Unexpected Funday with My Man

Ralph had an appointment at the hospital today about his eye's. Because had to have drops to open his eye's he was unable to drive.  Therefore I had to book a day's leave to drive him. We had a really nice day, after the hospital we went to IKEA saw some furniture that we may be buying early next year. Then we went to the newly refurbished and extended M&S, oh did they have some gorgeous stuff in there. Got a few idea's for Christmas and if we win on the lottery we will be buying the furniture there rather than IKEA...

We then went to B&Q and got a heater for my shed, Ralph wanted one that I can leave on constantly to keep the chill off during this cold spell we having. He bought me some scrapbooking paper's at the weekend and I think he has begun to realise the value of the papers I have in my shed..lol  So he doesn't want them getting damp, they never have before, but this heater is a little extra insurance.

We then came home and had fish and chips from the local chippy. Now we are just relaxing watching tv and drinking tea. A simple day of simple pleasures, love it, love it love it!!

Christmas is Coming....

I haven't let my self think about Christmas until now. I wouldn't discuss it before our holiday, when we came back I was just revelling the fabulous memories. Now we have been to the Thankgiving meal it is time to put the memories on hold for now and start thinking about Christmas.

So we start with list's, list's for this, list's for that. Christmas present's, cards, food and plans.

What are your plan's?
What traditions to you have?
Do you think Christmas is too commercialised and materialistic now?
What do you do you retain the meaning of Christmas?

Where Did That Weekend Go?

Something has got to me done about this thief who keeps stealing time!!!
I am sure it was Friday last night, but my television is showing Sunday night's programme's. Now come on own up, who is doing it? Well if you are not going to own up, at least stop it!!


We went to a Thanksgiving lunch today and it was delicious. I had:

Smoked Haddock Chowder

Turkey, Maple Coated Ham
Mash Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Corn Fritters
Sprouts with Walnuts and Lemon
Gravy

Pecan Pie

It was scrummy.

While we were eating, I asked Ralph what he was thankful for, he said, a happy marriage and a wonderful wife:) But many other things also. I tried to whittle my list down, it is so long, so this is my top five:

1. My Faith, if I had not had a deep belief in God my life would have ended a long time ago.

2. My Beloved.  He has turned my life around. People who have known me over the years often comment   about the difference in me now. His love and belief in me is amazing, how could I be anything but eternally grateful.

3.My Family.  There have been many ups and downs over the years, the tears, the pain, the heartache. but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, we are stronger, my daughter's have given me so much JOY in their children, my gorgeous grandchildren.

4. My Health. As we get older, the body starts to protest at years of being taken for granted. I have a few problems, but they are manageable. I thank the Lord when I see some of the health problems my contemporaries have.

5. My Home. We both lost the homes we had built up when we went through divorce's. I left a four bedroom house I owned to live in rented accommodation. but the peace I felt was so well worth it.
Ralph gave up a beautiful bungalow that he owned too. They were both unhappy homes and we both had to get out. We now live in our little Shoebox and we are blissfully happy. The plan for 2011 is to redecorate and refurnish and get rid of a lot of "Stuff" but more of that later.

 My Home is in my man's arm's, so where ever he is I am Home.

I am so Very Very Thankful.

Reward's and Award's

We went to an awards dinner last night. Ralph's firm were rewarding innovation and my guy was rewarded:)
I was so proud I could have burst when he went up for his award. He is a very quiet, private man and I knew he felt very uncomfortable being called up on stage in front of a room full of people. But I was so proud of him.

I feel so privileged to be his wife .After a very checkered life and expecting to be miserable for the rest of my life.  This man came into my life at a time I was on the floor, physically, mentally and emotionally. He helped me with his kind words and simple encouragement. His belief in God revived my love of Christ and encouraged me to get strong again and claim my life back.

Rewards and awards he deserves them all, he made me feel like a million dollars last night. He bought two dresses for me for the occassion while I was away at the weekend. I had  planned  to wear a borrowed dress.  Both of them suited me perfectly, I have never had this sort of love and attention in all of my life.

He won an award last night, I won an award beyond words when I married Ralph White.
I thank God every day for him.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food,

For love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Happy Thanksgiving to all my lovely friends across the ocean.

I am so thankful to have "met" you.

I am making a list of what I am thankful for, I could be some time.......

Crafting Friends.

Sunday afternoon, all crafted out, the friends we shared the weekend with.

Left to  right: me, Trish, Estella, Cheryl and Sue.

We all shared a table as we did last year and it was great.

We plan to meet up again at Port  Sunlight in April 2011.

I will take photo's of the project's we did and post them soon.

Getting over the weekend and back into "normal" mode is taking time.

I have a lot's of thoughts racing around my brain at the moment, plan's and dreams.

I cannot share them right now but once they have been made real,

you will hear me shouting from the mountain top.

I am still sorting my holiday photo's but will share some with you each day this week.

Can't believe we have been home two weeks...Who is robbing time?

The Retreat

The retreat was Wonderful.
Spending time with Trish was just the BEST.
The projects were inspiring.
The gifts delightful.
It was a joyful time from beginning to end.
Now looking forward to the next one in April.

But it was even more wonderful to come home to my darling.
This man of mine is SIMPLY the BEST.

I am Retreating.....

Definition:

Retreat noun ( POSITION ) /rɪˈtriːt/ n • [C usually singular U] a move back by soldiers or an army, either because they have been defeated or in order to avoid fighting

the retreat from Dunkirk
Enemy soldiers are now in (full) retreat.
[C] a private and safe place
a country/mountain/lakeside retreat
 [C or U] a period of time used to pray and study quietly, or to think carefully, away from normal activities and duties
We went on (a) retreat at/to a monastery in Wales.



I am retreating to regroup my thought's, my creative self, my joy in friendship's renewed..
I am retreating to gather idea's for the future, to plan the future, to brainstorm the future.
I an retreating to have a JOYOUS three days with my Bezzy.

Hope you have as good a weekend as I know I am going to have.