No stop please!

I thought I would begin the new year by creating a new blog. I got in so deep that I was afraid I had totally lost the old one. I was just trying to find a new way to share my wonderful photos and stories about Cibola County, New Mexico. I completely messed the whole thing up! It appears I am forgiven and my original blog is still in one piece, at least for now.

There have been some interesting posts on Facebook today. One in particular got my attention. it was a video showing the mansions of 15 celebrities. My very first thought after viewing the site was- very cold. I feel sorry for anyone who is so attached to things. My manufactured home was built in 1976 and would not appear on any celebrity list. It fits me and my style of living just fine with plenty of wiggle room for my furry children.

Another post by a friend stated that she has been feeling bad about her life and doesn't know what is wrong. Strangely, I have been experiencing similar feelings since the new year began. In talking to her I realized that I am in the last year of a 7 year DNA change and that could be the cause of uneasy feelings. Looking back over the last 6 years I see a ton of positive gradual changes in my life. I have slowly come to understand that I am done taking responsibility for anyone else. It's my turn! I did my job as best I could under some mitigating circumstances as a daughter, wife and mother. I'm done, not with life, just putting others first.

Perhaps the step to change my blog was a bit too big this morning. I only know that something new is just a few steps away and when the time is right I will be walking in that direction.

Bye bye 2013

As with Christmas Eve(day)I get to spend the last day of 2013 with my favorite grandchild.I couldn't be in better company. This morning he came in with his brand new basketball, his brand new skateboard and a permission slip for him to join SWAG, a group of 50 preteens 12-15 who will soon take part in a program, also known as "sex can wait", offered by our family center. We had bacon and french toast for breakfast and a stop for pizza is planned on our way to the park. The rest of the day is whatever happens happens. I couldn't resist one last post on the last day of 2013, a year of unusual personal growth for me. I found the following on Facebook this morning and it fit so perfectly I just had to share with my readers.

One last thing- HAPPY NEW YEAR - MAY 2014 BRING PEACE AND FULFILLMENT TO ALL!

Choose the opal

I always look forward to gifts that my grandson gives me and this Christmas was no exception. He is always allowed to pick out the gift, even though someone else pays for it. This year he shopped at Choco Canyon Trading Co. in Milan, NM. It is the village just West of Grants. If you are ever in the area this store is a must stop and shop. Anyway back to this year's gift. I opened two small packages. The first contained a unique pair of opal earrings and the second contained another pair of opal earrings accompanied by a matching pendant. All three pieces were set in silver. It is a beautiful and meaningful gift. He had no way of knowing, but for the last few years opal has become my favorite stone. I wear it all the time. I love the way light changes the color of the stone as if it was dancing. Most women living in New Mexico prefer turquoise jewelry, but I have always been a bit different, probably because I didn't grow up here. To me it is a chunky stone and I prefer more delicate pieces. My birthstone is blue topaz. Although it is a beautiful stone it doesn't hold the attraction for me that the opal does. This fact aroused my curiosity and I looked up the meaning of opal to see if I could figure out just why that is. What I discovered did answer my question, considering the path my life has taken in recent years. First "the opal is the stone of inspiration, which enhances imagination and creativity". It has a larger proportion of water than most stones. Like water rolling past rocks and debris the stone's energy can help one continue on their path, regardless of obstacles. Its water energy also enhances self-esteem and a sense of self worth. The opal is said to help memory and decrease confusion. In the spiritual realm it is used for high energy vibrations, soothing turbulent emotions. Wow wow wow! Maybe the positive changes in my current life were not all due to angelic assistance. I take that back- perhaps an angel whispered in my ear "choose the opal".

