Happy Birthday to....ME

Happy Birthday to ...Me. Today I turned 42. Update : I spent Sunday afternoon celebrating Easter and my birthday with my family. After our morning service we headed to my mom's home to celebrate with a Easter brunch. My mom and sister surprised me with dinner, cake and presents. It was a good day all around.

She's Got the Look !

While uploading some pictures to my scrap blog, I came across this picture that Marc snapped of me ( its rare that I am not the one behind the camera ). Anyway, do you remember when you were a child and all it took was for your mom to give you that look and you would straighten up in a hurry ? Can I ask why that does not work on husbands ? Marc should have been considered the class clown in school, but from all I can gather on him, he was way more serious then he is now. If only they could see him now .....well he's just plain worrisome at times ! He has always been the one to pick at you. He does it with our family, co-workers and especially with our church congregation. He's known as "trouble" at church and usually someone will yell here comes trouble. Often people ask me how I have been able to put up with him for the last 24 years. My reply is always the same...I ignore him. I can't even tell you what he did to me the day that he took this picture ( I'm sure that the look was well deserved ). When someone meets Marc for the first time they usually end up asking my children if its fun at our house all the time ? Their response is NO ! Despite all of this I will say this about Marc.....When your his friend, you could not have asked for a more loyal, loving person. He's the most charitable person I know. He would give you the clothes off of his back if need be ( and he is very well known for giving gifts out for any occasion...even if its just a Youth Advisory staff meeting at church ) . He loves babies and young people. His face light ups when he sees a baby ( we know the look even before we know what or whom he is looking at ). At times he is a pest, but the one legacy I feel he has passed on to my children is that same loving feeling towards their own ( blood or not ). I don't think they realize how loyal they are, and how they have taken on some of the characteristics of Dad. TJ is that way with his sisters and cousins ... very rarely will he deny them if they ask him for something ( if he says no it usually means he just does not have it to give ). He is the same with me. Nicki would carry every friend at her school where they wanted to go if she had the gas money to do it ( she is the same with me ). Quisha would take in every child in the world, if she thought she could. Marc is the same way. Last week we found out that our friends would not be able to keep their foster kids. I swear if my husband had been able to get on a plane to Hawaii that day to help out, he would have. He cried over the lost of those two girls and we had only been with them two weeks. He's really a softy. So the next time you see me give the "look", its not so much because I am trying to stop "trouble" ( well maybe it is ). Underneath the look is pride in a husband who may pluck my nerves on a daily basis , but I wouldn't trade him for nothing !

5 Must Haves

in my fridge
1. eggs
2. orange juice/cranberry juice
3. cheese
4. onions ( my mother in-law said your house always smells like you are cooking up a storm when you have onions on the stove )
5. Frozen vegetables ( I love my Pamphered Chef Micro cooker, just put a little water in the bottom and in 10 minutes you have steamed veggies )

in my closet
1. my capris
2. my slip on mules
3. disney shirts
4. my purse collection
5. my jean suits ( I can switch these around a lot )

in my purse
1. planner
2. chap stick
3. pen
4. wallet ( with pics of my kids )
5. compact

in my car
1. my bible
2. fav. Gospel cds
3. notebook ( for doodling while riding )
4. sunglasses
5. an extra purse and shoes

on my TiVo (assuming i had TiVo)
1. Boston Legal
2. Commander In Chief
3. Starting Over
4. General Hospital
5. The Unit

Tag, you're IT!!!

Disney Layouts

Thought I would post some Disney layouts from our May trip last year. Hey, they don't call me the DisneyQueen for nothing !

