Are You Ready For Christmas?

 

All I can say is that I don't have to watch television commercials anymore since I cut the cord.  My main channel is You Tube Premium.  I pay to not have to watch commercials and I love it.  Thinking back to my cable television days, the Christmas commercial bombardment started around Halloween.  They tortured me and I hated them so much.

No, I don't hate Christmas.  It was just my choice to not celebrate it anymore since my first husband JR passed away.  For he and I, the Christmas/Thanksgiving holidays were as special as it gets.  We had huge parties for both days.  We decorated to the max.  A week after he passed away, a huge tree fell on the storage shed where all the decorations were and destroyed them.  For me, it was a sign from God.  Christmas is about the birth of Christ for me anymore.  JR passed away in October as the commercials started.  Anyway, when The Captain and I got together, it was a relief to find out he felt the same way about Christmas.  Another sign from God.

I'm all good with it now, but no commercials or celebrations.  It does bring me joy to see other people celebrating the holidays as I once did.  That is why I am focusing on Christmas posts, to help others enjoy the holidays to the max as JR and I did.

Speaking of the Christmas posts, I've posted a lot of them from recipes, cooking and Christmas decorating tips/ideas.  Below is a list of all the new blog posts.  I sincerely hope they touch even one person's life.  This is the time before Christmas that I always enjoyed the most.  

Happy Holidays to everyone!  May God bless you all . . .

NEW BLOG POSTS

LaBelladiva

Unique Christmas Tree Ideas for Every Decorating Style

Is It OK to Leave Your Christmas Tree Lights on All Night?

Subtropical Gardening

How To Water Poinsettias – Why You Should Be Misting Your Poinsettia Plants!

Peace Love Happiness

Live For The Moment

Gina's Italian Kitchen

How to Freeze Cookies and Cookie Dough

Secret To Silky Smooth Melted Chocolate

How to Quickly and Safely Bring Butter to Room Temperature - And Only Way to Store Butter

Leftovers That Spoil Faster Than You Think

White Chocolate Bark

Copycat Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken

Pecan Pie Coffee Cake

Foods You Didn't Know You Could Cook in an Air Fryer

Baked Two-Cheese & Bacon Grits

Fried Potatoes And Onions

Raspberry Crumble Bars

Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Butter Pecan Cheesecake

Deep-Dish Apple Pie

Roasted Pork Shoulder (Italian-Style)

Basic Thumbprint Cookies

White Chocolate-Cherry Shortbread Cookie

Hot and Spicy Hush Puppies from the Neelys

Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Cherry Fudge Truffle Coconut Cheesecake

Ground Beef Taco Dip

Cheesy Crab Poppers

Baked Stuffed Shrimp

Homemade Corn Tortillas

Collection of Ham Posts from Baking to Leftover Ham Recipes - UPDATED

Ribs - Informative Info and Recipes

Days are flying by!

 

Happy Thursday everybody!  It feels like Friday since this week is flying by so fast.  

I've been focused on Christmas with lots of posts on foods that are good for the holidays, gift-giving sweet treats and Christmas decorating inspiration.  Hopefully you will find them useful in your preparation for the Christmas holiday.

The weather has been beautiful in Florida which has me thinking about gardening and the critters that have visited my property.  There is a post about squirrels, everything you would want to know about them and a very happy memory of those quirky little creatures and how they affected my dogs.  I sure do miss those days!

Writing and posting to my blogs has really picked me up from a couple years of grief and sadness.  It has brought up memories that have brought me so much joy.

Have a joyous day!  Following is a listing of new blog posts.  

NEW BLOG POSTS

LaBelladiva

Are Permanent Holiday Lights "Tacky" or Worth the Investment?

Alternative Christmas Tree Ideas

Easy DIY Placemat

The Secret to a Stunning Christmas Tree, According to a Macy’s Designer

Subtropical Gardening

How You Can Help Birds in Cold Winter Weather

How Long Poinsettias Really Last—and How You Can Maximize Their Lifespan

Nutty and Fun Facts About Squirrels

What To Do For Daylilies In The Fall – For Bigger Blooms Next Year

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Does Pie Really Need To Be Refrigerated?