Music music music

Last Christmas (2012) my grandson really wanted a music keyboard. He didn't get one from Santa or any of his family members. I felt bad for him because I recognize the fact that he loves music. I gave him a drum set when he was little and I believe it motivated his interest. Because grandmothers are supposed to pay attention to stuff like this a couple of days after Christmas I ordered the gift he had missed out on, a Huntington 61 key music keyboard. He was thrilled to say the least. Although he is very active in soccer and basketball he still finds time for music in his life. Remembering back when I was a child that my grandmother arranged for piano lessons for me because she recognized that I had a love of music, I followed my intuition and just ordered a second keyboard- for me. Even though those childhood piano lessons didn't last long because my family moved out of the area, I decided what the heck I'm never too old to teach myself something new. My life has been a string of self-taught creative adventures so why not a keyboard? Music is something I have loved all of my life. This year I decided to buy my own gifts because it's the only way to get exactly what my heart desires. Music, music music!

A true Christmas story

My Christmas began yesterday when my young grandson, who is the most special person in my life, asked to spend the day with me. It started with bacon and pancakes for breakfast. We then took a short trip to the store to pick up a couple of last minute token gifts, hung out the rest of the day and last night enjoyed a peaceful dinner out. Oh I almost forgot we did exchange gifts along the way. Although it was a very positive experience I knew I had an even more important one coming up this morning as a messenger for our Creator. I got up early and dressed in warm clothes for an errand I knew I was supposed to do, which began with collecting edible goodies in a bag. Just before I put on my winter coat and gloves to brave the very cold Christmas morning I decided to check the Facebook status of a close spiritual friend whom I have unfortunately lost touch with. The words I found on his wall were like a message from the universe telling me that what I was about to do was exactly what I was supposed to do. They were "Was blinded by the Xmas(Christmas) spirit when he found a bag of non-perishables on the back doorstep left by a gentleman from the area- whom he had "helped" on occasion. The man is homeless." That one word homeless motivated me to move on with my mission. I drove to the Riverwalk with my bag of goodies. I kept praying "lead me to the people I am supposed to give this to". In our little town the homeless can be found most mornings wondering around this area. As I entered the parking lot I saw three people, two men and a woman, and I knew they were the souls I was assigned to meet. I approached them and asked if they were hungry. They said yes and I handed them my bag of goodies and suggested they share the contents. The woman gratefully took it and thanked me. I'm sure what I had offered them must have seemed like a feast on this cold Christmas morning and I hope it restored their faith that someone cared about the true meaning of Christmas.

The bird in the middle

Living alone creates some interesting menu choices for family holidays. I remember my efforts from Thanksgiving when cooking a traditional dinner only brought up very sad memories. Granted I had plenty of turkey for future meals but it just didn't set right. I have been giving some thought to less extravagant menu choices that I could make for Christmas. I had been leaning toward a Cornish Game Hen, which would still give me a couple of meals. I certainly don't want to go for the big bird again. On my trip to the grocery store this morning I spotted a good sized chicken, which ended up in my grocery cart. It's obviously in the middle, between a big and a little bird. It has a neck and giblets, giving my furry children a treat. It doesn't take a lot of time to cook and I can still have my favorite stuffing (this time it will be Stove Top)to go with it. Since potatoes have always been an extra in my opinion I will eliminate them, but include my favorite mixed vegetables and rolls. As a special treat and because I am worth it there will be strawberry cheesecake for desert. It's going to be a treat for all concerned to cook the bird in the middle this time around!

Are you happy?

Happy is an interesting word that means something different to all who use it to express how they are feeling. As I woke this morning I was thinking about friends of mine who have lived through horrendous struggles, but are able to laugh it off and be happy. I have the most respect for those people. For some life seems to be one lark after another. I wonder, did they just pick the happy card this time? Are they really better off than those who were dealt a tougher life? The universe seems to provide an answer to questions when I sincerely ask. While pondering the subject of happy a passage in a Kindle book I am reading, "Black Butterflies" by Sara Alexi, caught my attention. I love it when that happens! The passage was, "If we were happy all the time we would miss our lives." What a powerful message. Sometimes happy happens when we step back and observe an entire experience from a different vantage point.