Merry Merry

Santa came and went!

We survived.

We are richly blessed and thankful for our friends and family here in Ohio and abroad.

May you all have the best of everything in the coming year.

Peace & Blessings!

Christmas letter not included with my cards

I have never written one of those letters that you include in the Christmas Card. Well, given the events of the past year, I felt it would make a nice blog entry instead!

December 2007

Celebrated the holidays in San Antonio with Family & Friends.

Packed and moved and drove 9 hours from San Antonio to Tulsa.

Moved into our dream home. Beautiful, 4 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath two story (really 3) home with more closets than we could fill and empty cabinets in the kitchen!

January 2008

Kipper started his new job with MidContinent Group.

Girls started school at Jenks SE Elementary with Ms. Even and Mrs. Ginther. Enjoyed their teachers and seemed to adjust well.

Joined a Gym, Newcomers and transferred my Junior League membership in search of new friends.

February 2008

Had our First snow and built a snowman!

Got wind of the job in Cincinnati and felt overwhelmed but thought we would pursue it!

March 2008

Had several visitors from Texas!

Celebrated my 45th birthday!

We had a revolving door of friends coming to see us!

Addison joined a soccer team, the Strikers and won all but 2 games!

Had the first interview in Cincinnati.

April 2008

Had several interviews in Cincinnati and was offered the opportunity at the end of the month.

Made my first trip to visit the city and look at houses.

May 2008

Celebrated 11 years of marriage while my mom and sister visited and stayed with our girls overnight!

Told the girls about moving to OHIO!

Took a trip with the girls to Ohio to see the city, enjoy a baseball game (Go Reds) and look at houses and schools.

June 2008

Spent a week and a half touring Texas and visiting friends and family.

Celebrated Campbell's 8th birthday!

Said goodbye to the few great friends we made in Tulsa.

Packed our goods and moved to Ohio.

Drove two days with 2 kids, 2 cats and 2 cars!

Kipper started his new job with Great American Insurance!

July 2008

Celebrated 4th of July in the rain watching fireworks from the hood of our car in a hotel parking lot.

Kipper celebrated his 42nd birthday!

Found our house and closed on it the end of July.

August 2008

Registered the girls for school in their third school in less than one year.

Began work on the house (painting) before moving in.

Learned our way around yet another city in another state.

September 2008

Moved into our new(est) home over Labor Day Weekend!

Girls played soccer on the same team, Go PINK PANTHERS!

Celebrated Addison's 10th birthday!

Experienced Hurricane Ike and lost power for 121.5 hours!

Began to unpack what we could when we could.

Had our first visitor from Texas (thanks Jeanne)!

October 2008

Enjoyed the Fall weather, much cooler!

Enjoyed the changing of the leaves.

Girls went to their first homecoming parade and football game....Go Wyoming Cowboys!

My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer and I went home to see him.

Got word the kitchen remodel won't happen till the house in Tulsa sells and the deed is out of our name. (bummer)

Celebrated an amazing Halloween!

November 2008

Had our first snow!

Celebrated Thanksgiving with friends in Ohio (Thanks again Heather)!

Unpacked the downstairs after it was painted (finally)!

December 2008

The girls were in a Christmas Play at our new church.

Enjoyed our 2nd and third snows and made a snowman.

Got a Christmas Tree in the snow for the first time ever!

The girls are participating in the Christmas Eve service.

We will head to Texas for a visit and stay through new years!

Ok, so that is a bunch.....

Three houses, three schools, two moving vans, two jobs and a partridge in a pear tree!

Happy New Year and God Blessings on you all!

Thought for Thursday

GIVE......

but only in the spirit of giving and not in the spirit of wanting something in return........

Tree of Happiness

The beautiful Tabby-I CHOOSE BLISS has blessed me with the wonderful “Tree of Happiness” award!

The rules:

• Link to the person who gave the award to you.•

Post the rules on your blog.

• List six things that make you happy.

• Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.

• Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog

• Let the person who awarded you know when your entry is up.

