Happy New Year!

Please join me  in a toast of sparking apple juice to welcome the coming new year.

The little cherub is blowing you wishes for a healthy, happy 2010.

Back in 1986 when I lost my hearing, I lost the ability to live my life as the

"people" person I was living in the hearing world for 39 years.

Ten years ago I received the miracle of the cochlear implant

which gave me my life back so I could hear beautifully one on one.

Three months ago I started a blog.

I have been inspired by new friends, shared the joys and heartaches some of you are

going through and celebrated some of the really wonderful events in your lives.

I feel I have been given such a precious gift of being able to make new friends from

all over the world.

Thank each of you for giving me what I had missed most, friends who I can hear every word

through the pages of your blogs, your parties and home tours.

I have been blessed abundantly.

God Bless each of you and your families.

.

Happy New Year!

Lynn

Blessings As We Continue Toward The New Year

My grandsons, Jacob, Dylan and Kevin on Christmas Eve

Aren't they handsome grandsons?

A child is a gift from God.

These are my oldest daughter's sons.

My younger daughter came down with the flu just before Christmas Eve

so she and her family were not able to be with us.

My son and his wife are in New York State with her family.

Despite everything, these three little boys

gave us such joy, such laughter, smiles and oh so many hugs to remember in years to come.

It was truly a beautiful Christmas Eve together.

Allow me to share a few more pictures.

Jacob is 7 and Dylan will be 11 months on Dec 28.

Dylan and Mommy, my daughter Heather.

Daddy gets to put new toys together!
My wonderful son-in-law Mike and Kevin and Jacob

Kevin and Jacob opening our gifts.
Kevin will be 4 in January.

Mommy, Dylan, and Kevin testing out a gift for Dylan.

Last by certainly not least, my wonderful husband, Terry

Earlier in the evening he accidentally was kicked in the nose, that is why it appears red.

While it was a shock, there was no damage and Christmas Eve happily continued.

Hoping your Christmas was all you wanted it to be.

 I wish each of you Blessings as we move toward the New Year.

Lynn

Blessings From My House To Yours

This is the last gift my beloved grandmother gave me. I love the expressions on each of the figures.

I should have turned Mary around toward the camera. Her expression is beautiful.

The year before I lost my hearing I was working in a private Christian school

cafeteria so my salary could put my children in the school.

This was a gift from my boss, Nancy, that year.

You can see the back of it in the mirror.

This was my Nativity as a little girl.  I love it then, love it more each year.

If you look behind my mom on the buffet, you can see the Nativity.

Since my computer has had several different issues most of the this month I was

limited in how much I could post.  I did post four in the last two days trying to make up for weeks of non posting.  You may like to go back a few days and see my tribute to my mom and my children

through the years.

I want to take the opportunity to wish each and every one of you the most blessed

Christmas/holiday season.

May each of you travel safely on your journey.

Enjoy the warmth of family and friends.

In our home, after all is said and done, Jesus is the reason for the season.

God Bless!

Lynn

My Children Through The Years At Christmas

Good morning!

As a grandmother of 5, I just love watching my grandchildren enjoy all aspects of Christmas.  Yet, there is a part of my heart that is "reserved" for three special people, my children, Heather, Kellie and Bobby.

Allow me to share some pictures of my children from Christmas's long ago.  You can see them all grown up with their own children and my son and his beautiful wife Erin on my sidebar.  I have awesome son-in-laws too who just don't get in the pictures at the same time!  Usually they are taking the pictures or taking videos.  My son and his wife were married May 8 of this year. They had a beautiful wedding on the beach at sunset.

Making our cookies! Have to keep tasting for good quality!

All I see is flour, think we were waiting for the cookies that were baking.

The colors has faded is this picture over the years, but not their mom's love for them.

This is the same year, all dressed up visiting Santa.

Red velvet dresses, white lace tights.

Heather as a "Hanukkah candle" when we lived in Virginia.

Yes, I loved red velvet dresses on my girls.

This may be one of my favorite pictures!  I loved, loved, loved being a mom.

I remember so well the day I took this picture.

We lived in Fort Lauderdale, FL and it was something like 85 outside.

I turned the air on low so they could dress up and I could get the picture.

These were our Christmas pictures each year.

