On this last day of 2010...

I am thinking ahead...but before I go there I think I'll recap some of the big changes in our lives over the last year.

The biggest was our daughter's graduation from our homeschool. I thought that I would never survive it, but I did! She has transitioned herself into a working girl and is looking ahead toward her own dance studio some day. It has been a kick to watch her learn to teach what she loves. To see her bond with her students. For our living room to turn into a dance floor as she prepares her lesson plans and now her recital dances. I just grab my yarn and watch her mind go. Transition for her has been easy although she has said on more than one occasion that she wants to be little again.

We have managed to keep our debt low and have streamlined expenses as much as we can "just in case". But still allowing us to have some fun!

I have and am continuing to manage my home more efficiently. Pretty proud of myself that when I sit down to pay my bills I am finished within 30 minutes...and free to just do whatever comes my way...

My husband passed all of his tests! YIPPEE!

My mom is doing better as far as pain goes for now...

I have learned that there is life after homeschool and the possibilities are endless.

Countless blessings that our Lord has continually laid upon my little family.

Our new church!

So much more...but these are the highlights. Now, as far as looking ahead...

I have decided that this year I would not put off that nudge that I feel when I know that someone may be in need...or maybe even just a kind word. Sometimes I find myself pulling back...afraid to stick my toe in the water and reach out. Afraid that once I dip myself in the water...I may find ice. As the saying goes...the road is paved with good intentions...or something like that. Well, anyway...for me next year isn't going to be about my good intentions. I am going to follow the Lord's leading and reach out and try to make a difference. So many people out there are hurting...so many people are in need in this "Obama nation". My good intentions are going to turn into action. My main goal for 2011 is to be a reflection of my Lord and Savior.

Until next year,

Joyce Marie

From my home to yours...

Merry Christmas!

Baubles Galore!

We searched high and low this year to find something different to decorate with for Christmas. Brittany and I love working with scrap book paper, so many pretty colors and patterns to choose from. We created everything this year out of paper...and a few crocheted snowflakes as well.

A pretty basket of baubles!

A close- up view shows how we embellished our baubles with glass beads and ribbon.

This one was super easy...

Many punch out circles for this ornament. We glued pearls at all the intersections. And I almost forgot...we also strung cranberries this year.

This is a star...made similar to the baubles but flattened in the shape of a star with a crystal glued in the center.

These are a Few of my Favorite Things!
Joyce Marie

Christmas Tree hunting...2010

My Family...December 2010 Our favorite day of the year...felling our Christmas tree.

Thanks for taking a moment with my silly family...
These are a few of my favorite things.

Christmas Blessings!
Joyce Marie

Catching up...

Since Christmas is nearly a week away...thought I'd better catch up here in bloggy land. Life is crazy busy right now...not a running around like a chicken with their heads off kind of busy. Just a life is full kind of busy and I simply don't take the time to sit at my computer much these days.

Lets see...the month of December is filled with so many fun things isn't it? My husband has been traveling and we are on the home stretch now. Only two more wake-up(s) and he'll be home for the two weeks of Christmas. I am happy to report that he passed the last of his exams two weeks ago. It is so odd now to realize that THAT stress is over...at least until he has to do it again. Balancing studying, traveling ,teaching and a family is very hard. He has worked so hard and we have all sacrificed. Our bathroom which is still in construction mode can now quite possibly move toward being finished! Oh how exciting that will be. We are so tired of looking at the green, now faded paper on the drywall.

Brittany and I have been working for over a month on paper ornaments...we have made the most beautiful ornaments out of scrapbook paper. I am sure that we have the prettiest Christmas tree ever in the history of our Christmas trees because of them...

Our day spent at the Christmas tree farm was fun filled and freezing cold but we snapped some pictures...spelled the fresh crisp air of the tree farm. Cut down a huge White Pine tree, you know the kind with the long, soft sweeping needles. And then, as usual our Brittany has been nursing a case of winter poison ivy for the last two weeks which is doing much better now btw. Next year...we are taking a blanket for her to lie on as she cuts down the tree.

Christmas shopping with my daughter has been extra fun this year as she is flexing her independence and is spending her own money from her own paycheck. Our girl just beams as she sets her budget and then sticks to it. I have to say my heart soars as I watch her make decisions...I must have done something right! :)

Two snow storms and it isn't even officially winter...I will not complain (even though it is killing me).

I think that about catches me up to what has been going on...oh yeah, a funny thing is happening this weekend...my husband is in San Antonio working this week...attending a great Christmas party Saturday night which I opted out of because Brittany has to work and I was afraid to leave her here in case of a snow storm...by herself. And she has a Christmas party Saturday night...so I am opting out of a get away in the great state of Texas for her to be able to go to one...I guess, I have my two puppies to cuddle up with and watch Christmas movies with. It is just a bit ironic is all. I am sure I'll survive my loneliness as the rest of my family enjoys lovely Christmasy festivities...(sigh)


Christmas blessings!

Joyce Marie

My OOPS makeover...

Every Spring and Winter I buy one of those wash out hair colors...you know the ones that was out within 28 shampoos? I hadn't used one since June so I thought it about time. Sunday we dropped my sweetheart at the airport for his commute to work and Brittany and I decided to have one of our spa days. This one included coloring our hair. I guess I was feeling particularly daring that day because the color I chose was quite daring. We started with my hair first...then Brittany's. She wanted to cover her highlights...hers turned out quite lovely. Mine however, turned out quite, well, dark with lights of copper. It was a lovely color. If you have ever used a hair color you'll remember how all of the stores would have a sample in front of the boxes, btw, they don't do that anymore. Well, my color would have been a perfect swatch. It had depth and light and was quite beautiful except that every time I looked at myself I could hear my mom yelling at me from across town. I was so worried in fact that I had Brittany snap a picture of me and send it to Dennis for his approval. This would be funny except that in my daring attempt to do something "different" I was telling Brittany that I didn't care if anyone didn't like it...that if I liked it...that was all that mattered...yeah right!

I tried it with my make-up...I washed it first thing yesterday morning...styled it again and told Brittany that I would just sit on it a couple of days. But when I put my chocolate brown ear band on yesterday afternoon before driving Brittany through the snow to teach her dance classes I realized that my hair was darker than my ear band...I most definitely had to address this issue. I would not be able to step foot in my mother's house like that...I am laughing, because I am a 48 year old woman, worried about my mom being angry with me...LOL. After dropping Brittany off I headed for Rite Aid to find a solution. Do you know that they actually have a color remover...and it is called OOPS! Yep, they do. I bought it...and figured I would wait until today...but at 11:00 last evening we began. After reading all the dangers of this process my heart was beating in my throat, sure that my hair would fall out in clumps or that I would go blind if it dripped down my forehead too far. My Brittany applied all the solution, we waited the twenty minutes...and then I rinsed. The instructions were to rinse, wash, rinse for 15 to 20 minutes, wash again and rinse for 5 minutes. We set the timer each time and Brittany wasn't saying much...I could feel her analyzing it and well, what was I supposed to do now, I was in it up to my eyeballs.

Not to bore you with all the details I will say that OOPS worked wonders and left my hair soft and manageable. My color is back to being my natural color and I am now happy with my results.

While this product did a great job it smelled rather like rotten eggs...which wasn't exactly pleasing to either of us. I learned a lesson about me. I may say that I don't care what others think...but I guess I do. Oh well, that is just me I guess.

Thought I'd just share my little mishap. Brittany's hair still looks lovely and now, so does mine.

Be Blessed!

Joyce Marie