All Joy and Happiness Be Yours in the New Year

A Sort of Review of 2006

Dawn at www.fourfiftythree.blogspot.com is reviewing her year by highlighting the first sentence she posted each month.

You will notice that hers are interesting! Mine prove what I have always known, that I am terminally boring - still trying to raise that to an art form and having little success.

Well, except for last New Year's Day, when Baby Boy entered the world! THAT was NOT boring!

JANUARY

Baby Boy - 01-01-06, 3:37 PM, 9 pounds 3 ounces, 21 3/4 inches, spitting image of his father!

FEBRUARY

No more cards on this site, I'm beginning a new blog at http://www.judyh58b.blogspot.com/ called Inky Fingers where I will be posting those.

MARCH

I didn't get up on time this morning.

APRIL

I've been a grandma for three months now, NO FOOLIN'.

MAY

The Husband God Gave Me had vacation days yesterday and today.

JUNE

Charlevoix is a beautiful city.

JULY

THGGM and I drove out to Spring Lake this afternoon to shop at two of our favorite antique malls.

AUGUST

Youngest Son is gone for the week.

SEPTEMBER

Several summers ago I broke my leg.

OCTOBER

Today is THGGM's birthday.

NOVEMBER

I have been a grandma for ten months.

DECEMBER

Tonight, while browsing through eBay, I accidentally bid $500.00 on a set of Happy Meal Toys.

The U.S.A. Tree

This was the first tree to greet you when you entered the main lobby.

I loved it, of course. Actually, there were no bad trees.

I did not see an aluminum tree with ornaments crafted by grade school student in the sixties. You know, the kind with the spinning color wheel that shown upon it.

THAT would seem more like the traditional U.S.A Christmas tree to me!

The Tree from Germany

The tree from Germany was another of my favorites.

I'm sure this has a lot to do with the army of Nutcrackers belonging to Oldest Son that I have protecting my home.

If I still have them next year, I think I might line them up on the mantle again.

The Victorian Tree

The Victorian tree is in a Victorian room at the gardens.

This room, when bathed in light, is gorgeous. The sky burst forth in varying shades of grey at about the time I entered the room.

I had a hard time with the glass.

It really was beautiful. If I were a woman of 'means' I would hop in my car (which i don't have) and would drop hard earned cash (which thggm has) to see this tree in natural light (which we also do not have).

The Victorian tree held the ornaments that I most associate with Christmas.

We sat in this room for a while soaking in it's beauty.

My Favorite Tree

I loved the Dutch tree the best.

I am sure I know the reason for that full well.

It stood tall in the main entry to the Fredrick Meijer Gardens, along with the United States tree.

Notice on the very top, the pair of wooden shoes.

I cannot even get my gold plastic star to remain in the upright position on my tree, I'd love to know how it is that a pair of wooden shoes can stay put.

I'd try it, but it seems a bit dangerous to me.

I also loved the United States tree, the Germany tree and the Victorian tree.

Sadly lacking was the 'thrift store' tree. Happily, I came home to mine. They welcomed me with sagging banches and chipped finery.

Because I Cannot Resist...

I must say it again, Cindy and Kevin's wedding was absolutely beautiful.

The reception was fun too.

My pictures were snapped all willy-nilly, so aren't that good. But I LOVE this one, which is a silhouette of Kevin as he snapped the garter at the single men.

Really, it's the clearest picture I was able to take!

Cindy was Daughter's Maid of Honor at her wedding on January 2, 2004.

Seems as if it were yesterday.

The Girl Nextdoor Gets Married

Oh! What a beautiful wedding!

The church was beautiful. I walked past this church on my way to and from school four times a day for five years of my life and never would have guessed what a gorgeous mini-cathedral was inside.

They had two musicians, but between the two of them they played piano, keyboard, pipe organ, saxaphone, flute and some instrument I had never seen before. It was SO beautiful!

Cindy's dad sang two songs also.

Amazing, how those neighbor kids grow up! I can still remember Cindy coming to our front door on the morning she lost her first tooth. She happily announced that she had lost a tooth, and then backed it up by saying, "Well, I didn't actually LOSE it, it's right here!"