Classic Sloppy Joes

Pecan Tassies

Homemade Turtles

Pecan Pralines

Cashew Clusters

Pecan Pie Brownies

No-Bake Key Lime Cheesecake

Pecan Pie Cake With Browned Butter Frosting

UPDATED Collection of Ham Posts from Baking to Leftover Ham Recipes

New Orleans-Style Spicy Shrimp

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

Buckeyes

Wendy's Copycat Chili

Better Than Anything Toffee

Peanut Caramel Brownie Bites

How to Craft and Send the Perfect Holiday Cookie Tin

Organized grocery shopping tips to help you save time and money on groceries

Gina's Cuban Style Fried Rice

Gina's Crispy Cornmeal Fried Shrimp

Culture change memories for a babyboomer

 

Keeping busy has made a huge difference in my general attitude and mood.  When you don't have the time to think about a bunch of negative stuff all the time, it is natural to feel better.  Lesson learned - stay busy!

In updating my blogs, I have revisited good memories of the past, like The British Invasion and The Beatles first visit to the US and their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.  It took me back to a time where I experienced a huge culture change for my generation.  I wrote a post about it for Babyboomer Flashback back in 2011 and have reposted it.  It put a huge smile on my face since it was a phenomenal time in my life as I was not quite a teenager, but no longer a child going through this awesome culture change. 

Memories can be so healing to a grieving soul and I'm so grateful for them.

Following is a list of new blog posts.  As I clean up the blogs, I am also bringing back some very old posts that are special.  

Here's to everyone having a wonderful rest of the week!  Stay safe and grateful for those you love.

New Blog Posts

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Cowboy Pork Chops

Cheeseburger Quiche

Easy Holiday Casseroles for Christmas Dinner

Cinnamon Pecan Cookie Bars

Almond Crescent Cookies

Easy Crock-Pot Candy

Peanut Brittle

Mint Sandwich Cookies

Peppermint Bark

Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy

Buttermilk Pecan Pralines

Cheese Grits Casserole

Breakfast Crescent Ring

Alabama Corn Sticks (Cast Iron Pan Recipe)

Hot Tamale Pie

Copycat KFC Chicken Pot Pie

LaBelladiva

Christmas Tree Themes That'll Inspire You

Babyboomer Flashback

The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show

Subtropical Gardening

Make Your Real Christmas Tree Last All Through The Holidays

Peace Love Happiness

Blessed beyond the chaos

Excuse me while I pat myself on the back

 

Happy weekend everybody!  We are having a rainy weekend in Florida, but we need the rain.  I'm sorry for you guys experiencing all that snow.

That is Kiki's photo posted . . . I just wanted to see her precious little face.  I miss her so much!  The photo is blurry, but I took it with my phone in a dark room.  It turned out to be one of my favorites.

As promised, I have gone wild with posting Christmas sweet treats that are great any time of the year.  Many of these items are perfect for gift giving.  Make up tins of cookies for situations like giving to a host of a party you are going to, for example.  It was something I always did and I have posted the fudge recipe I used year after year.  People started asking for it.  Homemade treats are awesome!

It has been easier to manage the grief and I am feeling so much better emotionally and physically too since I have made several lifestyle changes.  

The biggest thing is that I have continued to be a non-smoker, it has been over 2 years.  Giving up sugar has proved to be equally as difficult, but my discipline is holding up great.  Of course I will treat myself for a job well done for Christmas as I did for Thanksgiving when I had one piece of pumpkin pie and that was it.  Pepsi that I was addicted to . . . no more!  It has been weeks since I had one.  My discipline has been strong and I'm proud of myself.

Have a great week everybody.  Below are new blog posts.

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Cherry Cordials 

Brownie Bonbons

Almost Famous Molten Chocolate Cake

Amaretto Almond Bundt Cake

Gina's Chocolate Fudge

Peppermint Fudge

Chocolate Cream Pie

Coconut Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Holiday Cookie Recipes from the Food Network

The Best Christmas Recipe Guide

Christmas Cannoli Cake

No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel

Copycat Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple Cheesecake

Coconut Macaroon Blossoms

How to Make the Best Sugar Cookies from Martha Stewart

Chocolate Peanut Butter Buckeye Cookies

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

The Ultimate Snickers Pie

Babyboomer Flashback

Marilyn Monroe . . . Suicide Blonde?