Six things that make me happy:

Christmas Carols....love how you can listen on many stations to many types of Christmas Music for o whole month, and on TV too!

Having a maid....yes I am a total snob and hate to clean my own house. I think that the only luxury I could not live without, at least once a month, would be a maid. Thanks Barb!!!

My sleeping children....not because I do not like them awake, but when they are asleep and dreaming, it is calm and quiet. They are staying healthy and happy if they get their beauty sleep and I can stay happy if they are sleeping!

Eating out alone....I love to try new off the beaten track places and experiment new food types, alone. Weird, I know...but I am a foodie and love to just eat in peace and enjoy the moment....take a good book or magazine and I am so happy.

TEXAS....for seeing family....looking so forward to the holiday break to get home and see those we left behind....share the love, laughs and good times!

A massage....you knew I was a snob from the maid comment....their is NO BETTER WAY to make me happy than to give me a good, hard, long massage....no stones, no silly stuff, just a deep tissue relaxing massage....BRING IT ON!

So, what makes you happy?????

Do Tell.....

Dancing Queen

3 Little Indians

Quirky Mess

Country Girl

Becky

Texas Word Tangle

It's beginning to look a lot like.....

Freezing Frenzy UnFormated Friday

THANKS! to the Manager of HE, ME & 3

This is a fun award! Always good to get into the spirit of the Holidays!

The Rules are simple:
You must be a true Christmas lover to receive this award.
The person to whom you give the award must also be in love with Christmas.
You must link back to the person who gave you the award.
You must list 5 things that you love about Christmas.
If you can't limit it to 5 things, then keep going till you run out of space! :o)
Pass the award along to as many people as you like. That can be 1 or 45; it's up to you. But, you must pass it on to at least one person in order to keep the Christmas cheer going!
Let your recipients know that you have tagged them by leaving them a comment on their blog.
Things I Love About Christmas
1. Knowing we are Saved because HE was born this season!
2. The smells
3. Extra Callories without guilt
4. The Lights
5. Giving to those less fortunate
6. My children singing Happy Birthday to Jesus Christmas Morning!

So I will pass it on.....

HEATHER

Kristan

KAT

Jennifer

SANDY TOES

Becky

TABBY

Angi

SHARED THE LOVE!

When we share - that is poetry in the prose of life. --Sigmund Freud

Yesterday I participated in a "Rhyme Time" and it was cool.....go check it out on the MUSE's blog...her site has some beautiful musings! Although my contributions were not included, it is a beautiful piece of collaborative work.







As for the title, it is simply FREEZING COLD here in Cincinnati.....what is up with that.....this is February Weather my friends. Low was 18 degrees and high will be lucky to reach 30 degrees! BURRRRR!







Thank goodness I got new BEANS yesterday! Thanks Meaghan! I will keep the pot brewing and stay warm INSIDE decorating this weekend.







Not much else to say on this Friday, just glad to be back amongst the living...Happy Weekend!

Thursday.........

Much Better!

Wordless Wednesday (night)

The Secret is in the Sauce: Merry SITSmas!

The Secret is in the Sauce: Merry SITSmas!

SITS-MAS ROCKS

SITS-MAS ROCKS!

Need I say More....hour by hour they get better!

thanks

this will be brief....

thank you Heather, Joe, Isabel, Elijah, Gabe, Bella and Edward for making our thanksgiving so very special......ok maybe not Bella and Edward....but Michelle, Dan, Danielle, Morgan, Carol, Rhonda, Paul, Ashley, Kay, Bob, and all the other little ones who I can't remember....I did pretty good though.....Seriously, thanks a million for everything....it was hard to be away from family but so very great to be with such good friends. We are thankful for you all and grateful you opened your home to us to share your meal and joy!

A Child's Soul

No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness and generosity

hidden in the soul of a child.

The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.

--Emma Goldman

As the holiday season approaches, help introduce a child to the joy of giving.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4

One, Two, Three and Four....yes I said FOUR! I had my hair cut to 10:30 Eastern Standard Time today and they got 4-yes 4 ponytails out of it....that means 4 wigs for LOCKS OF LOVE!

