A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

I love tea pots and I love this Old English tea set, even though I don't drink tea! I guess it comes from all the tea parties as a little girl~(This post is mainly pictures, lots of them, hope you like them)

So Pretty

I have a 16 piece place setting of china and crystal goblets that my Mom insisted that I had to have when I got married. I didn't want china...but I'm so glad she got them for me anyway, I have used them a lot!

The design on the top of the china cabinet that I love

I have dozens of chickens...in my house! This is one I just love~

I love this saying, and since we live by a road, I like this and believe it to be true

This I believe with all my heart and soul...I am so grateful it is this way

I love this picture...pure sweetness, reminds me of the little farm girl I once was~

This sits on my dinning room table that is over 100 years old..I change out the seasonal look

Magnolia blossoms over my master bath mirror

In my bathroom, crystal containers..the little bird necklace my honey bought me

A little glass angel sits on the window sill by my bath tub with the sun shinning through

The glass shade of a lamp I have in my bathroom, it glows so pretty at night

So, yes, I love angels and children and I have many throughout my home

My bathroom..I love the tub!

Pictures in my home that I love~

Motherhood is the nearest and dearest thing to my heart...I love everything about this picture

The joy of childhood...very dear to me~

Ron gave me this picture on our 5th wedding anniversary...sometimes my Mom made me stand in the corner too as a child, so I can relate to this!

So sweet

My daughters gave this little pillow to me on Mothers Day...I love it!

One of two lamps that sit by our bed, given to me by a favorite uncle...they are porcelain with gold inlaid~

I love flowers and little birds, this little bird came from a vacation in Mexico

I love little little kitties too

I love these images on some special cards I have

This is a music box that my daughter gave me...it plays; "Whistle a Happy Tune"...a song I sang as I did the lead in the "King and I"...this daughter was growing inside me at the time!

Another sweet image that I love

I have 2 of these flower vases, my Mom gave them to me, they belonged to my Dad's mother

This is a little porcelain, 1800's cloths brush...isn't she cute!

I love perfume...Chanel #5 is my favorite

I don't buy much anymore, my home is full of favorite things I have collected over the years. I find myself not wanting to part with the things that I love, so I just move them about the house and they look new again! I'm 59 so you can see why I have collected all these things over the years...I just wanted to share with you the things in my home that are near and dear to me and maybe give you a look-see into my heart . Next post will be part 2 of... more things I love!

STARTING OFF STRONG...

This is our first great grandchild, a little boy,...His name is Tracen Ray McCoy...he lives in Wyo. and we haven't seen him in person yet but can't wait to meet him! He has lots of blond hair...what a beautiful baby!
Reminds me of the saying; "A baby is God's sign that the world will keep going on." New beginnings, new hope, more to love...isn't it wonderful?! We all have so much to look forward to and have faith in, especially when we look to God.
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I just wanted to share some ideas about being strong, resilient and happy. As we start off this new year I'm sure some are feeling a bit weak in the knees and perhaps even worried about what this year will hold.

" Resilient people are like trees bending in the wind. They bounce back"

Research has shown that resilient people share some common qualities...ones we can cultivate to master any crisis.

1. They stay connected....they let themselves rely on others sometimes, to help them survive tough times.

2. They are optimistic...People with a sunny outlook do better at managing a crisis. Negative thinking is just a bad habit, challenge yourself to look at the problem in a more positive way.

3. They are spiritual...generally people who are active in a religious faith tend to get through difficult times better, they are less likely to be waylaid by depression.

4. They are playful...they can enjoy themselves as children do, they wonder about things, they experiment and laugh and love.

5. They give back...the benefit you derive for yourself is as great as what you give out to others.

6. They pick their battles...They focus on things over which they have some influence and do not spend time on things they can't control. Wallow in anger or fear, or move on? It's up to you.

7. They stay healthy...A good diet and regular physical activity provide crucial buffers against stress. Exercise literally helps to repair neurons in brain areas that are susceptible to stress.

8. They find the "silver lining"...they convert misfortune into good luck and gain strength from adversity. They see negative events as an opportunity to better themselves or become a better person.

We need to remember too that Satan is alive and well and goes about trying to disrupt our happiness. I like these thoughts on that...

"To help us from being overcome by the devil's designs, which are;
despair, discouragement, depression, despondency and distractions,
the Lord has provided at least a dozen ways which, if followed,
will lift our spirits and send us on our way rejoicing." (Ezra T. Benson)

Repentance.... Prayer .... Service.... Work
Health.... Reading.... Blessings.... Fasting
Friends & Family.... Music.... Endurance.... Goals

Remember...Don't start tackling tomorrows problems until tomorrow. You don't have tomorrow's strength yet. You simply have enough for today, We don't need to know what will happen tomorrow. 90% of what you worry about never happens!

My motto this year is...BE HAPPY
And my wish for each of you is happiness, each and every day, make your mind up to find a happiness in your day and treasure it...it just may help to create a year full of happiness!

NEW YEAR BEAUTY, JOY AND FUN...

It was New Years Eve Day...and this handsome man asked me for a over night date...what else could I say but....ok, lets go!

We drove 2 hours away through three beautiful canyons...the day was gorgeous, full sun on pure white snow.

It felt like we were up at a ski resort, way above the inversion below.

Where we live we are so blessed to have full sun everyday, it's so great for ones mood!

I never get tired of seeing the beautiful deer, they were everywhere along this drive. Such pretty creatures in their sweet little families, carefully trying to cross the road.

We went out to eat at a quaint little place, The Garden House. It's in an old home and it is so darling, this is the front door, come on in!

A Christmas tree and a big old staircase in is the front foyer~

A fire blazes there too to warm you from head to toe~

Cute little tables and booths that look like something from a 40's movie~

We look out the beautiful stained glass windows at the Christmas lights in the garden~

Waiting for our dinner with my sweetie

I ordered a chicken breast covered with crab, hollandaise sauce and asparagus spears..YUM

And what do men order....prim rib, on the rare side please!

Then Heavenly desert....white chocolate mouse, whipped cream and raspberries on top of a lemon bar cake....YUMMY

As we left the place looked so pretty with all it's lights glowing in the night~

This eve was so beautiful too because of the bright, blue full moon...we drove around just looking at it's beauty!

The lights of town felt so festive too, almost as pretty as the moon~
We then went to a movie..."The Morgans"...it was a light comedy and I do mean light! It was pretty predictable, I knew what they were going to say and do before they did! We wanted to see "The Blind Side" but it was sold out....But it was still fun!
Then we stayed overnight at a beautiful place, next day saw some of our kids before heading home.

Little 4 month old Ella, sitting up in her little chair

Grinning at us...makes our hearts melt for sure!

Cute Caleb in his new bomber jacket~

And a new toy that makes noises when he moves it for Cougar...he loved it!

LETS HOPE THAT 2010 WILL BE A REALLY GREAT YEAR...better than the worrisome year this has been for our world!

We are praying that turmoil and dishonesty will cease and that people will be honest in their dealing with others and that the economy will recover.

Wishing for peace and prosperity, joy and wellness for families. May you have a wonderful year and focus on what really matters, what really counts here and in the here after.

~LOVE EVERYONE OF YOU~

http://tayloredtots.blogspot.com/....GO CHECK OUT THE GIVE A WAY AT THIS SITE....IT'S A NEW BLOG BY A FRIEND OF MINE...A CHILDRENS CLOTHING STORE...TAYLORED TOTS...THIS IS A REALLY SWEET GAL....THE GIVE A WAY WILL BE ON MONDAY..GO!