MY FOREVER GIFT.......

Wind chimes have a long and varied history. Their development spans cultures, continents and uses. The wind chime can trace its lineage back almost 5000 years. The first were primitive constructions of bones, shells and wood, thought to ward off evil spirits. In Indonesia they were used to scare off birds in fields. The Chinese hung them in their temples, pagoda and caves to repel demons and evil. They spread from China to the western world in the 1800's. The practice of feng-shui helped to spread the knowledge that they have a calming and balancing influence in a home. The soothing tones echo the music of the breeze and bring a relaxed meditative feeling to an environment; creating a place of peace and balance.

I began giving wind chimes as gifts a long time ago to friends, now I want to give all my family members one. I am amazed at the scope of their beauty. I love the glass ones, the metal ones make great music and the latest Red Neck ones are quite entertaining! With each one I enclose a little note telling them: The same wind that blows over my house.....also blows over yours. When you hear the little wind chime know that the breeze brings my love and thoughts of you. And for the ones I give my family members I add: AND after I am gone and through the years, the wind chime will continue from up above to bring my love and quiet your fears. So it is a gift that continues your connections with people long after you are gone or no matter where in the world that little chime ends up. My second graddaughter just got her MBA, I gave Nicci a wind chime with my note and I have no doubt that little wind chime is in for a lot of traveling with that little gal................... So if you ever need a "Forever Gift" for anyone, why not a pretty wind chime?

FUN INDIANA TRIP

Left for Indianapolis, Indiana on the third of May and home the 8th for a great trip to watch my second granddaughter, Nicci, receive her MBA degree in Marketing. Rob had rented the perfect cabin to fit all of us.......Pam, Rob, Tiff, Scott, Nicci, Bill, Will and I. The whole fam-dam-ally. We took one day to hit the grocery store and get settled, then the celebrating began. We had Cinco de Mayo, Nicci's graduation, The Kentucky Derby, and Mother's Day. We did them all. The school is Kelley School of Business and is in Bloomington, IN and it was just turning spring and so pretty. We visited a winery, the fun shops in Browns close to the cabin and the campus in Bloomington. We ate, drank, played games, ate, watched TV, napped, ate and visited. It was definitely a perfect family reunion. Pam and I had left our dogs with the Cooks, which gave them four dogs for the week, but they survived. While I was gone Annie got a summer job as a life guard and Richie was accepted to go to the Philippines to do charity work for two weeks next March. Before Nicci heads for her job with General Mills in Minneapolis she is off to London and Turkey for a couple of weeks. My next to youngest grandson Kennedy started his scuba diving to become certified, he is just 13 and loves it. In three weeks Alex graduates from high school, my life is filled with good things!

OFF TO INDIANAPOLIS

This is my cute Nicci at her college graduation in Phoenix , Arizona where she graduated from ASU, now this is my third graduation ceremony for her, (went to her high school graduation).....she is graduating from graduate school. Keeping up with grandchildren isn't easy. I am very excited as I haven't been on an airplane for a couple of years and that is very unusual for me. Pam, Rob, Scott, Tiffany and I are all flying out this afternoon. Rob rented a cabin on the water near the school so it will be great fun. William is flying out Friday to join us as he had finals at the U to finish up first. Karrie is keeping my dog and Pam's and with her two dogs that will be a house full all week. It is cold and rainy today....at least not snow...... and Nicci said for us to bring our umbrellas and layer, so doesn't sound to promising on that end. Mike just called to get Lucille's address for his sons upcoming wedding, you know the one with them in their Halloween costumes and registering at Taco Bell! Karrie just got word Richie was accepted to go to the Philippines for two weeks with a youth group from Salt Lake to do charity work next spring, wow, such great goals my grandchildren have. Last summer Brayden went to Africa and built desks for a new school and the year before Alex went to Europe with the Young Ambassador Youth group. Guess they all have their grandmother's gypsies blood in them. Tiff has been to Europe and Nicci has a long list of travels, China, Australia, Iceland and soon off to Europe! Oh yes, I have to note how proud I am of Andrea, she just made cheerleader!

HOW CAN ANYTHING SO BAD BE SO GOOD!

