Thoughtful Gifts

I absolutely love giving gifts. I try very hard to pick something meaningful and specific for the receipient.

This year I received 2 gifts that were so "ME" and so thoughtful!!!

I love to cook, bake and entertain. My goddaughter, Arianna, gave me a gift that was tailored to mine and her love of baking. She gave me a christmas photo holder that already had a picture of her holding cookies she had made and she was in her chef hat and apron. Along with that she gave me some fresh home made cookies, a cook book that is specifically geared towards cookie exchanges and a towel that matched the photo holder. It meant the world to me...simple, yet extremely thoughtful, and the thoughtfulness made me feel very special.

I also took part in a secret santa gift exchange this season. My friend, Nicole, covered all of my favorite things! In my gift bag I found:
2 Picture Frames (I love photography)
A stainless steel spoon rest/stand (I love to cook)
3 Chocolate Bars (self explainatory)
12 ice shot glasses (We love to entertain)
A Starbucks Gift Card (so that something in the bag would be just for me)

Again - all simple items but collectively an amazingly thoughtful gift!!!

I thanked them both more than once and I truly hope they both know how special these gifts made me feel.

The moral of my story is...it is not the money spent on a gift that matters...it is the thought you put behind it.

A moment in time

I am continually amazed at how a song can take us back to a very specific moment in time, good or bad.

I have experienced this often and actually had a moment just like this when I was taking Danielle to the orthodontist the other day.

Here is how it happened...

The topic on the radio was "What is your favorite non-lyric in a song that is made/sung by the singer or another member of the band?" Lots of great answers were being phoned in and I was really enjoying it. Then it happened...someone called in and said "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" you know it:

We-de-de-de

De-de-de-de

De-we-um-um-a-way

We-de-de-de

De-de-de-de

We-um-um-a-way

That was it for me...I immediately looked at Danielle and started crying. You see back in September 2010 our family and another family went to Disney World. We spent one day at The Animal Kingdom...one of our favorite shows there is "Festival of The Lion King." During the show when they sing this particular song they pick children from all throughout the audience and form a parade where they all sing and dance along. This time as the parade was forming one of the characters from the show approached a family sitting at the bottom of our section and asked if he could take their special needs son along with him in the parade. The boy was in a wheel chair and clearly needs lots of help...which is what prompted the cast member to ask his parents if it would be alright. All of this happened in about 5 seconds and the boy and cast member were on their way and in the parade. The boy was smiling from ear to ear, the cast member had a smile just as big as he pushed the wheel chair and...Me, Joe and our friend Lisa were all shedding tears - what a moment for all of us to see. YES, I realize moments like this happen, especially at Disney...but our moment was extended as we ended up being right next to this family as we exited the theater. The parents were so excited for their son and we could see how choked up they were over everything that just took place.

I have many very special Disney moments...and many songs that take me back to a special or not so special place in time...but rest assured any time I hear The Lion Sleeps Tonight I will think of this boy and his family, the cast member whos face is forever etched in my mind and my husbands reaction and how moved he was by something so simple.

Danielle was so moved by our moment in the car as I explained to her why I teared up that she is the one who just suggested I blog about it.

Scrooge

We took the kids to see Scrooge at the Children's Theater on Friday night. The show was wonderful...great acting and the man who played Scrooge was outstanding!!!

The part I loved the most was when we left and I asked the kids if they like the play - and they said they did. Little Joe took it one step further and said "Mom, I learned that life is not about how much money you have...it is about how you treat people!!!" I was so glad to hear him say that.

Our kids are very blessed, as are Joe and I, and I am very proud that both of them absolutely realize that. For Danielle reality is hitting very close to home - she has friends who are very dear to her who's families are experiencing very hard times. She has empathy for them and a solid appreciation for the things that she has/does (like dance) that are out of reach for these other kids right now.

As much as I would love to spare them of these realities...I also think being exposed to the economy today and how it has affected people has really helped them learn very important life lessons.

My Favorite Christmas Decorations

Our house is fully decorated for Christmas now...I love this time of year, especially when all the decorating is done and we can sit back and soak it all in. My mom was always great at decorating for the holiday's and we all have so many fond memories or Christmas at our house.

I thought I would share some of my favorite decorations with you as well as why I love them so much....

This is our Captain Hook Nutcracker...we are Disney people, we have one room that is full of Disney Christmas decorations...Steve & Regina (Joe's brother and wife) bought this for us years ago...they are Disney people as well, we have shared many trips to Disney together. The thought and symbolism behind the gift is what makes it so special.
Disney Christmas Globe...my brother bought this for me and Joe the first Christmas we were married. 16 Christmases later every time I take it out I remember our first Christmas

Disney ladder - all of the characters move and ring bells. My brother bought this for us for our 2nd Christmas once he realized we would have a Disney themed Christmas area in our house. He loves that we still use it - and all of the kids in our lives love it as well.

