Flaming June's Love

The things that matter. My children, smiling, goofing around and being the most perfect IMperfect life imaginable. My Dads truck, which young Danny has been driving since not long after Pop died.  He drove it home from NC for Christmas this year.  I like to think Dad had something to do with his safe return from NC, as well as across the world from Afghanistan. Christmas- a success.  We had 18 people this year and I loved it.  I was not as stressed out about it and enjoyed Christmas this year.  Jack is definitely our grown up boy.  About two years ago I couldn't have anyone in the house for dinner because he was so out of control.  Now we can have people over and ENJOY our son as well.  wow, THANK YOU GOD. New Years eve was quiet with just Andy Jack and I.  I am good with that.  We had a very busy holiday two weeks and now it is all DONE.  whew, it was good, real good. Now to clean it all up pack it up and get ready for...

Jack mentioned that he wanted a guinea pig about a month or two ago.  He never mentioned it again...until Christmas eve day.  Allie and I were chatting with him to double check his list and then he said it... #1 Guinea pig.. WHAT?  When did you say that Jack?  I told Santa.  hmm #2  Sally. ok what is sally?  Sally is the guinea pigs name Mom, I want a guinea pig from Santa. Keyristmas...  I am totally out of Christmas money and the PIG is about 150 bucks after all is said and done for all the extras. We went to Nanas for Christmas eve lunch and low and behold after Jack talking about Sally to his Aunt and Uncle..  The sally fund was made and  wholaa/.. Sally was right at the bottom of the steps on Christmas morning, and before he came down to see what he got from the Jolly Old St. Nick, he sat at the top and said to Allie in his whispery voice of morning. "I really hope there is a Guinea pig down there.." Thank you all for the c...

I asked my girls to be ready last Friday afternoon at 2;30 for our annual Christmas card picture taking spectacular.  They appeased me.  I arrived home with Jack from school and we went to the garden center and took about 25 pictures.  A great improvement from last year when we took over 100 and had maybe 5 with Jack looking at the camera.  This year was not a difficult choice of my favorite. See the light. This is 3 oclock light in NEPA in December. The light in Allies hair the smile and clear blue eyes of Missi.  The bounce of sunshine of my little mans blonde halo. The three of them are looking into my eyes in this picture.  They are smiling because they Love me.   They must if they still take a Christmas card photo at 22 and 20 years old.  Jack's smile is a little forced but his eyes say more than anything else.  Missi chose her outfit and hat with braids in order to look "herself" as did Allie.  I was leaving to pick up J...

Had a lovely day today.  Finally feeling better since I've been dealing with Bronchitis for a week.  We had our cards party this past weekend here at our house.  My first attempt at hosting and it was a success.  My cousins came and we talked, laughed, reminisced, talked of future events.  Weddings, babies, grandparents, Christmas, Thanksgiving. We spent the night with three generations of women playing a an old card game called Pottstown Rummy. Its a game we have recordings of our women playing thirty years ago. As I think of the occasion of us getting together to play, I am eased into thoughts of my childhood watching my Nana, Aunts, and family friends playing cards, howling and cackling with laughter.  I invision days out the mountain under the shelter with swirls of smoke rising from the table as these women chatted and "May I'd" their afternoons away.  I would sit sometimes and watch the bags of candy my Aunt Ruth would bring be passed around....

Know emptiness, Be compassionate. Thanksgiving was a lovely holiday here.  We ate in our newly decorated dining room and it worked  out beautifully.  We had everyone here and we ate well and desserted well and then wrapped it all up.  I missed my brother Rick and Dan but so is life. I know we would be together if we could be.  That is enough for me at this point. I walk and send out pictures to everyone of what Im seeing.  Just because I love it so much.  whether its the path in front of me the river behind me or the sun rising over the mountains.  I love what I see and LOVE the people in my life so, want to share it. Thats about all I can share with them.  The peace I can conjur on my walks is alot bigger than the pictures I can send them with a few short words. I walk and sing and nod to runners. I kick leaves, watch birds, and ask questions of myself and GOD. I laugh to myself, cry sometimes, and lose myself to the pou...

Missi turned 20 yesterday.  She is beautiful and I love her.  We had a nice dinner and cake with ice cream.  sang to her and wished her a wonderful birthday.  What else can be said.  The world is her oyster, ready for her to take.  Just go get it it sweet Melissa. Christmas is coming. Thanks giving is Thursday. I think I have the seasonal spirit,, we will see when its time to begin shopping for sure.

I laugh totally out loud with this show, because THIS IS MY MISSI> looks like her, sounds like her, and most of all goofy, silly smart sassy MISSI