Week 20! Oprah Blues! Doll House Love! Miniatures! Walking & Zumba!

Oprah Blues!  After 25 years, Oprah, one of my best friends, is leaving me to start another chapter in her life and she didn't even mention my name on any of her shows!  She only mentioned some of the things I was struggling with.  When I saw her last show the tears were flowing as she acknowledged God in a way that was so powerful, it confirmed what I knew all along, that she believes in the same God I believe in.  I'm better now.  Thank you Lord!

A Doll House has been sitting around looking at me for a while and thanks to The Oprah Magazine's Living Your Best Life,  I am decorating a Doll House to give to a little girl.  I will put all the love I can into decorating this little house and I'll post pictures as I go.

In the meantime, making dollhouse miniatures, walking, Zumba and Grandsons will help me continue with another chapter of My Journey to Celebrating Life!

The cute miniature beaded dress and purse in picture was made by me.  My thanks to God for the wisdom to recognize and take advantage of the creative quality He gave me.  According to the Scriptures below, creative qualities are a part of all of us. 
  
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Genesis 1:1
So God created mankind in his own image,
   in the image of God he created them;
   male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

Thank you again for following my blog.  Words of inspiration are always appreciated.

Week 19! Pain, Pain & More Pain! Depressed? Look at The Miniature Doll!

Study this beautiful dollhouse miniature doll in the picture for a moment.  Notice the sad expression on her lovely face. Is she going on a trip?  Nice luggage.  Well, she looks exactly how I've felt all week.  I miss my grandsons and I think I must have pulled a few muscles at the end of week 18.  We finally made it to top of mountain with boys in tow, but I'm still feeling physical pain. 

Depressed?  Grandma is having withdrawal pains after loving it up with my boys for almost a week.  I don't feel like walking or dancing.  I've only walked  one day this week.  I'm sad that Arnold hurt Maria.  I feel her pain.  My heart and prayers are constantly going out to the tornado victims and all the other victims I hear or read about this week.  Misery does love company.  But as of today,  I'm cutting back on watching all the breaking news and I'm leaving my miserable company.  I'll get rid of this pain and get on with my journey to celebrating life! 

Thanks to all of you encouraging me to move forward.  I am really grateful.

Doll by Yolanda Laracunte-Romero.  Elegant hat by Felma.  Luggage unknown.

Week 18! Weather Is Not Cooperative! Shut In! Time To Reflect: Willie Wiswell!

If I had control over the weather, week 18 would've started differently.  My two grandsons are visiting for a few days and it is cold, windy and raining and they want to go hiking in the mountains. I'm not ready for that yet.  We managed a short walk yesterday.  Had to turn back when my four year old was hit by a gust of wind and loudly announced, "I'm having a bad day!" We have played games, trains, cars and karoke to our heart's content. 

I've taken advantage of my shut-in as a time to reflect.  The picture above is my miniature friend Willodean (Willie) Wiswell and me.  The first time I attended a miniature club meeting, Willie invited me to dinner along with some friends.  We had a great time!  On another occasion Willie invited me to her home for lunch and a tour of her miniature collection.  A Huge Collection of fine miniatures!  During lunch she informed me that she needed a liver transplant and without it her doctor "predicted" about 18 months of survival.  We were having lunch at month 19 and she looked great and said she felt great. Due to her age, Willie said she was way down on the transplant list, but stated that it was not going to stop her from enjoying the rest of her life to the fullest, and she did.  She lived a few more years.   Willie found goodness in everything.  I miss her.  Read her obituary by clicking on the link below or google her name to learn more about this great a lady.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/lbpresstelegram/obituary.aspx?n=willodean-wiswell&pid=145071811

"Where do you find goodness when recession hits, when you lose your job, your home, when things seem to fall apart around you?  In all the things we tend to overlook:  feeling the gentle breeze on your skin, the sunlight filtering through the clouds, the sound of the rain, the wagging tail of a dog, the shiny apple you are about to bite into.  You notice the in-and-out flow of your breath, the feeling of aliveness inside your body.  And then there is the beautiful stillness behind it all, which is deep within you.  It is through gratitude for the present moment that the spiritual dimension of life opens up."  Eckhart Tolle

My husband lost his job a year and a half ago when the recession hit.  Complications dealing with the long term side effects of breast cancer surgery has not been easy, but, as Willie, I find goodness in my miniature hobby along with hugs and kisses from my grandsons, just to name a few.  I am grateful.  Thank you God.

