Stitching Away

The 2 charts above are my latest additions to my stash. I went to WalMart to pick up some bedroom shoes DD wants for Christmas. I decided to stop by the cross stitch section - are any of you able to go into a store that sells Xstitch stuff and resist browsing through the Xstitch stuff!? lol I certainly can't! I guess WalMart is downsizing their Xstitch section; they had almost everything on sale! I got these 2 charts and a LOT of huck towels dirt cheap! I like doing the huck towels and they make great gifts! I'm going to do the horses for Jerry. He LOVES horses. When we were together, we had a farm complete with cows, 2 horses, dogs, and cats! I really miss it! Anyway, he's been hinting that he would like for me to stitch him something horsey! This will NOT be for Christmas - maybe his birthday next July!
And the other chart is one that I have wanted for a long time! I will do this for myself to hang in my bedroom.

And this is the 2nd deer that I did for DBIL for Christmas! I'm glad that I got them finished. The one for DB is on brown hopscotch material and DBIL's is on this forest green one. I didn't want them to be just alike so they would be unique gifts! I lucked out and found 2 square oak frames that are the perfect size for these squares and they only cost $6.44 a piece! I was sure I would have to pay a fortune to my framer to make frames for them. I didn't think I would be able to find square frames that were just the right size! I can put the pieces in a frame by myself, so I've saved a lot of money!

I'm furiously working on my ornaments. They are so much fun to stitch! I'll show pics after our "teacher get-together."

I'm still trying to come up with something for my mom and my niece. I lucked up again and found lidded baskets at Michael's for 70% off! They had very tacky pictures on the lids. The pictures came off easily and I'm going to stitch something and put it on a padded mounting board and glue it to the top of the lid. Does that make sense? lol They will be sewing baskets. I have something I've already stitched for my sister - if I can find it!! I'm going to do one for myself, too! The problem with finding something to do is that the piece needs to be wider that it is tall. It's hard to find the right pattern that is that way! But I'll keep looking. If I don't get them done this year, I'll do them for next year! I've also started something for DD. I can't show it because sometimes she browses through my blog! I'll show a pic after Christmas. I've had several people asking me to post pictures of my decorations. I will soon - I don't have a digital camera and will have to use my "old-timey" camera and get the pics developed! I'll try to do that soon!

On the diet front - I've lost another 3 lbs. for a grand total of 49 lbs. I went to my dr. yesterday and he couldn't believe I had lost that much. My blood pressure was perfect!! I asked him about something for my migraines, but he said that if Imitrex makes my blood pressure shoot up, any of the other meds for migraines would, too. He said he could put me on a preventative med., but since I already take a lot of meds daily, he'd rather not. I'm going to try to reduce the stress in my life! I also told him about my neck pain. My neck has been really hurting. I've been taking Motrin and putting heat on it. I finally realized that the pain was really originating from a spot on my shoulder. He said that I had injured a tendon that goes from my shoulder to my neck. I can't pronounce or spell what he called it! lol Anyway, he said what I was doing was exactly the right thing to do and also gave me some muscle relaxers. Maybe someday I will be pain free! It seems that when one thing stops hurting, something else starts! I guess it's old age! lol

My mom is doing some better. She had a CAT scan and it showed nothing wrong. The dr. now wants to do an ultrsound of the veins and arteries going from her heart to her brain!? I've never heard of this, but, oh well! We want to find out why she's having these dizzy spells!

I'm having a terrible time with DD right now. She wants to take her boyfriend to my family's Christmas get-together, but I'm not comfortable with her taking him this year! My mom is in bad health; my sister is also in bad health; this is only our 2nd Christmas without my dad and my DS; it's my DB's 1st time getting to our get-together since my dad's death; and there are just a few of us left. We cut up a lot and have some silly family traditions; and I'm afraid we won't be comfortable to act like we normally do with a stranger there. It would be different if they were engaged, but they're not even going steady! It might be the last Christmas with my mom - she is not doing too good! Now DD says if he can't go, she won't go either! I told her that it was her choice rather to go or not; that she's 18 and can decide for herself. She'll probably go, but she's going to drive me crazy about it until after Christmas!