LaBelladiva

Should You Bring A Gift To A Family Member Who’s Hosting The Holiday Meal?

How To Make A Sunglasses Case

Life's bizarre times and desires

 

December has brought me the desire to create, so I've decided to start making jewelry again.  For now, just for me, to fulfill that desire and see where it takes me.  I'm happy to have even a little sense of direction.

The Christmas season is upon us and I will be posting seasonal stuff.  Don't ask me what that means, but I also have the desire to look into everything Christmas and write about it.  Of course I will continue with the food blog posts and find festive recipes.  And I'm definitely getting back into graphics, but it has been like having to learn all over again since it has been several years and the software has gone through dramatic changes.  At least it is keeping my mind occupied.

Maybe I should say that this month has brought me to a new beginning with definite desires after a couple of years with no desire to do anything at all.  I know how it sounds but I like to be honest about how I feel.  Life makes us go through bizarre times.

Hope everyone is having a good week and continue to an awesome weekend.  Another online friend has passed away and it made me very sad.  Anyway . . . below I have listed everything I've posted this week.  The emphasis has still been on food.

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Maple Bacon Cheddar Biscuits

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

The BEST Homemade Biscuit Recipe

Chef John's Prime Rib

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes

Crack Chicken Penne Pasta

Sheet Pan Scalloped Potatoes

Lemon Chicken And Rice Casserole

Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

Copycat Almond Joy Candy Bars

Shrimp and Grits

LaBelladiva

How to Make Fast and Easy Pincushions

Unexpected Ways To Reuse Dryer Sheets Outside The Laundry Room

Fabulous Frugalista

Ways To Use Christmas Decor Basics Year After Year

Peace Love Happiness

Be patient towards all that is unsolved in your heart

Holiday joy and blahs

 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Every Thanksgiving I enjoy a delicious feast that Door Dash brings to me from Bob Evans.  It is the next best thing to having to cook for a family.  I'm thankful for a tradition I enjoy.

Since the holidays are not a pleasant time for me, my mind is lured to the thought of food and cooking.  The things you are supposed to do for the holidays.  Something I loved so much, but will never have again.  So, writing in my food blog is the next best thing I guess.  It is a release for all those food and cooking related desires.  One day I will enjoy actually cooking again.

Yes I have gone crazy with the food blog.  Now you know why.  And it keeps my mind occupied.  I'm thankful for having the desire for something, anything.  Since The Captain died it was all nothingness.  So I'm thrilled to have some desire for something coming back.  I've delighted my mom with my renewed sense of humor and laughing again.  Even telling her funny stories.  That is what he left me with.  He would have wanted me to laugh and find humor with life like he did.  Trust me, this is progress!

The sadness I can't get rid of is missing my little doggie girl Kiki.  That is killing me still.  Oh the anxiety!  I'd love a lot of little Kikis, but I can't.

My desire for this month is to find those things of holiday joy to share with everyone on all of my blogs.  Get ready for the holiday-ish posts.  Yes, and the desserts since I have cut sugar from my diet if I care to live a longer life.

Have a great week everybody!  Listed below are my new blog posts.

New Blog Posts

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Butter Cream Chicken

Cheesy Chicken Noodle Casserole

Cheesy Taco Bake

4-Ingredient Sausage and Egg Casserole

Sausage and Egg Breakfast Rolls

Marry Me Chicken Pot Pie

Turkey Pot Pie Pockets

Is it safe to line the oven with foil

Turkey Leftovers

Grandma's Hash Brown Casserole

Hawaiian Sliders 

Chicken Alfredo Rice Casserole

The Best Chicken Fried Steak

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes

Shepard's Pie

One Dish Chicken and Rice Bake

The Best Way to Make Lasagne

Cheesy Garlic Smashed Potatoes

Peace Love Happiness

Find the reason

LaBelladiva

DIY Small Pouch Sewing Pattern

Thankful They Were In My Life

 

What I am grateful for this year is that I was so blessed to have The Captain and Miss Kiki in my life.  They were so precious to me and I miss them so much.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.  Give thanks for all those you love.

New blog posts follow . . .