aLTERED sTATE OF mIND

I have been doing a 21 day challenge about exploring habits ( good and bad ) and how you can change them ( or enhance a good habit ) through an art journal. I am really enjoying where this journey is taking me. I have been blessed to have reared my children to adulthood ( sometimes they bring me back to reality , and remind me I'm still mom ) and now I have lots of free time to really get to explore Cyndi. Its hard to believe its been a month since Marc surprised me with a trip to Hawaii. And so much has happened in that short period of time. Its as if a light went on inside of me and I am seeing the world in a whole new way. I have a friend named Maggie who has a zest for life. Even when she calls you on the phone she is already laughing, and it becomes contagious. Before you know it, your laughing also and don't even know why ! She finds the most unthinkable stuff to alter ( from a slide mount to a domino ). She shows her creativity in her work and she also shows it in the way she treats her friends and family. We call her the Target Queen, and at any given day she will call you, or send you a photo message showing you some item she picked up in the dollar spot at Target. Yesterday I spent the afternoon with her and another on-line friend name Pam. We met four or more years ago on-line and about two years ago we met in person. When Marc had to go away on business near Pam and Maggie I tagged along for the ride. The morning we planned to meet Maggie called me to tell me she had already been to a Target that morning and had brought me a key holder from the dollar spot at Target to alter ( see, in the 21 day challenge I made a goal to stop playing around with my art, use my stash and just "create" ). Now thanks to Maggie ( and several trips to Target ), I have lots of things waiting to alter. I also now look at everyday items in a new way. Anything can be altered in some form or another. You just have to imagine the potential. I'm realizing that I can be altered in the way I experience life each day. Instead of looking at myself as a has been mother who's job is done now that my children are grown , I am starting to get that in many ways my life is just beginning. So today I am looking at my life through a filter and I embracing an aLTERED sTATE OF mIND.

My Hopes and Dreams

Wow! Someone just posted on the twopeas scrap site a challenge question. What are your hopes and dreams ( and it must not include wishes for family, friends, or your children )?

Now that one is hard because so much of who I am is wrapped up in my family, friends and church. They are my daily life and most of what I do and think is based on how it may benefit them. So , to think of only myself is very hard. But I will try.

First and foremost I wish for a stronger relationship with God ( because I can accomplish nothing without him ). I wish for health and happiness and for time to explore and understand who I am . If you think about it, my entire adult life has been spent being a mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, etc. I have not had a lot of time to explore the real me....because it has been defined by who I am. In a few weeks I will be forty two years old. I'm starting to come into my own person ( I have always been a late bloomer ). I am developing an attitude about what I will take and what I won't put up with. I know what I like and I am staring to ask for those things ( and I don't mean materialistic ). I have had people judge me...because I was a SAHM, because I am a minister's wife, and because I am ....ME. It has taken me a long time to get comfortable in my skin. I like scrapbooking and Disney ( you don't have to like it or understand why I do ). I like Bass loafers( sometimes I even wear them without socks ) and shoes with tassels on them . If that's too preppy for you...well that's your problem not mine. I like to walk at the beach ( not get in the water mind you, just look and listen ). I don't have a college degree ( but I am proud of the fact that my husband and children are getting theirs ), and I am ok with that. I have gotten my education in so many other forms--life lessons, travel, getting to know other people from different backgrounds. I love dressing up in matchy matchy clothing ( my instructors at Barbizon School of Fashion merchandising never told me it was a problem ). I like to watch beauty pageants ( was in one when I was younger and was even first runner up ). I like to dance, love my Christian music and will always crave nutty buddies. My favorite food is Italian ( not seafood or soulfood ). My favorite color is blue and I am proud to wear pink. I love being a girly girl and I am not ashamed to admit that I love old black and white musicals. I want my daughters to learn that being different is ok...but in order for that to happen, I must first admit it to myself. So my biggest wish for ....."ME" is to just be ......."ME". As far as dreams are concerned, I dream of one day owning my own business ( one that works ). Traveling to all 50 states. Visiting all of the Disney parks, and living to a ripe old age of 90 still standing tall with my best Sunday outfit on listening to family and friends singing Happy Birthday to ...ME.

Creative Clutter ...Getting My Scrapping Mojo On

I have been busy this last week getting my scrapping mojo on (lol). As a matter of fact the journey has kept me so busy that I realized I had not been keeping up with my personal webpages. So I decided to come share with family and friends what this old girl has been up to. It started with Rhonna Farrer's "" The {21} Challenge ".

What *is* The {21} Challenge you ask ? Rhonna describes it as -

A challenge based on 2 ideas:


1. The idea of creating or breaking (conquering) a habit in 21 days. Studies have shown that it takes 21 days to change. So, choose a habit you want to create or conquer in these 21 days.

2. The idea that art is therapy. We take the 'art journal' angle on this to create for 21 days & journal our feelings,triumphs, failures, etc. It makes the 21 days go alot faster doing something we love.

Each day we receive an inspiring quote, what we do with it is up to us ( you can visit my scrapbook blog at http://treasured-creations.blogspot.com/ to see what I have done ).

