Christmas with the Family

So, I am just laying here in my Aunts bed watching football. Christmas here is over, the food has been eaten (partially), and the presents for the night have all been opened. I'm sitting here thinking about people wanting more presents or wanting something else and I see my little cousin Josie running around taking pictures of everyone and I think, "this is what's most important." It's not important how much money we got or how many gifts we opened, all though we should all be thankful for the time and effort someone put into getting us them, but it's our family. You never know if it will be someone's last time to celebrate or see everyone.

I just ask that everyone on Christmas to tell at least one person that you love them and appreciate them. If you tell more that's amazing.

With all the health issues in my family right now, I realize how petty it is to be complaining about having to run errands we don't want to or that someone has said something that didn't set well with us. I'm so blessed that I still have my Nana and Papa here this Christmas and that I have all my family around me.

Now I'm out in my Aunts kitchen with my cousin on my lap and I think that this is the life that I want and love.

A Smile That Will Be Missed

Monday we lost a very special person in this world. A person that we can't necessarily understand why he would be taken from us. A person who didn't care if he knew you well, he made you feel like you were best friends for years. A person who would never pass you by without saying Hello with the biggest smile you'd even seen on a person. his smile was truly infectious. If you don't know, just go on his facebook and read the many stories everyone is posting and see all the pictures of that infamous smile.

I know that I will never forget that smile. I will never forget what an amazing friend to my brother and all his other friends you were. Your family is truly blessed to have had a son that touched so many people in only his 24 years of life. We all wish to be so lucky to know such a person and we were all truly blessed to have had him in our lives. I can only hope that if my time came, I would see that I was able to touch at least half the people that this amazing man did.

I know that it is hard for us to understand why he has left us. I can only believe that his job God put him here was done and was needed more in Heaven. He is now there to watch over each an every person that he has touched. So don't think that he is gone because he's not. Every time the wind blows through the leaves, he'll be there. Every time your heart is aching, he'll be there. And everytime you laugh and you put on the biggest smile that you can, he'll be there.

An Ornamental Christmas...Tree That Is

So I decided to make a Christmas tree inspired by the Home Depot commercial. It is fairly simple just a little time consuming. I spaced it out and didn't do it all at once.

You will need:

Clear tacks if you're hanging it from the ceiling, (you'll need metal hooks if hanging it from a chandelier like in the commercial )

Ornaments ( you can use one color or several. I used 3 colors and all different patterns )

Clear Fishing line

Hammer

Tape measure or yard stick
Scissors

If you are using different colors or designs I suggest laying them out before hand to get the right pattern you want. They will be easy to move, but I'm sure you won't want to very many times. Once you have your pattern you'll want to look at the space you are going to put these in and plan out how long you want each row and how far apart. Mine are 4" longer for each row and about an 1 1/2" wider for each.