Can it really have been....

...7 years? S.E.V.E.N ? Seriously??

Wow.  Our youngest Grand-Girlie  Ella Ireland, will be 7 tomorrow..

..or today if you're reading this on Saturday..

..or yesterday if you're reading this on Sunday..

..if it's anytime after that..it's old news and she's on her way to being 8.

I love that she's my little "Jersey Girl"..no, not like.."Jersey Shore- Jersey Girl"..ech.

No, I'm talking about "Miss Manhattan with a Jersey Attitude"..with her Puerto Rican dark hair and fiery attitude..her rhythm and dance moves..her appetite for all types of foods..her friendly and loving spirit..

And let's not forget her Irish blue eyes, her porcelain white skin..her bubbly giggle..and her belief in all things magical.

So, Happy 7th Birthday Sweet Ella..

And, look for me in the spring, when the Cherry Festival is at Branch Brook Park.  I'll be the one with the big 'ol  Grammie smile as we walk hand-in-hand..

I'm counting the days Girlie-Girl :-)

Have a wonderful Birth allday.

I love you to the moon..

XXOO

-grammie

There are times when I find something that speaks to me.....

..and I have to share.

No, not the little voices that speak to me and tell me it's OK to have just one more cookie..or to buy that very expensive magazine..

Rather, good, well written, thought-provoking and enlightening articles and sites that I accidentally {if there is such a thing as "accidentally " ...finding  just what you need at. the. moment. you need them } discover.

And I feel it's important enough to give you here.  You don't have to visit or to agree, but it would be sad if I found something that could speak to you and kept it all to myself..I should think.

So, the first is a quote from Marianne Williams I found while looking into her new book and it really was wonderful:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' 

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. 

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. 

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. 

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." 

(A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles", Harper Collins, 1992. From Chapter 7, Section 3]) 

And her newest book...{you can go to her site and watch her explain the first three chapters}

Then there are these articles I "liked" on Facebook today:

http://www.devacoaching.com/2011/01/02/more-joy-less-oy/

{I especially like the last one..laa laa tee daa ! }

and:

Have You Lost a Part of Yourself? 

 

hmmm..that speaks to all of us, I think..

on:

http://alwayswellwithin.com/2011/01/12/have-you-lost-a-part-of-yourself/

So, have you been to any great sites that are more...insightful? Not to think I don't like the "eye candy" sites..I DO I DO I DO!

But, every once in a while, I like to really be put  to task in my... thinking..

scary, huh? ;-)

-me

mr. B is a sweetie.....

..but you probably know that by now..at least that "I" think he is..oh, me ...and his Momma..and my sisters..and our daughters..and our grand-girlies..

..but anyway...

When we spent Christmas in Las Vegas, I won a small fortune..yeppers..5 figures..

...$100.00 to be exact!

And, if you'd been betting I'd have it like 5 minutes before it was spent..you'd loose that bet ;-D

I STILL have it..tucked safely in my old worn out wallet..

Wanna know why?  I was soo tickled that I had won (Mr. B won more..but he played more..)  that I kept saying I didn't know exactly what I wanted to spend it on.

Oh..that and I haven't spent it on a brand new wallet.. {yet}

So every time  I find something, he puts it on the register and takes out is Visa..{I don't carry one..or any other...because I tried, single-handedly, to end the recession and stimulate the economy..all. by. myself..}

So, I have a couple of new things AND $100 in my old worn out wallet!

Yesterday, I he bought this sweater and a happy accident..I already had this necklace that looks as if it was made for it..

I have had such luck so far..think it was all those black-eyed peas we had on New Year's Day??

maybe ;-D

-me

My heart is in Arizona...

..the events of yesterday in my beloved Tucson, Arizona, my childhood home, are yet another indications of the madness of men..of people..sick, deranged...evil and dangerous.

So many people.."wrong place, wrong time"..so many families left with nothing but questions and memories.

My heart hurts for all..the injured, the deceased, and those left to wonder..why? 

And my heart hurts for the family of the shooter. How devastating.  The guilt they must feel..the sadness, the shame, the horror of knowing their child, their brother. their relative is responsible for all this tragedy.


I saw this quote at the beautifuly written blog by Pamela at The House of Edward..she ends with this quote:

“Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.”

Benjamin Franklin

To all of my family and friends in Arizona, I am sorry this happened in your home..to all the families hurting and confused, angry and lost, I am so ver sorry.
 
No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.....Meditation XVII

Please watch and...think...

..and now for something completely different..

..for your viewing and patriotic pleasure.. {and I think Larry would have like this, too }



Gotta love those athletic men ;-D

And, ya gotta laugh.

-me

I cannot close the book..

I know I should.  I have been doing better....missing my brother ..

Is that something one gets "better" at?

There were times when we only talked on the phone every few months.  But I always knew....knew he was there for me.  I could have asked anything of him and he would have made it happen.

That's what big brothers do..take care of their little sisters.  And he has 3. 

It's been a year.  A year tomorrow, January 5th.

He was always there...always.  And it's been a year.

A year of times I "forgot" and wanted to call him and tell him some news..a cousin's passing..a story I had read..a joke or a good laugh..

A year of good times and exciting news {he'll have a great grandson this year..}

A year of rememberies..and photos..and emotions flooding in at unexpected times..

A year of good dreams where hugs are given and of bad dreams when ,upon waking up,  realizing it was just a dream..

This past year..Larry walked with our Dad..in my dreams.  And I got to hug them both .. in my dreams.

And I felt their strength..their warmth..their love..in my dreams.

{L to R -Gerri, Kathy, Larry, Daddy, me and Mother - circa 1954}

So, while the pages may be a bit dog-eared..I cannot close the book.   This story is not finished.  And there will be a happy ending..

I will not say good-bye.

-me

I won't be posting for a few days..just need some time to ..focus.

You know what I like about Christmas??

I mean, other than the whole "greatest gift ever", what with the birth of Jesus and all..
What I like is that keeps on going..

From Thanksmas..to Christmas parties at work..uh..I mean "Winter Frivolity" celebrations..{I don't care what's politically  correct..really??.they're CHRISTMAS parties, people!!}...

..to neighbor/friend get-togethers...

..to Christmas itself..

..to my friend's "the first Sunday after New Year's Christmas Party"..yes, that one was tonight..

..to spending some of that Christmas cash-gifts on great sales..

I. Love. It. All.

However...I am equally as glad ..that it's finally...OVER!

Yay!  Now I can see my counters again..go to Zumba again..eat my apples again..not have to wonder if..

If I got all the cards out..

If I have to make something to take somewhere for some one's party..

If I have to shop, create, wrap, clean, prepare, remember..remember..remember..

It's OVER..and I'm sooooo glad... I'msooooo  ready to do to all again...in about  330 days

Better get to bed...I'm going to be pooped out.

Happy New  All Year!

-me