Christmas Questions

Check out my Christmas Questions and photos that I have been putting on Facebook.

The Magic of Christmas (Wrote in 1985)

When I was a little girl my bed was the sofa bed in our frontroom. This was a perfect place to be, especially on Christmas Eve.

After my parents went to bed the room would be dark and chilly. I would snuggle in between the cold sheets trying to get warm. I was too excited to go to sleep. I knew if I waited long enough I would catch Santa on his visit. But Santa won't come if he knows you are awake so I would pretend to be asleep. In that magical moment when my eyes were closed Santa would come.

As I open my eyes I see the magic that Santa has left behind. The room is now warm and cozy. The tree is beautiful with its rainbow of lights. And around the tree are the odd shapes of presents.

I would lie as quiet as I could and listen to be sure that magical man, Santa, had left. Then I would run and wake my brother. We would peak at our presents, deciding which ones to open first. Finally, our parents would get up and join us. We would open all those wonderful presents in the dark early morning. It was a magical time spent with my family.

After the excitement we would go back to bed taking one present with us. I would always take my new doll. It felt so good to snuggle back into bed with her. I loved the new smell of my doll. I would fall asleep with joy in my heart.

As I grew up I lost the magic of Christmas. The excitement and curiosity were gone. Many Christmas's would come and go and I began to wish I could feel the magic again.

****Wishes Do Come True****

Now I feel the magic of Christmas as my daughter and I lie awake in her bed on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa to come. We close our eyes and pretend to sleep. She convinces me the noises we hear are reindeer on the roof or Santa setting out our presents. We are excited and scared. When all is quiet again we hear only the beating of our hearts.

In the dark early morning she wakes her dad and we go to the frontroom. The Christmas tree is bright, the presents are under the tree and the room is warm and cozy. This is a magical time to be shared with my family.

After the presents are opened we are happy and tired from the excitement. We go back to bed. My daughter snuggles into her bed with new doll. I snuggle into bed with husband.  

  
And we fall                      

    asleep with joy         

       in our hearts.

31 Days of Pumpkins

See my album of  "31 Days of Pumpkins"  that I have been doing on Facebook.

Pumpkin Delight

I take my pumpkins seriously...

..... joyfully serious.

As fall comes around and the colors of the trees begin to change I start to look for that bright orange pile of pumpkins that makes my heart happy. For some reason within me pumpkins give me joy.

As I look back over time I try to remember what causes this feeling in me. My first memories would be of carving pumpkins in the backyard with Marvin Lynn,

                               Kathy,
                                    Randy,

                                            Jayne

                                                 and I.

 (Vicky would have been too little.) I remember always trying to carve the best face...you know...triangle eyes and nose and a toothy grin.

Maybe ... 

 that is what it is about...

 the toothy grin...

jacko-laterns are happy faces that made me smile.

 And then when our pumpkins were carved and the candle inside would be lit we would Oh and Ah over them.

In 1987 my dad started the "Sowers Family Hayride" and I decided it would look nice decorated. I would stay up all night and carve 10 or 12 pumpkins. I would line the driveway with pumpkins, like a runway for the haywagon.

The family would gather round the pumpkins after they had been lit for the evening and Oh and Ah over all the pumpkins I had created. (I think I like Oh's and Ah's)

In 1997 my friend Pam and her family had a foriegn exchange student from Germany. They do not celebrate Halloween there. They ask if they could bring her to the hayride and carve pumpkins with me so Julia could have that American experience. 

It was so much fun to carve the pumpkins with them. That was the start of my yearly Pumpkin Carvin' Party.

 13 years later we are still doing the Pumpkin Carving Party. Everyone brings pumpkins. They pick out a perfect design and carve away. It is neat to see all the designs that are carved into the pumpkins. Some are easy...triangle eyes and nose and toothy grin.

Some are funny.                         

Some are hard.

And some are super easy!!!

(My brother uses power tools...lots of powers tools)  

                                 

When each master piece is done it goes outside to the table to be all lit up with all the others. At the end of the night everyone stands around and Oh's and Ah's over the jack-o-laterns...there it is again...

                             I  Love The Oh's and Ah's.