Thanks to all of you for reading my blog and Love To All.

Week 17! Zumba Class - Walking! Still Hanging In There!

It makes my day when I get a surprise visit from my grandsons, but sometimes this one in the picture at 18 months can be a challenge.  He knows he can take advantage of grandma's weakness, kindness, love or whatever you want to call it.  He sneaks a bag of cookies from the kitchen pantry and when I find him in the living room eating them, "Give it to grandma!" I demand.  He licks his tongue out at me with the cutest smile I've ever seen!  What was I supposed to do?  All I could do was grab my handy dandy camera and take his picture.  Children are so much fun to watch and entertain because you never know what to expect.  On a hot day last week, I decided to take him along in his stroller so I pulled off his shoes and socks, gave him a bottle of water and a few snacks to enjoy during his ride and the next thing I know he is snoring really, really loud.  I locked the wheels on the stroller and just stood there looking down at him with his legs propped up on the side of stroller, praying that throughout his life there would be lots of days like this, so relaxed, so trusting, so loved.  Thank You God.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” - Psalm 139:13-14

Week 16 ended with a very nice Mother's Day luncheon with my favorite daughter.  I went to my Zumba class or walked every day during the week and must say that I feel wonderful.  Looking forward to my first marathon in October.  Please keep the encouraging e-mails and phone calls coming.  Again, thanks to all of you for your support.  Love To All.

Week 16! Having Fun Making Miniatures! Ready For Mother's Day Celebration!

Week 16 started with Zumba.  Loving it!  Climbing Mountains.  Loving it!

Making Miniatures.  Loving it!  The above pictures show the gown I made using  gowns Janyce made as inspiration.  The gowns shown in background are some of Janyce's first and she did a great job!  Thank you Janyce for the birthday gift.  You can view the gowns I've  made and put up for auction on eBay by clicking on the link below: 

http://shop.ebay.com/anyminimore/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25

Happy Mother's Day to all of you great mothers in the world!  Hope your day is as beautiful as you are.  Enjoy your day.  Love To All.

Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.  Genesis 3:20 NIV

Thank you God!

Week 15! Climbed The Mountain! Stepped on Scales With "No Fear" " I Ate It Up!"

Please click on the link below to listen to Mahalia Jackson w/choir singing the song on youtube that I was humming huffing and puffing up the mountain today.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3AsPjDtmTQ&NR=1

At week 15 it seems almost ridiculous to ask this question, "Will I make Week 5?"  Look at where I was 10 weeks ago! My photo after finishing week 5,  "Will I make Week 5?  I made it!!!" Challenging yes, but thanks to my hubby who is an excellent motivator, coach and trainer;  The two of us are walking, climbing, becoming closer friends and adding fire to our already hot romance.  He still carries the golf club, but doesn't have to nudge me with it anymore. Starting week 15 we climbed the mountain.  When we returned home he made bacon, eggs, fried potatoes with toast, strawberry jam, blueberries and a glass of orange juice.

While he was making breakfast, I showered and afterwards stepped on my trusty digital scale with "no fear."  I had only lost 10 pounds in 14 weeks!  Was I disappointed?  Honestly, yes.  Did I cry? A little.  But, I didn't boo hoo!  "Zumba will help take off the pounds," I told myself.  I enjoyed my breakfast and thanked my husband.

Why I didn't BOO HOO:  A few days ago I was running and playing soccer at the park with my 18 month old grandson when he saw a kid playing with a smaller ball that looked like his soccer ball and he wanted it.  The kid's mom walked over and said, "Your son is so cute, he looks just like you and if you don't mind he can trade with her for a little while."  She said, your son!  This lady had five kids!  The oldest 12 and youngest 6 months, all by C-section.   And she said, your son!  We talked for awhile about having children as we watched the kids play and she wanted to know if I had my son by natural birth or C-section!  I ate it up!  Which actually means, I doted on every word she said as I felt myself getting fuller and fuller from the joy I was feeling.  Well, you know the story.  Finally, after I felt full enough,  I said, "I'm his grandmother and I just turned 62," we both started laughing and hugging one another and jumping up and down as we hugged.  She said, "The way you were running, kicking that ball and keeping up with him, I thought, surely you had to be his mother!  Oh my God, what are you doing to stay so young?" You know the story, 15 weeks!  I told her my story.  She vowed to climb her mountain.

