Merry Owasso Christmas

A Christmas gathering of family from 3 states made Christmas so RIGHT and so BRIGHT ! Nothing better then to have our family in one place, together, to :

Reunite



To Play


To Create


Explore (geocaching)And to just be together in one place, being Family !!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!

Visit with my hero

An annual summer trip to visit Grandma Leota was postponed til November this year. Our visits are filled with shared stories and a review of family history that never ceases to interest me. I'm so very fortunate to have our very own historian through the eyes of a very observant 95 year old. Grandma has seen much in all her years but doesn't seem to have adapted any "crabbiness" and narrow focused opinions that often are a part of many seniors thought processes. Gma has had to adapt to many changes in her life and is quick to say, "if you can't adapt to change, you're going to have a difficult life".

Leota is a great friend, a wonderful listener who shows genuine interest in what people have to say, and she has a rare curiosity about life.....


I always learn so much from just being with her. Life's lessons that I could never have access to without her. She's my hero and all that I could hope to be....

SPECIAL DAY

IT'S ALMOST BIRTHDAY TIME FOR A SPECIAL MAN IN MY LIFE.....HIS BIRTHDAY WILL FOREVER BE A SPECIAL TIME IN MY LIFE....
HE LOVES HIS FAMILY, HIS HOME, AND FRIENDS. LIFE IS COMPLETE FOR HIM IF HE'S GOT THOSE HE LOVES NEAR. HE'S THOUGHTFUL, AND SO HARD WORKING. HE HAS LEARNED TO BE STRONG WHEN HE HAS TO AND SENSITIVE AND LOVING WHEN HE CAN BE. HE'S MY FAVORITE, SON, THE ONE WHO FIRST MADE ME A MOM. HE'S MY SPECIAL GUY CHAD. AND IF WISHES HAD WINGS, WE'D BE THERE WITH YOU ON YOUR SPECIAL DAY TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU, BUT FOR NOW, OUR LOVE AND BIG HUGS ARE SENT YOUR WAY ! MAY ALL YOUR WISHES COME TRUE TODAY AND EVERYDAY !!!!

HALLOWEEN TOO

JUST FOUND MORE PICTURES OF HALLOWEEN IN TULSA. THESE TWO LITTLE ONES ARE ADORABLE AND SEEM TO BE ADJUSTING TO THEIR NEW HOME SO WELL. THEY WERE SO CUTE AT HALLOWEEN AND JUST WANTED TO INCLUDE THESE PICTURES...MAKES ME REMEMBER SO FONDLY MANY HALLOWEENS AGO.

OKLAHOMA FUN

HALLOWEEN IS SUCH A FUN HOLIDAY - STRESS FREE AND FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY ! I'M NOT SURE WHO HAS MORE FUN - THE KIDS OR THE ADULTS ! CHAD AND SELENA HOSTED THEIR TRADITIONAL PRE TRICK OR TREATING PIZZA PARTY WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL. SO FUN TO SEE ALL THE CUTE COSTUMES, HEAR THE KIDS LAUGHING AND HAVING FUN, AND OF COURSE, GREAT TO BE WITH CHAD AND SELENA. HALLOWEEN IS A FUN TIME AND IT'S A FAVORITE OF MINE.

PERSEVERANCE

IT TAKES HARD WORK , FOCUS , DETERMINATION, AND WHEN MARRIED- TEAMWORK, TO MAKE A DREAM COME TRUE. CHAD AND SELENA HAVE TAUGHT ME MUCH BY THEIR EXAMPLE. CHAD, WANTING TO BE A POLICEMAN FOR YEARS EVEN THOUGH WE, HIS PARENTS, ENCOURAGED HIM TO TRY OTHER CAREERS FIRST. HE RESPECTFULLY GAVE FIREFIGHTERS SCHOOL A TRY...HE GOT A 4 YRS. DEGREE, (LOTS OF HARD WORK THERE), AND THEN ONCE AGAIN, AFTER WORKING SECURITY JOBS, DECIDED THAT POLICE WORK IS REALLY WHAT HE WAS INTERESTED IN. HIS SEARCH STARTED CLOSE TO HOME, BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT....HE WORKED AT A CAR WASH, MOVED IN WITH PARENTS AND CONTINUED HIS QUEST. DETERMINATION, PERSEVERANCE...AND FINALLY LANDED HIS DREAM JOB. ANY ONE OF THE MANY STEPS ALONG THE WAY, MAY HAVE DETERRED SOME PEOPLE...BUT NOT CHAD.SELENA PERSEVERANCE TOO (2)!!! NOT ONLY DID SHE HAVE TO MOVE IN WITH IN LAWS WHILE CHAD PERSUED HIS DREAM JOB...SHE WORKED HARD, AND WAITED FOR HER TIME TO PURSUE SCHOOL TO BE A DENTAL HYGENIST. SHE WEATHERED HER YEAR LIVING WITH INLAWS WITH STYLE AND GRACE AND ENDEARED HERSELF TO US BEYOND WORDS. APPLYING FOR SCHOOL, AT LAST IT WAS HER TIME....THINGS DIDN'T WORK OUT AS PLANNED,, ROADBLOCKS AND THEN HAVING TO DECIDE TO RE-APPLY OR PURSUE ANOTHER CAREER PATH....HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT IT? DETERMINATION, FOCUS AND TODAY SHE'S IN HER FINAL YEAR OF THE HYGENIST PROGRAM, AND EVEN HAS A JOB OFFER WAITING FOR HER. I'M SO PROUD OF BOTH OF THEM FOR THEIR PERSEVERANCE. THEY'RE LIVING THEIR OWN REWARD, BUT THEY HAVE MY UTMOST RESPECT AND ADMIRATION!