Well, better go and start stitching! Have a day full of happy moments, and may God bless you!

Christmas Everywhere!

I hope everyone had a very happy Thanksgiving! I had a very restful and happy one! The little piece above is what my DS made for me one year. He was only 7-years-old and it's the only thing he ever stitched, but he and Katie wanted me to teach them to cross stitch. Katie was only 5 so she never finished hers. This hangs on my refrigerator - it has since he did it and gave it to me! It's very precious to me!

I've been decorating for Christmas!! As I have said before - for several years before my son's passing, I had problems with my health and depression. So it has been years since I got out all of my Christmas decorations and decorated the house! Last year, I didn't even get my little tree up until Christmas Eve. But I feel a lot better this year! On Fri., Jerry and I got down all the Christmas decorations and packed up all of my usual doodads. I polished ALL the furniture and arranged ALL my Christmas goodies! I have a 3 piece wall unit with lots of shelves! Now they are full of Christmas treasures! It brought back so many happy memories of my kids when they were little! All the ornaments they had made through the years, ones with their pictures on them at different ages that they made for me at church, even some ornaments that my mom gave me that we put on our tree during my childhood! Christmas has always been a special time for me! The kids and I always made and decorated Christmas cookies. We made and decorated gingerbread houses at my mom's. Their daddy and I always took them on rides all around town to look at all the decorations. We would also drive up in the mountains to see all the decorations! I made zucchini bread loaves for all the neighbors, and the kids and I would deliver them to everyone on Christmas Eve. We always bought Christmas gifts for 2 children who wouldn't have gotten anything so that the children could feel how wonderful giving to others feels! So many happy memories! Although Glenn isn't with us physically, I know he's here in spirit, and remembering all these happy memories keeps him alive in my heart. So Christmas is not a sad time for me! It's even more precious than it was before we lost Glenn!

I hope all of you are making wonderful memories with your families!! Because no matter what happens to you, no one and nothing can take those memories away from you! Have a day full of happy moments, and may God bless you!

Lots of New Stash

I went over to the LNS and treated myself to some new stash! The pattern above is what I got when I was over there a couple of weeks ago. I forgot to show everyone what I got that day. This chart was on a sale table. I really fell in love with it, especially because Santa's legs and shoes remind me of my Papa, who died over 20 years ago. He had big thighs and wore shoes like these. I know that sounds weird, but it really reminded me of him! Plus I really like it!

I also got the leaflet above during that first visit. I even bought the perforated plastic to do these on. I probaby won't be able to do any of these before this Christmas. But I plan to do some for next Christmas. This wasn't on sale - I know you're shocked that I bought something that wasn't on sale! lol

Now this is one of the things I bought yesterday! I have wanted to do a Mirabilia chart ever since I first saw you stitchers doing them! I'm going to do this next year for my DD. She loves purple. I haven't showed it to her. I'm going to do it when she's not around so that it will be a BIG surprise!

And this is the Mirabilia I'm going to do for myself!!! I think she is so beautiful! I didn't buy any material to do them on yesterday. I'm going to buy that after Christmas! This is the most I have ever spent for a single pattern, but I decided I was worth it!!

Last but not least - I also got this yesterday. This and The Lady of the Mist (the one in the previous picture) were on my wish list! I spent a lot of time Sunday looking at on-line needleshops and made a list of patterns I would like to get. It has over 30 things on it - like I could even do 30 more things than what I already have planned to do! But one can hope, anyway!! I told my mom if I should go before her, to pack my cross stitch stash around me in my casket and maybe I can take them to heaven with me!! lol But I just really liked the one above. It will remind me to be glad about each day, and to not dwell on the tragedies that have happened in my life! But back to my new stash - I'm definitely going to have to try a rotation after Christmas!!

