If you've been reading my little blog here for any length of time, you've figured out by now that I'm all about RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS in any form for any stranger. So, I've come up what I like to call 'Thoughtful Thursday'.
The mission? (I've been watching the Mission Impossible movies and can hardly wait to see the new one that's just come out)! It's easy. Go out and perform some act of kindness for a total and complete stranger, anonymously if you can swing it.
The benefits far outweigh the risks and I can guarantee that if you're having a 'down day', something miraculous happens to lift your Spirit and get your mind off of your troubles! Don't believe me? Try it and see.
So... as I get ready to head out and run a few errands, I'll be listening to that little voice inside urging me toward some act of kindness for someone out there that needs what only I have to give at this point in time.
Be kind to one another... everyone is fighting some kind of battle!
S.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
Christmas 2011: Part Two
No words needed... family is the best!
Prayers for you and your family as we gear up for a New Year ahead!
S.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Guest Blogger
Merry Christmas, all! Oldest daughter, Jessica, here to share some Christmas memories while mom is cooking away. Is that apple pie I smell?? Or the candle she just bought yesterday? hehe Just kidding!
Let me preface this by saying we came from very humble beginnings growing up as a Buckland. For as long as I can remember, no matter what our circumstances, mom and dad went above and beyond to make the holidays just as great as they could be for us kids. Beautiful decorations, fun gifts, a great time together as a family. I'll probably never know the sacrifices they made for us.
But far beyond the gifts and the material things they provided, they made sure to instill the true reason for Christmas. Every year, we stop and read the story of Jesus' birth. I'm so thankful for the foundation of faith my parents laid from a very young age for me. No greater love has the world ever known, than when the God of the universe sent His only son to this earth, to be the sacrificial Lamb and the atonement for our sins! We heard an awesome Christmas message from mom and dad's pastor, David, this weekend. "Sinners are the reason for the season." WE are the reason Jesus left His throne in Heaven. I'm so unworthy but I'm forever grateful!
So that's my favorite thing we do at Christmas. Thanks for letting me share!! Blessings!
Jessica
Let me preface this by saying we came from very humble beginnings growing up as a Buckland. For as long as I can remember, no matter what our circumstances, mom and dad went above and beyond to make the holidays just as great as they could be for us kids. Beautiful decorations, fun gifts, a great time together as a family. I'll probably never know the sacrifices they made for us.
But far beyond the gifts and the material things they provided, they made sure to instill the true reason for Christmas. Every year, we stop and read the story of Jesus' birth. I'm so thankful for the foundation of faith my parents laid from a very young age for me. No greater love has the world ever known, than when the God of the universe sent His only son to this earth, to be the sacrificial Lamb and the atonement for our sins! We heard an awesome Christmas message from mom and dad's pastor, David, this weekend. "Sinners are the reason for the season." WE are the reason Jesus left His throne in Heaven. I'm so unworthy but I'm forever grateful!
So that's my favorite thing we do at Christmas. Thanks for letting me share!! Blessings!
Jessica
Friday, December 23, 2011
Merry Christmas
Working on Christmas cards while listening to Justin Bieber
Self-portrait
I can hardly believe it's that time of year again. I knew once September hit and I began to see all the Christmas decorations going up in the stores that time would fly by and I'd be stuck wondering how the holidays came up so fast! Like my mom used to say, "Christmas is the same time every year... you have a whole year to prepare for it!"
Around here, the decorations are up (except for the Santa cover that goes on the toilet lid my kids talked me into getting), gifts are bought and wrapped, cards have been sent out and almost all the food is ready to go. There was a time I thought I'd have a break-down trying to get it all done! Now... I feel such a load lifted and am ready to look toward a new year with so many possibilities.
Over the last few years, I've pretty much laid down my camera except for a few special occasions, not knowing if I'd ever pick it back up for work again. I'm pleased to announce that next month, I will be launching a new area of photography that has been on the back-burner for quite some time. For whatever reason, I've never felt the time has been quite right to venture out. However, what is it I always say??? Now is the time... the time is NOW! So, here we go! After the holidays are over, I will be diving in and working to get a new blog and website up and running, along with everything else that a new business entails. I'm now ready and looking forward to this new adventure! More details to come...
As for the holidays... I'm ready. I'm ready to see the grandbabies tear into their gifts, hear the screams of little Abri as she sees what's inside. Watch Lincoln as he tears through the house with his Spiderman mask and cape. Hear my youngest play her guitar for the first time in public. Smell the cakes and pies baking. Watch my daughters helping in the kitchen. And probably my favorite, besides just being together, is laughing uncontrollably at stupid stuff no one else would understand.
Does it get any better? Not for me.
Merry Christmas everyone!
