Christmas Memories (this takes awhile to load)

Another digital slideshow by Smilebox

Beachy kinda day!

Saturday dawned sunny and mild...it brings out the beach in Ed & I.  So, while some of my friends were dealing with snow and COLD, we set off to the coast.  About an hour drive.  First stop on the way was at the causeway on Tampa Bay called Ben Davis Beach.  We explored a little and sat at the Tiki bar to just take in the view.  Gator Cakes anyone?  It really is alligator meat.  What else can we do with all these gators down here?  Our final destination - Clearwater Beach.  Just beautiful.  No crowds.  White sand.  Ahhhh.  I love the sea turtles on top of their rinse off showers! Makes me smile every time I look at them.  Wish you were here!?

Snowfest 2011

Snow...made simple!  This past Saturday, 12/3, was our first experience with the event in Lakeland called Snowfest.  From our living room window we could see and hear (because it was 78 degrees and the windows were open) the children laughing and playing in the SNOW!  It brightened our day!  The children had so much fun and the parents didn't have to shovel or freeze!  It did make me wish my g-babies were here to enjoy some "winter" fun with Grammy and Pappy!

Lakeland, FL. The place we call home.

Ed and I officially moved to Florida  - June 2011 staying at a family home in the area of Haines City.  Then we began to set our sites on where the Lord wanted our "home" to be.  It took a little while - with some ups and downs- but the day we drove into Lakeland we both knew this was it!  It was a Sunday in September and we found an apartment complex with vacancies, Lake Mirror Tower.  Being Sunday, the leasing office was closed but as Providence would have it- a couple walking home from church ran into us and gave us a guided tour of their apartment and the facilities of the Tower!  We moved in Oct. 3rd.
The process of this move has made us take steps toward a simpler setting.  We came form a 2100 sq. ft. home to a 675 sq. ft. apartment! Wow!  The truth be known...most "stuff" I don't miss.  Having room for family/friend visits would be the number one loss we have but I'm working on a solution.  So far, we have a sofa bed, and the Tower's hospitality suite for guests is being renovated early 2012.
Lakeland is a beautiful central Florida location.  My favorite is the downtown area.  It's small but clean, well supported, has tons of events, and we can walk from the Tower.  The swan is the symbol for the city of Lakeland.  It's an interesting story if you would like to check it out. www.flcities.com/membership/city_trivia_lakeland.asp

"A woman who desires a simple life will find a way to achieve it." Unknown

As the new year approaches I have begun to meditate on exactly "what is simplicity"?  How do I get there?  Will I like it when I achieve it?  Journey with me...comment, laugh, cry, ...aren't those some simple things I can get started with?
A woman finding the way to a simple life?  Is it possible?  I believe it is and this is my journey!

Eli...happy birthday!

Today my grandson turns 2!  Wow!  I am so blessed!

First day of the rest of his life.

6 months old

2 years old