From this has evolved a personal journey of exploring the real...ME. I have always known that Art is a form of therapy for me. Sometime my brain becomes so cluttered with life's "stuff", that I can't see my way clear. That seems to fade from my vision when I am at my desk "creating". So I vowed this year would be different. Afterall, my children are "grown" ( at least they think so ), my husband's path is clear ( at least he thinks so ), so my mind wonders to what all of these changes mean for...ME. For so long I have been defined as mother, wife, sister, daughter, niece...etc. Not there is anything wrong with those titles. They have helped to mold me into the person I am today. But now I want to peel back the layers of protective skin I have held onto for years and seek out the women God put here on earth for a purpose. I know my season of change is coming. I feel different, I act different and I want to be different. So I have set out to explore and discover...the real ME. Hoping to find my "authentic self" ( time to stop playing at life and live it ). My desk top is filled with paper, inks, stamps, paint, stickers...all waiting to be used, by ME. I hope you enjoy the journey of discovery with me. And when you are ready to explore that creative side of you...give me a call.

My friend Vanessa .......

A few of you know that I maintain a friendship with several on-line buddies. A group of us have been friends for nearly four years ( probably longer ). We share children's birthdays, graduations and even a few births and a wedding. If you have noticed my page now has a beautiful new header and music from my favorite gospel artist. None of this would have been possible if it had not been for my very special friend Vanessa. Despite the fact that I have several webpages , I am a complete computer dummie. Thank goodness for friends in high places ( Canada to be specific ). Although we have never met in person, I am very proud to call "V" friend. She creates some awesome scrapbook pages, and has even begun teaching scrapbooking and is a member of a scrapbooking design team. She recently had one of her pages published in a magazine. I told her that one day I will be able to say I knew her when. Thank you Grover for making my blog....ME! If you would like to see some more of Vanessa's Creations you can visit her blog at http://www.grooveygrover.blogspot.com/. Thanks again "V".

Lighthearted Moments

Ok, thought I would fill out a form one of my friends posted on her blog, just for a little bit of lightheartedness ( is that even a word ? ). Enjoy, you might even learn a little something about me.

3 names I go by :

DisneyCyndi
CyndiAKADisneyqueen
Cyndi

3 Parts of my history :

Indian
African American
I'm sure there is a third part somewhere ( especially if you look at my families dynamics )

3 Things that scare me

Driving ( bet you knew that already )
Scary movies
Water ( funny considering how much I like to watch it )

3 of my everyday essentials

my computer
orange juice ( I hate coffee )
quiet time ( Not that I'm not a morning person, but after years of being a SAHM, I enjoy the house when everyone leaves in the morning ).

3 things I'm wearing right now ( basically the same thing I wear everyday, unless I'm leaving the house )

t-shirt
sweatpants
warm socks

3 things I need in a relationship

honesty
trust
loyalty

3 of my favorite hobbies

Disney
Scrapping
Photography

Bet you already knew the answer to that one (lol)

3 places I want to visit

Paris
London
Greece ( only because Marc wants to visit there )

3 things I want to do before I die

take a cruise
ride in a train
redecorate my home ( pathetic I know, but I'm basically a simple girl, shut up Marc just in case you are reading this )

3 ways that you are sterotypically called a girly girl

I wear pink
If I had to choose between playing sports or watching sports, I rather go to the beach
If I break a nail its all over ( wait a minute that's Nicki, not me )

3 things that annoy me

half closed cabinets and drawers
unorganized vacations
white walls

Well, not sure that this was very life changing, but I bet you learned something new about me. If so, my job is done. Later,

Cyndi

Day 12 : Home Sweet Home

We arrived in Atlanta early Monday morning after a long and sometime bumpy ride from Honolulu (I actually slept most of the trip) and made a mad dash to the next gate just in time to board (the Atlanta airport is huge and it seemed as if we would never reach our gate). The flight home was made in no time and before I knew it I was back at home sweet home. We called Nicki when the plane landed and after we got off of the plane we headed to baggage claim, picked up our bags and then preceded to the front to await our ride. To our surprise both girls pulled up in the van to greet us. (Do you think we might have been missed?) I know I missed them and had to keep myself from once again falling apart and crying. I shed a few tears the morning we left when I said goodbye to Nicki and again in Hawaii when I talked to the girls a few days before we came home. It didn’t help that even the little cousins were saying its time for me to come home or that my mom had said she was missing her baby (me). I consider it a blessing that we are all so close and it’s hard to be away from them for so long. Glen and Shelly’s youngest daughter reminded me of Nicki when she was younger, especially the very first day when she said excuse me doing a conversation in the van after they picked us up at the airport. I must say she stole my heart in part because of that reminder. Also, there youngest son “Peanut” as he is called reminded me of my son when he was young. Those kids pulled on our heartstrings and we will miss their energy. Glen and Marc may be apart for many years but when they get together you would not know it has been so long since they were last together. I gained a big respect on this trip for Shelly. She has a tough job and she does it without fail and with very little if any complaint. I admire all that she has taken on and with the grace and which she does it. I really enjoyed our time together. We loaded up the car and headed home. It felt good to be home. In some ways Hawaii seemed like a beautiful dream. When we arrived home there were “Welcome Home Mommy and Daddy” signs all over our front door and on our bedroom door courtesy of “Mama” Quisha ( Quisha had stated several times while we were gone that she wanted me to come home and be the mommy because she didn’t want the job anymore).

