https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3ETUsWqhbs
I love the way Robert Downey Jr Sings

A hero is someone who has given his or her life for something bigger than oneself.
Joseph Campbell

You don't only become a Father the day your child is born but also with every moment shared throughout your lives.


One single grateful thought raised to Heaven is the most perfect prayer. G. E. Lessing

This coat that Sophia is wearing used to be her mom's, Ashley wore this coat when she was 4years old:)

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⊰۝░T░H░E░۝░A M A Z I N G  SOPHIA░░۝░R░O░S░E░۝⊱

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Aunt Ruth always decorates Grandma's room so lovely with 

all the things we all buy for Grandma

Grandma's bulletin board

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Grandma's bulletin board

A church that lights up

And her stocking was hung by her door with great care

in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there

I love the Christmas tree at the nursing home

all pink and purple and silver sparkles and fairies

O Holy night

3 sparkling trees

“We do not remember days, we remember moments.” ~ Cesare Pavese

Everyone is in a festive shopping Christmas mood

Starbucks at Indigo a customer of their does this 

arrangement for them for each season as a gift

I love the owl

I don't get out to Russell Woods much any more

but when I do it is certainly

Tra La La for my Fah la la for the joy of seeing those I miss so 

very much each day.

Everyone spoils me silly out there but I must say

LaSalle spoils me silly too

smiles

⊰✿░S░U░N░D░A░Y░✿░3.░✿░A░D░V░E░N░T░⊰✿

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf1h9pEE61Y#t=24

A beautiful song by Enya 

Father in Heaven

A Christmas Wish:
We wish you the joy of Christmas,
The spirit's sweet repose,
We wish you the Peace of Christmas,
To mark the old year's close,
We wish you the Hope of Christmas,
To cheer you on your way,
And a heart of Faith and Goodness,
To greet each coming day.

Author Unknown.  A verse on the newsletter from Grandma's nursing home.

12-13-14

Happy Saturday!
At thirteen mins, 14 seconds past noon today, it will be 12:13:14, on 12/13/14.

That won't happen again in this Century.
as posted by Jim Harper on Facebook

Thank you 

Two things define you 
Your patience when you have nothing
Your attitude when you have everything

May Angels bless you at Christmas and always

The spirit of Christmas is Peace

The message of Christmas is love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdVQHSXapak

Thanks sweet Relyn for posting this on your blog I love it.................

http://comesitbymyfire.blogspot.ca/
{please visit her lovely blog{  I love her Friday Faves so much

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime." 
~ Laura Ingalls Wilder


“Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand-and melting like a snowflake...”
~ Francis Bacon, Sr. quotes

12=12

“Not believe in Santa Claus! 
You might as well not believe in fairies!”~Francis Pharcellus Church
Artist~Lisi Martin

Garlicky White Bean Soup with Dark Greens -10-12 servings

You could serve with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese on top and rustic bread on the side.

Soak 4 cups of white beans overnight in plenty of water (I used great northern beans)

10-12 cups of water
2 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
3 bay leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil

4 cups of baby spinach (or one bunch of kale, swiss chard, or dark green of your choice)

1/3 cup of olive oil
6 garlic cloves, peeled and minced or put through garlic press
3 teaspoons dried oregano
1/4 cup of tomato paste
Sea Salt and Pepper

1-Rinse and drain your beans, then add to a large pot. Add 10-12 cups of water, the smashed garlic cloves, bay leaves and olive oil.
Bring to a boil and turn down heat to a low simmer. Simmer until beans are soft and tender. How long this takes will depend on how old your beans are, and what type you are using, but it should generally take about 1 1/2 hours.

2-Wash and drain the baby spinach leaves (or wash and chop dark greens of your choice). Add to soup and allow to simmer while you do step three. Baby spinach will only take a few minutes to completely cook, while kale or swiss chard can take up to 10-15 minutes to really soften.

3- In a small saucepan heat the olive oil until hot. Add the tomato paste, oregano, and garlic. Continually stir until the the olive oil is tinted with red, and the garlic is softening (but not brown). Pour this flavorful mix over your beans in the pot and stir in.

4-Taste test, you will need to add plenty of salt and pepper (remember you haven’t added any in yet). Serve slightly cooled. If you serve it piping hot, you won’t be able to taste as much of the flavors. Enjoy!

Have a beautiful day in every way

"To love a person

is to learn the song that is in their heart, 

and to sing it to them

when they have forgotten."

~ Anonymous ~

 

Here’s something else I’ve seen on this earth. Races aren’t always won by those who run fast. Battles aren’t always won by those who are strong. Wise people don’t always have plenty of food. Clever people aren’t always wealthy. Those who have learned a lot aren’t always successful. God controls the timing of every event. He also controls how things turn out.

 

Ecclesiastes 9:11

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/05/life-lessons-99-year-old-grandpa-_n_6276034.html?ir=Parents&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000037

I love lessons passed on from the elderly

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⊰✿░S░W░E░E░T░✿░B░L░E░S░S░I░N░G░S░⊰✿
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Sweet blessings for a beautiful day

http://www.susanbranch.com/newsletters/2011-12/
Susan Branch cookie recipes

30,000 LED Lights Make The Trams In Budapest Look Like Time Machines - Awesome!!!

Why do we have to listen to our hearts?" the boy asked.

"Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you will find your treasure.” ~ Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

During this flurry of activity in December remember to rest, relax and rejuivinate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f29JcwKiELA

Beautiful relaxing music

Ring Christmas Bells

༺❀༻༺❀༻
May the Christmas
bring only happiness and joy
to you and your loved ones.
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ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ════════════

Pull Apart Pizza Bread!!!