Friday

Today my mom, sisters and I went to the Meijer Gardens to see the Christmas trees of the world.

It was simply gorgeous. We all had a wonderful time!

Now, I'm off to a wedding. Daughter's friend since pre-school and former neighbor - the 'girl nextdoor' - Cindy, is getting married tonight and Daughter is in the wedding!

(seriously. i'm starting to long for my boring life. where is it?)

A Few Thoughts on Thrifty Gifting

I know I am an oddity, but I did not enter a mall at all to shop this season. THGGM, who enjoys shopping in crowded malls, did all that shopping while I stayed home baking cookies.

But, on the Friday before Christmas THGGM and I did hit our two usual thrift venues.

While shopping there I noted that a family with young children could have clothed and toyed their family for extremely low dollar amounts. Really. I do not know why those two stores where almost empty.

I get upset that toy drives give children expensive electronic gifts. I would like to suggest that the toy drive people get a clue. Just ask people to donate the gifts to a thrift store and let people buy them at a reasonable price.

That reminds me. I saw a news report about a group who bought the most sought after toy of the year for children who had lost a parent this year. Oh. Nice. Make all the living parents of the world have to sleep with one eye opened.

My shopping was done, but I did manage to pick up a few things.

I found a set of eight snowmen mugs designed by Susan Winget (one of my favorite "Lang" calendar artists). I also found two board books in 'like new' condition for my pile of books for Baby Boy - for a mere 29 cents. One of them I had actually planned to have THGGM pick up when he was at the mall shopping for the very hard to buy for Daughter. It is a 'touch and feel' book - which are his all time favorite - that he did not have. These sell for $6.95. I also found a Fisher-Price "All About Tools" book which retails for $12.99. I bought another one, in slightly less than perfect condition, Sandra Boynton's "Barnyard Dance". I love her books. Baby Boy likes anything with rhythm.

I'm not a fan of the commercialisation of Christmas. But I LOVE giving gifts. It can be done very inexpensively, if one is capable of thinking out side the mall.

Well. That's my thrifty gifting rant for the day.

Baby Boy shared his cold with me. I am sure via the snotty pacifer he insists on shoving into my mouth when I least expect it. Which means, no doubt, I will be ranting all day. Nothing like the inability to breathe freely to cause one to rant.

My Favorite Smile

Oh, such nice toys and books bought for Baby Boy for Christmas! And, he loves them all.

But, the best smile came from playing Peek-A-Boo with the packing foam my new computer part came packed in.

The Most Bestest Gifts of Christmas 2006

What!?

This picture fell out of the post below.

Truly, I have NO IDEA what has just been said.

Apparently it affected Daughter and my sister Carol, but not nephew Chris.

This one is suitable for framing, don't you think?

Christmas Day with the Family!

Baby Boy developed a cold on Christmas Eve. He still enjoyed ALL of the festivities, although he was a bit subdued.

Youngest Son missed the family party. He spent most of the day with his girlfriend's family. We missed him.

Son-in-law helped Baby Boy open up his presents. He LOVES books, and anything that makes noise.


I took the picture, but didn't notice the crossed fingers until just now. That is my niece Sheila and her husband to be, James.

My niece Merideth looked smashing in the Santa hat!

Cousins!

Someone else has a cold too.

My brother-in-law Clayton, and my dad.

Okay. I won't pile all the cousins on the couch to take a picture. I haven't done that in eight years. But, I WANTED to.

My sister Jan.

Mom, with my niece Carrie in the background.

Baby Boy and Pake (Frisian for grandpa).

Family Christmas at Our Humble Home

My dad and mom seemed to like the hymn pictures THGGM and I made for them.

There is a definate theme in our family of thinking "Hey! I can make that!"

Christmas 2006

Our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were absolutely lovely!

Will be back with pictures.

On Friday, my power cord died. Thankfully, it is covered under warrenty, and will arrive on the 'next business day', which is hopefully today.

I feel lost without my very own laptop.