My son and my dad in 1991, I think.  My son's other grandfather had passed away

and due to the fact that my daughters had just gotten over "strep" Bobby and his dad flew to

New York for the funeral and stopped at my parents briefly.  I think that was the

first year my son saw snow as he was born in Florida.

Bobby and Mom that year.

All dressed up in coats. They had matching "leggings" Heather had a matching hat too.

The collars were green velvet.  My parents bought these coats for the girls.

One last picture of Heather and Kellie in red velvet.

Thank you for allowing me to walk through Christmas's of the past and share my three children

when they were young.

We now have 5 grandchildren ages, 7, 6, 3, 2 and almost 1 year. You can see them on my sidebar.

Warm wishes for a beautiful holiday with your family and friends.

Blessings always,

Lynn

Memories Of Mom At Christmas

If you read my blog often you will remember that my mom passed away March 23 of this year.  My dad has been gone since June, 2000. Being an old child is dauting when both your parents are gone. Feels as if the
"family" is gone. In truth, it is. However, my mom touched many lives, especially with her needlework and quilts.  So in honor of my mom, I would like to share some the "treasures" that live on each Christmas in my home.

This is my gingerbread house Mom made me many years ago.

This is the side. Both front and back are the same, as are both sides.

This is mom finishing the roof.

I have always love this NOEL hanging for the wall. Have had this many years also.

These are some of Christmas ornaments she made over the years for our tree.

Stocking ornaments. When my children were young, I put mom's Santa stockings

near the bottom of our tree so the children could see them, touch them and probably they hid things

in them too!

Some more. Love the train

.

To me, Jesus is the reason for the season and  I cherish this ornament more than Mom knew.

Mom gave me this set so many years ago. This year I found the little red bird in the dollar store.

Mom and I both had this set. She bought one for herself before Christmas and I loved it.

On Christmas I found she had also bought one for me.  Neither of us had the teacup with the set.

Not really sure why. Guess it just seemed perfect the way it was.

We all have treasures that become priceless to us as the years go by. What treasures do you have?

Blessings at this beautiful time of year.

Lynn

Music at Christmas

Good morning!

I have a huge confession to make.

As a new blogger I have been stunned by the Christmas/holiday posts

on the blogs I follow.

They are so beautiful, so inspiring, so addictive!

So much so, that once my computer issues appeared to have been solved

for now, I wanted to catch up on your blogs and totally lost track of

time wandering through a winterland of inspirational beauty.

Guess what?

I kept running out of time to do my own blog!

Thank you for the lovely comments on the one holiday blog I did so far.

I just am in awe of everyone's blog during this past month.

How do you all keep up with your daily lives, each other blogs and still

manage to decoratate by the first of December and participate

in all the parties going on this month?

I would truly like some advice on how you all mange to do this.

In the photo above,  I wish I could get a good clear shot of the silver ball.

Here is one of the best ones:

I just found this last weekend at my favorite shop

Somwhere In Time.

It is cut out in the center where you see the horse and carriage.

The center revolves and it is a music box.

Since having my cochlear implant 10 years ago and hearing music

for the first time in 13 years, Christmas music will always be a treasure

I will never again take for granted.

For the same reason, I love bells. This is also new this year.

Another find at Somewhere In Time.

I had a collection of bells when I lost my hearing.

I smashed them when I was told nothing could be done.

13 years later the cochlear implant gave me back the ability

to hear my beloved twinkling bells.

The little bear bell was a gift from my youngest daughter 10 years ago at Christmas.

My first year of "hearing" again.

The three little vintage boxes in front of the plate are also music boxes.

There were four in the set, one went to a dear friend

I found them at Jennifer's store, The Old Painted Cottage.

I  am using my husband's computer as mine is messed up again and cannot figure how to
enable you to click on Jennifer's site easily.
For some reason his computer does not do it the way mine does.
I truly love these darling little vintage music boxes. So happy with my purchase.
Thank you Jennifer for such a beautiful store.

I also collect and love "snowpeople".

The red and white "Cherish" snowperson in the back was from my daughters

a few years ago with a note tuck in that they had tickets for the three of us

to see the Rockettes Holiday show when they were Tampa that year.

I simply LOVE the Rockettes. Had seen them a few times when I lived in

upstate New York and made trips to NYC.

The needlework blocks on the right are my memories of mom.

They are actually tree ornaments. I have several mom made over the years.