Ingredients
2 Cans of Pizza Dough or Biscuits
2 cups Mozzarella cheese (or your favorite cheese)
2 tablespoons of a really good Italian seasoning (link in post) or parsley flakes
⅓ cup olive oil
1 - 8 oz package of pepperoni (we used the turkey)
1 cup Parmesean cheese
Optional: Add a ½ teaspoon of fresh garlic or garlic powder (it's amazing)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Cut pizza dough or biscuits into quarters (as shown in the photo)
Cut the pepperoni into smaller pieces
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and toss so that the oil is spread evenly on each piece of dough
Bake for about 30 minutes (or until the top is brown and the center is thoroughly cooked) TIP: Be sure to check it in the middle before you pull it out. If the middle is still not cooked thoroughly be sure to leave it in another 5 minutes at a time until it's done.
Flip over on to a plate while it's still hot.
Serve with a side sauce and enjoy!

Recipe from my cousin Wendy thank you 

Oh my the last show of Sons of Anarchy

I won't spoil it for those that have not watched it.

I have been a loyal fan through all the shows.

I will miss that show

The next book I plan to read is the Orphan Train recommended to me by my dear cousin Wendy

I am currently reading

 The Hotel on Place Vendome recommended to me by our dear Kim

Thank you 

Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.
~Arnold Schwarzenegger

If you genuinely love someone

Don't ever decorate their eyes with  tears,

'Their ears with lies

and their hearts with a wound.

༺❀༻༺❀༻
Let the spirit of Love
gently fill our Hearts and homes.
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ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ════════════

http://www.debbiemumm.com/eCards/

The best Christmas gifts are the memories

✻.•*˚ ❄•*˚❆ .•*˚ * ✶. • * ˚❅

“There's more, much more, to Christmas than candlelight and cheer; It's the spirit of sweet Friendship that brightens all year. It's thoughtfulness and kindness, It's hope reborn again, For peace, for understanding, And for goodwill to men!” 

~ Calvin Coolidge

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at ‪‎Christmas‬-time." –Laura Ingalls Wilder ‪

Keep Calm and Merry On

My late Aunties from Christmas past
╔══════════....๑ ƸӜƷ ๑✿๑ ƸӜƷ ๑....═══════════╗
✿ღ✿ღƸӜƷღ✿ღ✿ Have A Lovely Monday ✿ღ✿ღƸӜƷღ✿ღ✿
╚══════════....๑ ƸӜƷ ๑✿๑ ƸӜƷ ๑....═══════════╝

Logan's first Christmas 2012

✻.•*˚ ❄•*˚❆ .•*˚ * ✶. • * ˚❅ 
Enjoy this special day, for you will never
experience anything like it again….
Have a nice week!!!

✿*´¨)*
¸.•*¸.• ✿´¨).• ✿¨)
(¸.•´*(¸.•´*(.✿ Monday Blessings to you my sweet family and friends!

A Christmas Blessing....During the Christmas season, may you be blessed with the spirit of the season, which is peace, The gladness of the season, which is hope, And the heart of the season, which is love. Some how, not only for Christmas, but all the long year through, The joy that you give to others, is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing, the poor and lonely and sad, The more of your hearts possessing, Returns you to glad...~John Greenleaf Whitter...

Christmas ~

that magic blanket

that wraps itself about us,

that something

so intangible

that it is like a fragrance.

It may

weave a spell of nostalgia.

Christmas

may be a day

of feasting,

or of prayer,

but always

it will be

a day of

remembrance ~

a day

in which we think of

everything

we

have

ever

loved.

~Augusta E Rundel~

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE
Mary Did you Know
One of my favorite Christmas songs

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/26/slow-cooker-recipes_n_1029031.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063
Good slow cooker recipes

We need a little Christmas right this very minute

The Night Before Christmas

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement Clarke Moore
or Henry Livingston

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

It is wrong to think that love comes from long companionship and persevering courtship.
Love is the offspring of spiritual affinity and unless that affinity is created in the moment, it will not be created for years or generations

My Mom and her Bernie who was in our lives when I was a teen.
I loved him very very much♥
He treated us all like Queens.



Me and my late beloved Mother a Christmas past
circa 1960's

"Christmas..
that magic blanket that wraps itself about us,
that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance.
It may weave a spell of nostlgia.
Christmas may be a day of feasting,
or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance
a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved."
~Augusta E. Rundel

*•★PEACE★。★IMAGINE★*•。★LOVE★* 。* •。
° 。* •。˛ ° ˛˚*° *★MERRY★CHRISTMAS★ ˚*° 。
° 。.°˛˚* _Π_____*。*˚° 。 ° ˛˚*˚° • 。 ★BELIEVE★* 
˚ ˛˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ★IMAGINE★*˚ ° 。• ° ˛˚˚° 
˚ ˛˛ ˚ *｜田田｜門｜ ˚˚˚° 。 ° ˛˚˛★HAPPY 2015 !!★


"This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten
friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write
a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest
your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a
grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand.
Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone
else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your
gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child.
Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.
Speak your love and then speak it again. Christmas is a
celebration, and there is no celebration that compares
with the realization of its true meaning-with the
sudden stirring of the heart that has extended itself
unselfishly in the things that matter most."

Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, Dec 2002 

Remember darlings we don't need Christmas in our hands
we need it in our hearts♥

Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups.

The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have. 

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your hot chocolate!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-3HJs6nbOM
Our beautiful family member Sara's wedding video in Hawaii


song from their wedding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPb1H7r30Pw