Winter Solstice, Yule, Christmas, etc

This year like so many of my resent past, I have not been in the mood for the tree, decorations, merriment etc for Yule/Winter Solstice.  Money tight, working etc just doesn't seem the same as when the kids were little.  Anyway, Mike and Rhonda decided I needed my decorations up, so they decided to use my Samhain tree (black with white lights) and it seemed fitting for my first Yule in this apartment so I said do what you wish.  I sat at the computer trying to figure out what I was making my Mom, have my Dad's gift done, but not at that point and thinking about how I use to be able to afford to get my boys the gifts on their list.  Then it hit me... RIGHT!  I had a husband with a very decent job!  I wasn't paying the bills alone, I wasn't trying to figure out how I was going to fix my truck blah blah and blah.  So then and there I decided, Yule isn't about gifts and stockings full of fun, it is about the Winter Solstice!  Goddess giving birth to the Sun God and new beginnings!
I love that my parents and I are having a home-made gift exchange this year, we are all 'crafty' in one way or another and it is going to be my favorite part! 
Found out my adopted son is going to be coming home this year and I haven't seen him in 2 years so it is going to be the best part for me!
Below are pictures of the decorations and my mantle, but I wanted to add... no matter the tradition you hold in your family what is important is that you are together at some point and that in my case, I celebrate the re-birth of the Sun God and have a festive dinner with my children, some fun with some friends and celebrate the Winter Solstice with my meditation group!
So, that being said, I will start Sunday at Moot the them is 'Drumming in the Sun' and the Ritual Dragon Drummers will be there along with many of my friends from the wiccan/pagan community, my 2 son's and their girls will be here for a turkey dinner on the 21st, my meditation group is doing a ritual for Winter Solstice on the Thursday and then I am working Friday - Tuesday.  I will get to see my other son Christmas morning and that makes me very happy!  I keep Christmas for Joe who is my birth youngest and doesn't accept my Wiccan/Pagan faith, well not accept but doesn't acknowledge is more like it.  So, they will get their gifts on the 21st and stockings on the 25th and whoever can be here before I go to bed is welcomed.  I am sure it will be Ryan and Mike and his girl.  Joe will go to their dad's to be there Christmas morning with their little brother.
So whatever your faith, tradition or mindset... have a very blessed time over the holidays!  Be safe and feel love, I will miss my family this year since I have to work, but they are in my heart.
Pictures!

Tree 2011

The stockings were hung



Love my Mantle! Mike did a Great job



Mantle close up

Found this in Pinterest.com and thought it was very fitting, I hope you enjoy it and have a lovely time with your family and friends over the holidays!

May God and Goddess bless and keep you safe during the merry season,
~Blessed Be~

Scariest day of my life

It started out as any other day, slept most of the day trying to turn myself around for overnight shift.  Had a lovely dinner made by my oldest Mike then it started he stood up reached for a DVD from the shelf and I looked over at him and he was GREY, clutching his chest and said he didn't feel well and proceeded to fall to the floor.  I caught him in time before he crashed to the ground he kept saying his chest hurt like his heart was being squeezed tight and then his eyes rolled back in his head, he was sweating and said his left side was numb. 
I was trying so hard not to freak out as he pasted out for a second time and I had to remind him to breathe.  I had to call 911 and they hooked him up to a bunch of monitors and decided he needed to go into the hospital.  The pain had stopped by the time they took him but they still felt he need to be checked out.
They decided it wasn't a heart attack as we all thought, they x-rayed his heart and it was fine other than he needed to slow down on his smoking and needed to be put on anti-anxiety medication along with his bi-polar meds. 

I have never felt like I was going to loose a child before, but it felt so real and intense, I will never forget this night as long as I live.  I am going with him to his doctor's on Wednesday and explaining all the problems he is having so he gets the help he needs.  I don't want to loose him, I am suppose to go first!!
Blessings to all who read my blog I appreciate your love and support.

My precious Fur Baby

Today my beautiful cat went to the Summerland to wait for me to arrive.
Gizmo was a loving and wonder cat, she didn't like many people but loved me no matter what.
She was given to me from a friend who said she was just to much for her family to handle and was never anything but loving with me.  She died in my arms surrounded by those who loved her.

the week before she passed

hiding while we unpacked

Gizmo

always by my pillows

sitting with Torrie

not her kitten but she picked her from the litter

what a sweet face

lol love this

Ft. Wayne, IN vacation Part 1

Beautiful Art done by Aniston

I, had the time of my life! 
Eva, Rob, Katelyn, Taylor, Aniston all the dogs and cats showed the most wonderul hospitality and love while I stayed in their home for the beginning of my Sabbatical.  It was most relaxing and fun!  Thank you guys again for the wonderful time!  Next time it won't take me 8 years to visit LOL Below are what I think are the best pictures of my trip, I am not posting all since I went camera happy.
I will post a blog on my first experiance at Build A Bear at another time, but for now here is my US family...

Front of house



back of house











Aniston's Art

Aniston Art

Talented Aniston

Aniston loves Sprinkles

Wow Sprinkles!

Taylor

Chef Taylor

My Gangsta Girls Taylor and Kate

Katelyn and Taylor

Kate aka Bubble girl doing homework/nap

Taylor, Rob and Indy watching TV

Kate and Taylor

Odie!

Ritz the massive cat!

Indy and Zeke

Everyone needs a bathroom dog like Jack

Pookieman!

Too Funny!

I will never look at nail polish the same after beeing painted up by Taylor

Now the Reason for these kids and animals... Meet the Oy's

Eva LOL

Eva feeding her little chickens aka birds

Says it all!

Rob

They are all about Family!

Well that is it for this blog, look forward to my Build A Bear experiance, and the Craftroom tour and Mancave tours to come!

Butterflies, Dragonflies and Men!

Interesting title I think, well it is for 2:41am LOL
I have decided I want to decorate my bathroom with butterfly and dragonfly prints, however it doesn't have an exhaust fan and I'm worried they will mildew.  Any suggestions?  I don't want stencils.

Love this!

Beautiful

WOW

Dragonfly Goddess

I have released the wall from around my heart and am ready to share my life with a man.  I don't want just any man, I want one that is seasoned lol {nice way to say my age and older} must have teeth, and I don't care if they are dentures, very long story behind that.  If he isn't pagan or wiccan I want him to be open to my spirituality as I would be to his.  I am looking for my life partner and it has been sooooo many years since I have dated, and only met jerks online I don't know where to begin.  Now friends have said do a spell, put your self out there but doesn't that make free will go out the window?  Is it fair to use my craft this way?  I just don't know.  I am fine alone, I make my own money, pay my own bills and am not to bad to look at, see..

help me those of you in happy relationships, what do I do?

I am So Blessed!

Today I finally got my phone and internet fixed.  I said to the guy, you know I work in a call center I could care less if you fixed my phone LOL however tonight a friend called and I was so happy to talk to him for 2 hours!  He is moving here around October and it will be wonderful to have him around!  We were lovers a once apon a time, but his friendship and our conversations about everything is what's important to me and if we happen to become lovers again, who am I to argue with fate LMAO!!

I have so much love in my life and I am feeling it today, great friends near and far, wonderful family near and far, a job that I enjoy going to and doing and 2 great children who light up my life with everything from laughter to tears.

I have my faith and to me that is everything!  I saw a sign that said "Nature is my Church" and that is so true!  If it is warm enough tomorrow I will be planting my ass on the beach and enjoying nature at it's finest!

Keep your loved ones in your heart and prayers, ask Spirit to bless them and keep them safe as I am doing for mine and all of you!