This little Christmas house is also a music box from my older daughter

a few years ago.

I cherish the gift of music boxes and bells from my daughters

as they know how much music, especialy at Christmas means to me.

Tomorrow I will share more "Memories of Mom"

More of her needlework gifts to me at Christmas.

Have a blessed day.

Lynn

Happy Holidays

Good morning everyone!

Have been having computer issues and have not been able to post for most of December.

This year, instead of my traditional tree with past special balls/ornaments

I wanted a different look.

Being in Florida with temperatures in the 70's does not seem like Christmas.

I am a Yankee from upstate New York and dearly miss the cold/snow at Christmas.

In lieu of going "home" for Christmas, I created my own "wintery" holiday.

After seeing the "plastic snow" others of you have used I knew it was for me.

Took this in the daytime, forgot to light the candles!

The "snow" on the pine cones in Cupid's dish really give me the feeling of being outside in winter.

This is the top of our entertainment center.

 In 1988 after my husband survivied kidney cancer we were in Gatlinburg TN

and bought each other our first Thomas Kinkade painting.

I used that on the fireplace to add the "wintery" look.

The large vase is filled with "snow" and branches that has "ice" on them.

The fireplace tools you see were a gift to each other from our trip

to Colorado 3 years ago. Real Elk anters that they had shed.

I may live in Florida but the romantic in me must have a fireplace!

So we found this "gel" fireplace. We love it.

Really gives off heat and crackles like real wood burning.

Anyone else have a "gel fireplace"?

Like the candles,  the fireplace was not lite in the daytime.

We like to turn the air conditioner down at night and light the fireplace.

Then have just the tree lights and candles.

Very cozy. Very romantic. So very me!

Does anyone have special hot drinks they serve by the fireplace?

More pictures later tonight after I finish work.

Thank you for stopping by

Make it a beautiful day!

Lynn

Community Thrift Boutique - Ormond Beach FL

Good morning!

Vista finally likes me again and allowed me to download my pictures from our trip to Daytona Beach after our family Thanksgiving Dinner at my daughter's lovely home in Lakeland.
Should I say that I walked 6 miles on the beach Friday morning and ended up with blisters on both feet?  Never had that happen all the times we have been to Daytona. I just love walking barefoot on the hard sand.
Have any of you ever walked the beach and had blisters on your feet?  I was really bummed because one of the reasons I love going there is walking the beach and doing photography of the sunrises.
 
However, in retrospect it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I found a thrift store when we took a ride. It was not open  on Friday but I saw enough in the window that we went back on Saturday.

We happened on the Community Thrift Boutique

Ocean Shore Plaze

1464 Ocean Shore Blvd

Ormond Beach, FL 32176

386-341-7953

There Mission Statement: The mission of the Community Thrift Boutique is to END Domestic Violence and Child Abuse in our community.

If this store's mission statement was not wonderful enough, look what I found!

The tea set and tray.

I never find things like this in the thrift stores at home. I was so excited!

Also found this beautiful silver fluted  bud base.

Can you see the etching on the glass?  Difficult to photograph well.

We even saw Santa Claus!

\

Think Terry like Mrs Claus better !

If you live in Volusia County or would like to know more about the Community Thrift Boutique

you can click here http://www.communitythriftboutique.org/

Later this week I will share more of Daytona, the sunrise and a cool place we found for lunch.

Have a beautiful day!

Lynn

Wishing you all a Happy Monday!

Good morning Everyone!

I am having capatability issues with Vista and my photos taken in the last 2 weeks!

So I scanned this frosty picture that I love and have had for years.

Remember I am a "transplanted Yankee" to Florida!

I LOVE SNOW.

I also wrenched my back which makes it difficult to sit for long periods

When we went to Daytona Beach I was lifting the suitcases into the trunk.

Right away I realized I did something dumb in the way I lifted them.

 I work at the computer 8 hours a day for my day job.

Which  makes it very difficult to sit for very long to work on my blog.

Between that and my issue with Vista, I am missing blogging so much!

I don't want to miss my first year of blogging during Christmas.

I am also slow in answering my emails, but I will respond to each and everyone.

I thank you so much for your comments and emails and love every one of the

Hopefully I will be able to start blogging again on a regular basis soon.

I have so much to show you.

Have a wonderful Monday.

Lynn