Well, the plans for Thanksgiving have changed again. Mom doesn't feel well enough to go to my sister's, and my brother found out that Home Depot is not open on T. Day. I could have told him that! So they're not working on the floor tomorrow and I have been so down in the dumps lately that I really do want to spend some time alone - so we are back to the original plan! But please don't feel sorry for me - it's really what I want and need right now!! Holidays are very hard - without my son. I can make it through Christmas and will have a wonderful Christmas, but it takes a lot out of me and doing Thanksgiving also would really do me in! I really need some quiet and solitude before I start the whole Christmas thing!

That's about all the news I have! I have almost finished 4 of the ornaments that I'm making for my teaching-friends. I can't show pics right now because several of them read my blog! I wish I could; they are turning out so pretty. I just hope I can finish finish them so that they look like the ones in the pictures! I'm doing one for myself and will put it together first, so I can figure it out and get some practice before I do any that are gifts! Well, got to go! Have a day full of happy moments, and may God bless you!

New Thanksgiving Plans

Well, my plans for Thanksgiving have changed! I'm excited, but also a little sad. I was really looking forward to that time alone! But maybe I can get some alone time at another time!

My DB called last night and said that he and my DBIL were going to redo my sister's kitchen floor on Thanksgiving Day. I don't know why they are doing it on Thanksgiving Day, lol, but, anyway, he wants us all to go up there and he is going to buy a big Thanksgiving meal. There will only be my sister and brother-in-law, my brother, my mom, and me. DD has to work until 5:00, and we're going to eat at 12:00. My sister's daughter is also going somewhere else. This is really a big deal, because my DB and my DS had a big fuss about 4 months ago before my DB moved up here, and they haven't spoken since! My mom was worried that they would never work things out! Members of my family NEVER have big arguments or little ones for that matter! We've always gotten along perfectly! We don't see each other very often, so we are just so happy to see each other. But they had words about my brother moving back here and hadn't spoken since. My DB had tried to call DS and apologize but she wouldn't pick up the phone or call him back. Finally DS gave in and called DB last night and they talked everything out and everything is forgiven. I'm so happy! As I have said before, my mom has always insisted on "happiness" since we were little. (not realistic, I know, but that's how she is) My DB and DS not speaking was breaking her heart! She just knew our family was falling apart! I tried to convince her that disagreements in a family were normal and that they would work it out eventually! So I know she will be happy that the problem has been resolved! I am! She was driving me crazy about it. She always expects me to be the peacekeeper. She wanted me to get involved and try to "fix" it. I refused; I wasn't going to get involved and have one or the other mad at ME! I love them both! Anywho - I will be spending Thanksgiving with my family - I just hope DS doesn't expect me to help with the floor. Oh - you don't think they have an ulterior motive for having us up there, do you?!! lol I'm NOT spending my Turkey Day fixing a floor!! lol

Well, better go! It's time to fix lunch. I have the hardest time coming up with ideas for lunch other that a sandwich and soup! I tried Progresso's Light Soup (0 points on Weight Watchers), and I really like it! Maybe we have enough left-overs for today's lunch! lol Jerry does not like to eat left-overs! But beggars can't be choosers! lol He'd rather eat left-overs than fix his own lunch! lol Have a great day and may God bless you!

My Prize!

This is what I won in the drawing on Pattern Nut's blog. I got it today! It's a piece of 28 count platinum lugana and a deep red rose from Mill Hill! I love them! Thank you so much, Angela!! It was so sweet of you, and I can't wait to start something on the material. I will have to find something extra special to use the flower on. Again - thank you! It was so much fun to get a surprise on the mail!

I finished up another ornament, but I can't show it. The intended recipient reads my blog! I want to show it so badly! It really turned out cute! I also did some more work on the second deer head.

I subbed today in that special ed. class and had a wonderful day!! They were the sweetest kids and no one misbehaved! They are having a sub again tomorrow, but the teacher had already arranged for another person to do that day before she had the death in her family and had to be out today. The kids begged me to come back tomorrow. I really wished I could! We had so much fun today! I wish I had classes like that everyday!

