Beth/ New York/ Polish Pottery/ Inspiration

BETH
A week ago I took Beth to the Airport and she left for her adventure to Dallas and then to New York.
For several years now, in January she leaves on this adventure for the company she works for Mary Lake Thompson.   For the first time ever,  I drove away from the Airport with a lump in my throat and a sting in my eyes. She will be gone until the 3rd of February and I miss her, a lot.

NEW YORK
Last January Beth was in New York during the terrible snow storm that had NYC at a standstill. Beth's version of the story IS HERE    Really, you should read it-it's hilarious

POLISH POTTERY
Each year while in NY, Beth brings me home a piece of Polish Pottery from the market show.  I love my collection I have accumulated over the years. It's always a surprise to see what piece Beth will bring home to me.

INSPIRATION
 I needed something to get me inspired to take more pictures and write here more often. My daughter, Tonya, has inspired me to link up with You Capture at  I Should Be Folding Laundry.

This weeks theme is Colorful.

If nothing else Polish Pottery is Colorful:

The Girasole Lady

Attic Toys & Grandbabies

As my girls grew up and no longer played with toys I packed up the favorites in boxes and put them up in the attic. I thought of a time, way off in the future, when I would retrieve them down from the attic for my future grandchildren to play with. When I found out that I was going to be a "Grammy" I was so excited to finally, after many years, get them out of the attic.

Real Little People from 1980's. Some are wooden and some are plastic.

There they go, off to school...

They even have a SWIMMING POOL...

Of course all the Little People live on a FARM!!

The best of all.. these Little People really do fit on your fingers...

TA-DA!!!!!!  True "FINGER" Little People.

Laci loves playing with the Little People.

What girls childhood in the 80's wouldn't be complete without Strawberry Shortcake...

and her friends.....

or the BERRY TROLLEY...

I have the Berry Kitchen too, but apparently forgot to take its' picture.

There is a whole tote filled with almost all the Strawberry dolls from the 80's collection.

Each doll was  put away in a ziploc bag with her outfit on, shoes in tact, and her animal, before being sent to the attic years ago.

There are more items in the attic, but need to wait until the babies are a little older.

I wish I would have kept more of the toys from the past, but o-well such is life.

No post about the grand babies would be complete without Mia's beautiful smile.

(5 -1/2 months)

mmmmm... I DO believe in miracles too.

The Girasole Lady

A Fireman

This is my youngest daughter, Beth, and her long time Boyfriend- David.

David graduated today from the Butte Fire Academy.

Beth and David have been together since their senior year in high school. That was almost 8 years ago.
David has been a part of our family for a long time. I am very proud of both of them. I'm proud of David for the hard work and long hours of training and studying to become a Fireman. I'm proud of Beth because when David enrolled in the Fire Academy, he had to leave his job in order to attend the Academy FULL TIME. That meant Beth temporarily had to leave her schooling in the Horticulture Program so she could work FULL TIME to support them financially. I know that they struggle and scrape just to get by, and that in itself is a great sacrifice they endure together. It means NO cable/satellite TV,  NO smart phones, NO extras at the grocery store (just the staple basics), NO unnecessary shopping trips, and just barely enough money to spare for gas, getting to and from work and school.

I hope and pray that everything works out well for them, whatever the future holds.

The Girasole Lady

Lessons of 2011- Part Two

July-Started with Peach Jam

It ended with Babies

and heartache

Mia Lyann Edwards

July 31, 2011

August-

Brought emotions never before experienced by our family. Mia was so very, very, sick. Thoughts of hope and despair lived in every single minute of our lives, especially those of Tonya and Ryan.

I prayed, I cried, I hurt more than I have ever known. Never in my life had I felt so helpless.

Laci stayed with us while her mommy and daddy were at the hospital with Mia.

I tried my hardest to keep the world she knew as stable as possible.

A healthy Mia came home on the 25th of August.

September-

We started getting back to normal things, like canning tomatoes.

October-

Fall arrived

Mia was getting more beautiful and stronger every day

(3 months)

and every time I look at her I am reminded that life is precious and never to be taken for granted.

November & December-

The days were filled with family, baking, crafting, sewing, shopping and Holiday fun.

At Thanksgiving we shared stories of the past and dreams of the future.

At Christmas we shared the joy of watching our children, all grown, who have created their own little lives. On Christmas morning I looked around and saw the past, the present and the future, right here in my little home.

The Grand Babies- December 2011

The Girasole Lady