Life Goes On

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on." ~Robert Frost

My sister, Nancy, always used to say that my daughter, Kristen's, birthday party was her favorite event of the year.

She loved laughing and "getting down" with Kristen and her friends.

And so it was with mixed emotions that I planned Kristen's party this year.  I wanted it to be a special day for her but my emotions were racing up and down as the big day dawned. The same cast of characters would be here at noon for the party...family friends, staff from Kristen's group home...but not "Aunt Nancy".

How, I wondered, would I pull this off with such a giant void in all of our hearts?

And then Kristen and her friends arrived.

And reminded me, once again, that what really matters is not feeling sorry for your losses, but living like they do...with joy and laughter in the face of life's challenges.

Sean brought long-forgotten laughter to my sister, Andi's, face...

While seeing Kristen having so much fun brought hope to mine...

And Ryan's wonderful belly laugh made us all laugh with him.

Seeing our granddaughter, Anna, grow reminds me that life goes on too. "Aunt Nancy" held Anna as a baby at last year's party...

  And this year Anna was old enough to decorate her own pumpkin with her Mom.

It took Sean less than a minute to bring joy to the face of Nancy's husband, Aaron.

And no one could hold back a smile when he showed off his take on a Halloween pumpkin.

So as the cake was cut and the the traditional party games were played ...

Our special children reminded me once again that, no matter what...

Birthdays are always good...

And life goes on.

Goodwill Hunting

My daughter, Kristen, and I had a good time Goodwill Hunting yesterday...hit two Goodwill stores after our lunch out. I know that those of you who follow this blog love to see the latest "junkin" finds", so here goes...

The first find called out to me like the "little black dress" does in the Goodwill commercial. It didn't quite have an aura around it like the little black dress, but almost.

Here it is! A perfect little dollhouse to add to my collection...for $7.99 less my 10% "frequent junker" discount.

The missing piece from the roof was inside so all I have to do is glue it back on.

I love the little hand painted sign over the front door that says, "Home Sweet Home"...and the doormat with tiny fringe. There are even little pink benches for my tiny imaginary "girlfriends" to sit on. (I've already named them Claudia, Alison and JoAnne after some special real-life "girls" who I picture sitting together there....)

Here is the little window box by the front door...almost ready for Spring.

The inside has two large rooms, each with a fireplace and tiny mantle. The whole house is already wallpapered with tiny pink rosebuds. I can't wait to start furnishing the rooms this afternoon...after  a little more roof repair with my trusty tube of carpenter's glue.

I am really getting into "Altered Art" and am always on the lookout for old game pieces to use in collages. Picked up this original Scrabble game in perfect condition for $2.99...full of great old wooden letter tiles.

Here are some magnets I made last month (when I was in my magnet-making phase) with some Scrabble tiles I had on hand. Of course I had to spell out Nancy's name on my craft room wall.

At the second Goodwill, I found this vintage teaching game, full of hundreds of word cards, still in alphabetical order. These will be fun to cut up and use for scrapbooking and collages. Each word card has a delightful illustration on the back. $1.99 well spent.

I picked up this old clipboard too, for $.99. It will someday be the base for some altered art.

And more children's blocks...a big bag of them for $1.99...again for use in some as yet unimagined collage project. My husband, Hank, was a good sport when I asked him to cut them into 1/4 inch slices for me. I would never do that with really old blocks but it will be OK with these...they're vintage but not antique.

I can't help it...I'm already spelling words. As a former high school English teacher, I just love words!

Here is another glimpse of  my craft room...where I look forward to "playing" with my finds (if I ever get off this computer). It is on the third floor of our old house..was once the attic...and, aside from having to drag everything up there, makes a perfect creative space for me. (Even the dragging-up is OK...I earn exercise points on Weight Watchers for stair climbing...extra points if I'm hauling a dollhouse and two or three Goodwill bags with me.)

I even found a spot for the "hand" sign from my January 23rd Flea Market post on the craft room wall.

I had to slip this last photo in...my daughter, Kristen, at lunch yesterday with one of her favorite waitresses at Friendly's, Dorene. Kristen attends Goodwill's Community Skills Program two days a week and loves it...she calls it her "school". An additional bonus to junkin' at Goodwill is that the money I spend goes right back into programs for people with disabilities.

So...total spent for the day...$14.96 plus lunch.  Total fun...priceless!

I have linked this post to the following blog parties...

Treasures & Trinkets Thursday at My Cottage Charm

Junkin Finds Friday at A La Carte

Inspiration Friday at At the Picket Fence

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

White Wednesday at Faded Charm

Thrifty Thursday at Tales from Blogaritaville

A Day Out with Kristen and Alvin

If you are lucky enough to have a daughter, you know how much fun it can be to spend a day with her. That's what my husband, Hank, and I did yesterday. Kristen calls these her "special days" and we try to make them live up to their name. Kristen is a special young woman with a great sense of humor who often shows tremendous strength beyond her years. She copes with many challenges each day with a happy heart. She is blessed with being non-judgemental...she loves everyone she meets. She also has a number of soft, fuzzy friends with whom she likes to cuddle and which bring her security.  These include her Cabbage Patch kid and, her recent favorite, Alvin the Chipmunk. Yesterday she decided to invite Alvin along for the day with us. So off we went...husband, wife, daughter, and chipmunk...for lunch at Friendly's and some shopping at the Mall.

Here's Kristen....dressed up, as always.

(And that's her favorite waitress, Patty, in back. Patty always knows Kristen's entire order in advance but takes the time to let her order for herself ...including the "cold ice water with an orange straw".)

And this would be Alvin...making himself comfortable among the condiments.

When lunch arrived, Alvin moved to the booth...

After lunch, it was off to the Build-a-Bear workshop, where Kristen chose to make another new cuddly friend which, after considerable deliberation,  she named "Pinky". 

So, now we are in the Mall with Kristen, Alvin and Pinky!

Pinky and Alvin traveled in this handy box. I guess Alvin was curious about all the sights in the Mall because, before long, he managed to move himself to a window seat.

Needless to say, a good time was had by all, whether real or stuffed!