I Love Pumpkins.

I love sharing this time with family and friends.

I love all the memories. (2002)

Mom and Dad...Dad's last October....2008.

Everyone's a star and deserves the right to twinkle~
                                                   Marilyn Monroe

Go Forward

‎"Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye. And a smile on your face. But with great purpose in your heart."
                                                                      Gordon B Huckley

The Cracker Jack Engagement

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody,

you want the rest of your life to start
 as soon as possible.

 (from When Harry Met Sally)

 From their first meeting, Cindy and Duane, found it very easy to talk to each other. They openly and honestly shared stories of their lives and how they felt about everything. It did not take long for them to make a real connection. They both felt lucky to have found each other. It was amazing to them to have found what they had only dreamed about finding.

As Cindy and Duane were falling in love they had to consider two other people.... Kayla, 12 years old, and Riley, 4 1/2 years old. As they brought the girls together it was obvious that they accepted each other. Duane and Cindy would watch the girls together and then smile. The four of them were becoming a family.

Cindy and Duane talked about kids, family, homes, money, health and...getting married. They love to tease and laugh together. So when Duane mentioned a ring. Cindy said one out of Cracker Jack box would be fine with her as long as she got to marry him. Duane told Cindy that he would have to talk to two people before he could ask her to marry him and that would be Stan and Kayla.

After Duane found the perfect ring for Cindy he followed through on what he said. He talked to Stan the week before and Stan said he did not have any problem with it. Duane promised to treat her good. He talked to Kayla 2 nights before. He ask if it was okay with her and she said Yes. She didn't say anything else...but she could not stop smiling for the rest of the night. She loved knowing that special secret.

Friday night, September 3, Duane came to Cindy's house. She greeted him with her happy smile, a hug and a kiss. 

Duane had a bag in his hands and he pulled out a bag of Cracker Jack and handed it to Cindy.

Cindy's eyes filled with tears as he told her to open it. She was shaking as she opened it to find a bag inside.

Inside the bag was a ring box.

She handed the box to Duane. He said he had to do this right. He got down on one knee...(Cindy said he was then eye level with her as she stood) He said that he loved her very much and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He wanted them to be a family.

Will You Marry Me?

And she said

Yes

And They Lived Happily Ever After.

************

******

Well...first they went to dinner at O' Charley's where Duane had arranged for the whole family to meet them. It was a surprise to Cindy. He wanted to celebrate their engagement and let Cindy show her perfect ring to the family. It was a wonderful idea. Dennis and Donna, Stan and I, Teri, Matt and Whitney were all so happy for them. It was so nice to share in this moment with them.

After dinner Cindy and Duane went to Bridgets. She is the one who introduced them. That brought it to a full circle. They met at Bridgets and they were sharing the news of their engagement at Bridgets.

A full circle is never ending. It is complete.

And that is what we wish for Cindy and Duane...

complete and never ending love.

And...

That They Live Happily Ever After

Fall Inspiration

Wait<>Go

As I came out of the car wash I noticed this sign. I thought that is how I feel about my life.  Most of the time I feel the red "wait" light is on. I feel like that is how I have been for the last year. Probably most of my life is wait. I haven't made hardly any projects. I am slow. I can't seem to get going. I have let some of my responsibilties go. I just think about doing some things and then I think "Ah...no...it can wait."
Am I just waiting for the green "Go" light? I need something to push me out of my chair and make me get up and go.

Go and enjoy life while I can.

Go and make something in the garage.

Go and walk through the woods.

It seems to me it has been especially hot this summer.....day and night.

Too hot to enjoy life while I can.

Too hot to make something in the garage.

Too hot to walk through the woods.

       Oh........

okay....now I realize...... my "Go" time Is coming.

Fall is coming!

Fall is when I wake up.

 Fall is when I am happiest.

Fall is when I am energized.

                           My "GO" time is near.                             
Come on FALL...I am ready!!! 

I Do Believe That "Sowers" Would Agree

 Cindy's Grandma and Grandpa Sowers would pray together

every night for their grandkids to be healthy and happy.

They would go down through the list of names..

