Happy New year!!! a little late.....

OK here are some of the highlights from Christmas this year. It was fabulous to have the whole family together!!!

  Christopher...Edgar's son and his friend Dustin got to spend lots of time at the house during their Christmas break... 

We had a great time....but when it came time to get back to work>>> it was really really busy!!! 

Christmas in Hannibal

My Brother Aaron is in Hannibal for a few days and I have been staying up here with my Parents too. so much of the family except Andi are here. She is comming back up here tonight. It has been really nice. Aaron's boys are 7y.o. A.J. and 31/2 y.o. Levi.... love playing the wii. My Dog 2 y.o. So Tuguchi is providing dog like entertainment. and here it is 11:28 am and I am still in my P.J.'s   talk about fun!  Edgar had gotten my parents a Garmin GPS... and the look on my dads face was priceless. ...So all in all having fun in Hannibal..... and it is supposed to snow today.... A.J. prayed this morning for "soft snow" so they could go out and play.... I thought that was very cute. 

No snow yet though....  anyway... Merry Christmas. 

Tagged...in a tell all...

My sister in law Bethany "tagged" me in one of those tell all about me questionairs... so here it is....

Eight shows I watch:

1. Survivor (Gabon) yes I still love it...

2. re-runs of Gilmore Girls...would also watch reruns of Everwood if they where on TV

3. History detectives, antiques roadshow, biographys on public television.

4. Sunrise earth, or other nature shows...esp about national parks, beaches, wonders of the world...

5. cbs sunday morning

6. HGTV anything

7. Survivorman...or anything like it

8. jon and kate +8

Eight restaurants where I like to eat: (all local)

Blues city deli

Norton's or 1860's

Tequila's or any other margareta Wed...type place

Bubble tea

Scott Air force base Sunday Brunch

Pi

Pappy's BBQ

Lotawata

Eight things I did today:

1. Slept in 12 extra minuts...then washed my hair in the sink

2. Backed off and let my P.T. student see patients without me hanging around interupting.

3. Finalized plans for my work groups christmas party.

4. Explained to my Student Karen my beliefs about teenage victims of violent crime and how we should not treat them as adult victims...and we should let them have their childhood, while understanding their "normal" is different than yours.

5. Dictated a few notes...yes I did do some paperwork...miracals never cease!!!

6. Plugged in the outside Christmas lights when I got home from work.

7. Made sloppy joes

8. Watched Survivor (Gabon)

Eight things I am looking forward to:

1. Having my Brother and his family come home for Christmas

2. Vacation...florida? in late May

3. Margarita Wed...

4. Grass to grow in the back yard...next spring.....

5. Finishing the scrapbook

6. Edgar to get home from school

7. Snow days

8. The day I can get a hot tub.

Eight things on my wishlist:

Hot tub

bath tub...we only have a walk in shower now

medicine cabinet

handheld shower head

new bedroon furniture

redecorated computer room

space saver drawer system for the kitchen

stainless steel trash can

new laundry hamper..choclate brown

(that was easy..)

Eight people I tag:

self i cheat...but don't know 8 people that read my blog...

Aaron

Sarah

mom

dad

Andi

Brian

anyone who wants to!

Scrapbook

So I am putting together this electronic scrapbook for christmas for the davidson family...and boy has it consumed me.... its all I have done today!!! here are a couple of samples....

some of the pictures are very old. but a fun project ...back to work.

Giving Thanks

Thanks giving arrives in just 3 hours!!


I had the day off today...and mostly I read... I read a book that had come highly recommended several years ago...."The five people you meet in heaven" It is a quick read....took only a few hours..with breaks well worth it. I really enjoyed the idea of continued growth and learning after death... although I don't think we need to wait to die to find out why we came to earth.

Things have been a little stressful in my life recently....While I won't go into any details, it has taken its toll on my general optimism about life.

I like to think that in general I take a very "Pollyanna" approach to life....If you have never seen the movie...go rent it! It is a classic...a little Corny...but classic none the less. I really try to always look for the silver lining. I know that something good can come of any situation when you play the glad game.

I can get so mad at Edgar when he looks into the future and only sees the negative. the truth is...We have no idea what the future holds. And that is the first thing I am thankful for this thanksgiving... Thankful for an uncertain future with room for alternative endings to what we think they might be... It leaves room for miracles, optimism, pessimism and the chance to live just today...because we can't know what tomorrow brings.

With the economy being so volatile...I am thankful for a stable job, with an income that meets my needs. I am thankful that people don't seem to be panicked....I am glad that I can give this holiday season. In many ways to many organizations. This year I am giving a new coat to winter warm up, adopt a family at work, and food drives and I really want to give to an organization that provides recreational opportunities to inner city youth. I hope I can encourage anyone who is reading to give generously....skip expensive christmas presents and remember those in need.

A few years ago some really yukky stuff happened between one of my best friends and I and we slowly drifted apart...until we didn't talk at all for a couple of years.... Well this year both of us were finaly able to forgive and let go of the past. Although we are both pretty different people now than back then..... It feels so good to have her back in my life. I am thankful for my friends and the chance I have had to have such close friends that know ALL of my "secrets" and like me still anyway!

It has been a wonderful year filled with both the usual and the unusual ups and downs. This year in particular I felt more close to my family. I had the chance and honestly a desire to spend more time with everyone. I think family group things where hard when I was married to Paul, I always felt so alone. Now whether by myself or with Edgar I feel more a part of my family...I have really enjoyed it. I am very very thankful for my family!

Although anyone standing on the outside looking in at me would have a hard time finding religion in my life....I am still a believer....I just need a lot more practice! I have never forgotten my roots. I love My heavenly father very much. I don't feel like I fit very well in church. This year I have prayed more than in the prior few....I am So thankful and Glad that he is there for me despite my sins and attitudes. Thank you dear lord for all the blessings and gladness this world can and does bring. Heavenly father, please bless those children tonight who suffer so much pain in the hospital from cancer and other diseases.

Where in the world was Brenda this weekend?

Guess!

Halloween, elections and such....

Working chronologically backwards here....
Yesterday Saturday November 8th... Curtain making day at Andi's house. Andi needed some new curtains...so...I had called her some weeks ago to set up a curtain makeing day...never in my wildest dreams did I think it would turn into such an even....



Mom and Dad and Sarah all joined in for the sewing fun.... My dad can out sew any of us...I think that is way cool... and he showed us how to sew a straight hem with no pins!!!

These are the living room curtains we did these back in Feb of last year...but this was my first time seeing them up!

Grants bedroom curtains...trains per his request...

We also made curtains for Andi and Brian's room...but My camera ran out of batteries befor I got pics.

Halloween (:

I wanted to go as the water cube this year... and wanted Edgar to go as the birds nest...from the olympics this summer remember.... I really enjoyed the Olympics and wanted them to last a little longer.... So anyway it turns out when you sew a square fabric to round cloths and put it in a round body...it turns round...no matter how much support you put in. so .....a few quick changes and I was the Future Phelps...(future olympic swimmer)

Water Cube...my costume picture will be at the end of the post....gotta make you wait....its fun that way.

So Diana had her annual Halloween party... It was great fun as always. This is Diana and Her boyfriend Travis...in the Devil made me do it..... He is the devil and she is a pregnant angel with a beer and a cigarette...(no she is not really pregnant)

Angie and Bob...at the party

Edgar...as Pimp Daddy
I never even tried to make the birds nest...and he didn't want to go as that anyway...

And ...here it is...the Future of Olympic swimming.....once she gets the staying afloat part down......Brenda "Olympic" Swimmer