Tori...

what a wonderful smile...

she is wearing one of her hats from a family member...

the amputation went very well...

her bone marrow was clear of cancer cells...

and she is about to start another round of chemo...

on the 19th, I believe...

her cast is off and stitches have been removed and she is wearing a shrinking sock...

anytime now, they will fit her with a prosthetic...

as of right now, she is cancer free...

no cancer at all has been found in her tiny body...

but she still has miles to go and tests after tests to endure...

but its a good sign...

the family thanks everyone for their prayers...

;)

today, in Heaven...

God, have mercy on us, the sinners of this world...

help us find our way out of all of this evil...

send your angels to protect and comfort those caught in the cross fire of the war that has invaded our land, our lives...

and lead us to be your light in this world...

help the families of those called home...

and hold those babies tight until their mommies and daddies can do it again...

amen

simplicity...

I guess I had a date with my husband tonight...

straight from work we headed for town...

had to hit the bank before it closed to make a deposit...

so, since Craig was helping a friend deliver a sofa and chair up north...

it was just my guy and me...

we did the Dollar Tree for a few things...

gift bags, which look better and are a lot cheaper than Walmart...

a few things for Doug...

and a couple more tooth brushes for me since I have thrush so I can change them often...

then we went next door to the Walmart super center for animal food so we don't have to shop this weekend at all...

and even though it didn't look like this...

it felt like this...

remember shopping door to door?

through the snow and wind?

the window fronts and the sound of Christmas carols in the air...

cars passing by...

neighbors shouting Merry Christmas?

we so miss those times...

the magical moments you remember from childhood...

well, I often wondered why there were always so many people at Walmart all the time...

I think because they miss this...

if you checked out the carts of people in there...

most of them had under 3 items in them...

I think they were there just to be there...

to get out...

to mingle...

and we ran into 6 people...

who we haven't seen in person for so long...

and we spent so much time talking and catching up...

more than we spent shopping...

and we left feeling like we had had the best evening out, ever...

the night sky was amazing coming home, so full of stars and crystal clear...

we do not have snow yet...

but the feeling is still there...

we ate supper when we got home and watched a Christmas movie all together...

it seemed like we were normal again...

and I felt apart of it...

that's something that hasn't happened in over 10 years...

and here are a few fun things I have found in the last couple of days...

this is so easy and you can use salt to fill the vases...

we all have bushes we could trim some sprigs from...

easy and elegant...

I love this wreath...

and this just made me smile...

I may be on the look out for red clothes at rummage sales this year to do me a Christmas clothes line...

and this is for you...

sending you the magic of this time of the year...

take the time to find simplicity in the days to come...

take a moment to breathe in all the wonder of the season...

take a look at those around you and be thankful...

feel the season...

Merry Christmas!

a little of the living room...

we haven't done much this year and I am loving the simplicity of it all...

our tree is not a designer tree...

not at all...

its our history...

our story of Christmases past...

all those memories are reflected here...

each item tells a story...

of a time and place long gone from here...

but forever remembered in each shiny bobble...

for the first part of our lives together, every year we added something...

that glass ornament came in a box of all clear, tinted ornaments...

most are gone now...

and the same year, I got a box of frosted ones just like them...

we went shopping the day after Christmas in Champaign, Il...

Prairie Gardens is a gardening place...

that used to have the most amazing Christmas things around...

isle after isle of shiny, frosted, spectacular things...

they had a wonderful craft and floral department all year long, but where the plants once were...

they would turn this area into a magical winter wonderland...

where you could walk through a forest of lit and adorned Christmas trees...

and then, of course, you walked through isles of ornaments and things to duplicate the prettiest of the trees...

the day after Christmas, all of the magic was 50% off...

it was the best kind of place to be...

and something to think on...

have a great day!

Happy Birthday to Nana Diana!

just wanted to give a shout out the craziest blonde on this earth!

Nana Diana!

I love this nut!

she is just what every person needs in their life to make it brighter...

I am not sure how old she is...

but its old...

and she is the best blogger...

the best nana...

the best friend...

and the best blogging sister anyone could have!

I love following the adventures of her beautiful grandkids...

and she warps them every chance she gets!

underneath all of that cute blonde hair is a heart of the purest form...

she has the most wonderful attitude towards life and is always thinking and praying for those who most forget...

she has been a most loved blessing in my life...

and so many others...

I love you, you whacky girl!

hope you have a day full of starbucks!