A YEAR AGO (ALREADY), A TRIP TO ITALY , A TRIP OF A LIFETIME! 31 YEARS AGO, WE TOASTED OUR NEW LIFE TOGETHER AS HUSBAND AND WIFE, IN THIS PICTURE WE ARE CELEBRATING THE LIFE THAT WE'VE SHARED, THE INCREDIBLE CHILDREN THAT WE'VE RAISED AND THE NEW "CHILDREN" THAT THEY HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR FAMILY BY MARRIAGE. WE KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MARRIED THEN WE DID 31 YEARS AGO. WE KNOW THAT THE COMPROMISES, THE HURTS THAT CAN COME WITH MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND THE INCREDIBLE REWARDS THAT COME WITH THE PATIENCE OF STANDING BY THE COMMITMENT THAT WE EACH MADE 31 YEARS AGO. I CAN'T IMAGINE MY LIFE WITHOUT MY BEST "REASON" RICK! HE WON MY HEART YEARS AGO WITH HIS SLOW SMILE, AND BASEBALL HAT ON HIS HEAD. TODAY, HE HAS MY HEART AND MY RESPECT FOR HANGING IN THERE WITH ME! IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN EASY BUT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MORE THEN I COULD HAVE DREAMED OF. THANK YOU FOR BEING MY BEST REASON FOR EVERYTHING! OH, AND OF COURSE, THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL TRIP TO ITALY AND ALL THE ADVENTURES WE HAVE YET TO TAKE TOGETHER !!!

It's quiet, it's rainy.  Just a cozy Sunday in our "new" home/ "new" life....we're learning that it doesn't take BIG things, or places to make us happy.....it's the BIG and loving hearts of family and friends that make us happy !!!  Thoughtful things done by friends, like opening their homes to us so that we can visit.  It's the helping hands and listening ears to help us get through change.  The sandwiches offered and made when we didn't even know that we were hungry.  And it's the caring and sharing phone calls from our "kids" to make us all stay close!  Life is good and we're so very grateful !!!!!

congratulations!

Congratulations on the Grand Opening of your third CORE THERAPIES OFFICE!  You , Jason and Melissa are awesome and we're all so proud of you!

I'm glad to know that you have a fun and funny side to you too!  Laughter is the best medicine, next to Core Therapies , that is!!

Here at camp

Such a big weekend !  Lots of fun, lots of people together.  Missy and Jason started the weekend by arriving tired after a full day of work and a 5 hour drive from New Jersey on Friday.  Good nite of rest, a little hike, visiting with camp neighbors and off to a wedding in Pittsburgh.  It was a quick but VERY enjoyable time - that's what camp is all about whatever time you have, it's all about relaxing and togetherness!  Dad and I LOVED having you here !  It's always special when we can be together!

Saturday brought LOTS of sunshine and time to set up for the annual (13th) PIG ROAST at our place.  The PIG was put in the cooker by 7 a.m. , tables were set up and people started bringing their chairs, their food to share and games to play.  The food, as usual, was INCREDIBLE.  Everyone must bring their best and favorite food because it's a wonderful variety of tasty stuff !!!!  There were about 75 or more people there - good time to share food and catch up with all the new neighbors and old time friends. Camp fires, corn hole tournaments and guitar playing trio of music topped it all off.  Our long time, great friends, Jim and Debbie got there just in time to sample the food, and enjoy all the entertainment!  

There were many thoughts of our Chad and Selena, along with some phone calls....all our wishes couldn't have us all there together.  I  can't look at the river, or the bunkhouse, or the camp, the road or trails there without "seeing" Chad and Selena. Your boots, along with our hearts will be there waiting for you til the next time. You were very missed! 

Sunday  brought more fun when our annual BIG CHILL officially started.  Dave, Diana, Gary, Kathy, Jim and Debbie.  We've been getting together to hike, relax by the campfire, and make a craft project or two.  It takes long time friends to be able to just "fall into place together" and enjoy our BIG CHILL.  Diana captured the weekend with her wonderful camera and incredible eye for pictures.  Don't know how she does it.  We even had a few other friends join us for the day. Bob and Carole along with first timers, Art and Marlene.  So fun to share our "Camp" with them!

