Missing the Hallmark Lady

I am missing the Hallmark Lady. This time of year is so hard everything I am doing right now we would be doing together. My mom always loved buying gifts for people, but maybe more than that she loved to wrap the presents for the recipient. NooneEVER got a reused wrap from her. You always got something beautifully wrapped, picked out special just for you. I liked to call her the Hallmark Lady because, well she used to work there and she loved shopping at hallmark and as I said in my eulogy she sent Hallmark cards for every occassion imaginable, even the 4th of july! This year I missed laughing and arguing with her over who had the scissors and wether or not I could get her to use the tape holder you wear on your hand !

Ella helped me with some of it, it was sad to hear her say " This is how Grandma taught me to do it mom". I look back over the past year and as these times come up I think back to our conversations or hear the kids talk and tell me things she told them and I can feel that she was preparing us for the fact that she might not be here. The fact that she showed Ella how to wrap or the last time she made stuffed cabbage she wanted to show me how. I wished I would have paid more attention at the time, but I never wanted to believe that she was really that sick. I'm trying to enjoy the holidays, but it's hard I've got to keep it going for the kids sake. I feel like the last year just flew by so quickly, we were so busy keeping her moving forward and getting her to the wedding.
This week I'm going to try to slow down a bit, try to be quiet ( if you know me that's gonna be HARD) and to try to be thankful for all the memories and giftsthat last year gave us.

I have spent alot of time, and money in our local Hallmarks lately, missing mom, but also feeling close to her. How she loved picking out wrapping, cards and envelopes and course... they were all matching! So this year I went all out with the hallmark wrapping, in honor of the kindest, most thoughtful person I've ever met!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Golden Globe nominations!

I'm so excited it is officially awards season! I love this time of year. We are now in the thick of the OSCAR movie season and today the Golden Globe nominations came out. http://movies.aol.com/golden-globes/nominee-winnerNo big shocking upsets that I can tell. However, if Tom Cruise was ever going to get an Oscar this was the year and it would have been for Tropic Thunder. I was not a fan of that movie, but his performance was spectacular. The problem I see is that Heath Ledger is also nominated for the GG and if this a fortelling of the Oscars the golden statue will go to Heath. Hands down that young man performed his @%& off!

I am currently working on a Oscar scrapbooking project and will show after the Holidays when I reveal my next CONTEST!!!!!!!

For your viewing pleasure some of my Favs of the season! I am a little troubled by James Franco's nomination for Pineapple Express and not Milk? Seems like an error. I was also surprised that Brad Pitt wasn't nominated for Burn After Reading. He was fabulous in that movie. Yes, he was VERY easy on the eyes, but he was also so endering and sweetly innocent and Dang funny. One of the better movies I have seen this year. Quirky, but what do you expect from the Cohen brothers, but also fiercely clever. Definatley worth renting.

Blogging problems / Willow address

http://light.willowcreek.org/

Here's the address to register for tickets.

Christmas service idea

I wanted to share with you two things I've seen at a church in our area. The church is Willow Creek Community church, located in Barrington Il. The first video is from the Easter service a couple of years ago. The second was from last years Christmas service. This year the service is called Light. Each year the church puts on this service or " performance" for Free for anyone. You can reserve tickets at http://light.willowcreek.org/ It really is always quite moving. The tickets go quickly and maybe sold out, however becaue they are free people do not always show up and if you are not seated 15 minutes prior to the service time they give those seats up. There are always some seats available. It doesn't matter what your religion is, it is really something special to see and be a part of. Last year my daughter and her friend got to be part of the ensemble. The work,love and spirit that goes into this is quite astounding. So if you are from the area go it will be worth it, it may even be, dare I say.... Life Changing. You should go real early stop by Dr. B's( it's a coffee house in the church) and get yourself some coffee or hot chocolate. There is also a pre show a half hour before the start of the service that you don't want to miss. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_T2z4ktzfQ