Day 11 : Last Day in Paradise

Close to 2pm we said our goodbyes and loaded up the van for the ride to the airport. Marc had been itching to see the boat that Glen worked on all week long. We had a few hours left before our plane left so we stopped at the base briefly and got a modified tour of the boat and then headed to the airport. Glen pulled up in front of the leis shop and purchased us one last goodbye gift. We pulled in front of the airport and unloaded our bags and said our goodbyes. The one sour note in the whole trip occurred when we put the new luggage up on the scale and found out that we were overweight on the souvenir bags. It cost us an additional 50.00 which made Marc hot, but I reminded him of the beautiful ten days we had shared together and that they were priceless and in the end this would just be a blurb in an otherwise beautiful vacation. I would need to remember this a few minutes later when I got tagged by security for a complete search of me and my bags. I must say that was the most unfriendly time of our hold entire Hawaiian experience. I reminded myself about what I had said to Marc only a few minutes before and the fact that I had nothing to hide and handled the whole thing a lot better then a younger Cyndi would have.

Day 10 : Downtown Honolulu/Waikiki Beach and the Windward Side

We hit the pavement in search of the Ioloni Castle, the king’s statue, and the Mission Houses and the Kawaiahuo Church. It took a while but eventually we found them all with the exception of the Dukes statue. We did get lost on our way back to the parking lot, and as we continued on the rain started to come down. Perfectly fitting since this was technically our last day (it rained the day we arrived). If I didn’t know better I would have thought that the island was crying because we were leaving (smile). We did stop at a Jack in the Box to get lunch (I hadn’t eaten all day and I was starting to get a headache, plus I had not packed a hat and today despite the rain seemed very hot indeed). Hot, tired and a still a little wet we finally made it back to the car. We decided to check out the swap meet one last time (it would not be open on Sunday due to the Pro Bowl). We ended up buying an additional piece of luggage and a small carry on bag for me to use as a purse in place of my big bag. I really wanted to see the Duke statue before I left so we headed downtown for the second time that day in search of the infamous statue. I began to tag it “Where in the World is the Duke”? We parked across from a army war museum that unfortunately had just closed, briefly walked along the beach near all of the big name hotels. You could tell there was a big event on the island that weekend because the streets and hotels were packed and more people seemed to be poring in.

Day 9 : Dole Plantation/North Shore

We hit the gas station to fill up before hitting the highway bound for the North Shore. I do not think there was one person who did not suggest no trip to the island was complete without a ride around the north shore. We also wanted to visit the Dole Plantation. Within minutes it seemed we had passed the plantation and had to turn around and go back. Not sure how we missed it because as soon as we opened the van door you could smell the strong scent of pineapples! We did a quick check around the gift shop and then headed out near the maze to pick up tickets for the train and garden tour ( I had decided early on the skip the maze ( glad I did because they weather had gotten very hot that day. The train ride was a 20-minute trip through a sample of a working pineapple field and also various other plantings including flowers, sugar cane and even coffee bean. We then headed out to the garden tour which was very impressive. The train ride would have been more fun with a group of small children, but I was very impressed with the gardens. Marc and I strolled around taking lots of pictures of the various foliage and trees. We did a quick run through the shop for dole whips and postcards and then hit the highway North Shore bound.

