Expressions Of Gratitude....

I haven't posted for a while....it's not that I have nothing to say, it's more like I have had too much on my mind and couldn't put it all down on paper. That seems to happen to me a lot, so I stay quiet!

But it's the holidays and I couldn't let the season go by without expressing my gratitude for the wonderful things in my life! No matter how hard things are at times, if I focus on the positive aspects of life, it gets me through the rough spots!

The other day, I was troubled about something and I received a phone call from my daughter. She told me that when she asked my 3 1/2 year old Grandson what he wanted Santa to bring him, he told her that Santa had to bring him a little tiny ball ornament to replace the one that broke on a little tree that I had on display because he wanted Grandma happy! Wow...it made me cry that he wanted me to be happy! When he sees me sad about something, he smiles at me or makes funny faces and says be happy Grandma. I have been truly blessed with this little bundle of love! He reminds me on a daily basis that true happiness comes from within and can be found everywhere you look, as long as you allow it in your heart!

Speaking of a bundle of love, my youngest daughter, who had fertility issues, is 30 weeks pregnant and is expecting a little girl in a few more weeks! That is a story worth sharing! My daughter lives in Italy with her husband who is in the Air Force. Because they are in Italy, I was able to fulfill a lifelong dream in May of visiting Italy and seeing where my Dad's family and my roots originated. Before I left, I had told a friend that the only thing that could make this trip even more amazing would be to hear the words "Mom, I am pregnant", from my daughter's lips! Well....I arrived in Italy and my daughter told me she wasn't pregnant but, I was in Italy, travelling with one of my best friends and visiting with my daughter! We saw Rome, Pompeii, Venice and many other small villages near my daughter's home! I also got to visit Germany!
But I feel like the most magical place we visited was the Trevi Fountain in Rome...my daughter and son-in-law made a wish, threw their coins, and drank from the fountain (in a potable spot) and the day before I left Italy to come back home, we were blessed with the news that she was pregnant! I can not describe to you how I felt at that moment except to say overwhelmingly filled with awe and gratitude!! My trip was a dream come true in so many ways!

I am grateful to the wonderful members of The Old Farmhouse Gathering and the support and kindness that is shown to each other on a daily basis! I will say that I am not a good poster, but I am there in spirit...not always in words!

I also want to thank all my customers! You make my heart sing when you write and let me know that you like an item I have created!

I have a lot of changes and choices to make in the coming new year and hope to share parts of my journey with you! I also hope I will blog a bit more and stifle the silence!

I could probably go on forever with all the things that I have to be grateful for in my life, but I just wanted to share some of the highlights and take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and wishes for a wonderful New Year ahead!!