Cyber Garage Sale.....

As most of my friends know I am downsizing and trying to simplifying my life. Those of you who are the closest to us know that in the past year Kim has been dealing with some major health issues which has led us both to come to this decision in our lives. I am hoping to soon spend more time out in my ministry and enjoying life with my husband Kim (we are not getting any younger). Having a big house is not what it's crack up to be. There is just more to clean and dust on your days off and then you are a slave to your house on your days off. So with all of this being said I am eliminating several items and don't have the time to have a garage sale so I'm having an online garage sale! Here are the following items for sale this week:
Iron Clock $20

Brother Fax/Phone Machine $40

Pair of antique Etched glass candle domes $30/pair

Cherry Wood Executive desk suite $1,000

Antique reproduction wall clock $60

Two upholstered green chairs $40/each

Two upholstered black & tan chairs $40/each

Glass top large country french coffee table $50

Two victorian eastlake chairs $125/each

Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away.......

I LOVE THE RAIN!!!! It's so refreshing! I just don't understand why some feel so gloomy when it rains. It cleanses the air and provides water to our beautiful trees and plants......

It seems like everyone just acts like they are in such a state of confusion when it rains. Why? It's just rain!

Rain or Shine I love it!!!!

I love this season with all of the beautiful colors of the leaves and the cleansing of the air......So just enjoy!

So don't be gloomy......Just enjoy the moment and enjoy the change of season. Summer will be here before you know it.

I Need My Blankee...... :(

We are still camping after about two weeks now. Kim has been dealing with problems with his health and so have I, so we are trying to run away to relax. But, although our RV is still set up out at Wilderness Lakes we still have to go on with our everyday life and responsibilities. There are doctor appointments, meetings, service, bible studies, estate sales to do, laundry to do, grocery shopping, and funerals/memorials to attend. It has been such a busy few weeks. No wonder why my blood pressure is out of control and I'm feeling like I'm going to have a nervous

break down! Calgon Take Me Away!!!!

Taking Time to Enjoy Family & Friends.....

Jason finally joins us at Wilderness Lakes this week and he catches his first fish. See how happy he is!

Larry helps Jason get his rod ready.

Kim's family came out and enjoyed the camp fire with us and Kim's co-worker Skip and his lovely wife Seville came and camped out at Wilderness Lakes for the week-end with us. The next day we all went to brunch at Carnitas Express where they make the best food!!!

This weekend we had to go to yet ANOTHER memorial service for a dear friend of ours, Ed Russell. Although this was another sad occasion it was truly a tribute to the person that he was when we saw how many people came from so far away. There were so many people there that they filled an entire school gym. Layman & Nancy Myles, long time friends of Kim & me (seen here) were one of the many friends that came to the memorial from quite a distance.

My mom is seen here with long time friend Carol and her beautiful daughter Michelle. Friends came from all over to be in support of this very loving and faithful family.

A Busy Week of Camping, Funerals, Performances, Craft Night & Shopping...

Jennifer Johnson, Cindy Smith & Sabrina & I started off this week with a trip to Julian for some window shopping and idea scouting. The weather was just great. The air was crispy and it really felt like winter is finally going to be here for a while, I hope.

Kim performed at Baily's in Temecula. We had a great time and Kim gave a great performance as usual.

Then Denise and Larry Holloway joined us out at Wilderness Lakes in Menifee where we decided to continue our camping adventure this week. Denise was just loving the fishing.....and just before the 10 o'clock curfew she caught this big catfish!!! Woooo Hooooo!!!!

Kim & C0-workers out at Lake Skinner trying to relax....

Girls craft night...

My cousins and I were gathered here at the site where Aunt Joyce was burried. It was bitter sweet because this was the second funeral in two weeks yet I got to see my cousin China for the first time in twenty years. I come from a very close family and despite the many years that we have spent apart it is always great to see each other once again. But we are hoping on planning a reunion because we're getting real tired of meeting under these circumstances.

I left Lake Skinner early Saturday morning for the services for Aunt Joyce and I was greeted by all of the hot air ballons going up in the air!!! What a beautiful site. I couldn't pass up this picture!!! They were so close I felt like I could just reach up and grab one!!!

Back to the campground to relax....

Relaxing Anniversary Dinner.....

Well we had a very nice anniversary after all. I was able to get well enough to go out to eat a fabulous Italian dinner in Temecula with my hubby. I had linguini with clam sauce, yummmy!! Then we listened to some jazz music and I had some Pinot Noir. We actually stayed longer than we expected because the music was great and we met some very nice people there. So between the beautiful bouquets of roses that I received from my family and hubby, the fudge, the beautiful cards, the two weeks of tanning certificate and the return of my youngest son from Texas, I think this was a very special anniversary.....

Craft Night Is Officially Set !!!! Let's Get Together......

Look for your invitation.......

And if you don't get one of these cute little invites, don't let that stop you!!! Just Come!!! Just Please bring a hand-made wrapped gift for the exchange. Hope to see you there.

Message to My Husband......

October 19, 1976- Count down to my wedding in five days. What will the future hold for me when I’m married? Will I have a good marriage? Will I have children?