Day 8 : Bishop Museum and Paradise Cove Luau

We left around 1 pm for the Bishop Museum where we learned quite a lot about the Hawaiian history and heritage. We stayed for a few hours and then headed back to the house to change for the luau. The luau started at 5pm. We were greeted with shell leis, and a drink (non-alcoholic for us). You then were shown your seating area and allowed to walk around to various booths for games and crafts. We also watched the sun go down and listened to traditional Hawaiian music. There was a fisherman’s demonstration, tree climbing and shower of flowers presentation. I even learned how to create an authentic leis for my wrist and headband. We set down for a live show with hula dancers, fire throwers and a buffet meal of rice, chicken, pork, pasta; macaroni salad and poi (get definition). Dessert included fruit (pineapple) and cake with coconut.

Day VII : Plate Dinner/Beachcombing

After another day at the Swap Meet..........We headed back towards the HI exit, but stopped at a L&L Drive Inn to try our hand at a “plate meal”: A dish that is popular in Hawaii with the natives. The average plate cost about 7.25 and includes either barbecue (teriyaki) or chicken with rice (or eggs) and coleslaw or macaroni salad. Marc ordered the barbecue and I had the chicken. After we finished eating we drove around a bit and then headed back to the beach cottage. I did finally get to speak to TJ today after nearly a week. We had a good conversation and then I said goodbye as Marc and I headed back to the beach. We were trying to get back before the sun set so that we could walk around and just enjoy the view. We changed into our bathing suits and hit the sand. We walked a little, took pictures of the surfers and Marc even sat in the sand and let the water wash over him. At first he thought he might actually get a chance to swim in the ocean but the area below the surface was very rocky and he didn’t want to take the chance on getting hurt. After a while it started to get chilly so we headed back to the cottage, rinsed the sand off of us and set on the porch to watch the sun set.

Day VI : Ala Moana Mall/Build a Bear/Coldstone

After cleaning up the cottage we loaded up the van (with our cameras) and headed towards HI. It took us a little while to find the area we were looking for, but we did find a free parking area near the Ward Center. I was actually looking for another shopping area but the free parking was worth it even if we had to walk a ways. At least then we wouldn’t have to worry about getting back to the car to refill the meter. The Ward center had lots of offerings, but I was on a mission to find a build-a-bear shop and the Hawaiian shop I had seen in the advertisement. We probably walked about three blocks before we asked someone where the mall was. Seems we were not far from the parking garage and the mall itself. The Ala Moana Mall (sp) is huge! We ended up staying for hours, checking out the stores and the scenery. Every time there was a open area we would go look and see some of the best views (Marc says there are no bad views in Hawaii), We stopped in several shops including a Disney store, the Hawaiian shop (where we got some great coupons), Build a Bear (where I picked up outfits for Marc and my bears) and a Taco bell for lunch (thanks to the Hilo Hattie shop where we got several coupons for buy one get one free). On our way back to the car we stopped at the ColdStone Icecream shop where we had our first taste of ColdStone (figures I would have to go all of the way to Hawaii to have coldstone).

Day V : Beach Cottage/Morning Walk

Marc and I slept in for the first time since our world wind vacation started. It’s very easy when you have the sound of waves and the breeze of the ocean coming in through your bedroom window (no air conditioning anyway). But as the sun began to come up we were curious to see what our surroundings looked like. So we got dressed in our beachwear and hit the sand. A funny story, Marc got up before I did and went to look out the windows. He excitingly came running back to the room to get our camera because he thought he saw dolphins on the water. Only to find out that the “dolphins” he thought he had seen were surfers (lol). We spent about an hour on the beach taking pictures, collecting coral and taking in the beautiful scenery. We had only briefly grabbed a couple of bananas, juice and coffee before hitting the beach.

Day IV ( and a few more days in between) : Shopping at Aloha Stadium

After lunch we went to the Aloha Stadium where they have a swap market set up three days out of the week. We were able to pick up some souviners for the family ( we got there right at the end of the day, so we may go back on Wednesday to pick up some things for the girls and my mom that we missed out on ).

Note: We spent several days over the coming weeks at the Aloha Stadium ( and not for the Pro Bowl that was held there the last weekedn we were in Hawaii ). This place is the best. We saw some of the same stuff we brought here for way more at the Outlets and Malls. The vendors set up every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. If you are ever in Hawaii ( Honolulu to be exact you will not regret stopping here to shop ). Wear comfortable shoes and a hat because you will walk and the heat was intense some evenings ( even with 72 degree weather ).