It's time for good-byes, but we all have our own great memories AND an individually crafted "CAMP" picture frame to keep us close!  Dave and Diana, thank you for opening up your home to us when we visit Westlake !  You both are so special to us !!!  We'll be seeing you soon !

Thank you Debbie for the unique and loving gift : we hope that you can all "linger longer" the next time you're here with us !

Ok, it's been awhile since I've blogged, so just needed to say, "All is well".  It's been a week since Rick and I moved  to "CAMP".  We're learning how to get along (or NOT get along) without easy internet access, no tv, no garbage pick up (got to learn to compost) and just in general, learn a different way of every day living.  Not necessarily BAD, just DIFFERENT.  Change can bring turmoil confusion and even sadness or change can bring GROWTH.  I'm thinking that GROWTH would be much more fun then turmoil - so ---- I'm giving it a hearty TRY.

So, here's a peek at the view out our window --- the Allegheny River...Not too bad - not what we're used to but there's many reasons to be grateful and lots of room to "GROW".

My Sweet Family

So many reasons to smile and not cry.....our family gathering for the last time at our home to quietly "hear" all the 23 years of memories bouncing thru the house. To laugh at sweet innocent notes written so long ago laced with big red hearts, Dear Santa letters, and stories of church camp adventures. So many reasons to come home and share together and plan together as a family. So many reasons to be grateful for our "neighbors/friends/families who have shared their lives and cared for us .....so many reasons to say "see you again" and never say good-bye.
Chad, Selena, Missy and Jason and Rick....my special reasons . So grateful that we could all be together here just one more time !!!

FAMILY IS FOREVER

Garage sales, packing, sorting and sorting some more. Big changes for our family as we move from our home of 23 years ! The garage sale taught me that our house has had a lot of Stuff that has just been admired and collected ...the packing has made me realize what "stuff" means something to me and my family, and the sorting, well that's what's taken the longest and has probably been the toughest. Sorting photos that is. Photos that invite me to linger and remember when I should be packing...I LOVE the pictures that have captured moments that we've celebrated with family and friends. I sold some things at the garage sale, I've packed a few boxes already...but the photos keep tugging and I can't put the lid on the boxes just yet, as I keep wanting to just linger awhile longer...and remember all the sweet times....here in our house/home of 23 years.

My FIRST Best Friend

I learned all about best friends from my FIRST best friend, big brother Rick. He taught me to play fair, listen with your heart and hug like you mean it! He lives far away from me now but he continues to listen with his heart whenever I need his advise. We've both have had some curves in the road of life, but we encourage each other and love each other unconditionally like only a best friend can. In this picture, his smile and his hug tell me that he will be home from his first day of kindergarten soon, and that I'll be ok while he's gone. Here's a hug right back atcha Rick, I mean it !!!

Garage sale...

Garage sale is a time to sort out what you need, what you want and what is meaningful...and I'm talking about "stuff" here, but it also is an opportunity to sort all the same criteria about your life. So many people say that garage sales are so much work...(yes), but they're also SO much fun ! Maybe that's because I had great friends helping and whenever, wherever we are together:it equals FUN ! So things got sorted, sold and some money made...Stuff that I don't need anymore is gone, but more memories that I'll hold onto forever were made. Thanks dear friends for your help with the "stuff" and for being there for me!!

One day at a time

Today, I have so many reasons to feel blessed !! I have friends who have gathered around me to celebrate the joys, to help me find the brightness when it's been the darkest, friends who have willingly shared all they know and love .... and have done so without a second thought, without asking anything in return and often, have done things for me that I didn't even know that I needed. FRIENDS....Thanks for your blessings!

Today....the REASON I have a big smile on my face is because Rick, Gull

Today I have REASON to feel so very grateful to my dear friend DIANA! Just another time when I was able to call and say "HELP" and she was quick to say , "come on over and we'll get it done. Done, as in navigating pictures for special wedding thank you's for my daughter, Missy. Diana somehow just KNOWS how important my need for help is ---- and of course, she's ready to help without question. She's so often a REASON for me to feel grateful. Thank you Diana, for being that loving and helpful friend that you are !!!

I joined the give me your best shot from the Better in Bulk blog! This is my daughter and new son in law right after the ceremony! Check out some other shots here!

Of course more about THE wedding...

Such a great "mom" moment to see Chad and Missy together for such a special time in their lives!


Roberto and Talia Pizzuli, such special little people in Missy's life. They are so adorable and did such a great job as ring bearer and flower girl!
Another very special couple !!! How cute and just about to celebrate their 4th anniversary !!! Selena sang so beautifully, the perfect song and the most perfect voice ! "Come away with me".

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? I haven't posted any new pics because I'm just LOVING looking at the pictures posted already....plus I'm waiting for my dear Diana to help me figure out how to add more...so stay tuned, but in the meantime I hope that you enjoy looking at pictures of the loves in my life !

My New Blog!!

Hi there! Welcome to my blog!

My beautiful daughter and her new husband! ~~ Melissa and Jason~~