These candy dishes were made by my grandmother. They were in her house for as long as I can remember...now I put them on my dining room table every year and each time I see them they make me smile because I think of her.

This Norman Rockwell plate hung in our house every year since I was a kid - for me it is a symbol of my childhood and all of the amazing Christmas Eve's we had in our house.

This stocking was made by my Aunt Angie (my great Aunt actually - my grandmother's younger sister) she was an amazing lady with so much love in her heart. I feel honored that I have this to hang in my house every year.

This little stocking was something my father bought as a joke one year. It is a great reflection of his joking personality!!!

Santa is over 20 years old...my dad gave it to my mother all of those years ago. Each year when she looks at it her face lights up as she says how old it is. Even more so when someone who has never seen it comes over...she loves to tell them how long she has had it and that my dad bought it for us. For me it symbolizes the love they shared...and how something so simple and small can be so meaningful.

December 3, 1975

35 years ago a beautiful person named Kim Rebello-Williams was born.

Kim and I met before my Danielle and her Cherokee were even born - it was just Cheyenne. Now between us there are 6 kids!!! We both worked a second job at Hops in Matthews and that is where we met. My biggest blessing from that job was meeting Kim.

I have told Kim many times how I continually strive to be like her. Kim is absolutely the biggest example of a Godly wife, mother, daughter and friend that you will ever, ever find. There are so many examples I could give - I wouldn't even know where to begin. Let me just speak in some general ways. Kim always puts her family first, always. And while doing that she never complains or says "when do I get me time." I have seen people treat Kim or her children or husband poorly and she never is bitter or vengeful. She just chooses to pray for those people. I have seen Kim be completely down and out yet give her last to someone else with true joy in her heart and without worry about what will happen, because that is the kind of faith she has. She praises God for all she has and pays it forward 2 or 3 times over in so many ways.

The biggest compliment I can give Kim is that I know with 100% certainty if I called her right now and said "I need you and I need you now" she would do whatever it takes to be there. And again with joy and no complaints.

Kim - I am truly blessed to call you my friend, I continue to admire you and work towards being like you in all of these areas. May God continue to bless you!


Your true beauty is your heart...although this is a great picture of you!!!

Things you may not know about me

I pride myself on trying to always have a good outlook on life. Most of the time I succeed - some days, like today, I have a hard time. Even when I am having a hard time I tell myself "this is the devil trying to have his way with you...Don't let him win" - so to an outsider it may seem like all is always well. Those very close to me have been there for me and seen me through bad days, they are so very supportive and I am very blessed to have these people in my life.

Here are some things you may not know about me - or things I struggle with:

My feelings do get hurt...mostly because I really try to not intentionally hurt others feelings.

I worry about/for other people...because I love them and I want the best for them.

If I am capable of helping someone in any way I will...but I do wonder who would/could help me if I needed it.

I really can't do it all...but I will always knock myself out trying and put "me" at the bottom of the list.

I never do anything for anyone with the expectation of "getting back"...but it is nice when people express appreciation - instead of expectation.

I am sensitive...even if I seem direct or strong.

I hope by writing these things down tonight that tomorrow will be a better day...I never like feeling like this.

Fair Weather Fans

We took the kids to their first NFL Game yesterday...we were lucky enough to receive 4 GREAT tickets from one of Joe's vendors. We suited up in our Panther's gear, tailgated, walked around the whole stadium...basically trying to give them the whole experience.

The shot you see above is from early in the 3rd quarter...all the blue you see represents empty seats. Do you see how many people either didn't show up or left early? Fair weather fans is what I call them...

When I originally took the picture I was trying to post it to Facebook with a comment about how being from NY this is not what I am used to...Jets or Giants could be 0-15 and the seats would still be full...and you would have paid good money for the 0-15 team. For some reason it never uploaded.

This morning it hit me why...there is more to it. What God placed on my heart this morning was...how many of us are fair weathered in other area's of our lives?

In our marriages/relationships are we only happy and "in love" when things are going exactly as we think they should? Are we willing to put in the time and effort necessary to make it work - make it through till the end?

Are we fair weathered friends...do we not want to be bothered with our friends when they are going through a rough time (whether we think it is rough or not is irrelevant.) Are we too busy in our own marriage, relationship, etc...to see when a friend needs us? Do we focus only on ourselves and the issues we have?

As parents...are we giving 100% to our children and their upbringing even when they are making choices we don't agree with? Does it appear we favor one child over another because they are "making better choices" than their siblings? Is it easier for us to relate to one child over another because we have a common interest? Do we let our kids know that no matter their grades, their behavior, their choices that we don't agree with...we still love them unconditionally and will help them with all we have?

How about our own parents...do we show them the love and respect they deserve? Do we let them know how much we appreciate the sacrifices they have made and will continue to make on ours and our children's behalves? Do we make sure we have time in our lives for them?

I encourage all of us to look within ourselves and see if we are being fair weathered...if the answer it is yes...well you know what to do.