Stephen,

Cindy,

Keri

and

 Cristie.  

And ask that God watch over them.

They loved their grandkids

and the time they got to spend with them.

Grandpa Sowers died in 2008 after 10 years of being on dialysis. Before he passed Cindy tearfully ask me what could she say to him to let him know how important he was to her. I told her that I know that Love continues on and would go with him. Even though it doesn't seem like enough, just saying "I Love You" says it all.

Cindy reading Bible verses. Kayla holding "Sowers" hand. My turn bedside.

Dad had a cool cloth on his head, listening to every word.

It is now a year and half later and with every rainbow

 we are reminded of "Sowers" (Kayla's name for him).

It seems at special times in our lives a rainbow appears.

In August I did not see a rainbow but "Sowers" was definitely on my mind.... when I heard the words of another grandpa.

Duane's Grandpa Hopp met Cindy for the first time at the Decatur Celebration. He watched Cindy and Duane for a while and then called Cindy to his side.

He said to Cindy, "I can see that good things are happening here. Grandpa couldn't be happier."

Cindy said, "I'm very lucky to find Duane."

Grandpa said, "He's very lucky to have you. And I am looking forward to your marriage." 

And I Do Believe That "Sowers" Would Agree.

(Smiles from Heaven)

Language of Love

                                      
This book, The 5 Love Languages, has been an interesting conversation piece for us. It says that each of us has a need to be shown love in a certain way. What you may be doing to show love may not be what the other person really responds to. Can you recognize what your love language is? Can you recognize the love language of others you know.... your spouse, your children, your friends?
                           The 5 Love Languages 
                                   (for more details...click above)

 

1-Words of Affirmation

2-Quality Time
3-Recieving Gifts

4-Acts of Service

5-Physical Touch

It was easy to pick out Kayla's language. Quality time is important to her. Even if you can devote 1/2 hour to her it makes her whole day feel right....she feels loved.

When we looked at the list we could pick out what it is that Cindy needs...Words of Affirmation. I remember her 3rd grade teacher even saying "Cindy is a good student but she always needs that pat on the back and words of encouragement that she is doing good." That is still true today.

I thought of this book as I looked through the crowd of people at the Decatur Celebration and I saw Cindy coming toward us. She reminded me of a happy puppy dog with eyes shining, ear to ear smile and tag wagging. The reason for this happiness was walking beside her...Duane. I know he tells her she is pretty, smart, funny, and a good mother...everything that she needs to hear...Duane's Words of Affirmation that make her feel loved.

    I love seeing my daughter in love

                             and being loved.                          

                                     

Cindy and Duane each have a daughter. I see that the next important one for them is Quality Time, not only with each other, but with the two girls, Kayla and Riley.

 I love seeing this family come together.        

 My Love Languages tied with Acts of Service and Words of Affirmation. I would agree with that. I love it when Stan helps me, even if it just something small like taking the garbage out. And I do believe that I need words of encouragement, which I get from my friends and family. At the bottom of my list is recieving gifts.

Have fun looking at the people around you and trying to figure out what their love language is. Maybe it will help you connect better with them. What you give may not be what they need.

Click here to take a test to find out what yours is. Have fun taking the test and seeing if it matches what you think your love language is.

Wordle Fun

This is a fun little thing. It is called Wordle. I just entered my blog site and it used words from what I wrote.

Getting to Know You Sunday

                        I picked these questions up from   http://secretgardendecatur.blogspot.com/ . There is a lot going on on that blog. So it is fun to check it out often.

         So today is Getting to Know You Sunday
                 ...and the first day of August.

1. If you were to win an award today, what would it be for?

 Let me think...oh wait a minute...let me lay down and think about it....I am sure I will come up with something... sometime...
Of course, I know what my award would be for...
The Best Performing...or rather, Non-Performing Procrastinator.

