My heart aches.....

....every year on this day.

Fourteen years ago, the Twin Towers were hit.

The Pentagon was also hit.

And a plane when down in a field in PA.

Thousands of lives were lost.

Some fathers wouldn't be coming home.

Some mothers wouldn't be coming home.

Dear friends were lost.

Our lives and our innocences would be forever changed.

We had been attacked in our own county...something i never thought would happen.

I thought we were safe in our country, that the evil wouldn't, couldn't reach us here.

I thought we were safe.

I sometimes see a plane in the sky and i wonder to myself, "What kind of person came up with the plan to fly planes into buildings? What kind of people plan those kind of things?"

The only answer i have to that is simple: Evil people plan these kinds of things. Evil people carry these things out. Evil people do these things.

Over the years, our country has been seen by other countries as the evil ones. I wonder if it is because they envy all that we have in the United States? Or maybe it's that it is our attitudes or beliefs that we have? Is it because of the freedoms we have? I imagine that maybe it is a mixture of things...i do know that women here in the United States live a life so different than some other countries. Women aren't seen as property here, to be owned by others. I am grateful that i live in the United States; i am grateful my daughter lives in the United States.

Today, flags will be flown at half staff in remembrance of this day and for all of the lives lost.

So many brave people tried to save others that day. So many people came together that day. We forgot our differences, our different views, our different beliefs and we came together. We came together to help each other. We realized that we were all Americans and we needed to help each other thru this.

May we always remember that we are all Americans and look out for others, take care of others and love each other.

God Bless us all...

Treasures

Most of my most treasured things aren't things I have found or bought for myself. In fact, I think all of my favorite things are things that have been given to me.

I feel a bit materialistic at times...because of how much "things" mean to me.

I am attached to things.

And I mean, really, really attached.

When I look at the pieces in the photo below,  my heart swells.  Each piece was given to me by people that I love with all my heart. Some of these pieces were given to me for a birthday or Christmas.

Two of them were given to me for no reason other than the giver knew I would love them.

I feel lucky that I have people in my life who love me.  At times, I am not the most loveable person around.  I have baggage that still is with me and that I fight with. Yet thru that, I have been loved by special people; people who haven't given up on me.

Of course, my relationships have changed over the years with a few of my friends.  I am somewhat lazy with my friendships.  I became a wife, and then a mother. I put friends on the back burner while I tried to figure out my new roles.

Thankfully, my friends gave me room and didn't disappear totally from my life. Facebook came along and it became easier to keep in touch.  I could "visit" while trying to learn my new roles.

Cards are another favorite treasure of mine.  If you've ever given/sent me a card, chances are I still have it. 

Yes, that does make me a bit of a pack rat, but I feel like a LOVED pack rat.

For those of my friends I don't tell mushy stuff to very often, know I am thankful and grateful for you.

And that I love you....all of you.

Saturday mornings....

....are my favorite.

We have done almost NOTHING today.

We didn't have to go to the our other house because the painter's were still there.

There were no errands to run....I did have to take Pickles to our amazing new vet to get her bandage changed, but that was it.

I baked cookies.

Emma & Robert cuddled in our favorite chair and read.

Pickles napped.

I had 2 amazing naps....yes, you read that correctly! 

It is a perfect, beautiful day....

.....aND I am grateful.

Finding things.....

Third Grade....

My girl starts 3rd grade tomorrow at a new school. 

She is so excited.

Her clothes are laid out for the morning.

Her book bag is ready to go.

Her snack and lunch just need to be packed.

I'm praying for a wonderful first day and a year full of learning and fun.

How did we get here so very fast?

Sleep well, my beautiful girl....

Peaceful....

....and beautiful.

What i've learned from moving....

...this time could fill a large notebook.

Seriously, friends, this move was the hardest yet. It was emotional, it was more work than i expected, it was yucky, it was a lot of late nights, it was tiring. I truly think that even if i had started packing earlier, it wouldn't have made much difference--but who knows. The amount of just STUFF we have is amazing--and there is only two adults and one doggy. I truly do not know how in the world my Mom managed to move us so many times alone while my Dad was in the military. She seemed to do it so effortlessly, even with two children who i am sure gave her absolutely no help whatsoever.

What really bothered me the most was how attached i am to my stuff. Not just to my cherished stuff, but to all of my stuff. I am ashamed at how attached i am to my things. I can give myself a pass for being attached to my photos of Emma, things that she made for me, and some of the things i have from my mother and grandmother. But really? I am attached to my art books, my art stuff, stuff that i have done, art notebooks i've done, my Tuscany dinner plates from Italy (they really are beautiful....), my journals, my photo albums...the list seems endless. I was in a panic for three days because i couldn't find my favorite bible.

I know that this is all 'stuff', and what is really important is my husband, daughter and dog....but i made things even more stressful by wanting to know where all my stuff was, where all of the boxes where, how they moved them, where they put them in the other house, and that they were careful with the boxes. I didn't worry this much about the furniture, for heaven's sake!

I think i need to have a chat with God about this.

We are settling in nicely. Boxes are slowly being unpacked and things are being put into their spots. I am doing my best to start off by being organized instead of just unpacking and figuring it out later. Our kitchen is smaller but i have a large pantry that i love. The windows looking out make me feel like i am living in a treehouse! I have always loved those windows. There is a mama deer and her two babies that show up nightly, Emman and i have seen two groundhogs (which we thought were beavers!), and we have found a baby turtle near the house, so it's been really exciting. I do miss the fenced in backyard, though...

Moving back here has been like coming back home. So many good memories here!! Our old neighbors are still here in our cul-de-sac; but i did get the bad news that Deborah, a sweet woman who lived next door to us with her husband and son, passed away about two years ago. She was such a sweet woman and i was really sad to hear that she passed away. Her husband and son still live here so it was good to see the both of them. All of the kids in our cul-de-sac have grown up so much and i'm glad that to see that everyone is happy and healthy. As soon as i get a little more settled, i'll bake something to take to them.

I have finally found the boxes with my clothes...which is really good news.

I'm looking forward to the start of school, Fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving....i think that i need to invite people over this Thanksgiving. We usually have a quiet Thanksgiving or we travel somewhere, but i think that this year, we should stay put and invite lot of friends and family.

Anyone want to come visit us for Thanksgiving?

Blueberry Cobbler Recipe

Blueberry Cobbler Recipe

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
3/4 cup whole milk
1/3 cup butter melted
2 cups fresh blueberries
1/3 cup of sugar (for topping)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for topping)

Directions:
Add flour, 1/2 cup sugar, salt, and baking powder to a mixing bowl; stir well to combine.

Add in milk and butter; stir to combine.

Spread batter into a greased 8-inch square baking pan.

Sprinkle blueberries evenly over batter.

Sprinkle with 1/3 cup of sugar and drizzle with vanilla.

Bake at 350* for 40-45 minutes or until a pick comes out clean.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream on top!

(Recipe from food.com)

Los 4 Amigas....

Daylillies....

It's Father's Day....and looked what bloomed!  Of all the daylillies I have, this beauty is my favorite. The colors are just stunning; the red is so vibrant and the yellow is so very bright.  I need to plant these at the old house and pray they multiply.

Emma and I are taking Robert to a movie for Father's Day.  I have a feeling he would rather see something other than "In and Out", but he's being a good sport.

As I see the father he us, it blows me away. He is the most amazing father. Patient.  Kind.  Funny. Challenging.  A wonderful teacher. 

I couldn't have picked a better man as a husband  or father....