New Blog Posts

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Magic Chicken Pie

Buffalo Chicken Potato Casserole

Thanksgiving Ideas and Tips

Crockpot Stuffing

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

Bobby's Goulash

Creamy Chicken Tortellini

Peace Love Happiness

We all have choices

Babyboomer Flashback

Vintage Items Designers Say You Should Get Rid Of

LaBelladiva

Most Popular Holiday Decorating Trends Of 2025

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

 

My food blog had lots of new posts added and updates to older posts.  I mentioned in my last post that I miss cooking and besides, this is Thanksgiving week and everyone is getting ready for the big dinner.  Next week I hope to post recipes that will be great for leftovers.

We are back to our tropical weather with less humidity, but by Thanksgiving we should be getting a cold front.  I hope it doesn't get too cold.

Hoping that everyone has an awesome Thanksgiving!

New blog posts

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Spaghetti Aglio E Olio

Black Beans Cuban Style (Frijoles Negros)

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Collection of Ham Posts from Baking to Leftover Ham Recipes

Butter Pecan Cake

Rotel King Ranch Chicken

Frittata with Italian Sausage and Cheese

Updated - Ten smart kitchen storage ideas and DIY projects

One Pot Chili Mac

Toasted Coconut Pound Cake

Updated - Collection of Chicken Recipes

Babyboomer Flashback

A Babyboomer's Flashback

LaBelladiva

Update - Craft Room Organization

Happy Autumn Update

 

Autumn hit Tampa three days last week.  It was quite a surprise to get down to 38 degrees one night.  I hate the cold and would like to enjoy a mild autumn that brings cooler temps and less humidity.  Not an early winter!

Yes, I know I am spoiled with awesome Tampa weather and some of you guys are dealing with snow already.  Some people like the snow, but I can't relate at all.  I wouldn't know what to do living in a snowy climate.

I've been obsessed with posts to my food blog.  Honestly, I miss cooking and am slowly getting back to preparing meals for one, but it is not fun.  I'm working on it and hope to learn to love it.

My workaholic nature has brought me to being behind the computer way too many hours and loving it again.  I'm grateful I have found something that makes me happy again and I'm like a kid with a new toy.

I'm extremely active on x/Twitter joining others in retweeting each others posts.  If you are interested in joining me and bring more people to your website, blog, online store, events, promotions, etc., go to https://x.com/GinaAlfani and simply retreat one or more of my posts and I will retweet yours.  You will automatically be picked up by other retweeters after I retweet yours.  

New updates to my blogs follow . . .

Yes, I'd like to go back in time.

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Puff Pastry Cream Horns

Drop Dumplings for Soup

Pecan Pie Bars With Shortbread Crust

Ten smart kitchen storage ideas and DIY projects

Hot and Spicy Hush Puppies

Southern Sausage Balls

Sandy's Tasty Pasta Meal

The Ultimate Shrimp and Grits

Red Lobster Crab Alfredo

Chocolate Walnut Strudel

Subtropical Gardening

Late fall is the most important time to mulch your flowerbeds

Grow Ginger As A Houseplant – And Have Fresh Ginger All Year Long

Why is my poinsettia losing leaves?

Overwintering perennials and shrubs in containers

LaBelladiva

Drawstring 8-Pocket Jewelry Pouch

Craft Room Organization

Refashioned Flip Flops

My Florida Paradise

Happy Birthday Mickey Mouse

Fabulous Frugalista

Holiday Shopping Mistakes to Avoid This Season

How To Save Money on Black Friday

Peace Love Happiness

Renewed sense of aliveness through gratefulness

Humor and Laughs

New Seatbelt Design

Making up for lost time!

Yes, I've been making up for lost time and feeling like my old self again, the computer geek.

It's about time!

New Blog Posts

Fabulous Frugalista

How to Make Oxiclean - DIY Oxiclean

LaBelladiva

Creating Mosaics the Easy Way

Subtropical Gardening

Grow vegetables from kitchen scraps

Babyboomer Flashback

Don't Recognize The Changing World

My Florida Paradise

I'm Back!

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Coconut-Pecan German Chocolate Pie

Cake with Rum Syrup

The Home Page of My Blogs is Back!

