Happy Groundhog Day/Anniversay

Hear ye, hear ye.

It's official. Phil saw his shadow. :( Six more weeks of winter. Oh well, what do we expect? It IS only the 1st week of Feb. Spring doesn't officially start until March 20. I guess the groundhog knows what he's talking about.

Hear ye, hear ye.

Today is our 16th Wedding Anniversary. WOW. I don't really care if we have a few more cold and snowy days, it just gives me an excuse to cuddle with Doug...and the dogs...and the kids. I know what your thinking,"Doesn't sound very romantic." Oh, but it is. In fact, it's perfect.

Be grateful for the loved ones in your life. Show your love and Shine!

I LOVE February

Poor little ol' February usually gets the short end of the stick. In January everyone is still recuperating from the holidays. By the time this month rolls around we are worn out with holidays.-winter has lost it's charm.-and Spring is juuuuust within our reach. So February kind of just 'creeps up on us', and considering it's the shortest month of the year, it's gone before we know it.

This small month really has some big things going for it.

First of all, there's Groundhog's Day. And don't rolls your eyes over that one. We all know that we secretly hope Punsxsutawney Phil doesn't see his shadow. To check out more info on it go to www.groundhog.org/ . It's an amazingly crazy-big event in PA. They say the 'Groundhog cookies' are an absolute must!

Also, on that very day, is Doug's and mines (wait that's not right, Doug's and mines?-Mines and Doug's?-Doug's and I's??) anyway, it's our wedding anniversary. Now don't get me wrong, I love a good groundhog as much as the next girl, but that's so not romantic to have your anniversary on that date!

There's also Lincoln's birthday, our 16th president who has said most of my favorite quotes: "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.", "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." and "Whatever you are, be a good one."

And next, there's Valentine's Day. Sigh. Oh, how I love Valentine's Day. Flowers, chocolate, red hearts, pink ribbons and lacy doilies; I'm such a sucker for all that stuff. Valentine's Day is also my father-in-laws birthday, then February 15th is Doug's b-day and my fabulous friend Angie's b-day too. (we're all about having holidays do double-duty around here... Dev's b-day is xmas eve...see what I mean)

Feb. 17th is Ash Wednesday. This is the first day of Lent for the Catholic Church. Lent is the beginning of preparation for Easter Sunday. Yes, I had to Google that.

And last-but-not-least, on Feb. 22nd, our Founding Fathers birthday: George Washington. Oh wait, and there's Leap Year too. Well, once every four years.

For most people, the only thing the second month of the year has going for it is the 14th. But for our family it's a very fun and exciting 28 days. So now you see why I LOVE February.

Fully enjoy this great month. And Shine while you do it!

Mood and Food

Yes, today my mood is as crazy as my snack choices. This is the first day in a looong time that I've had to myself. Soooooo, what to do-what to do? Scrapbook? Paint? Read? Clean? Cook? (no definitely not that one) Blog? Organize......something? "AAAAAH." I'm over-whelmed with this much time. Guess I work better under pressure. Even when it's just fun work!

And so far, today's fun work has consisted of taking pictures of my food.

Basically what I'm saying is that I'll probably waste my entire free day. Knowing me, I will probably 'start' a little of everything today. (uh-oh. that goal just flew right out the window) Then in a couple of days, when I don't have much time, I'll fly into 'over-time' work mode and finish everything. OK...OK, most of it.

Enjoy your day and always remember to Shine!

Goals

It's the 5th day of the 1st week of twenty ten and boy have I ever set some goals for myself. I've never been very goal-oriented. I was usually a, "Whatever will be, will be." type of girl. A little something I like to call, faith. However, the last year or two I have been setting a lot goals for myself. Just small things that I make up as I go. Such as, "I am not going to eat out one single time this week" accomplished. "Finish all the housework today, even if it means staying up til 2am" accomplished. "Don't start another project til this one is complete" accomplished. "Take store returns back promptly. Don't let them set around for 2-3 weeks or more" accomplished. (kind of) Please tell me other people do that too.

Willy-nilly goals...be gone!

2010 goals...big. Very, VERY big.

Of course I have the normal things like grow spiritually, emotionally and physically (also accomplished in '09). And the never-ending, improve on every other aspect of my life: motherhood, wife, daughter, friend, etc. I am so-a work in progress!

Being a mother and wife, so on and so forth is wonderful and makes me who I am...but...this years goals are a lot more personal. My children are FAR from being grown and gone (it's OK with Doug and I if they never want to leave. it's selfish...I know. but we love them so) but it's also OK for me to start thinking and planning for a future that will be very different from the one I've been accustomed to and have loved for the last decade and a half. This years list is full of goals pertaining to outside (me, myself and I) personal interests and hobbies, as well as possible future career moves.

On Dec. 31, 2010 I will post those crazy goals along with the outcome of...accomplished or not!! By the way, there are 10.

Shine!

A White Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas.

