th most popular name

What I KNOW personally about my name: My Great Great Grandfather's last name was Jule. He and my Grandmother came over from Denmark. They never had any boys to carry on the family name so the name was passed on as a middle name. I in turn have passed it onto my oldest daughter as a middle name. I hope she will keep the tradition.

So what do you know about your name?

Yesterday was such a nice relaxing day. I read a little, wrote a lot, and took a nap. A completly wonderful day for me which doesn't come by very often.
This week may just turn out to be a busy one. My oldest daughter is coming into town from Omaha, NE with her girlfriend. They will be staying until Sunday I believe and then leaving in our older car we have gifted her.
It will be a full week so I'm off to bed early!

Have you ever just had one of those NOT so productive days? That was me yesterday! I had so many best laid plans to blog but when I sat down I was somehow taken away to do anything but what I wanted to do.
So today has been a good day. I had my cup of coffee with creamer and splenda, then got dressed into jeans. BIG step for me because I LOVE my sweatpants even in summer time. I headed out to our dreaded garage which is basically a glorified storage area. If it was EVER to fit a car inside I would be totally amazed!! We get into this habit of not putting things away, then we make the excuses why we can't go out and clean. From it being to hot, to cold or we have more important things to do. For me it comes down to we have been spending WAY to much time in front of the tv, so enough is enough. We are going to get a few things done and there are a few people in my house that aren't to happy about it.
So the garage is clean.......I don't remember it every having a floor or at least one that I can see!! Two other BIG things got done, an old propaine bottle had it's bottom cut off, to make a LARGE windchime/bell(which has been talked about for years) and we made a new lattice gate at the top of our deck. This has been so needed since we got our Chocolate lab Rosie, who loves to jump over the little gate onto the deck then sleep on a chair that is there. Last weekend we got some 'new to us' furniture so we moved our larger couch that was inside, outside onto the covered deck. It is turning out to be a nice place to escape to read of write. I will have to figure out something for an outdoor winter cover so it doesn't get ruined. There is only one more small project that I want to get done later this evening after everyone has a nice rest. Then I will be happy that the house will be ready for my daughter and her girlfriend. They are coming to visit for a few days this week from Nebraska.
Back to my resting and reading my new magazine Homegrown Hospitality!!

Yesterday, I spent part of my morning with my friend Shari, scrapbooking. Totally fun when we can spend some one on one time together. God has brought her into my life and I am grateful to Him for that. She spoils me when I am at her house with making me mochas. It makes me feel just as special as when I go to Starbucks once a week.
So I decided to take a look at our local cash and carry. I found quite a few different non coffee flavors so the kids can enjoy them........hey, what am I kidding I LOVE them too!! Tonight my daughter Micheala and I made White Chocolate and Peach smoothies.....yummy!! I am definitely NOT going to be able to have these every night!!! Thank you Shari for helping me save a little bit of money in the long run. It is worth it to spend time making these with the kids.

Two posts in one day??!! What is wrong with me? Nothing really, I just want to really use my blog instead of it collecting dust bunnies that I don't like!! So here is to a 30 day blogging challenge, of writing everyday. Now just to find the right time of day ;o)