Day III : Pearl Harbor

This morning was awesome. I only recently saw parts of the Pearl Harbor movie. The fact that I am here and seeing the site first hand has been amazing. I cannot even describe it. I will have to send pictures for you to get the full effect ( as much as you can get seeing it through our eyes ). We left this morning and went immedietely to the war memorial. The whole exhibit is free , but I reccommend getting the audio tour ( $5.00 per person ) . It made all the difference while we were doing the tour. You start out viewing a murial of the ship ( The Arizona ) and then go through a series of displays about the base, and the different events that lead up and included the Pearl Harbor attack. You then are called to see a video presentation about the days following up to and actual footage of the attack. After this you board a boat out to the wreckage of the ships and the memorial to those who died and are still entombed (sp) below the memorial. It was very sobering and to think of all of the lives lost that day is mind boggling. It also served as a reminder to me that my stepfather served during this time and the irony of his recent death. Marc and I walked around the museum shop after we returned from the memorial area. We feel blessed to have the opportunity to have been here and to have seen a part of history in person. Its also amazing to me that we have stayed on the very island in which all of this occured. I can almost imagine what it must have been like for the wives who watched from the windows of their base housing as there spouses and friends were attacked . Its as if paradise put a spell on you and for a moment in time our people forgot the reason for which we are here. As beautiful as it all is , one must rememeber this is a military base and that are men and women are here for a purpose.

Day II : Waikiki Beach

We finally pulled ourselves together enough to head out around 10:00 am ( we did stop to take pictures of our surroundings ). The navy has it pretty good if you ask me. When we came in last night I did not realize we were on the water. This morning while heading out to the car I was amazed to find myself surrounded by mountains and water. Gorgeous! Our friends have given us the use of their van for the week. So there will be lots of opportunity to explore. We thought we would head downtown near the beach to check out the area and grab something to eat. We got lost and did circles around the area downtown for a while. Eventually we found the restuarant we had been looking for. It was a dissapointment ( if you are ever in Hawaii ignore the chinese buffet place that advertises in the vacation brochure ( I think it was called Perry's restuarant or something ), but it filled me up enough to take a walk down to the beach to see the Pacific ocean on Waikiki . A very beautiful view. We strolled around for a while , took lots of pictures and then walked hand in hand back to our car.

Surprise, your headed to Hawaii !

So many people have asked to see pictures along with the report that I have decided to do excerpts from my trip report with pictures of the days we spent in Hawaii. For the full report visit my Disneyqueen website. The pictures above are of us the night we arrived in Hawaii ( as you will notice, Marc got lots of sleep on the plane, I on the other hand look like a dead women walking ). So here goes..........Cyndi


This was the email I sent out to family and friends the day before we left :

I won't be around for the next ten days because......



scroll down ( drum roll please )











Marc just surprised me with a ten day trip to Hawaii ! I leave tommorrow morning . I'm still in shock. Don't know how to act, but I guess I will get that much needed rest now. (lol) I have less then 24 hours to pack for a trip I was not expecting. We will get back the day before Valentines day. But he will get to celebrate his birthday in Honolula ( how cool is that ? ). He has a friend stationed there so I know this is a trip he has wanted to take , just never thought it would be possible. I don't even know where I am staying , just know its a bungulow. So glad we have the new camera. Hope I can sleep tonight. Thank goodness I brought all of those new clothes this pass summer. All I have to do is pack . I already have a list of stuff to do, not to mention making sure the kids are ok. Please check on them.

Well going to look up Hawaii on the net and finish packing ( yes I am almost done ). I can sleep on the plane (leave 6 am tommorrow morning for 24 hour flight). Please keep us in your prayers.

Aloha Cousin

Paradise Found

Wow! Its been over three weeks since my life went through some rather drastic changes. Seems like I have been living out of a suitcase for the last three to four weeks. So much has changed since I last wrote. My stepfather passed away nearly four weeks ago. To say that it hasn't changed some things in my family would be an understatement. And before I could fully grasp the lost and the legacy he left behind (not sure he ever fully understood that himself, but it hit me hard as a brick while sitting at the funeral with my mom, sisters, neices, and nephews and several other family and friends) out of the blue my husband announced I had less then 24 hours to pack for a 10 day trip to Hawaii ! I had spent four days with my mom preparing for the funeral, and upon my return home got sick. It was 4 days later when my husband informed me (while I was in bed recuperating)that I needed to get an ID card by tommorrow, pack and prepare for a 10 day trip. That was all he told me. The rest is a blur (it took me days to come out of the fog, even when I stepped foot off the plan in Oahu I still was in shock). I did get the word out though and our friends and family declared it a much needed trip and cheered us on (mostly Marc who had now become the "man",the "bomb", "husband of the year" and few other names that made him beam and stick his chest out). Its been a wonderful 12 days, and I came back with renewed spirit, 1800 pictures, a new suitcase (actually two) filled with gifts for family and friends, and a tan of all things!

