Life's Changes

So here it is the very last day of the year - December 31, 2011 - tomorrow will be a brand new year!  One of the things that I am realizing more and more the older I get is that "life changes" - there's tomorrow with a new normal and even though we'd like to "stop time" at different times, it can't happen! 

This Christmas was a new change - Christmas without mom.  What can I say - we got through it and actually we had a very good Christmas.  Our immediate family had Christmas on the 24th and then we went to Walla Walla on the 25th to help in celebrating Christmas there.  Yes, it was different and we all chatted about it at different moments - like "Wow, last year we had mom's gravy and this year we bought it from Costco - a new norm we've decided!"  Or, "mom would have loved this year's Christmas - I'll bet she's looking down at us and saying good going!" - it was hard, but life changes and even though we miss her - we go on!  I was so glad that we were able to add a little "chaos" to the Christmas gathering in Walla Walla - it was good and we all enjoyed ourselves!! 

Larissa had flown in on the 14th of the month - here to spend an entire two weeks - it was wonderful even though she didn't stay here every night.  She and Litney along with Danny and Logan had some great "bonding" times and some very "relaxing" times as well.  The room we added upstairs was perfect!  Another thing I wish I could have shown mom - she'd have loved it for us!  But I LOVE it for us too!!  It will be perfect for family and hopefully one day for grandkids - when God allows:)  I forgot to take photos of it when it was being "used" but maybe just a shot of it before will be okay.

Our 2011 Christmas Bedroom

There's just a couple of shots of it - have added a few more touches along the way - a couple of bookcases and such, but it was great for the girls & Danny - and they felt like they had a "place" or bedroom that was theirs for the time they stayed.  I guess some of "life's changes" are really good - this was one of those! 

I had some great Christmas gifts this year - two are hangings for the wall - one given by Litney and one by Larissa - LOVE them both and they are so special.  One now hangs in this bedroom - it says something like "Life takes you to different experiences, Love brings you home" and the other is in the kitchen - it has "The Leifer Family - Established 1984" - could not have asked for anything better!!  I've always been totally sentimental, but that's another thing I've really noticed lately - the older I get the more "tearful" I am over everything!!!  One other gift that was given to me this year was on the first day Larissa was here - we had a mini family photo taken up in Spokane:)  Larissa's friend Sarah came for just a short visit so she used my camera to help us out - LOVED the photos - here's the one we used for Christmas cards and I've gotten a gallery wrap with it too:)  Never can one of too many photos of your family right?  My kids may not believe this, but I cherish each one I have!

So life changes!  Today is Litney's 25th birthday and it seems like it was just yesterday that she was born!  About two hours ago all of my kids took off for Spokane to celebrate Litney's birthday and be together for the new year of 2012.  I cried as they drove away - tears of joy and happiness, proud tears, sad tears, missing tears, - just plain old tears!  I LOVE my family!!  Even with life changing with all the good and bad, I do know that we are in God's hands and that He has guided and directed my life along with my kids' lives!  Really, what more would I want? 

Yes, life does change!  Am I ready for the 2012 year?  Yes, I think so and I just pray that God continues to direct, protect, and prosperous us all according to His riches!  I thank God for my parents & siblings, for my husband and kids and for all the generations to come.  Life changes and with it, we need to have acceptance, contentment and love.  Blessings to all in this new year of new normals! 



Happy Birthday Daddy

Gosh it's been so long since I was able to give you that "dollar" for your birthday!!!  You see, I can't quite remember just how many years ago it was, but when daddy would open birthday cards from us he really didn't get very excited.  So one year, and it must have been quite a few years back too, we decided to give him the "$1" rather than the card - he would get much more excited!!!  It was always fun to watch him open those cards and secretly place those single dollars in his pocket:)  Am not sure if he saved those dollars or would purchase the gold ones instead or what.  I always felt bad for daddy's birthday!  It was so close to Christmas that we rarely celebrated it!  Mom use to bake him his favorite blue berry pie and I think he ate most of it himself.  He like blue berry pie and the rest of us didn't get much of it - am not sure if it was because we didn't like it, or he didn't share it:)!!!  I loved my dad!!!  He was always there with a "thought" or a "reason" or a "suggestion" or even a "dollar" if needed!  Believe me, there were several times I wished I'd listened, but he also knew that we would have to learn by ourselves and that's what we did - in the end, he never said "Told You So" and that wasn't anything I would have wanted to hear anyway!!!  Yes, daddy you were a great father and I miss you much!  I think I'll place a dollar in an envelope this morning and put it in my kitchen garden window for you - Happy Birthday Daddy!!!!

