The Big Why

The big Why is the why we ask our selves from time to time 
Why am I here? 
Why do I work in a job I hate?
Why do I stay married to someone who hurts me so?
Why do I do anything?
Why do I study the word and finding no answers?
Why do I paint or draw?
Why do I craft?
Why do I clean house and clean my toilet? 
Sure some of these things may make you feel good and bring you joy,some not so much. But really there is only one answer. It comes down to one thing it's a heart issue. 
If you say I do this or that because I enjoy it, I love doing it, I do it for money to feed my family, to pay bills, to be famous, to be successful.
As good and noble as these might be if this is your first thought then I'm here to tell you, you are doing it for the wrong reasons. 
The Big Why has a simple answer but one that I can not tell. If I was to tell you, you would lose out on your journey to discover the answer and that's where true joy is. It takes something that I find most people really don't want to do. We live in a world that if I can't get it in 2 seconds it's not worth it we have to have it NOW. How do find the Big Why it's done with self reflection truly seeing yourself and your relationships. I will tell if after doing this you come way thinking it's about me and the world is to blame then you did it wrong. 
I wish you well on your journey to finding your Big Why. 
Until Later,
Holly

A Gift

On Jan.5th late night we got the call that they had a heart. Jim looked like he was going to just faint the day had come. Haydee went in surgery on the morning of the 6th to get a wonderful gift.

Jim captured this moment of mother and daughter just before Haydee went to get her gift. No words just the look of love.

They had to keep Haydee asleep for awhile to let her body and new heart get use to each other. They started to wake her on the 13th Jim could hardly wait to look into those beautiful blue eyes and now see the life they will have together.

She is doing really well still a long road but the road just got a lot smoother. She can hardly wait to get up and start working to get her strength back. I'm excited to see how she grows in the Lord. 
It has been an emotional trip being here I'll be going home next week a lot happier than when I came here. I hope that I was a help to my son to help him not feel so alone. I will miss him more than I can say. Hopefully it won't be long until they can come and visit us now that Haydee will able to travel. 
Until Later,
Holly

A Heart

We got the call last night that they may have a heart for Haydee. After all the test they decided it was a go. Haydee was in surgery all night and now has a new heart. This is such wonderful news for us. The next few days are critical. So we are still in a wait and see but it's more hopeful than it has been. I would ask that you would still pray for her that her body will accept the heart as hers and that she will recover fast. Thank you all that have been praying for her.
Until Later,
Holly  

West Meets East

Well I'm still here in Connecticut and I will tell you I miss the west. The people here are so different the nicest people I have meet aren't from here. I guess that doesn't say much for the people of Connecticut, some might say they act a little uppity.  Don't even try and talk to these people about what's really going on they just don't want to hear it. So I sit here looking at this beautiful county I think when the SHTF so many of these people will be saying "what happen". Wondering why no one told them, or how could I have been so blind. I feel as if I'm in Panem from Hunger Game and anyone who has read those books knows how the people of the Capital act that's here. Is really is sad. I just hope that I'm out of here before the SHTF as well as Jim and Haydee if she makes it.

On a side note Haydee is about as stable as she can be but really need a heart and soon. So please pray for her. 
Until Later 
Holly

Winter

This is what I woke up to the other day while I'm here in Connecticut. I guess I'll get to have snow I was able to shovel snow for the first time in years and believe it or not I enjoyed it. I have missed the snow so much it's all I remember it to be.

Until Later
Holly

100+ DAYS

Well what can I say I have neglected my blog beyond reason. This year has gone by so fast I can't believe it is almost over. Back in June my son Jim got married to a lovely girl named Haydee. She has spent most of their married life in the hospital so I would ask that you keep her in your prayers. I canceled my giveaway since I will not be here for awhile I'm heading back east to spend some time with them and help out where I can. I'll take my computer so can keep in touch with people. Please pray that everything will work out and Haydee will get what she needs to get better.
Until Later.
Holly

View from the tub

When my kids were little they always had to come and talk to me when I was in the tub. I thought "Oh Well when they get older I'll get to be alone in the tub". That didn't happen even when they were in high school they would sit on bed while I was in the tub. I thought "Oh Well when they leave the house I'll be alone". Well that is the only time I get to be alone cause when they come to visit guess what they come to talk to me, and just so he doesn't miss out even Wate comes in once in awhile. Once I had grandkids I thought maybe they won't come in. I was wrong K always comes in to tell how I need bubbles or a toy or washcloth. I never knew I was taking a bath wrong all these years. I thank God everyday I have her to tell me the right way. Got to love the wisdom of little one. Bath time is for play not just relaxing.