What I learned from this trip:

Hawaii is a beautiful place, and even though it was never on my list of must see places I am very glad I was blessed with the opportunity to go. I would not have traded my time with Marc for anything. I also learned a lot about Marc, and that is that he is a very special man. Not that I didn’t know this after nearly 23 years of marriage, but the fact that he would take the time to surprise me with such and awesome gift. Hawaii has always been a place he wanted to visit and he actually wanted to share it with me. I also learned just how much I can count on my family. My uncle and my mom took good care of our "children" while we were away. I also realized how much I love my children and even though they can be a pain at times, and test my sanity on a daily basis, they are my life and I don’t like being separated from them. But I understand the importance of them learning to stand on their own and for the importance of Marc and me putting our relationship first because they may be my babies, but they are adults. I know this will not be our last trip alone together. We are in the process of planning an Alaskan cruise for our 25th anniversary. I also have learned the importance of giving back to someone the blessings God has bestowed upon us. Glen and Shelly were a blessing to us and so many ways (many I may not ever fully know). I hope in the future that we can do the same for someone else. I also see how much faith they put in God and his plan for not only their daily life, but there future. I think Marc learned a few things this trip also. Firstly, that he must take time to enjoy life (and not just work, and work) day by day. And secondly I know for sure that he has learned that God has a plan for his life and he need to only walk in faith that it will happen in God’s time and is his place. Yes, Hawaii can be described as a Paradise, but I found Paradise already existed in my marriage to Marc, and in my relationship with family and friends.

New Year, New Me !

OK, a friend pointed out that it was a new year and I have yet to update my blog. I am not one to make New Years Resolutions , but I do have a lot to be thankful for this year. So I decided now would be a good time to be a little more casual ( probably not in dress, but in attitude ) and not take myself so serious. So here goes a little "trivial pursuit". Found this questionnaire on Heidi Swapps blog, couldn't think of anything else to fill the space anyway. Hope you enjoy getting a little insight into the "real" me.






4 jobs I have held :

Salesperson at a Womens Dress Shop at the Mall
Mary Kay Consultant
Lady Remington Consultant
Creative Memories Consultant

4 Movies I have watched over and over again :

The Parent Trap was all I could think of, I'm not a big movie person. Plus, I rarely go back and look at a movie a second time. Except The Parent Trap which I have loved since I was a kid.

4 Places I have lived :

Kansas
Germany
Washington DC
Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Four TV shows I love to watch :

Starting Over
General Hospital
The Apprentice
Commander in Chief

Four places I have been on vacation :

Orlando Florida (of course)
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Ocean City, Maryland
Williamsburg, Virgina

4 Websites I visit Daily :

twopeasinabucket
wdwinfo
scrapshare
scraphappy

Four of my favorite foods :

Pasta ( any kind )
Cornbread
Barbecue Ribs ( also a no no )
Chips ( of course now I can’t eat them )

Four places I would rather be right now :

WDW
Shopping LSS
Cruising
Chillin in a jacuzzi

Four of my favorite bloggers :

My three I maintain ( one is mine, one is for hubby’s ministry and one is for my Christian women’s organization )
My friend PattyT
My friend Grover ( AKA Vanessa from Canada )
Heidi Swapp


So now you know a little something different about me. Next time I will be listing a few of my favorite things.

Don't Stress the Small Stuff

"I keep thinking we really need to step back and make it all not so stressful somehow...". A friend of mine recently made this comment about all the preparation involved in getting ready for Christmas. That got me thinking........


This really is the key. This year I was determined not to stress over Christmas. Starting early has helped. But when I feel overwhelmed I have had to step away and come back to whatever I was working on later. This "high blood pressure" stuff has forced me to not sweat the small stuff. And because I know I'm not good at the whole baking cookies, perfect Christmas dinner, perfect tree , over the top Christmas stuff it has really eased the stress factor. We even brought gift cards for some of the nieces and nephews this year. Sort of the like the queen Latifah commercial. They will be happy, and I don't spend days trying to find the "perfect" gift, only to disappoint someone ( usually myself ). Hang in there ladies. Christmas may only be days away, but it will get better. Its sort of like touring Disney. You can either do the commando thing, or slow down, not catch every attraction but really enjoy the experience. This year I have decided to enjoy the experience.
Cyndi