Happy Birthday Mr. Robert Chester Mitchell - MY dad!!!

Christmas Bedroom Wind Chimes

You might wonder "What in the world does that title mean?" - well, here goes!!  About two months ago we decided we had "no bedroom" space for kids to come home, nor for the hopeful grandchildren we may one day have.  Soooo, we took our attic down to nothing and have completed a "Christmas Bedroom" for our kids, guests, friends, sleepovers, etc. - it's a very special room and I LOVE it!!! 

At one end of the room there is an old rocker - a very comfortable rocker but one that I can't really use for company as the back pops out when you lean on it too heavily.  But for just me, it works just fine!  This Christmas Bedroom is just too nice an area to not use it regularly - it's peaceful, quiet, unique, beautiful:)!  This rocker sits at the end and you can look out the window into our farmground and just sit:)  You don't have to do anything - it's wonderful!!  But, sometimes I want to sit with my mom - just to be able to let her know how I'm feeling, what life is all about for me, to tell her how much I love her still, and to catch her up with the kids' news, etc.  So, on the ceiling I've hung something that was in her home in the dining area - it's a glass windchime.  I don't know why anyone would have ever used this outside where the wind could actually catch it, it would break for sure!  But near my window the sun catches the light and it shimmers and shines!  So that's where I've been sitting when time allows!  Every once in awhile when the tears come heavily I just look at the windchime and it shimmers because of my tears even if the sun isn't shining through.  Then, when I just can't stand it anymore at all, I gently blow on the chimes and they jingle - that's mom talking to me and I just listen!!  I love my Christmas Bedroom, AND I love the wind chimes!!!  I love you mom!!  Thanks for listening to me even now!  Blessings to you and to all!

Birthday Again?

Does the time really go this quickly - are the years just swishing by like water in a river?  Wow !  I believe the answer is "YES" - and I'm not quite sure I like it!  I have so many things I want to still do and want the energy, health and desire to do them.  One is to continue to update my blog more regularly - I was really good there for awhile, but "stuff" just happens and it seems like my blog is the spot that I neglect:(  but I'm going to try to do better!

This is a very difficult birthday - in fact this has been a very difficult year and the year isn't over!  People say that in time things heal and we feel better about it, but right now, it's still the same with me.  I function day to day and there are days I won't cry - today isn't one of those!  I've left the "box" on my dresser that Jim's birthday gift came in - I can be so emotional that I thought if I placed another gift in that box and opened it today, it would be like mom giving it to me.  In the past years mom wouldn't call me on my birthday, but I always called her!  In fact, I can't remember if mom ever called me once dad passed away - I am not sure she even dialed long distance anymore.  So each year I would anticipate opening my "box" and then calling mom - this year, I'll only be able to think about it!  Hmmmm, tears already and it's so early in the morning!  I share my day with Jenice - how special is that!  I just read that she's going to Wild Horse and I pray she does well on this day - I think sometimes it's the hardest on her because she spent everyday with mom - they went so many places and did so many things.  My life has continued on and "events" are still happening. 

I posted on facebook the following photo for Jenice - I'm awful at sending cards anymore!  So here it is for her:)

Happy Birthday Jenice!!!!!

Hmmm, now I'm wondering how this print got to the middle on not on the edges!  Oh well,  So for today guess I will get through it as well as Jenice - we just still miss mom and nothing is quite the same.  I'll post soon about our new "Christmas Bedroom" - mom and dad both would have loved it!  Blessings to Jenice and to all on this December 9, 2011!!!!