 

The home page of my blogs is back again!

The good news is that with faith and God by my side, I have come out of a terrible grief phase that has taken me two years to struggle through and have finally reached a new phase that has me productive online again.  My blogs are starting to come alive again with new posts that I hope everyone will enjoy.  More of my blogs will become active again soon.

Although I have reached this new grief phase, I guess called the acceptance stage, the grief never goes away.  But . . . I have new angels in heaven to help guide me through the rest of my life.  That is a comfort and what I have accepted.

I'm at the point of gathering up the boxes of my jewelry supplies and jewelry inventory.  Since we came home from my mom's house after the hurricane hit us, I haven't desired to touch any of it and couldn't care less where they were.  I went through a different kind of grief stage after the hurricane and then my mom moved away to another state with my brother.  So it is definite progress in my mental state that I even have the slightest interest in getting that stuff together.

Anyone who is going through a grief time in their life may get comfort from reading my blog Peace Love Happiness.  It has turned into a dealing with grief blog, but could also apply to anyone going through a terrible time in life and needs to have hope and faith that you can get through anything in life.  Take my life experiences and learn from them.  I sure have.

Hope everyone is getting through the changing seasons well.  Here in Florida we don't go through much of a change.  We had a few nights of cooler weather and it was a shocker, but we are back to normal beautiful weather.

Happy Sunday to all . . . have a wonderful new week.  New blog posts will follow . . .

New blog posts:

Peace Love Happiness

Be true to yourself

What is your heart longing for right now?

LaBelladiva

Sew A Messenger Bag The Easy Way

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Pierogi Lasagna Rolls

Collection of Thanksgiving Recipes 

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Banana Pudding

Macaroni and Cheese

Gina's Mojo Roast Pork

World's Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Spicy Crab Cakes

Pastina

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

What To Make With Chicken Broth

Air Fryer Baked Potato

Blogging again

 

It has made me happy to return to blogging about all kinds of stuff.  I guess I could say it is good therapy to keep busy doing something I love on my path to getting "normal" again.  My blogs are listed on the right side of this blog.  Some of them are still closed for now.

My life has reached the point where the heavy grief of losing The Captain and Kiki is a passing phase of grieving.  Instead of crying all the time, I am thinking of all the happy memories that are bringing a smile to my face.  The grief now feels lighter even though it will never go away, manifesting itself into different phases.  I know the coming holidays will be rough again.

The road to online selling has been on my mind and so has the desire to make jewelry and be creative.  A huge part of my life has been creating stuff and I miss that so much. 

As in the past, I will be listing my latest and updated blog posts on this blog.  Here they are for November:

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

Turtle Brownies

Crab au Gratin Pizza

Shrimp Creole

Mexican Sweet Corn Cake

Picadillo

Pimento Cheese

Chicken Alfredo Baked Ziti

Stuffed Pizza Bread

Fabulous Frugalista

Avoid Christmas Debt When Cash Is Tight

The Frugal Mindset

Replacing Your Washer or Dryer

Thoughts From A Frugalista

So Many Life Changes

My life has changed in so many ways since the passing of my husband, The Captain, two years ago and having to put my sweet little fur baby Kiki to sleep last year.

It has taken me over two years to regain the desire to do anything I normally did in the past.  I still don't leave the house and I totally quit selling anything or making jewelry.  The only thing I have done is post to my blog, Peace, Love, and Happiness since writing is good therapy for me.  Grief just consumes me and refuses to let go.  It was still a struggle to get through a day without dealing with the grief of my first husband, how I'm dealing with the second.  I'm done!

I've recently started posting to several blogs regularly and will continue to add my other blogs that still remain closed.  The active ones are Peace, Love, and Happiness, Gina's Italian Kitchen, Fabulous Frugalista, Subtropical Garden and soon will continue at LaBelladiva.

While I still plan on reopening stores on eBay and Etsy, I haven't started working on them.  It may take me a while.

Parts of my house remain messed up from Hurricane Irma.  There just hasn't been enough money to finish.  The financial setbacks from The Captain's passing is substantial, but I am doing ok now after making many changes. I have dealt with so much bad stuff that it really doesn't phase me anymore.  I'm just now getting to the point to where I don't care about anything.