Home for Christmas

Those of you who know me, know I tend to stress out big time when it comes to Christmas. A few years ago I announced to my family that we were going to Disney for Christmas. It was the best Christmas ever. A few years went by and once again I planned a trip to WDW for Christmas ( actually we came home Christmas Eve ). This Christmas was a challenge, but upon my return I was convinced more then ever that the best plan for my family was a destination Christmas ( more then likely Disney ). Needless to say some people in my family were not to happy to hear this ( mainly my sister Cori ). But my children are all grown, and their Christmas wish list has gotten smaller, so the usual production of Christmas is no longer a problem for us. Also I enjoy leaving the cooking, cleaning and decorating up to the great folks at WDW ( less face it they spoiled me ). I like being able to go see all of the great decorations, listening to the great music, and spending time shopping for fun stuff rather then fighting folks for that one special gift that everyone and their mom is looking for. Disney allowed me to get back that family feeling you should have a Christmas. It allowed me to think about the true meaning of Christmas, and gave me time to reflect on what an awesome gift God gave us when Jesus was born. For the first time in a long time the gifts and the hussle and bustle of Christmas were not as important. Spending time with my family and friends meant more. Havin said all of that I have promised my sister that I will spend the next two years at home for Christmas ( after that all bets are off ). Which brings me to my story....I agreed to host Christmas dinner this year. Of course the old feelings of being overwhelmed by the process started all over again. But this weekend my husband changed all of that. After 23 years of marriage my husband finally broke down and went all out with the Christmas decorating. We spent all day Saturday outside setting up lights, bows, angels, and wreaths out front ( it wouldn't have taken as long if Marc had known how to change the fuse in our Christmas lights. A sure sign that this was foreign territory to him ). Its been a long time coming ( we have never had Christmas decorations up this early )and even though I see going away for Christmas becoming a family tradition in the coming years. I would not have traded this weekend for anything in the world. Maybe it finally paid off going to WDW for two Christmas in a row. Maybe it was just time, but for whatever reason I am soo glad I spent the day with Marc planning out and putting up our "Winter Wonderland " ( at least that's what Nicki called it when she got home from work that evening ). We still have a few more lights to go up ( there is a big tree on the side of the house that hubby has decided needs lights ). And I have already compiled a list for next year of things I would like to add on ( and yes, we may still decorate the outside even if we are away for Christmas ). I would like to add some trees and wreaths or swags to the front porch, and get two of the grazing reindeer. Maybe even a speaker with Christmas music playing on the front porch. Marc did surprise me by buying the angel this year, so I am content ( for now ). I love seeing it all lit up at night, but the best part for me was the time we spent together that day ( can you tell this was the best part for me ? ). Thanksgiving day I got really sick and spent the a week 1/2 recovering. "Black Friday" we tried to get out and do some shopping for Christmas , but by the middle of the afternoon my body has started to shut down , so we called it a day and went home. Marc spent the rest of that evening by my side while I slept. The day we spent on the Christmas lights was the first day I had felt like doing anything even remotely related to Christmas. That evening after we finally finished ( we were outside from 10:30 am to around 7:30 that night, in between several trips to the store ) I kept looking out the window like a kid waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve. Sounds crazy but the lights made me feel like a kid again, and frankly that's what I love about Disney. Thanks honey, for bringing that feeling of Disney to our home and for being such a kind and loving husband ( not to mention the fact that you took away all of the stress I usually associate with Christmas and turned it into a fun memory ). I guess you are a keeper, because you made me feel at home for Christmas.

IHOP

For several years a few of us will get together after church on Sunday evening and hit the local IHOP. Usually for omelet's or icecream ( in my case its usually a waffle ). The other night a few of us got together after a week of revival at church and just hung out together , laughing and cutting up like teens. It felt good to be able to just relax and spend time with some really good friends. Sometimes I think our children forget that us "old" parents like to get out and have fun also. I'm forever being told that I just don't get it. Huh! Sometimes I think they don't get it. They don't get that we use to be young once ( actually I still feel pretty young ) and that we like time to ourselves and that we don't always want to have to have worries or cares. I tell friends who have young children to remember to take time out for themselves. Plan a date night or go away for a weekend. And please take time to vacation away just you two. One day those babies will be grown ups and you and your husband will be home alone. You want to be able to enjoy the empty nest together rather then spend that time in seperate areas of that nest for the next twenty years !