Son-in-law made me the adsolute coolest gift! I will be playing with this for the rest of my life. Seriously. I MIGHT let Baby Boy play with me..,maybe... I will post pictures, soon. I hope.

Christmas Greetings

Merry Christmas from Judy at Anybody Home!

Peace on Earth for Her

I watched the news tonight. War, disease, poverty, murders, natural disasters, fire, accidents - all magnified in a season when we all want to get just the right 'feeling'.

So we give, we help, we lend a hand where we can. But, might we have forgotten someone? Someone who will never get media attention?

We forget that woman who looks okay. The one with the cute kids. The one who volunteers at school. Has a nice house. Hosts birthday parties. Drives other people's kids around. Has a husband who serves on boards. The one who smiles at you and inquires about your day.

But, inside, she's had it. She only looks okay. The kids wear her out. She's sick of being asked to do things just because people know that she cannot say NO. They shouldn't have bought that expensive of a house. The parties? She hosts so her kids will stop whining. Other people's kids seem more appreciative than hers. She smiles reflexively. Her husband is never home, and this no longer bothers her. This isn't the life she signed up for.

But everything inside is empty. That emptiness is only magnified by the Christmas holiday. You know, that holiday where mother's everywhere knock themselves out creating a picture perfect day, when the kids may only remember that it seemed their brother got better stuff. She may be stuck in tight quarters with family members all wrapped up in their own pain. She will feel invisible.

I know this is true, because I have known these women. We all know them. Who can they tell that it is all just held together by a wispy thread?

Could she tell you?

Would you really listen?

I wouldn't want to stop someone from helping out a person going through any of the devastation listed above. But I'm sure I'm not the only one who has missed helping someone because their life looked pretty good to me.

So look around. Who is that woman who is about to say 'no more'? What if your concern for her could put her on a different path?

Go find her. Better yet, ask God to put her in your path. Then just care about her. You won't believe the difference it will make. If not in her life, then, in yours.

(a rerun from last year on this date.)

It's Official

Our Christmas weekend has officially begun.

THGGM was surprised to remember that he has tomorrow off! And a nice surprise that is!

Oldest Son and Daughter-in-law will be arriving on Saturday.

Our immediate family will be celebrating together on Sunday.

My side of the family will come on Christmas Day.

I've got the stockings sorted and tonight the presents will be wrapped.

I have a few gifts yet to pick up, but nothing stressful. Well, not for me anyway. THGGM likes crowded holiday shopping. He is, in fact, VERY good at it. All those years of working in a grocery store around the holidays, I guess.

In true "Judy fashion" I have developed an eyelid twitch. I would say that I am not stressed. I do not FEEL stressed. But I am about to attempt to tie a washer onto my eyelashes to keep my lid from jumping around. It is SO annoying.

Most likely, I will not 'get it all done'.

At the ripe old age of forty eight, I've learned that that isn't what's important. Wish I'd learned it sooner.

Baby Boy

I have waited twenty two years to have a baby around at Christmas time.

Although with Baby Boy walking and starting to talk A LOT he already seems to have left his baby days behind.

But I am NOT complaining. Oh, these days are SO much fun!

I thought you might enjoy this grin. I will say that seconds after this picture was taken, Baby Boy flipped out of the chair, which landed on top of him.

And I caught it all on tape. Which I promptly deleted. Because, it was just very sad.

He is a tough little boy and climbed, unharmed, right back into the rocking chair after a round of hugs.

Hang a Shining Star Upon the Highest Bough

A Strange Sense of Hopelessness

That would sum up in five words how I feel today.

Because of my parent's doctors appointments? No.

All of September, October and November I am incredibly excited about Christmas.

Mainly, the making of Christmas presents.

Today it occurred to me that it is a purely selfish endeavor on my part.

Nobody wants them.

I spend hours and hours gleaning books and magazines for ideas. Then, I add my own twist to it.
I really get into this.

My own art room, horrifically junky, beckons me to come and make stuff.

And, I heed the call.

But somehow I've missed the mark.

I've nothing for THGGM. NOTHING.

Last year, Daughter, although she was busy 'being great with child' took me shopping. I found what I thought were suitable gifts for THGGM.

