I Love Surprises!!!

Heading home from work this evening, in the rain, searching for my mailbox key and thinking that it would be really nice to find something fun in my mailbox...instead of the usual bills & junk mail. Opened the box, and there was the key for the parcel box...hmmm...opened that box & inside was a surprise from one of my favorite blogging buddies, Shara @ Monkeybox. It seems that Shara hosted an egg swap at Easter, and there were some goodies left over, so she decided to send me a box of sweet Easter fabulosity! {I love that word, even if it does get underlined every time I use it!} This box was filled to the brim with some of the prettiest Easter eggs & tags & other cool stuff, all made with love by some of my other favorite bloggers! In her card Shara says "I'm told that eggs symbolize a new stage in life and new beginnings. I hope this brings you a smile if only for a second." A second?? I opened this box 2 hours ago and I'm still smiling. Thank you so much to Shara...and to all the other bloggers who added a smile to my day... Laurie, Sarah, Heidi, Jane & Wendy, Rebecca, Courtney, Sumee, Lisa, Gail & Debra...Some of you are already on my Morning Coffee Blog reading list, but those who are not on there will be soon. Thank you all for making my day...can hardly wait till next spring. You know now I'll have to put up a little Easter tree...check out all these goodies!! I love them all! Have a great week. *elaine* ps just realized this is my 1st blog post in over a month...didn't feel I had much to say so I've just been reading...Thanks Shara, for the extra little push I needed. *e*

Until we meet again...

On Friday March 12, we held the memorial service for Joe. We awoke that morning to rain & gray skies that showed no promise of breaking. Perhaps just as well, as I never want to resent the sun for shining when my heart is heavy. It was a beautiful memorial, with family & many friends. Joe's mother, 2 brothers & sister were with me...and although Joe had been estranged from his family for too many years, I felt nothing but love from them all. I feel I was given an opportunity to mend some old hurts & to move on. I hope that I can continue to mend these relationships. If I have learned anything from this tragedy, it is that life is too short & too precious to waste. Your life can change in the blink of an eye, and I do not want to reach the end of my life mourning what could have been. I want to embrace & celebrate what was, and will be. *elaine*

A New Week & Thank You....

I can hardly believe that a week has passed since I wrote about the death of my sweet Joe. Even harder to believe that I have been a widow for a week. I have spent the last 7 days in fog...I do what I must...but it feels like I am being guided by remote control. This day begins a new week, one in which I will say good bye to my Joe, and try to begin to fully grasp what has happened, and to try to get some kind of order back into my days, and not feel like I am swimming in molasses. I need to take this moment to say Thank You so very much to all who have stopped by my blog and left the most amazing comments. Your heartfelt prayers, sympathy and love have been incredible! I cannot thank you enough. When people tell me blogging is silly...or a way to escape the real world...or any other number of odd comments I have gotten from people when I say I have a blog...they really don't get it. Without this blog, I would never have had the chance to meet all of you. My days have been enriched by reading your words, and that will continue. Thank You, all! *elaine*

As soon as my heart stops breaking...

On Saturday, February 27, 2010 I lost the love of my life...Joe, my husband of 35 years. On Friday February 19th, Joe was in a very bad auto accident. He was air lifted from the site of the crash to the hospital...Trauma ICU...in critical condition. Despite the very best care given at the hospital, and prayers from all we know and love, Joe lost his battle, never regaining consciousness, at 2pm Saturday afternoon. Any other words are beyond my grasp at this moment in time...and I feel that my heart will never be whole again. Rest In Peace, my love. *e*

Happy New Year

Just a quick post to say Happy New Year to you all. Sorry my blogging has been nonexistent through December...been a rough month...but I'm ready to move on. Out with the old, and in with the new, and all the changes I hope this new year will bring. Found these vintage postcards stashed away...{note to self....stop hiding these goodies !}...so enjoy the sentiments & sweet art work from a much simpler time. Happy New Year! *elaine* ps...can anyone tell me why Blogger is underlining all my words, and giving me a hard time in general? I had 3 postcards to share & one of them just ...POOF...dissapeared! Heaven only knows where THAT one ended up! :o} *e*

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!! See you in 2010!! *elaine*

Seven Days of Thankful....Day 7

Okay folks....do I blame my total loss of memory on too much turkey?....that I turned 55 last Tuesday?...a senior moment????? I totally, completely forgot Day 7 of my seven days of thankful...where is my brain?!!!??? I'll make this short, sweet, and to the point. Sunday, November 29th, I am thankful for all of you! Yes, you!! For all of the funny, creative wonderful people I have met in my 2 years of blogging...Thank you all for being you! When I started this blog, I had no idea what or why I was doing...turns out that wasn't really very important. I have 50 followers and others who read my ramblings and take time out of their busy lives to leave comments, and that still amazes me! When I'm feeling down or out of sorts or just stressed, I can read what you all are doing, and it turns my day around. So thank you all!! Keep on blogging...you really do make a difference! Have a Happy Sunday, and bring on Christmas...it's coming...ready or not!!! *elaine*

Seven Days of Thankful...Day 6

Happy Thanksgiving to all....Today, November 26th...I am Thankful...just Thankful. Hope you all had a wonderful day with family & friends. *elaine*

Seven Days of Thankful...Day 5

Wednesday, November 25th. My seven days of Thankful would not be complete without a post for my 2 sons. These photos were taken in better, happier times...both sons are going through very difficult things right now. I miss the smiles on both of their faces and would give just about anything to see these smiles again. I can never give up the hope that they will both have better lives ahead...the joy & love they brought to my husband & I can never be replaced nor forgotten. I just have to pray that Chris will get better and that Jason will someday be able to live a full productive life...I pray for this every day. So...I am thankful for my 2 sons..I love you still and always will...*elaine*

Seven Days of Thankful...Day 4

Tuesday...November 24th....it's my birthday!! Today I am thankful for my parents, Amy & Arthur, for bringing me into this world 55 years ago! I was born on Thanksgiving eve, so this holiday has always been special to me. Some years my birthday falls on Thanksgiving, and when I was younger I thought it was a holiday just for me! My Mom would always wait until 6:21 pm to wish me a Happy Birthday, and after moving out on my own, I never felt I had turned that new age until I got her call. Hard to believe that 55 years have passed, both of my parents are no longer with us...but I feel so thankful today for the life & the love that they gave me. Thank you, Mom & Dad. I'll miss my 6:21 phone call....*elaine*

Seven Days of Thankful...Day 3

Monday, November 23rd...I am so thankful for my home. At a time when so many families have lost their homes, I feel so fortunate & blessed to have our little place on the lake. When we purchased this small piece of Florida sand 18 years ago, that was all it was. Sand & trees, no power or water...and this was during the recession of 1991. We bought a small camper that we lived in for 4 months, and finally found a single wide mobile home that we could afford. It's like the shoemaker's children being barefoot, as Joe is a carpenter, and we still have not given up the dream of building a small home on this land. In the meantime, it's a snug little home, has survived 4 hurricanes & a tornado, and several years ago we were able to pay off the mortgage, so it's truely ours. So...be it ever so humble, it is home, and when I pull in the driveway, I still feel that moment of peace that I am home...and that is a wonderful feeling. *elaine*