Sunday Short Post

It's a cold night........inside and out.

My mom is back in the hospital. I took her in on Thursday, but hope to
bring her home early this week.

She told me she just wants to come home to
"her little room."
Me too Mom.
Taken a few weeks ago, at the doctor's office.

I want to thank you for the beautiful comments....they help more than you know.
I'm off to bed for now.
Sweet dreams........

Healing

Hello again.

Until we meet again, I'll be praying the "prayer that never fails," (quoting Father Tim from Mitford), which is "Thy will be done."
Who could ask for more?

A Recipe...But No Year in Review

It's another beautiful sunny Sunday morning here in Michigan....but it's COLD.

The weatherman is calling it Arctic. I agree.

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So many gals out there posted about 2009 in review. You know, I can't do it.
I usually keep looking ahead, and find I spend little time looking back. We had so many happy moments and blessings last year to be sure. When those wonderful memories surface, I will enjoy each one of them.....but I don't plan to revisit last year in any detail. How about you....do you spend much time looking back?

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Yesterday I put all the Christmas things away and did some cleaning....which always feels good to get done. I have a long to-do list (as usual) for all the organizing I must do around here and at my mom's house. If I think too long on it, agitation sets in. So, best to just tackle one job at a time.....that way I can keep crossing items off the list.

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Since I'm always on the lookout for a quick yet hearty recipe, I want to share this one with you. My friend, Ann, made this for a small group of us recently and it was delish!

My gang really liked it too....a little like Italian Wedding Soup.

1 lb ground sausage (like Bob Evans or Jimmy Dean)
2 cups cheese tortellini
2 14 oz cans chicken stock
1 large onion, chopped fine
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes w/basil
2 ribs fresh garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped spinach
1/2 cup chopped basil
1 cup water
parmesan cheese
salt & pepper to taste

Brown sausage, add garlic, onion, basil and spinach and cook until tender. Meanwhile, cook tortellini al dente & drain. Add stock, water and tomatoes to tortellini; add sausage mixture and season to taste. Serve with parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. Enjoy!

That's all to report from the 'Acre today. I'm off to start the day.
Hope you are all safe and warm.

A New Year and Another Year Older

Here it is, another new year.
I'm happy for the new year, but want to recap one little thing from the old one.....

This past Monday, I celebrated another birthday. What a nice day I had! Although I worked all day, and was downright pooped when I got home, it was a truly lovely day...and here's why...

I was chauffeured to work and dropped at the door by Timothy
I was treated to a lovely lunch "out"
It was a wicked busy day......which means the day absolutely "flew" by
Then, I was picked up by the hubster and driven directly home......

Where I discovered.......

My family had baked me a **pink** cake (no picture :( )
There were birthday gifts with my name on them
Everyone was in a festive mood :)

After getting my mom showered and ready.......the whole gang headed out to a favorite Italian restaurant to celebrate. When we got home, I blew out a candle, had a bite of cake and opened these beautiful gifts.....
A vintage teacup.....with **pink** flowers.....

A Vera Bradley lunch bag.....

....and a vintage cameo pendant/brooch, all from the kids.

Not shown, a new waffle iron from my mom. The gift from my hubby is yet to arrive....we plan to get some new furnishings later this year.

As I mentioned in my last post, my wonderful friend Nancy had me feeling like a princess this year. Have you ever received a gift that couldn't have been more "you?" Well, that is what happened this year. Nancy surprised me with.........
This beautiful box filled with some sweet surprises......
A handmade purse. Now, you gals know how I love purses......

A gift set from Clinique.....

Filled with a few little treasures........

This fabulous box. It has real buttons set into a shell-like finish. I haven't decided what to keep inside....for now I have my crochet hooks in there. I just love looking at it!

Nancy also gave me a copy of "The Shack," and a new lipstick. I finished the book quickly, and have passed it on to another. I'm spoiled.......and loving it!

Last year certainly ended on a high note for me.......and I won't even say it wasn't a good year. So many blessings came our way......along with a few bumps. I am just so grateful that we are surviving the bumps and moving forward.

New for this year is to keep a thankfulness journal. I'm going to list one thing that I am grateful for every day, starting today.

I pray that you are happy, contented and loved.

"Where there is love, there is God also."

~ Leo Tolstoy ~