Advent Week Two

Week Two (of four) of Advent has arrived and I am still struggling with gift ideas.  Part of me wants to at least send cards to all of my family/extended family/friends/those I have lost touch with/pay it forward to strangers/all that jazz... Realistically I have been able to focus on helping create a "family" gift for just immediate extended family and write Merry Christmas (or Happy Hanukkah, or Happy Kwanza, or Seasons Greetings, or Happy Holidays) on my various social media.  Sometimes emails, but I never feel like it is enough.

No matter how quickly time passes between each Advent season, I am so very thankful when December rolls around again.  Whether I have had a great year, a horrible year, or landed somewhere in-between, Christmas/December/holiday music always reminds me of family, love, support, stability, warmth... Although there are 52 weeks in every year and I always tell myself I will try to appreciate this year -- every year slips through my fingers.  And I am only thirty (already thirty!) this year...wonder what life will be like in the future!

As a Catholic, these four weeks leading up to Christmas Day every year give me the amazing opportunity to stop and be thankful for everything (good and bad) in my life.  I try to take this time to focus on something/everything that is positive/good/uplifting in people's lives because I know of/have heard of/have read/have experienced not good things.  And, being human, I often fall/sink/fail.  Advent is a time where I try to really focus outside of myself and not allow myself to get caught up in personal drama (ok, still human, I try not to focus for very long on things that are negative in my life).

I shall, of course, continue posting here hopefully for a long while... This year though I am going to invite all of you to leave me a message or send me an email (disappearingrose@yahoo.com) and I will send you a personal holiday note.  Please let me know what holiday you are celebrating, or if you would prefer the more generic Season's Greetings : )  Also I want to thank all of you, because most if not all of you have been sharing your lives with me via the online world and I really appreciate it.

Halfway through the Advent Wreath -- this week I shall be sure to pray extra for all of my social network friends!! ::HUGS::

Remembering Pearl Harbor

Every December 7th, whether or not I write about it, I know my family and I include Pearl Harbor as a day similar to Memorial Day and Veteran's Day -- we stop and think, pray, thank, wonder, etc, etc about everyone who did serve, is serving, and will serve our country. To protect us, to protect our freedom, to protect our way of life.  Although some things have changed since December 7th, 1941 "A day which will live in infamy" as FDR said.... Nothing really changes. At least that is how I feel many days.  We fight, individual and global battles, and somehow there is never that "happy ending" that I grew to love

Online photo of USS Shaw being hit in Pearl Harbor Attack on December 7 1941

Many are given the chances, the choices, the opportunities to do something however, and to make a difference, take even a small step towards good and away from evil is a victory.  I know I ramble, and am not sure if I get my true feeling across, but I try to see things from various sides/angles... I know that I am very blessed and thankful to not have had to live through a world war.  I hope and pray that we never see such tragedy again - yet I know I am not in control of anyone's future.

A man at the Pearl Harbor Memorial in Hawaii

As I mentioned last year on here, I was fortunate enough to go with my family once to the memorial at Pearl Harbor.  Traveling not just to the land memorial, but stepping onto the memorial on the water, seeing the names go on and on -- and knowing there were so many stories I would never know -- it was overwhelming. I am thankful for so many experiences and for what I have... May God bless and love all of us, giving us the strength and happiness in whatever way He sees fit.

God answers prayers with a: yes/not yet/no/I have something else in mind for you

[In case you cannot read the image directly above it states "God answers prayers with a "yes"/"not yet"/"no"/"I have something else in mind for you" ... Personally I believe we can all relate to these answers, particularly the three that are not a "yes" -- frustrating/maddening at times, but God has a plan]

Today - maybe we can all be a bit thankful today for the blessings we have

A kitchen remodel (Part I)

Finally getting around to sharing the (photo) story of my aunt and uncle's kitchen remodel!  We had an extra-special Thanksgiving this year for many reasons -- however, selfishly, I also enjoyed the fact it was my first time enjoying the "new" space!

Let me start off with three photos of the "old kitchen" (to compare)

Living room looking into the old kitchen entrance

Entering old kitchen (looking to the right - doorway is to dining room)

From doorway of dining room looking into old
kitchen (doorway on the left goes to living room.
doorway straight ahead goes to rest of house)

Alright, now moving onto the gutting of the kitchen...