Again, thanks to all of you following my blog and to those of you that are sending much needed encouraging e-mails.  Please don't stop because it is encouraging to know someone cares about My Journey to Celebrating Life.  Please help motivate me to blog every week for 600 more weeks which equates to about 11 more years.  Then I can start over and go for 11 more years as a survivor.  Then start over, again.

Lord Don't Move The Mountain!  I have had this song in my heart for many, many years and never knew I would physically climb a mountain.  WOW!  Love to All.

Ending WeeK 14 Honoring My Grandmother Easter And The End Of Easter Season!

My Grandmother's Name Was Easter.  I think about my grandmother, Easter, especially now that I am a grandmother and especially during Easter Season.  She was the mother of nine children and God called her home when she was 84.  The comforting smile you see in the picture is what I remember the most.  She was a strong beautiful woman loved by tons of grandchildren and others.

*Why Do Christians Celebrate Easter?
Christians believe, according to Scripture, that Jesus came back to life, or was raised from the dead, three days after his death on the cross. As part of the Easter season, the death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion is commemorated on Good Friday, always the Friday just before Easter. Through his death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, thus purchasing for all who believe in him, eternal life in Christ Jesus.

(For a more detailed explanation about his death and resurrection, see Why Did Jesus Have to Die? and Timeline of Jesus' Final Hours.)

*Information taken from About.com 

Hope your Easter Season is a great one. Thank you again for reading my Blob and may God continue to Bless you.

Week 14 Zumba! Come Out Of The Closet Celebrate Life And Zumba With Me!

Last week I wrote about how "time waits for no one,"  but I didn't mean you have to rush things.  Look at the June Bride in the picture to the left and see how great she looks in her wedding gown.  It is never too late to enjoy life! At five inches tall, this doll was a lot of fun to create as an older bride and the wedding gown she is wearing is one of the best I've made!

At 62, I am having the time of my life.  I ended week 13 with a great accomplishment; I walked seven days straight!  Yesterday, starting week 14 was my first Zumba class and afterwards I went to my doctor's office for my usual random blood pressure check and for the very first time in years it was so low I walked out of that office feeling free!  Thank You Lord!

Today my husband and I went mountain climbing.  Tonight as I write this blog my eyes are burning and watery because I just had a massage with Tiger Balm.  Zumba is soooo much fun, but my class yesterday was intense and one on one, therefore, I used muscles I didn't know I had and they needed some tender loving care before going back to class tomorrow morning.  My hope is that my strength will continue to be renewed as I Celebrate Living.  Thank You Lord!

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;  but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV

  See Zumba in action on youtube by clicking on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf0q6qtThF4&feature=related

Again, thanks to all of you for your encouragement and prayers.  Love to All.

Week 13! Here Already And I'm Not Ready! Does Time Wait For Anyone?

No, time does not wait for anyone, so to all you beautiful ladies out there, waiting to drop a few pounds before you say, "I do," forget it.  Wedding Gowns can be made in any size, like the beautiful one I made to the left, which is 5 inches tall.

Before week 13 started I was going to step on the scales and proudly announce to my readers my new weight loss!  Well, I couldn't do it.  I could not force myself to get on those scales, although I know I've lost a few pounds judging by the more comfortable fit of my clothes, my blood pressure and diabetes readings, but most of all by the dreamy look in my hubby's eyes, especially when he "accidentally" walks past each time as I'm stepping out of the shower. 

So, I cannot believe time has flown by and now it is week 13.  I have not weighed since the day before I started my journey to Celebrate Living.  I am eager to see how much weight I've lost, but more eager to continue the road to better health. I gained a few pounds during my two weeks of illness.  But, the great thing is that I'm back to walking two/three miles a day.  And tonight I really enjoyed Zumba to the max!

Coming out of the closet is going to help me set new goals.  I imagine my new goals will be;  Don't let weight hold me back from doing the things I love to do.  To eat healthier and keep on walking and Zumba, no matter what, because TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE!

Again, thanks to those of you following my blog and keep the encouraging e-mails coming.  Love to all.

Week 12 - Celebrate Living! Dollhouse Miniature Wedding Gowns

Week 12 is a very special week!  I'm recovering from this awful cold, resumed training, celebrated another birthday, celebrated my 11th year as a cancer survivor and celebrated five years of designing and making dollhouse miniature wedding gowns.  WOW!  What a feast!  Hope you celebrate living too.  Please tell me what your favorite hobby is and how you celebrate living.