It Truly is a Wonderful Life

My favorite movie of all time is the Frank Capra classic "It's a Wonderful Life". 

This year...more than any other 

it seems to fit what's going on in our lives perfectly.

Lately I've seen my husband

look like this many times throughout the day...

We shut down our Domino's Pizza store down last week.

The store that has been our main source of income for over 20 years.

Why we shut it down is unimportant.

The fact is we did. 

And while a part of us is extremely happy we did...

the other part is a bit frightened.

To say our income has dropped substantially in the past 2 weeks is an understatement.

But yet, we are good.

We are.

We are so very blessed.

We have other sources of income that will sustain us.

Pay our bills, keep food on our table.

There will be no extras.

None.

We knew that going into it.

But still it's scary.

We have worries and concerns about our home, our family.

My husband shares a lot of the same characteristics with George Baily.

He's always helping others...

always.

Every time that scene comes on where George is taking his own money

for his honeymoon and passing it 

out to the citizens of Bedford Falls I just laugh...

it's so my husband.

I can't count how many times Dave has

taken from us to give to others.

That's just how he rolls.

Throughout this ordeal rumors have been swirling around

town that the Ackmans are losing everything.

That we were forced to shut down.

Those rumors hurt.

It's not so easy walking into Wal-Mart when you feel like

all eyes are on you.

But for the most part...

those people that know us and love us...

they have been wonderful.

I am so grateful for them.

My husband is, too.

It's not easy on him.

He's the one out in the trenches...

making sure are bills get paid.

Making sure we can do this without too  many problems.

That's why I started keeping a Gratitude Journal again.

Having a grateful heart keeps me cheerful.

Isn't that what Christmas is all about?

A grateful heart...

A cheerful life...

A smile for everyone we meet.

Tonight as we snuggle on the couch and watch our favorite classic

I will be counting my blessings.

And even though I'm not sure what 2012 will bring

I know that I lead a blessed life. I have so much.

My family.

My friends.

My faith.

A warm home.

Food on my table.

Love in my heart.

It truly is a Wonderful Life.

Merry Christmas Girls!!

Retro Seventies

In the Spirit of Gratitude...for the next 7 days I will be sharing 7 blogs I am grateful for. 7 blogs that continue to touch my heart, inspire and encourage me to be a better me. They are in no particular order and please note...just because your blog may not be on the list does not mean that you aren't inspiring, ok?? There are soooo many...I am just highlighting a few that have helped me so much in the past month.

Today I am featuring Danielly Thompson's blog and her "55 Days of Vintage Christmas".

I found Danielle via Twitter and fell in love instantly at all her kitschy Christmas crafts from the 1970's. Everytime I visit it's like a trip back to my childhood. Memories of Grandma Jackson's needlepoint snowmen and angels, date balls and watching the  Lawrence Welk Christmas Special:)

Remember these melted plastic ornaments? I have all of these!! My Grandma Jackson was the Queen of 70's Christmas decorations.

This is my very favorite time of year...I love everything... from the special holiday movies, music and extra love we have for one another. Danielle's fun blog has given me a little bit of my Grams and my good memories from that time in my life.

Oh, hey...before I go...here is my absolute favorite Christmas treat...Gram's Date Balls. Enjoy!!

Ingredients

2 eggs, beaten 1 cup white sugar 1 cup chopped dates 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon butter 3 cups crispy rice cereal or Special K 1 cup flaked coconut

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the eggs sugar and dates. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, and boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla. Mix in crispy rice cereal. Butter hands and roll the mixture into walnut sized balls. Roll the balls in coconut. Serve.

 These are sooo good!!!

*What is your favorite Christmas treat? Please share!

Random Monday

So many things to be thankful for this week!

This was our Thanksgiving table. I can't believe I actually got to be in the photo!!

Of course we had an abundance of food. All quite delicious. What a wonderful cook {hee, hee}


These two kept snitching ham all afternoon.

I make a ham and turkey each year. We love them both...and you gotta have turkey, right?!

Sunday was my son's 1 year anniversary with his girlfriend Sarah...

"Hey, Mom can you make Sarah and I brunch on Saturday...I want to surprise her but since I always burn the eggs...."

"I would love , too Jacks:)"

 On the menu...

scrambled eggs
bacon
chocolate chip pancakes
milk

She loved it.