From doorway of dining room looking into old kitchen
(doorway on the left goes to living room. doorway
straight ahead goes to rest of house) Gutted kitchen

Closer look - gutted kitchen where living room doorway was.
Half wall to be removed for larger doorway and a raised counter to eat at.

Entering gutted kitchen (looking to the right - old doorway to
dining room was closed and a new wider archway created)

Continuing with the cleaned up walls of the gutted kitchen AND NEW FLOOR TILES!

Closer look - NEW AND IMPROVED where living room doorway was.
Half wall to be removed for larger doorway and a raised counter to eat at.

Standing in new dining room doorway looking
into gutted kitchen - the NEW TILE FLOOR is in!

Entering gutted kitchen (looking to the right - old doorway to dining room
was closed and a new wider archway created) NEW TILE FLOOR DONE!

Next post will have cabinet instillation day, new counters, new appliances, and lovely back splash/lights to finish off the remodeled kitchen!!

Patience is a virtue

Patience is a virtue that I am lacking today, particularly with two members of my family.  Calming thoughts and prayers please?  Just difficult after a day when I am so tired/worn out.  Thanks!

Scrabble Tiles - PATIENCE

P.S. Sorry, still no kitchen renovation post. Manana?

My nephew's Thanksgiving Collage

I promise I do have a post (actually, due to the amount of photos, two posts) coming your way about my aunt and uncle's kitchen remodel -- they hosted Thanksgiving this year.  HOWEVER... Official Thanksgiving photos arrived today!  So you can all read about (rather: look at photos, read captions) another day!  Tonight I am posting Baby K's First Thanksgiving Collage Image

As the image collage states - Thanksgiving 2013

Okay, an extra one just because he is so cute when he tries to stick out his tongue!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas!

Planned on posting this yesterday, but then Baby K was sick : (
However today he is better!! Plus you get more photos

Slowly but surely Christmas decorations are being put into place!  Started with little things (dishtowels, the same plastic wreath that hangs outside the screen door so it works in any weather, this year's Advent wreath, two cute stuffed snowmen sitting on a window sill, the ADORABLE miniature Christmas tree with it's own assortment of mini ornaments)... Now the boxes of ornaments are out of the attic, the tree has been put up, and tonight the lights were put on!  Photos to share (and more to come as decorating continues)

Advent Wreath 2013

Outdoor Christmas Wreath
(yes fake - but good for all weather!)

Miniature Tree in powder room
decorated with miniature
ornaments and tree skirt!

Craft - Christmas trees made by gluing together wine corks!

Annual Christmas Manger centered on the mantle
(Yes, we add Baby Jesus early)

Christmas Tree with just lights
in family room 2013

Ornaments down from the attic!
(Trust me, took YEARS to finally
buy "proper" ornament boxes!)

Looking forward to seeing/reading about all of your holiday decorations (whatever holidays you celebrate!)

Dec. 2, 2013

The second day of December -- I am no longer posting about how decorating for Christmas is progressing.  My nephew had his scheduled two month pediatrician appointment today and there was both good news and mildly not good news.  He took his first three shots like a pro (okay, I lie, my sister said she wanted to snatch him up because he cried -- but only for a minute, then he was fine) -- so almost like a pro.

More good news?  He has grown and is now 11 pounds, 7 oz. -- this seems HUGE to us but it is normal... Almost on the small side which amuses us because he feels so much heavier than he did just a few weeks ago!  The mildly not good news?  Poor baby has thrush : (  So in addition to getting shots he has an "icky" mouth which his new medication should get rid of soon.

Good news for this Tia [aunt]?  Baby K and his mom came to stay here for the day!  Yay for multiple reasons!  Baby K got his meds, I was able to dote over him even during his "bad" moments (and walked him to sleep a few times!) -- plus my sister got to sleep!! [Apparently she doesn't get to do because of the lack of help where she is currently at... She has mentioned moving back with just the baby so we shall wait and see]

Poor nephew kept pouting, crying, whimpering,
and making sad faces. I got him to sleep though;
he seemed much better by evening!

Still not his usual happy self, however
he was much better than earlier!!

Finally doing better!!

Shall return to Christmas tomorrow - my only nephew trumps decorations : )