2. What is your shoe style?

Oh Lord, I know what I wish my shoe style was. It would be cute thongs (hehehe...in my day we used to call them thongs).. I mean, flip flops and sandals....with cute rhinestones, gems, and all different colors. There are some really cute ones out there...I know because my daughter gets to wear them. I think the first thing that went old on me was my feet and I don't want to bring attention to that fact (so I tell everyone on this blog:)


3 Does your car reflect your personality?
I have a van. And yes, it does. I can load it up with friends and family. I am that kind of person.
I can load it up with supplies.. tools, paint and ladders, to help out friends and family.
I can load it up with junk and treasure to store at my house, in case any friends and family need anything.

4. If you could take over someones body for a day..whose would you choose?
It would be my brothers. I am sure it would wear me out. I think his life is a lot different than mine. He is always on the go. Intellegant (did I spell that right :) He is not afraid to try new things. Does everything he can while he has the chance. Enjoys life. Has done cool things with his family. And loves his wife very much. I, on the other hand.....procrastinate.


5. Love or be loved?
That is the question. I have seen others who love and it is not returned. That hurts them a lot.
To be loved is a wonderful feeling. It makes you feel you are valued. But to be loved by someone you don't care for would be weird.
The best is to have both. Then the circle is complete. That is what I was lucky enough to find at a young age.

6. If you were on death row, what last meal would you choose?
Cornbread and beans and fried potatoes.

7. Have you been on vacation this Summer, if so where?
Stan and I got to take Cindy and Kayla to Treasure Island, Florida. Very enjoyable and relaxing. The best vacation we ever had with Cindy. When she was little she was always crying about something.
This time Cindy was very happy. And I loved being on the beach with Kayla in the early morning watching for dolphins.


8. What is your favorite food related guilty pleasure?
 Krispy Kreme Cream Filled Donuts...no....Burger King Chocolate Pie...no.... Culvers Coconut Cream Pie Ice Cream...
And that is why I look like this......
 

WATCH OUT....For Falling Stars

                            Twinkle, twinkle little star

                          How I wonder where you are

                           Up above the earth so high

                           Like a diamond in the sky.

I don't remember when I saw my first falling star and made a wish on it...but I do remember when Kayla, my granddaughter, saw her first falling star. She has followed my lead in watching for them for years. We would find a dark spot, lean back in a chair, or lie on a blanket and watch for that bright streak across the dark sky. Most of the time Kayla was pointing at a moving plane insisting that it was a falling star.
And then last year, when she was eleven, there was no doubt that she saw her first falling star. We had gone to Weldon Springs for their Annual Night Watch for the Perseids Meteor Shower (Falling Stars) and just as we got out of the van I hear Kayla's breathless "Ahhhhhh!!!!"  Then she starts exclaiming, "I saw a falling star..I saw a falling star...it went clear across the sky! I saw my first falling star!!!"

That is what I love about seeing a falling star...it is that first moment of awe...that first intake of breath, before you can even speak...it is the wonder of it all.  
                               
                                 I love falling stars.
                   When I see one I want to see more.

 Be watching for them now. It is building up to the best falling star nights on August 12 and 13. If it is not cloudy you will see some. If you are really lucky and catch it just right you will see a lot of them. One time I saw 75 in half an hour...very unusual. And that was here in Decatur, if I had been in the country away from city lights it would have been more. It was totally Amazing!

For more information about the best viewing for the Perseids Meteor Showers go to this site.  http://skytour.homestead.com/met2010.html#anchor_9

Skippy Lou.wmv

           In Memory Of Skippy Lou 2005-2010
                                       She was a good girl.

She had grown old before her time. Developed compressed disks (pinched nerves) in her neck. Even with the choice of surgery that may not have solved her painful problem. So we made the very hard decision to let her rest in peace. She deserved not to suffer anymore. I don't think a girl (dog) could be loved any more than Skippy Lou was. And she will always have a special place in our hearts.

Check it Out

Check out the new tab above....Arts and Crafts by Sheryl.
It has just a few photos of paintings I have done.

Simple Decisions

What a nice sunny Sunday afternoon.

I appreciate this time for simple decisions.

Do I want to go...to sleep or walk?

Do I want to shop...clothes or food?

Do I want to eat..bad or healthy?

Do I want to clean...a little or a lot?

Do I want to create a craft...paint or wood?

A day for simple decisons.

Nothing major in my life.

How I appreciate that

I am blessed with

a simple day.

