Happy Thanksgiving.

Giving himself a time out...

even before we know hes been snackin in the litter box...

when we see Opie "do this"? for 20 minutes or more refusing to look at us..

we know...

the litter box is empty....

he snitches himself out....

This is something new hes been doing...

He punishes himself maybe before we do so hes guarenteed no corporal punishment???

But doesnt he realize????

if he didnt do this, we wouldnt have known he was in the kitty box?

Or maybe hes just plain sick to his stomach from the said crime & the pressure of the arm of the sofa soothes him...I dont knowwwwwwww.

Im all too familiar with the guilt of ridding shame.

Kinda takes the wind right out of my sails when Im not the one verbally eeewwwing & GA-ROSSING him out...

But its hard to verbally kick a dog when hes down.

So Im thrilled & humbled to announce that my story that was published in Barbara Sinors book Tales of Addiction & Inspiration for Recovery was nominated for a very prestigous Pushcart Award.

Although it was my story, because it was in Barbaras book it is Barbara that was nominated...

Im happy for her..

Congrats to the other 5 nominees for this award.

Im preparing a large turkey & all the fixings for Thanksgiving dinner, our son Jordan & his adoreable wife Noelia are spending it with us...were having friends stop by for pie & coffee later in the day...Im busy packing & wrapping little goodies for Nat & the kids since were leaving Friday morning around 6am for Jersey.

I spend alot of time trying to carry the message of recovery, living a new life beyond any dreams I could imagine for myself, I try to feed those who are hungry...(whether its food, hope or recovery)but knowing I cant spend it with my own sister for reasons that are just way too big for me...just breaks my heart.

Sometimes I have trouble when God say "no" to me...I even whine when He says "yes" & I get overwhelmed with blessings & opportunity but to be told to "wait"...wait on the Lord...I really struggle accepting this, I only pray its not too late & someday Peace can mean more than being right....

Grace Happens

I love her with all of my heart... She is always in my daily thoughts & prayers.

So I wish all of you a fabulous Thanksgiving...may we all be soon belching & napping from anatriptaline (sp) ( the chemical that acts like turkey heroin) & with "left over" joy.

Love your family & friends....because at the end of the day...Kindness "is" all that matters.

Kindness Matters

These 2 cuties are the loves of my life...The one on the left trying desperately to leave the death grip I had on her for this one picture...(in which she won) is Enola...her parents, Matt & Nicole & brother Mike are my secondary family... And the little one dressed like Rocky Balboa "ala-fem" is my Grand daughter Natalie Josephine....they have nothing at all to do with the content of my blog entry but I have delightfully earned the rights to brag....Ronnie & I are driving to Jersey on the Friday after Thanksgiving (yes that would be black Friday) to spend the weekend with them. The kids have a wedding to go to on Saturday so well have Nat all day..."Of COURSE well keep Nattie tightly on her schedule" BAUUUGHHHH!!! and they believed us!!!!! LOL(Suckers) we havent seen her since June & I swear if she calls me Gamma again Im buyin her a car!♥

So look at me showing off all the recent loot I got in the mail from my best friend in Napa Cali...thanks Jody ♥ she hooked me up, she knows I love antiques, anything vintage & always quilts. In this huge box were 3 different pieces of old beautiful quilts...one I kinda got choked up with when I saw women had carefully & lovingly stitched their family names on them...and how they ever ended up in Jodys hands & now mine is beyond me but I am truely grateful & humbled & will take care of them with the love they surely deserve.

She also send me fun knick knacks, books (cuz were both reading addicts) some old vintage grunged baggage tags to use on my dolls, and a Coach bag....did you hear me??? Who sends their friends COACH BAGS????? a beautiful large black one...Im showin it off in the picture somewhere around here...Im the happy redhead with the COACH BAG!

I also had a delightful surprize come in the mail from Create and Decorate my favorite Primitive magazine, I was informed my dear friend had ordered me a subscription cuz God told her to....WHEW... cuz of ALL the things God "could" have told her to do concerning me..like "ask her to clean up her mouth, or never mind her mouth...her CELLAR...yeah... tell her to clean & organize that borderline hoarding mess shes got down there..." but nope...gratefully He wanted her to bless me even more than she already does with the gift of plain old fashioned friendship which I appreciate more than a clean cellar by the way....so thank you R. I adore you too.

So anyone seein Pigs Flyin around????

ohh cuz they should have been since my youngest son Jordan decided to stop by to see is old Momz...I was so shocked.... I threw the digital across the living room into Ronnies hands & screamed " Dude....Start Clickin" Jordan was smirking at my sarcasm & even humored me during our photo shoot.....when I looked at the pics I said "Oh thank goodness I dont look fat" & my very sensitive son came back with..."Mom I was laying across you hiding everything"!!!!

TOUCHEE...

He was....

LOOK

.....a Snowman Convention....

Look down....

I made these little Orna-Pins for the Nurses at the Treatment center I volunteer at every Friday morning. I thought theyd get a kick out of them..they can be worn on their lapels or used as ornaments for their trees.

I make the counselors 2 huge painted coffee cans that look like snowmen (the cans not the counselors) full of my homemade Reindeer Feed....Ill NEVER give up the recipie but its better than crack...well Ive been told....I wouldnt know...ahem...cough...cough...

All I know is the first ones free....

So at the end of the day Kindness is all that matters....

"People may never remember what you say but theyll always remember how you made them feel."

Live, laugh & love...

Thank you for spending a few minutes with me.

Happy November!

I am so honored & humbled to be featured in "Recovering The Self"
The poor mailman didnt know what to think (as usual whenever I recieve packages) Im such a kid when I know somethings coming like pictures of our Natalie or supplies I ordered...& although I sent RTS the several pictures they requested for my article, & I did know my article on Art Therapy would be featured & some pics were being considered but I had NO IDEA this issue would be celebrating who I am & what I do on the cover!

They achieved what no men could do before...

Render me speechless....

My crazy husband told me he had a tear in his eye knowing someone other than him was able to perform this miracle!....

Everyone wants to be a comedian.....

The entire issue is simply amazing, so many passionate contributors sharing creative, informative topics embracing healing.....a phenomenal interview with our editor Ernest Dempsey & Jay Levy (who I consider an angel without wings) on the epidemic on homelessness in America.

And the stories go on & on.

Im not a pushy sales person... in fact Im quite turned off when people work me for a hard sell, but with so many supportive folks expressing interest on how to purchase a copy or subscription, I thought it only fair to put the link here.

www.recoveringself.com

Thank everyone for the lovely, congrats, funny comments on my FB page, & genuine excitement for me & my new adventure now being a regular part of this new family of RTS.

I want to thank Victor Volkman, & Ernest Dempsey for working so patiently with me when my computer CRASHED 2days before my deadline...& the long distance international phone calls from Ernest only to support my neophtye concerns about......well dang near everything.

Id like to thank you for stopping by & joining me for this celebration & close by saying...this all began with someone believing in me when I didnt believe in myself...

Thank you Barbara Sinor for encouraging me to share my story in your book "Tales of Addiction
and Inspiration for Recovery" www.DrSinor.com

My life took on a momentum of blessings of a wild ride of people, places & things since then, which Im still trying to make sense of, but enjoying every flippin minute of! :)

If you want something youve never had before....do something youve never done before....

and then strap yourself in...

your life will NEVER be the same.....