I can't think of a better way to spend November 22, 2008!
For Gwen, God rest her soul and for my Dad, God love him....these locks are for you!

Smile, say cheese and say AMEN!

God is good and so is Locks of Love!

I am happy with my short hair, my girls know who I am and my husband will have to stick to the real "Crème brûlée"!

Kipper, I love you and I hope you are happy I did this.....for your mom and my dad!

Growing it out already for the next donation!

Dear Duh,

As a part of my assignment for today, I am writing a Dear Post so here goes.....

Dear Duh (who is really me),

I want to win a prize from SITS. I want a good prize. I never win prizes. I read the post from SITS and got it wrong the first time and forgot my DEAR in the name I put with Mr. Linky. No surprise there....I always try to hurry.

My new name should just be DEAR DUH! I am in DUH mode all too often. I need to pay attention better, I know.

But to my other DUH friends...here is this....

Dear Really DUH,

You know who you are.....you are those women in meetings who have phones, that RING LOUD, then you answer them in a regular tone of voice and have a conversation with whoever is calling (like we all care to hear the conversation)......well get your head out please.....

Read the sign at the door that says..."PLEASE SILENCE CELL PHONES" and the the announcement reminder at the beginning in case you were not looking at the sign, you can hear can't you.....Yes you can because you heard the cell phone ring and are now talking to the person on the phone and can hear them fine....and I can hear you talking and I am getting angry!

So, pay attention people....and I will too!

SIDE NOTE:Tonight I am taking an R&R and going to see TWILIGHT, the much awaited thriller with Edward and Bella....will I fall in love or laugh my way through....we will see!

So, don't feel overly obligated to comment...but if you do not, I will not win a prize, and as you know I want a prize.

Signed,

DUH-Catherine-Texan in Ohio!

Thoughful Thursday

Everyday courage has few witnesses.

But yours is no less noble because

no drum beats for you

and no crowds shout your name.

--Robert Louis Stevenson

Wednesday.....Love!

Wednesday is my favorite day of the week!



I am loved this week on my favorite day!



You are loved too...

Mistee Loves Me!

Heather Loves Me!

(and she has rules along with hers).....so consider these combined love!

Heather's said......

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”

1. Meghan and her Beans...She is a brave and beautiful soul who has Kicked Cancer's Ass! I admire her spirit! I also LOVE her beans....GET SOME......

2. Country Girl has a wonderful sense of humor, darling twerps and great music on her blog site.....

3.Becky who is a newish blogger and has it down to a science...she has a beautiful family that she loves so very much....they are so lucky to have HER.....

4.Dancin Queen who is my Texas connection....a friend of a friend and a blog friend of a friend.....and a finisher of ROCK & ROLL's 13.1....WOW......

5. HE-ME & 3, my newest friend in blog world....always commenting and always saying such nice thing.....

6. My Indians....Jennifer is my bloggy inspiration, it is her fault I am here...not in Ohio but in Blog World......

7. Heather's sister, Michelle, and her Tales from the lunchroom...she is another newbie....who resisted a long time, but is now an awesome blogger....funny stuff and even a winner.....

8. Another Catherine....Last but not least, spelled the right way and everything....living it out in Colorado, she says she is a work in progress...aren't we all....

Thanks for the "blogspiration"!

two for tuesday.......

I am from Texas, what is this stuff?????

11-17-08 at 5:00 PM

A Snowy Sunset

Snow Snow on the ground

Sun is sinking down down down

Trees trees covered in White

People gasp at the sight

Snow Snow on the ground

Animals scurry all around

Snow Snow in your hair

Stiffness and cold in the air

Snow Snow on the ground

People sledding down down down

Hot Coco and coffee inside

Why not go for another sled ride

Snow Snow on the ground

The sun has set past the ground

Lights light up the city bright

People every where say what a sight

RandiJay Will

One week of hair

Edited at 5:00pm, found another photo I failed to attach!






So here is the story.....

