Peaceful

...

Chase

...

GIST - The Sunday Edition # 149

Things I am grateful for today

1. We had a nice Christmas and everyone was happy with what they got and the company and it was pleasant.

2. coffee

3. getting some much needed sleep

4. busy nights at work

5. being loved

Elizabeth's present to me

Merry Christmas

Waterfall

Cute overload

Castle

Uncle Mack & Chase

My uncle & his grandson

GIST - The Sunday Edition # 148

Things I am grateful for today

1. new babies. My best friend's son and his wife had their first baby this morning and he is adorable.

2. Having my Christmas shopping completed.

3. We had a good time at his work Christmas party last night.

4. Pretty fingernails that didn't break the bank.

5. 2 whole weeks of not having to use an alarm to make sure Beth is up for school on time.

Elizabeth & I

Christmas flowers

Gingerbread house

Wordless Wednesday - let's go here

Just Write # 24

I finished another year of O. Henry Prize stories and I must admit, they grow on you after awhile. I have an anthology of the best thriller stories of the year to read after I read Divergent. I think that's going to be my next book but I also have a stack of Toni Morrison books to read so those may be next.

It's a good problem to have: having too much good stuff you want to read. I like those sorts of problems.

Let's go here

GIST - The Sunday Edition # 147

Things I am grateful for today

1. Sandpiper

2. warmer temperatures

3. Chris

4. good books

5. getting a decent night's sleep

Serenity

Castle

Precious

Wordless Wednesday - beautiful

Just Write # 23

This is supposed to be a joyous time of year but I'm feeling less than in the optimal holiday spirit. I can't even explain why really except that having a close relative die unexpectedly removed the little holiday spirit that I had managed to obtain.

I haven't decorated and while I had been meaning to do that, I'm going to cut myself some slack because I recognize my limits and this is just beyond that. It will be okay that holiday decorations don't go up minus the wreath on the door. I am giving myself a pass.

I am worth that.

Decorated truck

GIST - The Sunday Edition # 146

Things I am grateful for today

1. Making it through the memorial service earlier this week for my uncle without breaking down into an emotional wreck.

2. coffee

3. making it to church today

4. sunshine

5. Having time to finish a book

Love

See the moon

Picturesque

Wordless Wednesday - beauty

Just Write # 22

I didn't expect the phone call I received today from my mother to inform me that my uncle had been found dead in his apartment this morning.

Sometimes, life just seems to slap you in the face with its intensity. I was in the process of writing him a letter to mail with his Christmas card and boom! he's gone.

I haven't really processed it at all.

It's too new. Too close.

I'm worried about my mother because she already has a lot going on with herself and now, she'll have this to care of as well because Uncle A.D. is not able to do it and Uncle Ken had no other relatives. No wife, no children. Plus, he was her baby brother and that's got to be really difficult.