Well, short post today - not much going on right now! Have a day full of happy moments, and may God bless you! And again, Angela, thank you so much for my special giftie!!

Reindeer Ornaments for my Deer Collectors?

I'm making good progress on the second deer for DBIL. I'll just wait and post a pic when I get it finished. This little reindeer is for DB, and I will do another for DBIL. I make an ornament for everyone in the family, and I thought these would be good for the "deer collectors" in the family! lol

I did another one of these ornaments on several different colors of fabric, but they didn't show up good enough. This is 28 count tea Irish linen, 2 over 2. And I think I have finally found the one I want! This is not quite finished. I'm waiting on some red and gold fine braid that Donna at my LNS has ordered for me. It's taking so long though! This is one of the ornaments in the newest issue of Just Cross Stitch. I really like them. They're kind of country. And very different from the ornaments I usually stitch. I'm afraid I really like cutesy patterns, but I love these! They seem so fragile and dainty!

I subbed last Wed. and Fri. I felt sick both days, but the classes were great and I didn't have any problems. I was able to just sit and watch the kids, so I made it through both days. I really needed to work some. I hadn't subbed in a month. But I've been so good with my coupons and careful buying that I actually have extra money and will have enough for Christmas! Thank goodness! I've already got a job for Mon. at the same school I was at Fri. It is a self contained special ed. class. I don't usually do those classes, because my nerves are too bad and sometimes it depresses me so bad! But the teacher came to me at the school Fri. and asked me to do it. How could I say no?! But she only has 8 students and she said they were very sweet. She had a death in her family. It will be the last day I sub before Thanksgiving.

DD and Jerry are going to Jerry's family's Thanksgiving dinner. I don't go, although his family asks me to come every year! But JERRY doesn't ask me and I don't think we would be comfortable. What if he decided to take a girlfriend with him?! I couldn't handle it. My family doesn't get together on Thanksgiving anymore, because our family is so small now. We've lost 3 family members in the last 3 years. Also, Mom would not stop making a BIG meal and wouldn't let us help her or bring any dishes! She's not able to do that much cooking anymore, but she would go ahead and almost kill herself to get it done! Plus we decided it was really hard to make it to our family's and in-laws' family's dinners! I stay at home and usually get a turkey and dressing plate from a restaurant close by that makes great meals! I really enjoy being alone and relaxing! I like spending Thanksgiving this way. Katie and Jerry always bring me a big plate of food from their family's dinner! (Yum!!!)

Well, I need to go and get some Christmas stitching done! Have a day full of happy moments, and may God bless you!

Deer Happy Dance!

I have finished one of the deer I'm doing for DB and DBIL. I like the way this turned out. I'm going to go ahead and do the other one because I am using the same threads. It wasn't very hard to do and went very quickly! They both collect anything with deer on it.

I went to the Stitching Club last Fri. night and had a great time! There were about 12 women there and we talked and laughed and stitched. I felt very welcome and plan to continue going. They're having their Christmas party at the next meeting - so I will have to take some food, but they're not exchanging gifts. I'm so glad I finally found a stitching group I can go to. Everyone was about my age and we had a lot in common!

Chiloe wanted to know more about my son's accident. We're still not sure how he ended up in the lake. There were no witnesses. At first the detectives thought that he did it on purpose, but after they investigated and talked with everyone who knew him, they said they KNEW he didn't do it on purpose! He was getting ready for college and had several appointments the next week. He was too happy! There was alcohol involved - he had been drinking. They ruled it an accident - maybe he took a curve too fast and went off the road into the lake and couldn't get out of the car. I couldn't have survived if they had found it a suicide - I couldn't live if I thought his life was so bad that he would do that! But we still wonder how it happened!

DD and I went to Michael's today. I used their 50% off coupon and got the Janlynn Summer Sampler! I was so excited that they had it! I only have to get the winter one now! I'll probably never get them finished! lol But at least I have them to work on. I'm planning on taking the Autumn Sampler to work on at the Stitching Club. It meets the 2nd Fri. of each month. There is also a UFO night. It's every 4th Fri. of each month. I'm going to attend those, too. Lord knows I have a lot of UFOs!!