I can't believe this day 55 years ago I was one day ahead of William and Kate.......As this was the day way back then that was my magic day! Also Margaret Trueman and Grace Kelley were married this day 55 years ago. Grace is dead, I guess Margaret is still married, but after 30 years married here I am single for the past 25 years. As the world turns and we each have our own paths laid out for us to travel we can never know what tomorrow will bring. I loved my wedding day and most of the 30 years of marriage because of three wonderful daughters, but all of the fun and happiness has just continued on through the last 25 years, just without a mate. I do wish the royals a long and happy marriage and look forward to enjoying it on TV tomorrow. Weddings are fun and exciting and every girl should have, at least one, in their lives.......well hopefully just one! Nice today, but snow forecast for tomorrow. Saw "Water for Elephants" today, loved it. Lived through my bridge luncheon here yesterday and enjoyed a cute dance program last night that my third granddaughter was in. Four days till I'm off to Indiana with Pam's family for Nicci's graduation from graduate school. Then she will move to Minneapolis and go to work with General Mills, I am a proud grandmother!

DO YOU HAVE A MILLION TOMORROWS?

Do you have a million tomorrows? When I heard that question asked, it made me stop and think........how long is a million tomorrows. Well, it is more than I have left I'm afraid. If I could push it even 10 m0re years that would only give me 4, 375 more tomorrows, so I am hoping for that at least.

My suggestion is don't be fooled by thinking your tomorrows will go on forever, appreciate every single morning you wake up and can enjoy a day with loved ones. Tomorrow I am having bridge at my house. I get to entertain 7 dear friends for lunch and bridge. Picture is of some of those dear friends......Mae, Jane, Florence, Joan, Margie (who just had a heart attack) missing Bettie and Gloria and Pat. We have been playing bridge for many years. Thank you God for one more tomorrow with dear friends.....and oh yes, a clean house. Having your friends over pushes you to do the windows and the corners! It snowed again today!!!!!! Will it ever be spring? And so happy my little sister got out of the hospital. Life is good...............

HAPPY EASTER

A beautiful sunny Easter Sunday........what more could we wish for? I am off to my oldest daughter's for Easter dinner. Karrie's family, Tiff and Scott will be there. Sherrie's family is in Mexico and I can't help but be a little jealous because Mexico is my favorite place and I have so many fun memories of fun times there. Leslie is in the hospital with pneumonia and won't have a very fun day.....my prayers are with her. I made a "Peep" bouquet to take to the party, it brings back all the fun Easters when my girls were young. I made dozens of Easter dresses, as a new dress was a must. Then baskets full of goodies and the forever Easter egg hunt in the house where you always forgot where you hid all the eggs and one turned up a few weeks later when you were cleaning behind furniture. It is cold today and the poor flowers are trying so hard to open up. A few of our trees are in bloom but they said we have had rain and cold weather 16 our of 21 days in May, not the usually balmy spring weather. I have my bridge party at my house Wednesday and then the 3rd of may I am off to Indiana to see my second grandchild graduate from graduate school. I am ready for a trip! I hope everyone has a nice day.

"AMAZING GRACE"

My Birthday has come and gone and was so much fun. One of my favorite gifts was a fragrance set called "GRACE." Written on the the containers was some fun messages called Philosophy and if I write it down then I will always have it, even after I have used up all the wonderful smells and thrown away the containers. #1. "Philosophy: how you climb up the mountain is just as important as how you get down the mountain, and, so it is with life, which for many of us becomes one big gigantic test followed by one big gigantic lesson, in the end, it all comes down to one word, grace. It's how you accept winning and losing, good luck and bad luck, the darkness and the light." #2.'Philosophy: life is a classroom, we are both student and teacher. Each day is a test, and each day we receive a passing or failing grade in one particular subject......Grace. Grace is compassion, gratitude,surrender, faith, forgiveness, good manners, reverence and the list goes on. It's something money can't buy and credentials rarely produce, being the smartest, the prettiest the most talented, the richest or even the poorest can't help. Being a humble person can, and being a helpful person can guide you through your days with grace and gratitude." I like that word grace and just these wonderful items will contribute to me attaining it..................