Have you seen this book??! Thanks to my daughter's art teacher I now own it.

This is so darling. Love it!

And speaking of girly art my sweet Mama bought me this for my Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to ME!!

It started a few weeks ago...but I haven't had time to stop by the classroom yet! Good thing Christy gives you 6 months!

Oh and thanks to Andria...I am participating in 1001 Journals with April Cole!!

I still must tell you the two beautiful stories from my first craft show AND tell you some exciting news!! I will tomorrow {promise}. Blogger is being soooo slow today and this post has taken waaay too much time to write!!!

Here's a background I created...15 in all this weekend:)

How was your holiday??

My Wish for YOU

Best Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is here, so our minds have turned
To what time has taught us, to what we’ve learned:
We often focus all our thought
On shiny things we’ve shopped and bought;
We take our pleasure in material things
Forgetting the pleasure that friendship brings.
If a lot of our stuff just vanished today,
We’d see the foundation of each happy day
Is special relationships, constant and true,
And that’s when our thoughts go directly to you.
We wish you a Thanksgiving you’ll never forget,
Full of love and joy—your best one yet! By Joanna Fuchs  

My Blog friends...you are some of the very BEST people I know. Thank you for your support. Thank you for sharing your hearts with me.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Friday's Joy Jam!

Happy Friday, girlies! I don't know about you but I am soooo ready for Friday and Thanksgiving Break!

I started my morning teaching Seminary to my class then went to the gym for a 25 minute jog/walk then I was able to spend 55 minutes at the massage therapist. Oh what JOY that brought me!! I am feeling so good now {big smile on my face}

Sooo many things bring me JOY! Here are a few of them....

No, I don't have these shoes...{sure wish I did!} These represent 2 weeks of exercising. November 7th I committed myself to an on-line Healthy Holiday Challenge for 8 weeks. I have a partner and everything:) In 2 weeks I have joined the gym again and do anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes of cardio, stretching or yoga a day. It was slow going at first but as of yesterday I was adding jogging bursts during my treadmill time. My heart and mind are all in sync...feels so good:)

Along with working out I am eating cleaner {trying to avoid high fat snacks and sugar} as well as drinking more water. There is nothing so good as an ice cold glass of water with lemon. Makes me feel good inside and out.

Oh how I LOVE Thanksgiving! Each year I spend the morning cooking turkey, stuffing, pototoes and more while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with the kids. I make sure and have Christmas tunes close by, too.

Would you look at these two?? Jackson and Emma!! This seems like ages and ages ago...but yet, it doesn't. Funny how that goes. Em was about 3 here and Jacks was 5.

Here they are today....nearly 17 and 14.

And finally I am soooo JOYFUL because of this cold-blooded man....;)

Yes, Breaking Dawn opened at 12:01!!! My family and I have our tickets and will be headed to theaters EARLY for our 9:45 show tonight. Can't wait!!!

I love the idea of JOY and am linking up with a NEW blog. Check it out!

Link up here.

What's bringing you JOY this week??

The Power is Within YOU!

Last Friday was Oprah's Life Class Finale and it was as if she were speaking directly to me. Love it when that happens. Have you seen Life Class? Don't even know what it is? Click here to see all 25 episodes. They are amazing!

Anyway...Oprah's last episode was entitled "You've Always Had the Power". Think of that scene in Wizard of Oz when Dorothy is asking Glenda to send her home. Remember what Glenda tells Dorothy??




Dorothy had ALWAYS had the power within her and the best part?? We do, too!!!

Sooo many women already know that and are such great examples to me. I shared many of them with you in this post. Be sure and stop by to check out the amazing women I spotlighted.

Leanne and Jodi are two women in my life who, at this very moment are living their creative dreams. Not because they got lucky and it's just happening to them. No because over the past year they have worked so very hard, painting, drawing, writing, sharing and finding a way to do it all.

 They have tapped into their own hearts, they believe in their dreams and they are taking steps daily to insure their dreams come true. These two ladies are like my own personal compass. Each time I read their blogs or see their work it reminds me of my own path. My own power.

This was me last night in my artsy space. I love this photo because this is me being 100% me.

No, I definately won't win any beauty awards but I feel so good here. Wearing my sunny yellow tee, bangs pinned back and a big smile on my face.

I am back at work. It's been awhile you know. Just haven't been too inspired to actually work on my art. It sure felt good.