Better go! I want to get that 2nd deer started, plus I'm working on those ornaments for my friends and family. Oh, by the way, those ornaments are not in The Cross Stitcher. They are in the latest issue of Just Cross Stitch. I hope I didn't cause any problems for anyone! Have a great day, and may God bless you!

Happy Birthday, Glenn!

This is an older picture of my son, but it's my favorite! It was one of those old fashioned pictures. DD is in the picture, too, but she made me promise not to show her! lol I had gotten very lax about taking pictures right before my son's accident. I had taken a lot of pictures of him just a few weeks before the accident, but I hadn't loaded the film correctly and none of the pictures took. He had given me the camera for Christmas the year before. I was so upset when we took the film to be developed and there were no pictures.

Today would have been his 21st birthday! I miss him so much. He and I were very close. I was 32 before I got married and had just accepted the fact that I wasn't going to get married or have children. Then I met Jerry and knew he was the one, and Glenn was born 4 days before our 1st anniversary. He was a very good baby - my little miracle! He wasn't always that good, though. He was a very mischievious little boy! He loved to play pranks on everyone. He was extremely smart, and had trouble behaving in class because he would finish his work so fast and then be bored. Several of his teachers told me that he was the smartest child they had ever taught! He was a Boy Scout, had a 2nd degree blackbelt in Karate, was the 5th grade spelling bee winner for his school and the 5th grade winner for the school district! He was in the Duke's TIP Program for students who made the highest scores on the SAT in the 8th grade. He was a Junior Scholar because of his grades in school and on the SAT. He was listed in Who's Who Among America's High School Students in 2004. He was already getting letters from colleges and universities all over the United States trying to recruit him. But he wasn't a nerdy kid. He had a lot of close friends, and they got into trouble sometimes. He had some run-ins with the law - nothing all that serious! His friends said he was the clown of their group; he always kept everyone laughing!

The day of the accident, a Fri., he had taken my car to have the brakes looked at. He made an appt. to take the car back the next Mon. He came over to my school to pick me up. I was in the library helping another teacher on a computer. When I didn't come out for a while, he came in. He would come over to the school a lot and all the women there would make a big fuss over him! He was 6'4" tall, and very handsome if I do say so myself! lol He came into the library and started helping another teacher on a computer. After a while, we left. When we got home, we sat in the car for a while, talking. He said, "You know, Mom, I just attract girls - all kinds of girls- old women, little girls, all girls are just attracted to me!" We laughed and talked for several min. Then his friend came over and I fixed them some supper.

Finally, they took off to meet up with the rest of their friends. He hugged me and kissed me on the cheek before he left. He told me he loved me and I told him I loved him. I didn't wait up for him because he was 18 and came home pretty late sometimes. At that time I was in pretty bad shape. I was on antidepressants (not as much as I take now), and would have to go to bed pretty early.

At 6:30 the next morning, DD came running into my room, yelling, "Get up, Mom! There's some policemen at the door!" Since he had been in some trouble before, I thought maybe he had done something and they were coming to tell me what he had gotten in trouble for. They came in and told me to sit down. They said, "A car has been found in a lake, and we have traced the car to you. There was a body in the car. Do you have a teenage son?" I couldn't figure out what they were saying. I said, "Yes, I have an 18-year-old son named Glenn." They asked, "Does he have any distinguishing marks - scars or anything?" I still couldn't comprehend what they were saying. I kept thinking it couldn't be my child - he must have let someone else drive my car! I said, "Is this person dead?" They said, "Yes." All I could think about was that my house was so dirty and messed up. I started saying, "I've got to clean my house! I've got to clean my house!" I couldn't cry! I couldn't let myself believe that my most precious son was gone! The lady coroner started helping me clean up the house, and I started calling my family and friends. But I couldn't cry! I was just in shock! Within 30 minutes my house was full of friends and family. I finally started crying, but I still didn't believe it until I saw him at the mortuary. The life I was living ended that Sat. morning, and we have had to build a new life. It is a very different life from what we had before, but there are still a lot of happy times. I'm very thankful for the years I had with my son, and I really cherish all the happy memories we made while he was with us! I know I will see him again someday!

