A Tiny Silver House

Merry Christmas from Our Home to Yours...reads the collage that became our Christmas card this year. This was the second collage as the first one had some words that were too tiny when photographed and reproduced...oops. For 18 years, our darling girl was the feature photo on our Christmas Card but now that she is in college, she suggested that she might be too old grown up to be on the card. Last year was the first year that I created a piece of art specifically for the card and joyfully sent it out. As I started to receive cards in the mail, there were several that had things like, "where is Chelsea's picture?" and " I am missing the picture of Chelsea" on the bottom of their cards. I felt a little like I was disappointing them but this year, once again, went with the artwork. She and I discussed this last night and found that the only way I could get away with her in the photo was to do a family photo next year. Maybe, maybe not, I have all year to think about it. I love the tradition of sending out Christmas cards. As I address the envelopes, I think about who I am sending it to and how much they have meant to me. From my college roommates parents, who shared with me the absolute best Christmas Cookie recipe ever, to family members and friends far and wide. I hope your Christmas is merry and bright and that you have the opportunity to hug your loved ones and tell them how special they are! From our Home to Yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas.

A Tiny Silver Angel

The first time I met Betty, she hugged me so hard I couldn't breathe! It was at my wedding rehearsal dinner and many of Bob's family traveled from Virginia to Tennessee to help us celebrate. She, along with her husband Pep, her mother Virginia, her daughter Beverly and son in law Paul, were so welcoming to me and really made me feel like I was a part of the family already. Betty always introduced me as her "cousin" and we tried to figure out if there was a way to really define a cousin by marriage on your mother's side! When our daughter was born, we called her Aunt Betty and she was always so kind and sweet to Chelsea. She never missed an opportunity to ask about her and how she was doing in school. She was so proud of her children and grandchildren. I loved to watch her face light up as she told me of their accomplishments and adventures in life. Thank you for making me a part of the family. Betty was diagnosed with cancer about 4 months ago and as her body weakened, her spirit did not. She knew what would happen and was ready to be embraced by the loving arms of our Lord. She tried many treatments and sought care from other places in an effort to add days or moments with her family. She was positive and hopeful, but resigned that God had a plan for her life and she would be a witness to those doctors and nurses who cared for her during her treatments. Thank you for showing me a gracious spirit. Betty lost her battle with cancer yesterday but I know she ran, rejoicing and singing to meet our Lord. This beautiful obituary was posted yesterday http://www.covenantfuneralservice.com/obituaries/betty-jefferson-blaisdell/ and speaks of a life well lived. Thank you for being the face of Jesus in the world. Betty was outspoken, never afraid to say how she felt or give her opinion. I loved to tease her when she said something outrageous and she would just laugh and laugh with her infectious laughter, tossing her head back and smiling broadly. She spent so much time tutoring children and it brought her great joy when the light came on in someone's eyes as they understood a new word. Thank you for going out into the world and being a teacher to so many. Betty was a wonderful hostess, opening her lovely home to friends and family. When we had meetings there for various church committees, she would make you feel as if you were her honored guest. At Christmas time, our family and hers would gather for what we came to call the "Pie Party". She would gather apples in the fall and save them to make delicious pies, set a beautiful table and we would sit for hours and talk about our lives, share stories of family members and spend time in warm fellowship. Thank you for keeping those connections strong. I am blessed for having known Betty and celebrate her life, a life well lived indeed. So, as we gather to remember her and to share her life with each other, I encourage you to share your memories of her with Beverly and Preston. She loved well, she lived well and her spirit will live with us forever.

A Tiny Piece of Silver

So, you know how you see things on Pinterest and you think, "I can do that...I want to do that...I should do that...how hard could it be?" Me too! Last December, I saw a pin about a $5 bill. The idea was to save every single $5 bill you got from change and put them away to save up for something special. So I started on January 1st and have been saving (not hoarding) them ever since. I have spoken to a couple of people about how it started small but has grown into a fairly large pile (okay, you know me too well, it is not in a pile, but carefully tagged and bundled). So now the question is, what do I do with them? Buy something, treat someone or can you make a difference to someone with a short stack of $5 bills?

I am taking suggestions...what could I do with my stacks that could make a difference, truly make a difference. email suggestions to melanieedwards626@msn.com

A Tiny Silver Book, again

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I love to read. The End. Curled up on the sofa, cozy blanket over my feet, book in my lap. On the Exercise bike, at the gym, a book doesn't fit so will on the holder. Thankfully, there is the Kindle or the IPad readily available for and hour of uninterrupted reading. When the e-reader first came out, I said that there was no way I would get one. I love the feel of a book, the weight of a book, the ease of going back to re-read a passage that caught my attention. I love the way books stand at attention on the shelf, just waiting for me to pull them down to read again. I love them stacked on the floor by the bed or on the nightstand or on the table in the hall. But, one day, while browsing through Borders, the Sony reader caught my eye. The sign above it proclaimed "100 FREE books". That was enticing enough to make me try it out. I got one and downloaded the books, all 100 classics, and read my way through all of the books that I hadn't read since high school. Books that I HAD to read for English class, books that I didn't get the full meaning when I wa rushing to read them to write a paper or take a test. How delightful to discover these once again, reading them with new eyes and new perspective. How delightful to discover that I could carry so many books on a device that fit right in my handbag. No more carrying four or five novels in my suitcase on a business trip for nightly reading. I found that there was a place in my life for an electronic reader. But, I still bought lots and lots of hardback books. Lots and lots of books. Stacks and Stacks of Books. Later, I was given a Kindle and then an IPad. Love that I can read on the Kindle, the Ipad, even my Iphone in a pinch when waiting...hello, DMV. I still buy books in hardback form, but I do enjoy being able to take a library with me whereever I go! AND, the best part, I can take my Jane Austen with me everywhere I go! Happy Reading!