**********

My simple decisons for today

turned out to be...

Went for a walk with Dohe.

Shopped for food.

Ate healthy...except for the chocolate.

Cleaned a little...my purse counts, doesn't it?

And I created with wood and paint.

Aren't they Cute...the bunny and Dohe?

We are so ready for spring.

Covered in God's Love

About 20 years ago I started crocheting an afgan. It is an rainbow design. Before I started each piece I would tie a Bible verse on the yarn and memorize it as I crocheted the rainbow. It was a very neat experience. When I had all the pieces done I was not sure how to put them all together and I just put them in a box, 20 years ago.
And then.....this year....The box that held all those pieces that had been sitting on a shelf with no problem somehow came off the shelf. I wondered how that had happened as I looked at all those rainbow shapes on the floor. It was just strange to me. Why? Then the thought came that this was to be for Julie. It was time for her Cancer Benefit in November. Maybe I should put it together and have it auctioned off. But I still was not sure how to fit those pieces together. And I didn't have time. So once again, the box went up on the top shelf.
Now it is February... it was 2:00 am. I had been up reading Bible verses and praying for Julie. I was heading to bed. For some reason I opened the door to my craft room and I looked up at the box on the shelf. Something in my heart (God) said it is time to finish the afgan. It is for Julie. You need to do it now.

So at 2 in the morning I sat on the frontroom floor and started stitching together the pieces. I had not been sure how to do that before but now I knew I could do it. I read the Bible verses that were still tied to the pieces. I thought and prayed about Julie the whole time I was working on itWhen Stan got up at 8 am I was just stitching together the last piece. It had taken me 6 hours to complete the afgan. It was DONE !! And it was for Julie.
Vicky and I were going to visit Julie that afternoon and I told her about finishing the afgan. I said I knew Julie was always hot and had hot flashes. But God wanted me to give it to her now. Vicky looked at me strangely and told me last night Julie had been so cold her teeth were chattering. Wow!
As I gave Julie her afgan I told her it was a gift from God. I told her how it was made with prayers and Bible verses. I left a few of the Bible verses on it. I was going to cut those off after I gave it to her but she wanted them left on.

When I ask God what he really wanted Julie to know...

what is the message...

why the afgan...

the answer came...

God wants Julie to know He has "covered" her with His grace and love.

(Thank You God for letting me be a part of your plan.)

But.....I Wanna Go

Stan has drove 700,000 safe miles in 7 years.

(Thank you, God. Keep him safe.)

After working most Saturdays for 17 years I now have them off.

I want to make the most of my weekends.

If I have the chance to go and do something,

I am ready.

In a recent post I talked about putting Stan first.

I was put to the test today.

Am I serious about being a better wife....

About spending more time with Stan when I can?

.................

Today Frank, Vicky, Cindy and Kayla invited us to go to Indianapolis.

I rushed home and ask Stan if he would go too.

He said No...not interested.

I don't like to ask him to do things because when he says no..

which is pretty usual...it upsets me.

We enjoy being with Stan.

We wish he would do things with us.

Then he couldn't say all he does is work and sleep.

How unfair he won't do anything with us....

I want to make the most of my time

and he just wants to do

nothing.

How unfair !

..........
......

...

After all he just got home at 3 am.

He slept for 4 hours.

Then got up to go watch Kayla bowl.

He drove 2500 miles this week.

And 800 miles of that was yesterday.

And now...just when I want him to

Go, go, go.....

He says No no no.

I dont understand it.

...........

.......

.....

Well.....

Yes, of course, I do understand.

And he did say, "You go ahead and go"

But, I did want to spend time with him.

I do want to put him first today

Especially when he has worked so hard for us.

With so little time off.

.............

He deserves his couch time.

He deserves do nothing time.

He deserves to be appreciated.

and

I can wait until another day

to go.

And the little angel whispered.....

I have this Christmas card on my bullentin board.

I thought one day it will tell me something...

It will finish the sentence with a story just for me.

Tonight, that happened.

And the little angel whispered....

*********

******

***

Get the Hell off the computer

And

Go Do Something!!!!!!!

Winter Whites