S.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Hunting and Gathering
Recently, my husband went on his annual Elk Hunt in Colorado. He's quite the outdoorsman and I love it that he loves it... makes for a happy pappy when he gets to let off steam and de-stress by shooting something big. And yes, we do eat the meat. If you have never tried Elk, I highly recommend it. It's also healthier for you.
Check out a few of the pics he came back with...
Personally, I'd rather be on a beach somewhere, but looking at these pics, makes me want to head for the mountains!
S.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Is That All There Is?
Thanksgiving has come and gone. There are still a fair amount of leftovers, which means I don't have to cook for another night or two and that's a good thing since I'm exhausted from all the pre-holiday cooking that was done!
My cousin and her girls came, stayed a couple of nights and for that I am thankful. Last time I saw her was at her brother's funeral last year. I love reconnecting with my extended family. We always end up having such a great time with our late-night talks, eating too much junk and watching our kids form a bond. Probably the best part of it all is watching the interaction between them and my dad, their Uncle.
There are always lots of questions about this and that. I love hearing the stories of their upbringing, how so-and-so is related to this one or that one, etc. Nothing can compare to these precious family times and the memories that come from them.
Of course, this year was bittersweet since we just buried my brother. Lots of emotions. Lots of ups and downs, not really knowing how to deal sometimes. It's not that I don't have faith, it's just one of those situations that you can't really understand until you've walked in my shoes and now is not a time I'm ready to open up and spill my guts about it all. Yet.
What has made this year even harder is the fact that I just received a call from the Medical Examiner's Office with the toxicology report from his death. Long story short, it was definitly his heart. At the age of 48, the cause of his death was his heart. Once again, survivor's guilt tries to set in on me. Make no mistake. It's a very real thing.
After receiving a copy of the report, I headed over to share the news with my dad. It was like the wound had been ripped off all over again. His last words were something to the effect of, "Well, I guess that's all there is..."
Is that really all there is? So, now we just move on like nothing ever happened? Like his life never mattered? Doesn't all life matter? Shouldn't we strive to make sure our lives matter to someone, somehow? Shouldn't we do what we can to make a difference and touch at least one life while given the chance on this earth? If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times... we only get one chance in this life. Shouldn't we make it count for something? While there is much I'm not ready to open up about, this one thing I know for sure... my brother's life (and his passing) has made me who I am today. His life did make a difference... to me. His life and his passing has touched my life in a way no one else ever has or possibly ever could.
This gives me comfort and hope. I still have regrets I can't do anything about, so learn from me and do your best to live a regret-free life. I can only imagine what that must be like, but from this point forward, hopefully I'll be able to find out, firsthand!
As for me, this isn't all there is... it's only a fresh, new beginning.
S.
My cousin and her girls came, stayed a couple of nights and for that I am thankful. Last time I saw her was at her brother's funeral last year. I love reconnecting with my extended family. We always end up having such a great time with our late-night talks, eating too much junk and watching our kids form a bond. Probably the best part of it all is watching the interaction between them and my dad, their Uncle.
There are always lots of questions about this and that. I love hearing the stories of their upbringing, how so-and-so is related to this one or that one, etc. Nothing can compare to these precious family times and the memories that come from them.
Of course, this year was bittersweet since we just buried my brother. Lots of emotions. Lots of ups and downs, not really knowing how to deal sometimes. It's not that I don't have faith, it's just one of those situations that you can't really understand until you've walked in my shoes and now is not a time I'm ready to open up and spill my guts about it all. Yet.
What has made this year even harder is the fact that I just received a call from the Medical Examiner's Office with the toxicology report from his death. Long story short, it was definitly his heart. At the age of 48, the cause of his death was his heart. Once again, survivor's guilt tries to set in on me. Make no mistake. It's a very real thing.
After receiving a copy of the report, I headed over to share the news with my dad. It was like the wound had been ripped off all over again. His last words were something to the effect of, "Well, I guess that's all there is..."
Is that really all there is? So, now we just move on like nothing ever happened? Like his life never mattered? Doesn't all life matter? Shouldn't we strive to make sure our lives matter to someone, somehow? Shouldn't we do what we can to make a difference and touch at least one life while given the chance on this earth? If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times... we only get one chance in this life. Shouldn't we make it count for something? While there is much I'm not ready to open up about, this one thing I know for sure... my brother's life (and his passing) has made me who I am today. His life did make a difference... to me. His life and his passing has touched my life in a way no one else ever has or possibly ever could.
This gives me comfort and hope. I still have regrets I can't do anything about, so learn from me and do your best to live a regret-free life. I can only imagine what that must be like, but from this point forward, hopefully I'll be able to find out, firsthand!
As for me, this isn't all there is... it's only a fresh, new beginning.
S.