So it may be a day late, but it's still as heart-felt. Christmas morning was full of surprises for the Grishams. First, we wake up to a WHITE CHRISTMAS! Yippee! Second, Santa Claus visited our house and delivered tons of beautifully decorated (hem-hem) packages. :) Guess I shouldn't brag, considering I didn't get a picture of the really pretty ones. Third, Doug surprised me again with another antique locket. This one has a wicked sort of look to it. There is an eagle trying to catch 'something' and it has three sapphires on it. Oh my goodness do I ever love it. And the fourth and biggest surprises of the morning was the hot water heater had quit working. "Hey Santa. Come back!"

Devony and Clay are so good about playing along with the 'Santa thing' for their mothers sake. I tell them every year, "You don't believe, you wont receive." However, Clay occasionally will roll his eyes when I say that, look at his sister, and say in the most disgusted voice ever, "Oh great, here she goes again." But deep down inside, I know he really loves that I demand we all believe in Santa Claus. And they must have been on the Good List this year, because every gift came from Ole St. Nick.

Merry Christmas everyone. And remember to Shine.

The Locket

When I pulled into the driveway last Wed. evening, Doug was waiting for me at the door. I knew something was up. As I walked through the door, this is what Doug started telling me. "Angel, I was playing with the dogs earlier today and they got a little wild. Wiz was running through the house so fast that he ran into the Christmas tree. I barely caught it before it fell all the way down. I tried to put all the ornaments back on the way you had it, but I know how you are about the tree. You might want to come in here and take a look at it and see if it's OK." He's telling me this as we are walking through the house to the living room. And all the while I'm thinking, "Why is the house so dark?" and "If he had been 'fixing the tree' for me why are the tree lights not on?'

So I went over to the tree, turned the lights on, stood back, looked it over for a moment and said, "Doug it looks fine. You did a really good job. I can't even tell anything was ever messed up. It all seems...."

And then I saw it. Hanging on a branch and blending in so well with the other ornaments (that I almost missed it) was a gold locket. My hands flew to my mouth and I was just, well...speechless. I just couldn't believe it. Doug knew how much I've been wanting an antique locket, and there in front of me was the most perfect one I had ever seen.

Once I got over my initial shock, I picked it up and opened it. Inside he had even wrote me a little love note. it was on a post-it note which I thought, coming from Doug, was priceless Well, let me tell you, that 'post-it note' pushed me over the edge. I still couldn't speak. But I had no trouble bursting into tears. Honestly, I truly could not speak. All I could do was hug him and cry.

Doug being so thoughtful to find me something that I had really been wanting was sweet enough. But the way he 'presented it' meant more to me than the gift itself.

Maybe it has to do with age. Maybe it has to do to with the fact that we've been together for 18yrs. Maybe it has to do with the fact that we have a deeper love and respect for each other that only comes from time together. Maybe I don't really care-Doug has become 'quite the romantic fool'

I am a lucky girl.

Have a beautiful day. And remember to Shine. As bright as my locket!

SWEET SWEET 16

Oh, what a night!

For the past 6 months I've been planning this party. Considering it was going to be Devs Sweet 16, I wanted to do something really special, and I knew that was going to take "a little more planning than usual".

-30 invitations. Check!

-Karaoke machine. Check!

-Disco Ball. Check!

-Strobe light. Check!

-Photo prop. (see above) Check!

-3 layer Birthday Cake. Check!

-Party decorations out the ying-yang. Check!

-Tiara, wait...WHAT! OK, whatever. Check!

-6ft. Party Sub. Check!

-10 2 liters of soda to wash that 6 foot party sub down. Check!

-Snacks. Oh, I know what your thinking, but trust me, teen girls eat a LOT!!!

Particularly, one certain little BFF.

-Candy Bar. Check! As if cake wasn't enough sugar to get-em-goin. Heck, lets throw in several

varieties of candy to eat too!

-Thank you cards. Check!

-Somehow manage to scrape together enough change after all this to possibly get her a gift. Check!

-Wha-laa! One Sweet 16 necklace. (it's so adorable. it has these cute little charms on it)

And after allllll that, I'm happy to report that it was a complete success! It was a success because

JOY and SPIRIT was in an over-abundance that evening.

There was a lot to do to get ready for the party that day and thankfully a few teens (Tyler, Tearra, John and Paige) came early to help us. If it had not been for the extra help, I'm really not sure Dev, Clay, Doug and myself would have been able to have everything ready in time. We did a lot of decorating. Inside and out! I even did the cake! I was a little nervous about it, but it turn out really good. It almost toppled over once......"Nobody move, or, breathe!" I whispered.

Devony has such great girlfriends. I truly and honestly think the world of these girls. Most of them I've known for years from school or church. But there were several that I met for the first time Sat. night and I was equally impressed with them. They are really good, fun girls.

The best part of the evening was when my little girl turned to me, took me by the shoulders, looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Mom, thank you sooooo much for doing all this for me. I love it! It's the best Sweet 16 party EVER!" Then finished that precious little moment with a hug that was so filled with love and appreciation, that it brought me to tears. (i'm an emotional soul anyway, so that's not that hard to do)

Sweet 16. Oh, what a night! Oh, what a bright night. Cause those girls were Shine-ing!

Have a joy-filled day.