I was Just going along.....

Last Tuesday, I was just going along ~ minding my own business ~ working at the shop ~

When I was struck with something that has never happened to me before ~

One word, 3 syllables ~

Vertigo.

This wasn't "oh, I am a little dizzy", this was "I sat down and was afraid to get up dizzy".  Greg came and got me and we went to dr. ~  he doesn't know what happened.  I had an MRI to rule out any really bad stuff like a stroke or tumors ~ no bad stuff and it did show I had a brain!  Yay!  And speaking of MRI ~ seems like they could make that machine much quieter, even with ear plugs it is loud and confining ~ I closed my eyes and sang (in my head) the words to my favorite 2 songs in our churchs Christmas musical, Hallelujah and O Holy Night, over and over.

And 6 days later ~ it is still here.  I have an ppt. at a clinic but the earliest time was next week ~ argh....another week.  And then  realized, what if this doesn't work ~ what if you need more than one appt. ~ it was already disconcerting to realize the dr. gave me a prescription for the med. and gave me an automatic refill on it.

If anyone knows of any quick cures let me know ~ I may take any quack cure tips too!

And yet, there are things to be thankful for ~

*that this did not happen at Disney World
*that this did not happen 1 week earlier when we were with our babies
*that I can still sit and cross stitch
*that I have a great family to help
*that I can read
*that there is no pain
*that Amy & Will can both drive ~ get themselves back and forth to work and run errands
*that Greg could leave and rescue me
*that there is medication, even if it makes me sleepy

Heigh Ho Blackie

When James was 2 or 3 years old, Blackie the stick horse came into our lives ~ gift from Granny & Grandaddy Bill.  James is now 30 ~ 31 in 2 weeks, Blackie has been ridden by many children over the years.  This past weekend, my grandson Robert, age 2 1/2, discovered Blackie.  For a 28-29 year old horse, he is remarkably fit! 

Thanks for Auntie Amy for being our photographer!

Operation Christmas Child

We were so excited to volunteer at the Operation Christmas Child center in Atlanta on Saturday night!  For many years, we have packed boxes and worked at our local relay center, but this is shoeboxes on steroids! 

The when we got there at 5 pm, they had already processed 81,000 boxes for that day ~ the goal was 100,000.  At 10, they announced that we had processed 108,000 boxes.  Goal met and surpassed.  Frankly, I could have kept going.  It was that much fun!

I did the pre-inspection and the inspection parts of the process.  In the pre inspection, you open the crates full of boxes from the relay centers ~ look in each shoebox for the donation envelope for shipping and put it in the lockbox (on each table) ~ then pass the box to the inspectors.  The inspector empties the box and takes out any items that shouldn't be in there ~ repacks the box and adds filler items if needed.  If your box comes to the center 1/2 full, it leaves completely full.

Un wanted items were in many boxes ~ over 1/2 that were inspected.  No liquids means ~ no bottles of glue, no shampoo, no conditioner, no lotion, no hand sanitizer, it means no liquids.  No food means ~ no packages of cookies or crackers or any food. No war toys ~ no army men, no cap guns, no ninjas, etc. 

We had the privilege of hearing from a young lady who was volunteering, and as a child she was a shoebox recipient in Honduras.  This young lady talked about being given her box, as a 5 or 6 year old in the orphanage where she lived.  It was the first gift she had ever received and the first personal possession she owned.  She was thrilled to find a toothbrush in her box because in the orphanage she shares a toothbrush with 25 other girls.  She was excited about pencils in her box ~ at the beginning of the schoolyear, each child was given a pencil and a notebook and they had to last all year ~ if not, they were punished.  She was so excited about her box, that she slept with it every night and when she was at school, she hid it in the ceiling of her room so that no one else could get it.  At the age of 13 or 14, she took her box and went off by herself really angry and questioning the Lord as to why she was in an orphanage and why her siblings were all adopted ~ she opened her box and the Lord spoke to her heart through the little note the giver had put in the box with the goodies ~ "I love you and God loves you."  Soon after, she was adopted by an American family and brought to the USA.  She was able to finish highschool and attend college.  While in college, she played soccer and has been able to take her soccer team to Honduras on Mission Trips.  And volunteer at Operation Christmas Child.

So each box is more than a "simple gift", its a reminder to children in very difficult situations and conditions that someone loves them and was thinking of them.  Its a way to show the Lords love.  It can be a way the Lord draws these precious little ones to Him.

What did I learn through this experience ~ my shoeboxes will have packages of pencils, not just a couple ~ notebooks and school supplies are needed and wanted ~ I should start putting personal notes in the boxes ~ continue to pray for the children that receive the boxes, for years.

And Greg's reaction, as this was the first time he had been involved with this ~ "we need to make this an annual tradition"! 

If you would like any additional information on how to be involved in this awesome ministry, please leave me a note or go to "Operation Christmas Child" and read about the ministry an how you can help.  Its too late to pack a box this year ~ but you've got 12 months to collect goodies for boxes for next year.

The boxes from Saturday were going to the Central African Republic.

Lots of Lovin'!!!!!!!!!

First time our 3 grand buddies are together!  And we are lovin' it!

Lots to be thankful for this Thanksgiving~

Robert ~ 2 1/2, Aiden ~ 3 months, Thomas 9 months

More Ceramics

We've been busy painting & being creative.   Here are some of our latest creations ~

Greg's ceramic scissors holder

Gregs stained fish ~ not food safe but really colorful and cute!

James' first ceramics project ~ he did a great job!

My vegie/fruit tray

My vegie/fruit divided dish

I love this little chick ~ Amy said I need to add a little crocheted scarf so he fits in with the season

Tea set for our littlest girl buddy

Greg's glazed fish plate ~ this one is food safe!

My fall leaf candle holder (1 of 2)

Not ceramics!  But machine embroidered bibs for our grandbuddies for Thanksgiving!

coffee mugs as a gift

An Eagle Cross stitch for our newest family Eagle Scout!

My Angel ~ she will have Mother of Pearl added and refired

my salt and pepper shakers

Thankful ~ part 3

money left at the end of the month

changing of seasons

phone calls

sweet conversations

sewing time

a clean craft room floor (I vacuumed it yesterday!)

anticipation of visiting with family next week

hearing the canning lids pop as they seal

Christmas music

a color printer

the relationship between my mom & Amy (not many 18 year olds have their Granny as their best friend!)

pictures of my grandbabies

having the means to do some stuff we desire (within reason)

turkey sales (.79 a pound is awesome)

helping with shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child

date nights with my beloved husband

long quiet nights at home

card games with my kids

prayer time

seeing prayers answered

medicine that can help our tiny grandson who has acid reflux

changes in tiny baby's feeding/sleeping that are helping him be happier

encouraging words

Stitchin' Cross Stitch pattern from Pinterest

that the truth!

cute scissors case!

I think this would be cute done in needle point!