Presently, all of those gifts reside in Youngest Son's room.

Any ideas or hints he has dropped I've passed on to the offspring.

We've nothing in common in the gift-receiving department.

He is picky and fussy and knows exactly what he wants.

It would seem he was born into the lap of luxury, which was hardly the case.

Daughter is another hard one to buy for. She was born this way.

Hers was the name I drew for our St. Nicholas party.

She asked her father if I had made her something so, if I had, she could practice not crying with disappointment.

Bless her heart, Daughter-in-law mentioned that she loves my cards.

But, this strange sense of hopelessness is not a new feeling. No. It is not.

My mom used to have two friends who she got together with each week. They rotated houses.

This meant that once every three weeks my mom was hostess.

To occupy me, she would give me white paper napkins to color. My favorites were the ones with the embossed flowers.

I would color my little heart out, creating masterpieces of flower designs.

She never used them.

She said they were 'too special to use'.

I happen to know that she threw them away.

I happen to know that that is precisely what happens with almost everything I make.

Hence, the strange sense of hopelessness.


(I need a cookie.)


Might it be time for me to close up shop?

I'm thinking it might be.


(Seriously. I NEED a cookie!)


Of course, not wanting what I make is not a character flaw in the people I love.

The hopelessness comes in when I think how I'm the one who isn't 'getting it'.

When nobody wants what you have to offer, it's clearly time to move in another direction.

Or, at the very least, to find a new audience.

Happy Appointment Day!

What? You don't celebrate the holidays by going to medical appointments?

My mom had one appointment today, and my dad had two. They decided to go for the blood work tomorrow, or it could have gone on even longer.

It was a 'good' day for my mom. Before dementia struck her, my mom taught me well how to sneak around to doctors BEFORE the actual appointment. It's odd/funny how I now use those tricks on her. I sent information on ahead so I didn't have to bring it up myself. She did know what month it was, but could not even venture a guess on what year. She knew the month because she knew she had just sent out Christmas cards. She didn't seem to remember that it was my sister who made them out for her, per dad's request.

My dad must feel like a pin cushion. He had cortisone shots in both knees. These were preceded by novocain injections. Then, it was on to the urologist for his lupron injection. He passed his PSA with flying colors, and his bone density is still in the 'good' range.

This fortitude that my parents possess is TOTALLY lost on me. I'm a whiner and a complainer, traits I did NOT pick up from either one of them.

It was a fabulous day for people watching in the various waiting rooms we found ourselves in. I'd tell you all about it, but I have cookies to bake, presents to make, pictures to take, (you get the idea).

And for the record, it is a GORGEOUS sunny day today! Not a cloud in the bright blue sky. I felt like singing "It's beginning to look a lot like Easter".

My Gift

This is my St. Nicholas gift from Son-in-law who drew my name. He is also the one who took this fabulous picture of Baby Boy in October.



It is hanging where the clock hung in the past. THGGM tried to fix the chime, and somehow broke the clock part. I think just maybe he wanted a new clock.

Isn't it beautiful?

He fashioned the frame from scrapes of oak molding from work. He also routed it, as he has been learning how to use the router at work. The stained oak matches the woodwork in the livingroom perfectly!

Birthday Party!

Oldest Son and Daughter-in-law came up for 24 hours this weekend.

For the St. Nicholas Party, and, to celebrate Oldest Son's birthday.

THGGM and I LOVE Amazon.com and it's 'wishlists'. Shopping for the book lovers in the family has never been easier. Oldest Son was happy with his four new birthday books.

Baby Boy, who is surrounded by books at my house, seems delighted with them also.

Although I do believe he wishes for a few toys for his birthday.

At least in this picture he seems to be deeply contemplating something.

Birthday parties around here really aren't all that exciting.

Son-in-law is researching some new technology.

Daughter-in-law is reading a book for the pure enjoyment of it, NOT for a class.


Nephew Chris is helping Youngest Son fine-tune a philosophy paper which is due today.

Yup. We sure do know how to party around here.

The birthday treat was donuts.

We went to Hunan for lunch.