Good Sunday to You!

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful, peaceful, happy Sunday.
Isn't this photo beautiful? My Sweet William, walking on the beach at Brookings, Oregon. I love it. There's such a sense of peacefulness to it. Even with listening to the waves crashing in the background, it just made my soul sing...

There's nothing quite like the beach to me. I love it. I want so badly to live there. To be able to walk on the beach in the mornings and evenings. To watch the sun set reflecting on the water. To find tiny treasures that the ocean has relinquished to the sandy beach. To smell the salt air. ~sigh~ There's nothing in this world like it, and I can't wait to be able to go again. Probably for our anniversary on May 30th. We'll have a 3 day weekend that week.

I so want to take my kids there. I want the boys to be able to go fishing with Dad on the Ocean. I want the girls to be able to play on the beach with the kids. I want to be able to take a TON of photos!

Someday....maybe. Someday......

Oh how I fought it!

The color blue! For years I refused to admit that my favorite color was blue. I'd answer whomever asked, "Green!" "Purple!" Anything but BLUE!
I had to be different, and it seemed EVERYONE'S favorite color was blue!
I've always loved color, and if asked would tell anyone in a heartbeat that I hated orange and yellow, (I still do) and that cooler colors were my thing. (they still are) I can finally admit it tho, I love blue. I love the calm of it. It's the color of my favorite place to be...the ocean. It's the color of a warm summer sky. It's the color of William's eyes. It's the color that dominates in my life and in my home.

It's my favorite color. Imagine that. Blue. Whodda thunk it?

Another one of my older layouts. We had such fun in Las Vegas when we were there a few years ago...I really want to go back. The journaling on this layout reads:

What a Man!

My husband... When I saw an opportunity to have a photo of him with real Vegas Showgirls, I asked him to go pose with them. Did this man of mine balk? Did he hesitate? Did he pout? Nope! Obedient husband that he is, he trotted right over to wrap an arm around each of them and pose! SUCH a good man! Poor guy, after the picture was taken, he came back to me, gave me a kiss and said, "Not much to hang onto there..." and then added, "No boobies, either!" He is SO abused!

(end quote) ~laffin~ He's so cute! He never fails to make me laugh, and he goes out of his way to make me happy. I found a true treasure when I found this man...or rather, when he found me. It took me a long time to figure out when he wasn't happy with me...he very seldom says anything...he simply doesn't do things that he normally does...like dishes...or he'll leave my laundry for me to wash. Stuff like that. Then I know to suck up a bit and try to figure out what I did to upset him.

The reason I'm dedicating this post to him, our love and friendship is because I made a cake for our niece's 25th wedding anniversary. He was not only behind me every step of the way, he helped to ice the cake, and he did a wonderful job of transporting it (loading it in the car, unloading it at Shirley's house) and of helping me to set it up. It just reminds me of what a wonderful guy he is, and why I love him so much!

Scrapbook Chalet: Have I mentioned how awesome this site is for scrappers? Let me tell you what's been going on there lately. There have been contests galore...and Laura just posted a new one, Designing Like a Star. You can read about it here: http://www.scrapbookchalet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2953

The other thing I need to tell you about these ladies that hang out there is about their wonderful, generous hearts! We have a member, Tracey, who has a little girl that is absolutely precious. Little Miz Gabi was born with some health problems that have caused her parents much worry. She just recently had her sixth surgery to try to correct some of these problems. The ladies of the Chalet not only made and donated for auction some lovely items, but are now in the process of bidding their hearts out to help raise some $$ for Gabi's bills. The auction ends tonight...check it out if you get a chance....and bid!! :)

Grandpa, Tell Me `Bout the Good Old Days...

I so wish I could sit down with my grandfather and find out what he knew about our ancestors. Can't happen. The one that you see pictured died when I was 8. He was my mother's dad. My father's dad died 2 years before I was born.

I've missed so many opportunities! I've only been interested in genealogy for the past couple of years, and when I think of everyone that I could have asked about my ancestors, the ones that are gone now, I could kick myself! My Auntie Evelyn, the oldest of my dad's siblings, who could have told me so many stories, and in fact tried to, but I wouldn't listen. My great grandmother, who didn't pass until she was 102 years old, when I was 28. Other aunts, uncles, cousins. People that KNEW the very ancestors that I quest for information about.

I guess what I'm trying to share here, by relating my own bad example, is to TALK to your elders! Auntie Yoohoo can tell you about her grandparents. She'll share the story that her grandmother told her. She'll help you to bring your family's past to life.

You might think that you're not interested now. And you may never really be interested. But you might. And on the chance that you might be interested in the future, ask the questions now. Write the stories down. Even if you aren't interested, do it for your kids, or for your grandchildren.

It's important.

It really is.

I promise.