Alivia's Paris Room...

Aliva Renee' ... wanted a Paris Theme in her room ... so here is what is going on
in Alivia's Bedroom. She is so excited and just loving each new item in her room.
The walls are a soft Pink ...reminds me of the ... "Cotton Candy Pink Peony" in our
yard. She wanted everything Pink with Black and some Bling Bling. It is looking
sweet ... so French ... ooh La La! This is a big part of Alivia turning 9 soon.

Sweet Caroline ... is 5 today

I remember the day we got the phone call from Corey about the birth of Caroline, his first born child that made him a "Daddy" and would make him a new person in so many wonderful ways and experience now the love of a parent for his child. I could feel
the pure joy & excitement in his voice on the phone with him. Heather was now a "Mommy" and she is a wonderful Mother.
Looking at Caroline...I see my son...in many ways...social, funny, loves family,
determined, and has a lot of energy. Like Heather...she is so sweet, thoughtful,
loving, loves to be home and is so beautiful...and I could go on. I am so thankful for Caroline
blessing our life and touching us with her sweetness...and Caroline can sing too!

Happy Birthday...Sweet Caroline! We love you & miss you! Call us when you open your cards and gifts from Papa & Nana. Eat lots of yummy cake & ice cream...and have a fun
birthday! Kiss & hug Jameson for us...Mommy & Daddy too.

Abundance is ... a card in the mail from Papa & Nana

Abundance is ... licking the beaters.

Abundance is ... the laughter of children.

Abundance is ... family.

abundance is ... is paying attention to the moment here and now.

Mom's Place ...

Abundance is ... not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.

Abundance is ... the gifts and the potential God has given you.

Abundance is ... laugh lines instead of frown lines in an older face.

Abundance is ... telling stories, enjoying good food, and sitting around
the table laughing.

I took a few more pictures of Mom's Place since ... the shower door was installed,
the bedding Jodie & Dennis have for Grama is ready and in her closet. When her bed
is made up it will be so comfy & cozy.
I tried the stove out and made one of our favorite recipes...from Heather...
"Spicy Spinach Dip" and Mom's Place ... smelled wonderful and the stove worked great.
The next pictures posted should be of Mom ... moving in and the rooms all set up.

Our Family ... The Kirklands

To get the feeling of leaving your homeland of Scotland and coming to America to start a new life is hard to imagine for me...I have never been to Scotland. I can share with some videos of Scotland and New York, U.S.A. and what our family arrived to and their experience of living now in Detroit, Mi. Take a few minutes and experience the times of their day. Scroll down to the play list/music and turn off to be able to hear the videos. Put on a pot of tea...I remember drinking tea with cream & sugar and eating open faced broiled cheddar cheese toast and a soft boiled egg in the special egg holder with Great Grampa Kirkland in Aunt Jean's kitchen. How calm he was and the way he walked and sat there and just talked with a little girl of 6-7 years old and how I loved to hear that Scottish brogue... I really miss not hearing all of them together talking, laughing and singing. I can smell his pipe tobacco just thinking of him. Enjoy some good memories of your heritage...would be great to share a wee bit with me over a cup of tea anytime...soon. Hot tea is always in my kitchen with cream & sugar...thanks to my Great Grampa teaching me how to drink a a cup of tea.
Tea, I think, fosters friendship by inviting us to be present to one another -
right now, in the moment.

Polly put the kettle on, we'll all have tea. CHARLES DICKENS





Last week... I went to Patty's and she had scanned many of my photos for me in her computer and Jim put the pictures on CDs for me...plus I now have old family heritage
photos of my Mom's family...The Kirkland's. My grandfather... Andrew, was the oldest
of eleven...11 children and Patty's mother...my Aunt Jean, was the youngest of the siblings. My grandfather was the first of the family to leave Scotland and come to
America. Then in 1929... my Great Grandparents, James & Janet and six more children came to America, and arrived in Detroit Mi. Waiting for their family were their sons,
Andrew, Jim and Bill. Their married daughters, Polly & Isa stayed in Scotland.
With all these photos I will be working on a wonderful Memory Frame for Mom ...that
will show her life in photos. Thanks, Patty for your kindness and the treasure you have shared with us.

A Few of My Favorite Things ...

My Scrap Room ... is a place I love to be in to create & keep memories alive.
I have been re-organizing my room to make it easier to see and get to my
supplies and not look again...because I know I have that...somewhere. I pulled my
paper storage out of the closet...seeing that is what I am always needing. Now it is out and ready. The new Clip It Up ... is so sweet...just so easy to see it all.
I still have more to organize...but it is already better and will make scrapping
fun, quicker and not feel so overwhelmed trying to get it all together...before I start a project. If you have any good tips to share...please share with me.
Enjoy...my Scrap Room.