So, Happy Birthday, Glenn! Mom loves you with all her heart!!

Halloween Spooks

This is DD on Halloween. Thank goodness! She doesn't look anything like this in real life!! lol

And this is DD and her boyfriend. They had a great time that night. We all did!

I finally got over to the LNS when it was open! It was like being set free in a candy shop!! I was good though and only bought one book and one pamphlet, and the pamphlet was on sale! I got one of the Kreinik braids I need, and she ordered the other 2 I need. I really like the owner, and we had fun talking cross stitch. They have a Stitchers Club that meets once a month. It meets tonight and I'm going. I've been wanting to find a group that meets to stitch! I'm very excited! And the LNS is only a mile from my house.

I finally got over to my mom's yesterday. We had a great time. We sat at the table all day and talked. I tried to help her balance her check book. My dad always handled that; he was an accountant. But she really just can't remember how to do it. I'm going to just go over there and do it for her every month! Since my dad's death, she just can't think like she used to do. I know what it's like. I was that way for a long time after DS's death. I couldn't even remember how to drive! I'm much better, but I still get addled sometimes. I guess it was such a shock to my brain! At my mom's age, I'm not sure she will ever get back to normal.

I got so tickled at the dogs yesterday. I was awake, but just laying in bed resting yesterday morning. They decided it was time for me to get up. Sugar, the oldest, kept pushing the covers down with her nose, and the other 2, Coco and Bebe, jumped all over me and licked my face to death! I gave up and got up. Then this morning I was lying on the bed looking at old cross stitch mags. They didn't want me to look at them; so -again- Sugar laid on top of the mag. and the other 2 jumped all over me and licked me to death! I had to give up before the mag was destroyed! lol

I'm going to have to cut this short - NOT! The computer is about to go out and I want to get this on my blog and go stitch! Have a day full of happy moments, and may God bless you!

House Happy Dance

I finished this piece yesterday. I really had fun stitching this. When DD looked at it, she said, "You're stitching in French?" lol I decided to leave November in French. I plan to do all the months' houses. I'm going to make a quilted wall-hanging with them. I'm going to make a tuck pillow for this so I can display it now. Then I can take it out when I'm ready to make the wall-hanging.

I'm going to do some ornaments next. There are 5 beautiful ornaments in the newest issue of the US Cross Stitcher. You use Kreinik fine braid as well as DMC threads. I've never stitched with the fine braid. Does anyone have any tips for me? Is it hard and is it worth the effort? I won't be showing pictures of these because some of the future recipients read my blog. I'll show them after our yearly Christmas party.

I'm thinking about setting up a rotation. I have so many things that I have started and want to finish, but I also have a lot that I want to start. I especially want to work on a piece I started that is in honor of my son.

DD and I went shopping yesterday. She needed some winter clothes to wear to her classes. I needed some DMC thread and salt! lol We had a ball. I try to do stuff with just her as much as I can. I have always tried to spend some "alone" time with each of my kids at least once a week. We would go out to eat or to the park or shopping, etc. This has meant so much - to them and to me! DS and I went to some counseling because of some problems he had gotten into with the law. The counselor asked the parents when was the last time they did something with their child - just the 2 of them. Some couldn't remember the last time they had; some said it had been ages; and some said never. I was the only one that could say that my son and I had gone out alone in the last week! I would get so tickled because my 18-year-old son would get a call on his cell phone from one of his friends while we were on our way to a restaurant or whatever, and they would ask him what he was doing. He would say, in that deep low voice of his, "I'm going out to eat with my mom." He would never cancel our outings to be with his friends. It was a very special time for both of us! Those memories of the times that I spent with just him - talking and cutting up - are very precious now! Anyway, back to DD - as we were leaving the Old Navy store, she turned to me and said, "I love doing things with you." I said, "Yeah, because I end up paying for most of what you buy!" lol She said, "No, I mean it. I love doing things with you. We have so much fun!" I almost broke down and cried right there in the parking lot! We may have some rough times, but we love each other with all our hearts! She also told me the other day that she was talking to a friend about how she wants to raise her children. I said, " Just like your mom?" and laughed. She said, "Yeah, that's what I said. I want to teach them to be independent and to think for themselves like you taught us." She went on to say that she wanted to be as close to her children as she is to me. Sometimes I worry that I wasn't a good mother - I guess if you lose a child, that's the main thing you worry about. It really helps to hear her say things like that!