Neither did I know that this date would mark the birth of my first born child only two years later. This would be the beginning of our life as a true family. From here on my life will not be mine to choose what I want to do. No, it will be demanded by whatever are of the needs of my family. A purpose; wife, mother, friend, confidant, nurse, caretaker and whatever other hat I may need to wear for the rest of my life……

October 19, 2009– Count down to my 33rd Anniversary!! Our first born son is 31 years old today!!! Where did the years go? As I reflect on all the years that have gone by, the many anniversaries we have shared together, I have to ask myself why I was chosen to have such a wonderful husband and two wonderful sons who have grown into such good men. How is it that I have had a great marriage while some just can’t get it together for one minute? How did I get so lucky? What a blessing to have had a supportive and caring mate who respects and cherishes me today as much as he did on the day we were married. I love him for that. How I am grateful for the many years that we have had together serving Jehovah and raising our kids together. We have had good years and we have had bad years but through it all I am grateful that the good out weighed the bad and the bad just refined us even more. How grateful I am that I have been some what able to maintain my sense of me instead of becoming a Stepford wife. How grateful I am that despite my imperfections my husband loves me even more and thinks it’s sexy or the Latin in me. How grateful that I have had such a patient man who truly has a good heart and loves Jehovah; a man who is eager to please everyone and not just think of himself.

If I were asked that question: If you knew back then what you know now, would you make the same choices today? ABSOLUTELY, YES!!!!

I love you forever! And I would marry you over and over again!!!!

Love,

Donna

That Flu Bug Has Come To Visit Again.....

I'M SICK!!!!!

HAVE I MENTIONED HOW MUCH I HATE BEING SICK!!

Well it's that time again, you know the annual visit I get from that flu bug that I've been trying to escape since I was leaving to Hawaii. Well I have avoided everyone I can that has had the bug but some how the bug decided to just find me. I've been in bed for the last five days and I still can't seem to shake this off. It starts with a real bad sore throat (lasts for two days) then it goes straight to the chest. You feel like someone is sitting on your chest. Oh, then comes the cough! And the body aches and did I mention the fever! Well I have two very important things that I did not want to miss this week. One was my cousins memorial on Friday and the other is an anniversary party for some very special friends. But I don't think that they would appreciate me sharing this flu bug with them. So I'm staying putt. I am going stir crazy though. I have some creative juices going on in my head but unfortunately I don't have the energy to make them come to life at this time. Here are a few of the items that I would like to complete if I ever get the energy.

My All Things French Origami Book I started. Made the same way I made the Bird Book.

I created a few of these charms to make some new necklaces that I have yet to complete. I can't wait to get creative with these.

Self-Medication.....

Sometimes when your in a funk, you just have to stop and do what makes you feel good. It's been a bad week since I returned back from my camping trip. Back to the reality of life which sometimes can kick us in the butt. My family has lost another precious loved one this week and although we don't get to see our loved ones often, it doesn't hurt any less when we lose them to death. My heart is aching for my family members who are going through this grievious time and I am praying for their comfort. Along with this on my mind and many other personal problems that I have been dealing with sometimes it feels good to just shut down and find your comfort zone, you know, just re-charge, cleanse, meditate on good things.....and for me this is staying in my "jammies" and not answering the phones and just doing something productive that makes me happy. So I pulled up my shirt sleeves and I tackled the project that I have been wanting to get done since my camping "shopping" excursion. I figured out how to make that beautiful reversable purse. The one that I saw at a boutique. It was perfect for holding my yarn. So here it is. I can't wait to show my friend Tina what I made. I know she'll be eager to make one of her own.

Closing Out the Summer at San Elijo State Beach

There is something to be said about the last camping trip for the summer. Although I absolutely love the fall season and winter I always am sad to see summer camping end. There is nothing like sharing a few days with your girlfriends and having fun like you are a kid again. No phone ringing, no house to clean, not having to cook if you don't want to. Then there is that special trip every night around 8:45 p.m. to VG Donuts right across the street. It's the thrill of missing the deadline of 9:00 p.m. when they shut the doors for the night. Will they will actually open the doors for us after hours? It's the thrill of achieving that goal, and chomping down on that amazing warm maple round donut! It's an experience that you have to have just once in your life time! There is nothing like it!. Well, I had the best time this week with my girlfriends down at San Elijo State Beach. It was a time to relax, reflect, shop, create! Did I mention "RELAX" And I did just that. Although I was there in my motorhome all to myself....and loving it..... I really did miss my "hubby" Kim & my "Karlee", ok and I guess I did miss Knala as well. But I sooo enjoyed this time to myself. And I was so happy to see my babies when Kim brought them down on Sunday night. They were just too content in my lap. Here they are winding down for the night in my lap. We all had a long day.

The beach was just beautiful on Thursday. I actually fell asleep in my chair! The windsurfers were having a blast. It was a perfect day for windsurfing!

Karlee and Knala went to breakfast with us on Sunday morning to Swami's (our favorite spot to eat). I think they were waiting for a hand out.

On Friday night we all went to the show. There is a great old theatre there where we saw a very interesting movie, hmmm.

Elise was having fun at the beach. Here she is funning at Tammy and Brenda's choice of refreshments.

Encinitas is such an artsy town. It not only has beautiful shops to check out but it has the most creative little nurseries. I love flowers!










More creative ideas! Cute pendants filled with ballerinas! I've made these before but just couldn't figure out what to put in them. I think I will put a fairy inside of one. I love it!










Here are some beautiful items in one of the local shops in Encinitas.