Christmas already!?

Yeah, it's that time of the year again. I'm already busy making Christmas gifts....when my RA allows it.

I love Christmas, I love the gaiety and joyousness, the bright shiny decorations, the yummy smells of baking (Okay for me it's scented oils in a warmer!) and most of all Family.  This year is going to be sad and happy at the same time. My Father passed in August so he will be greatly missed, but my Mom will be home for Christmas and I"m excited about that. This year I'm trying to make everyone at least 1 hand made item this year. So, far I have gotten a great start, but I still have a lot to get done!

  So far I have made 2 sweet hat and scarf sets for my Great nieces, just finishing up a mobius scarf for my Mother.  I will be making some aprons and a Family Traditions cook book....but can't tell for who! Also, some more crocheted items for other family members.  Then while going through my yarn stash I think I will be making some hat for charity this winter for different shelters in the area.

Curve balls...

I really try hard no to complain about the curve balls that life has decided to lobe my way, but after a while of being slammed by them you just want it to stop.  At least long enough for you to get your breath back.

In August I lost the greatest man in my life, my Dad.  When you're Daddy's little girl it really hits hard, it hits even harder when it was you who was tending to him when he took his last breath. He was under Hospice care for 21 days before he passed, and in the end we were all praying for a swift ending to his pain and ours.  My Dad's death was peaceful, not only for him, but also for me.  I would have never believed the peace and calm I felt at the moment he took his last breath. I knew that God was with us.  I also know that while we were waiting for my Father to pass away, that there was those who were waiting for him to join them. You could feel it that morning of August 12, 2010. As we were grieving and saying our good byes to a man we loved dearly, there was a celebration going on as he was arriving at his destination.

Beauty is both.......

I love the fact that people are starting to realize that beauty is bot thin and plus sizes.  Although I believe that plus sises start at size 16/18 and not 12/14. At the moment I'm just happy that these beautiful ladies are being recognized. I remember when I was about 30 I thought about going to one of those "model searches" that was being held at one of the hotels in our town, but chickened out because I would have been considered plus sized. Now looking back I wished I had gone....I would have been a fabulous model!  People are now finally beginning to understand that you don't have to be thin to be fit and healthy!  I no longer (well a little bit I do) worry about the scales.  I know that as long as I'm working on getting fit and eating healthy that I will become the size that I meant to be.  I just wanted to share these two beautiful pictures that show to all that beauty come in all sizes.