So, I am on my way back to whatever normal is, but will not definitely not replace Kiki and no more love in my life or husbands.  I will be content by myself and it is thankfully starting to happen.

Your prayers are appreciated!

New beginnings

 

There are not enough hours in the day!  I'm getting things ready to reopen a new and improved Crow's Nest Jewels.  My mind never shuts down with all the new ideas.  So . . . sometimes I just have to let out a bit of a scream.

We haven't gotten the house in order since the hurricane and it is so frustrating!  Hurricanes are the only thing I hate about living in Florida.  You never know when you will be the one to get hit.  All of that had gotten to me with depression and anxiety, just wanting to give up.  Then there was Covid . . . but I am in a different frame of mind since I decided that no matter what, I'm getting Crow's Nest Jewels open and doing what I love.  

Creating new jewelry and working with the vintage jewelry is what I love most and I have put it aside way too long.  Moving in another direction has really made a change in my mental attitude.

My Etsy shop will reopen soon, but I will also diversify and sell from my Crow's Nest Jewels Facebook page as well as You Tube for doing auctions and buy it now sales.  So I have lots of work cut out for me, but I am really enjoying the process of creating and making these changes.

Hope everyone is happy and healthy, making it through the craziness of this world we live in.

 

Finally an update!

 

Where has the time gone?  You would think with quarantining it would go by slower.  

Seems like all I do is sit in front of my computer and research for my website. 

Depression got a hold of me after the Hurricane Irma hit our house.  I haven't been the same since.  It really did change my life.

Gardening used to be my therapy for dealing with everything, but with two messed up knees, that is now impossible on a large scale.  My beautiful yard is truly missed.

So . . . with all that said, I know I am blessed and I am content and happy.  Everything happens for a reason.

For now I am concentrating on majorly updating the website.  

Happy holidays to all!

Optimistic Beginnings

This past year has taken me through some weird changes and that has not been a good thing!  Because of that, I was pleasantly surprised to wake up to a renewed spirit and a feeling of optimistic beginnings, like I am entering a new phase of this adventure in life.

I've begun writing new blog posts again and have many ideas for upcoming entries.  Check out Gina Alfani's Facebook Fan Page to keep up with new entries!

I'm back?

Could it be there IS a light at the end of the tunnel?   I think I'm back . . .

Tomorrow's work at the house is plumbing stuff that we failed inspection on for homeowners insurance that is necessary to receive the balance of our disaster relief loan from the SBA.

Before we had the inspection, we thought they would be happy that we have a brand new roof and had no idea they would fail us so miserably . . . but no . . . as it turns out, it has taken half of the money we have left to receive.  Most of it went to electrical work.   Thank God we have had the money to fix what had to be done in order to pass inspection.

I was shocked to find out that our house was an accident waiting to happen with the way it was wired.  The Captain hinted at the potential problems, but I guess he didn't want to alarm me.  We were lucky the house didn't burn down when the tree came down during the hurricane.  The Captain had the insight to turn off the electricity when we evacuated.  Good thing he did!

Does all this explain my depression and lack of interest in just about everything?  

I was feeling hopeless and still do to a certain extent, but at least this part of it is almost done.  When we pass the inspection I will be feeling a whole lot better, even though we may not have enough to fix the back room after having the unexpected inspection repairs.  

This too shall pass . . .

Today is the first day that I had an interest in checking the email account that has all my subscriptions to those websites I like to use for blogging.  Imagine my surprise to find 55,911 unread emails!  So, I dove in and started posting articles to my blogs again.  It was encouraging to have the desire return to do something that I once loved so much.

I can finally say that I feel remnants of my old life coming back.  One day at a time . . . one moment at a time . . . do what it takes to put one foot in front of the other and keep it going.  Depression can be a bitch for sure!

Prayers are appreciated!

Progress . . .

Since my last post many months ago, we finally have major progress . . . we now have a brand new beautiful roof on our house!

We still have a way to go before we are able to move in, but the light at the end of the tunnel can be seen.

Hopefully I will return to my normal posting schedule, but I am honestly so depressed that it is really difficult to continue on as if nothing is wrong.  At times it feels like everything is wrong!  The good news is that I am starting to feel better . . .