I just love this girl. 
Until Later
Holly



Don't forget to leave a comment for the end of the year drawing.

Music

When I was a kid and we would go to our grandma's, when she would put us to bed she would always sing us a song. She would ask what song do we want to hear we would tell her the one with the baby asleep on the hay.

I love this memory so much I would sing to my kids "You are my Sunshine" Now I sing to my grand kids and what do they want me to sing when I ask them K says doe a deer. So that's what I sing her over an over got to learn a new song.

Do you sing to your kids or grand kids I'd love to hear about it. Remember to check out my giveaway and how to enter here.
Until Later,
Holly

Pin Making and a Giveaway

Well here we go I can't believe how easy these first two were to make.

Here is the Pin for these redneck wine glasses and here is how to make them. I am sorry the pictures aren't the best my camera isn't the best just a point and shoot sometime I can get good pics most of the time not. But these glasses came out GREAT Valondra wants some so I need to make a run to the dollar store for the candle sticks. This a must try.

Here is the pin for these time out bottles, here is a blog about these you might like since my bottles are smaller than the pin I just cut everything in half and they came out so cool I may put myself in time out. I made these for my grand kids when they come over. They came out so pretty I can sit and look at them and dream. I shake them all day long.
                                                              GIVE AWAY
Now for the give away this is going to be a little different. Since this year I want to work my way through Pinterest and will be doing many different crafts. Here is my plan you'll leave a comment on any of my blog post for 2013, so you will be able to enter more than once during the year, if you have won one of my give a ways before that's OK you can enter too. In November at thanksgiving K and Ann will each draw a name and we'll have 2 winners. Now you may be asking what am I giving away I'll be putting some of the things I'm making some I'll give away some I won't, I'm not telling so this coming December two of you will be getting a surprise package from me of things I've made during the year. Remember now to enter all you have to do is comment on any of my post in 2013 so go ahead leave a comment.
Canceled life happened.
Until Later,
Holly

2012 to 2013

As this year end and the new one starts I'm making plans for what I'll be doing. I love Pinterest can waste many hours there. But let me ask you how many of you do any of things that you've pined. This next year I'm going to work my way through Pinterest I have made a few things and will blog about them. I have made these Lasagna Cupcakes from leftover spaghetti sauce it's a great way to use leftovers. So this next year will be pin fun. Stay tune for an announcement of a give away in the next few days I'm  hoping it will be fun a one.

Until Later,

Holly

365x3=

Well this has been a year in the making I joined the joy dare over at A Holy Experience were you count your joys, gifts, things your thankful for three things a day at the end of the year you'll have 1000+ thing. I wanted to do something different to record all my gifts. So I made a smash,junk journal for them. It came out so good I plan on doing another one for 2013. I know what your thinking now what do you do with it since there were a couple of pages left I'm writing a letter to my grand daughter K when she turns 16 I'll give her the book so she can see all the little things in life to be thankful for. Next years will go to Ann. I think this is a wonderful idea for them to see how thankful I am for them for they are in many of the pages. This journey has taught me many things how to be thankful in the mist of tragedy and hard times. I'm looking forward to what the next years blessing will be. If you want to try it for your self pop over to A Holy Experience and down load all the months and start counting I'd love to hear how it goes for you.

Until Later,
Holly

Christmas Angel 2

All these goodies are from my second angel over at Quilting, Sewing Granny I really had a lot of fun doing these swaps. I love swaps this past year I have been doing a lot of it over at Swap-bot. I'm saving these in my happy box. This has been a great year meet some really fun people wonder what the next year will hold for me.