On Saturday 11-22-08 I will be cutting my hair

for locks of love, an

organization that donates hair for children's hair pieces for those who are not able to afford to purchase a hair piece themselves. You must donate a 10 inch "ponytail" in order for their to be enough to make the sizes needed. As you can see, I have the required amount of hair.

I have chosen this date, 11-22-08 as my donation day for a couple reasons.

First, it is my mother-in-law Gwen's birthday, but it is also the day she died. Gwen suffered and lost the battle with breast cancer. Gwen has a couple wigs and always commented about them. I felt donating on this day, in her honor, would make it double-special.

But, it is triple special. My father, John, was diagnosed with lung cancer just a couple months ago. His birthday is ALSO 11-22 and in his honor, I also will donate for him.

But, this is me today, Monday 11-17-08! And for a few more day, I have to wash and dry all this hair. My emotions are slightly mixed about the whole process.

My husband mentioned my hair was like "Crème brûlée" this weekend....that is his FAVORITE dessert. My girls say they won't know me! I say, it has taken me all this time to grow it and figure out how to fix it....now I will have to re-learn.

But, you know the bottom line....someone, maybe even as many as three children, will have hair. Beautiful, healthy, "Crème brûlée" hair where they would otherwise not have any. It is winter, their little heads are cold and I can make them warm....and I can warm their hearts at the same time.

So, if you have a long ponytail....consider it....your will grow back and you might even want to do it again, that is my plan.

SUNDAY

Honey, it's cold outside!

Light a fire in the fireplace!

S-Shopping for a new Barbie with saved $$!

U-Understanding every one's needs needs!

N-Not being too selfish!

D-Doing just a little bit of nothing most of the today!

A-After worshipping our GREAT AND MIGHTY GOD! (of course)

Y-You won't believe this one, my oldest is watching a boy play hockey....he emailed and asked!

A cup of warmth, a blanket and book, maybe a nap would be nice too. But snow in November, that I could do without....yes a little snow even!

Happy Sunday!

Thoughtful Thursday

Only when we give joyfully, without hesitation or thought of gain, can we truly know what love means.

Leo Buscaglia

this is my joy, what is yours?

Two for Tuesday

Soulful Saturday

Live your life from your heart.

Share from your heart.

And your story will touch and heal people's souls.

--Melody Beattie

Did you know?

Did you know I am not a big fan of Friday?

Did you know I like Wednesday best?

Did you know I love sushi, just not octopus or chewy stuff?

Did you know our painters moved in today for the next two weeks at least....color appears on the walls!

Did you know I have two cats that pee and poop where they are not supposed to and they may die a slow death?

Did you know that yesterday was 75, beautiful and sunny and today is 55, rainy and gray?

Did you know I am thrilled to go to San Antonio for Holiday break?

Did you know I moved twice in less than six months and have lived in 4 places in the past 9 months?

Did you know my dad has lung cancer and that really pisses me off?

Did you know I would have loved to have been a photographer?

Did you know I just found out squirrels are living in all three of my fireplaces and my house could have caught fire any day thanks to the bricks and leaves they have packed in there?

Did you know I really enjoy going to a movie or to try a restaurant all alone?

Did you know I eat chocolate everyday?

Did you know my favorite movie of all times is Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Did you know I love to volunteer?

Did you know I love to be home alone, no sound except whatever seeps in from nature outside?

Did you know I love full moons?

Did you know I wish I could dance and sing?

Did you know I enjoy public speaking, when to strangers?

Did you know I am happy with the outcome of Nov. 4th?

Did you know what I miss most about Texas is Mexican food?

Did you know my girls still believe in Santa? (and so do I!)

Did you know I do not like to talk on the phone?

Did you know I love to travel?

Did you know my husband play guitar very well?

Did you know I am afraid of heights and the dark?

Did you know that my girls and husband are the greatest joy of my life?

What else don't you know?

Thought for Thursday

"When we can begin to take our failures seriously,it means we are ceasing to be afraid of them.It is of immense importance to learn to laugh at ourselves."


Katherine Mansfield
1888-1923, Author

Not my Words this Wednesday

America Chose!