A Tiny Silver Pen

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, I would like to thank Mrs. Clark for letting me read ahead in the first grade, Mrs. Brady, who let me read aloud to Ivory, who didn't know how to read yet, to Mr. Wattenbarger, who taught me that nice penmanship just might grab your reader's attention before your words sank in, Mrs. Hardison, who taught me spelling DID count, Mrs. Sanford, who let me check out more than two books at a time in the library, Mrs. Pelster, who taught me that understanding and speaking another language is indeed a beautiful thing, Mrs. Myers, who taught me that solving for x is important and that I WILL use this again, Mr. Nelson for teaching me that while I may occasionally fall in the "sheep dip", I don't have to stay there and Mr. Eugene Wade who not only taught me to balance a checkbook, but that letting your personality shine in whatever you do is a fantastic thing!! I was the student, who, when given my reading book, would come home and read all of the stories the first week, devouring them, not able to wait until we got the them sometime later that year. I was the student, who, when I didn't understand a concept, would most likely shut down until the proverbial light bulb went off over my head and I could see the solution. And while my teachers were engaging and challenging me, the teachers I have to thank the most are my parents. My mom who would let me order books from the Weekly Reader, marking my choices on the little paper form and turning it in to my teacher. My dad who sat with me night after night at the kitchen table while I desperately waited for the light bulb called "Algebra" to come on. And thankfully, one day it did and I never looked back. My parents who would tell me I was ruining my eyes when reading from street light to street light on long car trips, but I didn't and my ares are just fine. My parents who took me to the library and patiently waited while I checked out a huge stack of books and took me back again and again. My parents who still buy me gift certificates to wonderful book stores for Christmas! So, in honor of the teachers at school and the teachers at home, thank you, you may not know if you are making a difference...but you are!!

Tiny Silver Message in a Bottle

What she said..."In life, there are going to be struggles and times when things just don't seem to go our way or make sense...there is a lesson somewhere in there for us, may not be apparent at the time...BUT, I have to think if you didn't get something that your heart desires SO MUCH, then maybe there is something BIGGER AND BETTER just waiting around the corner. The corner might be kind of far away, just know that God has BIG plans for your life...BIG PLANS....and this just might be part of it!
I am so very proud of you for being who you are...I love you in the good, the bad, the ugly and the wonderful...but I especially love you TO THE MOON AND BACK!! Things will fall back together!!"

Tiny Silver Swim Fins

My sister is the swimmer in the family. I do not like to put my face in the water. I like to swim like a puppy, head up, facing forward, nose out of range of the water.

A work out friend suggested a class called Finning. Back and forth in the pool, fins on your feet, hands on a kickboard, face out of the water. I figured even I could do this, probably wouldn't drown.

So, I go to the class in my bathing suit that fit last summer and the summer before, but not so well now. I get in and she showed me the basic strokes.

Soon I was gliding through the water like Flipper!! When the class started, the first laps, I was third in line...behind a leisurely finner. The second set of laps, I manuevered to the front and offered to be the guinea pig to learn the new stroke.

Out in front, I plowed through the water with all of the grace I could. Made it back to the starting point and turned for another lap, the other students behind me. I felt like I could do this for hours. It was a great workout, both cardio and strength training.

As a matter of fact, I liked it so much, I ordered my own fins and kickboard...and thankfully, still don't have to put my face in the water!

A Tiny Silver Phone

...or Learning to Laugh at Yourself!!

So, I carry two phones, actually wear them clipped at my waistband. Normally the ringers are turned off so they vibrate when they ring. Although my personal phone has hundreds of ring tones, makes it easy to assign ringtones so I know who is calling without even looking...

Anyway, tonight at the gym, I took off my jacket and folded it up nicely on the floor. I tucked my work phone in the pocket and went about my workout. Fast forward an hour, great workout, headed out the door. Reach in my pocket for my work phone to see if I had any messages that needed to be attended to...but wait...no phone in my pocket.
My personal phone was clipped at my waistband, but no work phone.

I went back upstairs, over to the area where I was working out, checked the floor, all around the machine...no phone!!

One of the girls I see there pretty often suggested calling the number. I am thinking that won't work because it only vibrates, and we will never hear it ring. But, I thought it was worth a shot...ring...ring...ring...

No phone ringing in sight...I crossed my arms in frustration...and felt something vibrating. I looked at the phone in my hand, but it wasn't ringing. I swung my other arm away from my body and back...my ARM was vibrating. I looked down and right there, on the inside of my arm was a zipper. Unzipping the zipper I realized that my phone was in the arm pocket...what kind of coat has an arm pocket?! And how did it eat my phone?!

So, we had a bit of a laugh...laughing at yourself is a good thing!!

A Tiny Silver Flamingo

I've said before that if you are my friend and you are going to write a book, I will read it. I will buy it and read it. I will buy it and read it and ask you to sign it. I will buy it and read it and ask you to sign it and tell my friends to read it.

...And I will be inspired by it to make a little piece of art.

Here's to a very creative New Year!!