Until Later,
Holly

Christmas Angel

At the beginning of the year I joined the Christmas Angel over at Mrs. Martin's I was lucky to get two Angels, One of my Angels is from that wonderful country Australia Annette she is very gifted I'm saving most of my gifts to open later. The little bag I had to hide, K has been getting in to bags she loves to fill them with her things and some how they become hers. She made me a hook case which I really needed it's going in my go bag. Thank You so much Annette I have had a great time getting to know you it's so much fun to say "Oh my friend in Australia made that for me" it throws people off that I could have a friend so far away.

I just love this little stitch work when I first saw it I thought this is going to look so great hanging on the wall of my someday shop. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!

I really needed something for my door this year I think Annette's stocking looks great I had all those flowers and couldn't think how to use them. I have a rock in side so it would blow away but when the storm hit it keep knocking at the door so I brought it in until the storm passed.

Thank you Annette. 
Until Later,
Holly

Just Think

Every time Ann comes over before she even wants to greet us she checks on Papa's bike and I think we all know what she's thinking. "Just think in 15 years this will be all mine." She does love adventure this girl has no fear she is going to be our base jumper, motor-cycle riding, drive us to drink girl.

After her first ride she came back eyes as big as saucers and a WOW look on her face. Hopefully the ride around the block will keep her happy for awhile.

Until Later,
Holly

Mom

My Mom passed away a few weeks ago and I wanted to do a blog for her. We never had the best of relationship she favored my brother more. She did teach me some things not sure why she did but she did. I learned how to crochet from her and that has been my first love of all the crafts I do. She made me a sweater coat when I was in high school which I still have and wear every year we go up to see the snow it's warmer than any coat you could find and I love it. I loved her cook books and she let me experiment with cooking and to this day I love to bake and make up things to try. Thank you Mom for all you gave me may you find peace that this world couldn't give you. R.I.P.

Until Later,
Holly

Chick-fil-a

I love Chick-fil-a it is one of the only places that doesn't upset my tummy. They use real chicken. Today was they day to show our support for this great company. I was surprise to see how many people showed up in our little town. I think every one in town showed up. It was standing room only it was great.

We had to get take out cause Valondra forgot to get the car seats for K and Ann. But I'll tell you at home or in the store it was good.

                                                              YUM!!!!!!!!!! 

                           
                               My Girls I just love them.
 

                                     
                                        Ann learning to drink from a straw.

          K just loves Ketchup. The best way to eat it is with the finger. 

It was a really great day. 
Until Later 
Holly

Eclipse 2012

While camping we were able to be in a place that had a good view of the eclipse. One of the other campers named Gil Leigh took these and gave me a copy of them. He had a special lens to take them. I will share the secret the special lens was really dark sun glasses. Can you believe it I wasn't sure it would work but sure enough it did.

Until Later,
Holly

Camping 2012

Well what a wonderful camping trip we had I wish it could have been longer or at least maybe being able to do it again soon. I tell you even if the camper isn't that comfortable I slept like a baby. I think the next time we may try it without the dogs. As much fun as they are Max doesn't really like camping and we can't go looking into shops or anything. 
I did learn alot this camping trip like most of the big RV's and travel trailers are full timers. As nice as it may sound I really don't think I could do what they do. Everyone at the camp site that we were at were full timers some had been on the road for 1 to 5 years. I'd like to travel around for a few months but I'd want to came back home, and I'd miss my grand kids to much. Now if I could take everyone with I could see spending more time on the road. 

   
I'm hoping we can do this again in a few month.
Until Later,
Holly

CAMPING :-)

Yes we are camping and we are really roughing it (not). How can you really rough it when you have a pop up, computers, and the internet. This is my first time blogging from my tablet so we'll see how it goes. I'll tell you I did feel alittle guilty about bring the hot spot (internet) until we got here and the people on both sides of us have a dish for cable. They are some of the all timers. I wish we could be an all timer maybe in a few years when Wate retires.

Until Later, Holly

Art Journaling

I recently was introduced to art journaling and I love it. I have been journaling on and off for years but to be honest it can be very dull at times. Well this sure changes things. The first person I thought of was RMKK's girls maybe they might be interested in this. I'd love to know what they think. I now have 3 journals going, soon I'll be starting a 4th. They are so much fun. I found this link really helpful in getting started. If anyone has been doing this I'd love to hear from you and see your work.

Until Later,
Holly