Background with alcohol ink. Love it!

See that vintage lady? One of my amazing readers (Maggie) sent me this (and lots of other stuff, too!!)

Then there's this one...

This background is one of my favorites. There is just something about red and blues together.

One of my latest additions to my art space...

Isn't this sweet? My Mom gave me this several Christmas's ago. It's supposed to be used for appetizers, etc. but I think it's awesome filled with all my flowers.

So many projects I'm working on. Here's a peek at my space from last night...

This bed is used for all things art! No sleeping here-LOL.

What can I say? I'm such a visual person. I enjoy seeing everything in front of me. My dream is to put a table in here and get rid of the bed.

My desk is cute but doesn't have a big enough workspace.


Remember Leanne I mentioned a bit earlier in this post? Here is a bit of her work...

Sweet magnets...

Gotta love Elsie there, too. Anybody else love Elsie? I bet her a few years back at CHA. She was so petite and darling. Love her quirky sense of style and art. It is so her!

Some finished work. Just in time for Christmas.

Another piece just for fun.

The whole thing...

It's kind of a strange image but I really loved it when I found it at the antique store.

So, yes...I am remembering that the Power does lie within me. Like I said last post...I am trying hard to listen to my heart whispers.

I love where they are taking me...


"Give to the world the best you have
and the best will come back to you."
     -Madeline Bridges

Where is your heart taking you these days?


PS....I somehow managed to delete my wonderful Bird banner last week. I don't know what happened. I am working on a new one with Leanne...for now here is an old one she made me along with a funky background. Can't wait to get something fresh and new!

Halloween!

Tonight will be the first time in 17 years

I haven't had my kids home with me on Halloween.

Em has basketball practice till 7:30

and Jacks is going out with friends.

Times sure do change...

I will be passing out Tootsie Rolls 

to all the little ghosties and goblins 

that come by tonight. 

Looking forward to that.

Oh and our 14th Annual Harvest Dinner

at Mom's is tonight...

8 o'clock sharp. 

On the menu?

pot roast

potatoes

carrots

fresh veggies with dip

pumpkin pie

apple pie

YUMMY!

Happy Halloween!

My Guy is the BEST!

I have been married to the most amazing man for nearly 19 years. I am soooo very blessed!! Look what he brought home for Em and me last Friday...

He was just so darn cute about it, too. "Oh, girls....Happy early Valentine's Day." {BIG grin}!!

Today he has surprised me even more...he is whisking me away to Kansas City for a full day of.....

SHOPPING! Whoo hoo!! I can buy whatever I want. Really?! Oh, what fun:)

So girls, I am off to enjoy the day and am so grateful for the beautiful sunshine and warmer temps!!

What are you doing to celebrate today?

Happy New Year!!

image from Bing.com

Thanks, girls for an amazing 2010!! I love my little place on the Web. It's so warm and cozy here all because of YOU!!:) I look forward to learning, growing and becoming with you in 2011!!!

A Peek into My Life

Thought I would share a little peek into my life these few days. Enjoy!!

Jacks and Sarah Hop night. Aren't they cute!!

Jacks and his friends Hop night. It was canceled because of the weather:( They sure look GOOD!

The Ackman Annual Baking Bash with Grams:)

Dave with one of our creations.

Our Missionaries on Christmas Eve with their stockings from us.

Dave surprised us with a Shuffleboard!! This is Christmas Eve.

This is a blast!

Me on Christmas morning frying up some bacon.

Santa brought us a Wii this year!

Even Gizzy got in on the action.

Jacksy got an electric razor from Dad.

I bought Em boots and so did Dave!! LOL!

At Sarah's house. Christmas is also her Birthday!! She made Jacks this blanket.

At Mom's Christmas late afternoon.

Jackson turned 16 December 27th!!

At La Bonita! Happy Birthday in Spanish:)

I sure do love my family!!

That's Alex, Jacks and Sarah lighting his Birthday cake last night.

May all your wishes come true, Son!

I have been blessed with a WONDERFUL Holiday Season!! How was yours?

Our WORD for this last week of 2010 is....

ANALYZE

to examine critically, so as to bring out the essential elements or give the essence of: to analyze a poem.

to examine carefully and in detail so as to identify causes, key factors, possible results, etc.

 

Take time this week to map out your 2011. Stay tuned for my Goals and my WORD of the year coming up later in the week!!