Well, I'd better go and start one of those ornaments! Have a day full of happy moments, and may God bless you!

November House.

I started this yesterday. I have wanted to do one of these houses. This is the November house. It's a freebie I got here. I really want to do all of the houses she has designed! But I made myself start this one before I do anything else. There are so many things I really want to stitch! And so many things I have already started and need to finish!! I'm doing this on 28 count lambswool Jobelan, 2 over 2. I really like stitching on Jobelan! It's so soft! I have to do the fireman quilt square next! And I want to get back to the Janlynn Autumn Sampler and I need to start Christmas stitching!! Aye!!!! There's just not enough time for everything!!

Things are going pretty good around here. I'm finally recovered from the marathon migraine! I tried using Imitrex for my headaches, but I have high blood pressure, and the Imitrex made it shoot up dangerously. My doc took me off of it! I've been taking Excedrin Migraine and that usually makes them bearable, although it doesn't get rid of them completely. But this last headache wasn't fazed by the Excedrin Migraine and I took quite a few! When I take the Excedrin, it messes up my stomach. So I have suffered with a stomach ache all last week! Today I finally feel good!! I'm going to the Doc in a couple of weeks, and I'm going to ask if he can give me something else for the migraines! Maybe they've come up with something newer than Imitrex.

I'm going over to my mom's after lunch today. We'll probably go out to Denny's to get Grand Slams. That's our thing to do. DD may come and go with us today! She has a hard time going to my mom's house, because her Papa isn't there. It's hard for her to go in the house and see the empty chair where my dad sat all the time! I sit in his chair when I'm there, and I feel like I'm sitting in his lap with his arms around me! I can't sit on the sofa and look at his empty chair either! I've been more depressed lately - my DS's birthday is coming up on the 11th. And I guess feeling bad for so long has gotten me down, too. It will really perk me up to go to my mom's! I haven't subbed the last 2 weeks so I will have to sub some this week!

Well, that's about all that's going on here. I live a very simple life now, and I love it! It's amazing that all those things I thought were so important before my DS died are not important at all! I don't miss teaching or doing all those other things I used to do! If it's possible, simplify your life as much as you can!! And spend all the time you can with your children if you have any! And tell them you love them as much as possible, because you never know when it might be the last time you get to tell them you love them!! I told my son I loved him; he left and never came home again!! Have a day full of happy moments, and may God bless you! If I didn't have my faith in God, I wouldn't be able to get out of the bed every morning! He really will give you the strength to bear anything! Well, that's my preaching for today!

Another Halloween Happy Dance

I really love this piece! It was so much fun to stitch! I just adore the little broom! I have a square black frame that I think this will fit in. I just have to remember where I put it! I hope everyone had a great Halloween! We did! We had a lot of trick or treaters, and they were all so cute!

DD and I went out to lunch and shopping together yesterday. She has to dress up every Halloween! We went to a Halloween store, but the prices were outrageous! We ended up going to Walmart and putting together an outfit ourselves. She really looked good. I'll show a picture when I get the film developed.

Not much happening around here. I may go visit my mom tomorrow. I haven't felt like subbing any this week. I'm planning to sub a lot next week. Better go - it's late. Have a day full of happy moments, and may God bless you!