Blessed!

I try very hard to never take my life for granted.  I am blessed beyond measure by a wonderful husband, amazing children and even more amazing grandchildren.  Some days the normal and routine comes and goes and yes I fail to let my blessings encourage my heart as they should.  That is when I am glad for gentle reminders.  

Yesterday I met a gentleman and after a short visit he turned to me and said, "You are married to a very good man.  He loves you a lot."

Yes, truly I am married a a good man that loves me a lot.  I am thankful to a stranger for being so bold in reminding me of those facts.

Counting my blessings and reminding myself to never take my blessings and life for granted.

Blessings and Hugs,
Mèmére

2014 In Review

2014 came and went with not one blog post from me.  I wish I had followed through and blogged the many events of our year.  Events of great adventure that I never dreamed I would participate in.  Events that changed our family forever.  Events that inspire new challenges and risks for the future.

I can't turn back the clock but I can try to improve with this new year.

March 29, 2014 found Precious Husband and I arriving at our daughter and son-in-love's home in Kentucky.  We helped our oldest grandchildren, 17 year old Tristan and 13 year old Amber pack their new suitcases and we flew on an air bus to London, England.  We spent 3 days there and then went by train under the channel to Paris, France for another 3 days.  Never would I have imagined that I would be going out of the USA!  The trip was too short but made for wonderful memories with our grandchildren.

March 29, 2014 Headed over the Atlantic

Tristan 17 years old.  Amber 13 years old.

My first thought getting on the plane, this is like an "E Ticket ride" at Disneyland!

We rode the London Eye on our first day of sight-seeing.

I enjoyed the architecture.

Cute sign where we stopped for coffee of course!

Boat ride down the Thames River

Under the London Bride

Tristan was thrilled to go through the British Museum

Teenage girls don't mind posing for the camera -

teenage boys - not so much.

Amber posing with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Amber in front of the Eiffel Tower

Tristan in front of the Eiffel Tower.  

Their Pèpére was so smart in how he photographed each of the children.  

The locks we hung on the Pont des Arts Bridge

Better close for now and continue my review and catch-up on another day.

Hugs and blessings,

Mèmére

Putting The Memories Away

After my long absence thought I would remind readers that my blog is written as a form of journaling for me personally. It also is a tool to share memories, pictures, information/history and hopefully words of wisdom with my family.

Usually the tree is down and the Christmas decorations are put away no later than New Years and actually it is usually done on New Years Day.  This year I was a little slow and had better things to do.  The TLC's came and spent 3 days with us.  TLC's are my 4 grandchildren that live here in Arizona.  They are named with their initials forming - you guessed it - TLC.

Today I am sharing some Christmas decoration history.  The little elf came from my mom and dad and sat on our tree when I was a kid.  Sometimes he hides in our tree, this year he sat on a lamp overseeing activity in the dining room.

One of the first things that I put up at Christmas is my nativity scene.  My mother-in-law took up ceramics when Precious Husband's father died and in 1988 she gave us a beautiful nativity set, painted just perfectly.  In 1998 the little donkey caught the eye of our first grandchild, 2 year old Tristan.  Quick as a two year old can be the donkey didn't have a chance.  Tristan's mom and dad were chagrined but I got out the Elmer's glue and quickly the little donkey was given life again.  

Precious Husband and I were married in 1983 the year that Avon produced these precious little Christmas angels.  Good friends of Precious Husband gave them to us for a wedding gift and each year they find a place among the animals and wisemen.

A few years ago I found this nativity set in Kentucky half price after Christmas.  I love the sweet faces and the detail.  They remind me of Precious Moment figurines.

Look at the chubby cheeked angel with her sweet smile.

Joseph with his crook.

Mary

Baby Jesus

Memories, all wrapped up and put into storage boxes for another year.  Fewer boxes will be stored this year because I only packed the things that make me smile and have history.  We are making changes in our life this year and with that change comes a great need to downsize our belongings but this is all news for future blogs . . .

Love and hugs,

Mèmére