New Years Eve

Like so many people this year I can't help but bid a fair ado to 2011. For our family it was a year of pay cuts, attacks against teachers, teachers employment rights, longer hours less pay, repairs on the car-again and again, pool repairs, painting, and replacing facets, and appliances. Timmy had the teacher from Hell and was bullied at his old school, and Kaylee moved to New Jersey sending a horrible letter complaining about her childhood.  The downgrade in medical coverage that happened at the same time the portion of insurance increased to 300 dollars a month, and the drug copay's up to 40 dollars. I simply can't afford to take all the medication the doctor prescribes.  My hubby's health continues to provide us with challenges, my sister-in=law continues to fight for her very life, my uncle's cancer is gaining on him, my cousin Skip died, and my aunt is struggling to walk. The diagnosis of Diabetes is still kicking my behind.

However 2011 also held some blessings. My cousin Tara moved back to GR, her husband graduated from medical school, and I bought a new car. I enjoyed seeing my family. Jamie came home for a visit, Timmy adjusted very well to Forest Hills and made the honor roll. I enjoyed taking riding lessons and going horseback riding. A trip to Disney with Timmy was wonderful and the first vacation I had in 10 years.

I close out this new year taking my aunts to church and returning home to toast the new year with my husband. HE IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. So goodbye 2011

Christmas is Past

The day after Christmas for many people seems to be more shopping. Unreal-unbelievable-and so not me!
My morning began sleeping in to the Blessed Hour of 9:00 A.M. Then the cleaning. Being a working mother these days off give me time to scrub, clean and rearrange. Today in between a quick riding lesson I vacuumed and scrubbed and even cleaned one closet. it is mindless work that allows me a bit of reflection so here goes..Family room and dinette done. Tomorrow the kitchen and living room. Wednesday bathrooms, and Thursday the upstairs.

What I gave for Christmas. So much more interesting than bragging about what I got. I gave zero gift cards this year-while practical and loved by so many they lack that personal touch-so here is what I gave and why.

1. To My Secret Santa at work who recently had a power outage and was a bite freaked out with light and nothing to do- A bag with chocolate wine, wine glass and a flashlight kit.  She got such a big laugh out of the gift that I know when she uses the flashlight she will remember her story of crawling across the floor without light.

2. To my husband who loves "The  Christmas Story Movie" Timmy and I got him THE MAJOR AWARD=That's right the famous leg lamp. I have a feeling it is going in his den window in front of the house-Ah electric gleaming lite up leg-right here in Cascade. Walgreen's had the lamp and it was a mission to  get it in the house without him seeing it. Well worth it to experience the laugh when he opened it. To make it even more perfect he was of course watching the movie A Christmas story in TBS when he opened it!

3.To my youngest son the builder- a Lego Wii remote. It actually works with his Wii and has extra Lego blocks. I envision a village build around the remote made out of-what else Lego's. I also got him an iPod charger that is an alarm clock. The best part is the bed shaker attachment that vibrates under his pillow. He liked the charger part. The alarm clock was needed.  I am loving the idea of the bed shaker......umm a gift that keeps on giving. Gives new meaning to "Shake it Baby Shake it!"


4. To My Oldest son Jamie I sent a 4 Gig USB bracelet for his college data files,  and travel luggage. He says it's a gift that says "visit home more often"- I actually got it because I was stumped as to what to get him and it was on an interest list of Gifts for the Young Adult. However I do love the idea of him visiting home more often.

5. To everyone who came to Manning Christmas- An Ornament showing some aspect of family.

6 . With 2010 students- I bought mints=lots of mints I handed out all day.

7. I got the teenagers lotion and eye makeup, or nail polish and a nail kit. I got the three 3 year old's a winter scarf, hat and matching mittens along with a my little pony. I gave Austin a Detective Kit, Keenan a set of green soldiers like the ones on toy story. Just like the set Robbie played with when he was little.
8. We brought dinner down to my sister in law and her family and enjoyed the seeing their expressions for their little gifts. Travel insulated coffee cups for Randy who whenever I saw him in the hospital was off to get a beverage which wouldn't stay cold. A nice ring for BZ because she knows I always get her jewelry-it's a girl thing. I got Jacob noise resistant Headphones so when needed he can tune out everyone, relax, and listen to music. For Terri an deluxe nail kit and a promise to return and do her nails again.
9. A family at school had a fire so I bought 2 outfits for each of the three children.
10. Someone I knew and was not feeling well was unable to purchase Christmas gifts, So  I shopped, paid for, amd wrapped the gifts for this person to give. That way she could experience the gift of giving as well.


What I tried to do this year was think about each person and pick out something fun-when you can't afford fabulous-I'll pick funny any day of the week.

I was myself blessed with  thoughtful gifts. A new pair of riding boots from  my husband and a horse statue 'cause a real horse is not affordable. Timmy made me a beautiful necklace that I will treasure.  One of my best gifts was a phone call from my son Jamie on Christmas day.

Irony- The wreathe showing the pool. Christmas framing summer.

Mementoes , Memories, and Understandings

2011 has been a year of mixed blessings. My husband is still with me battling against his

 tremors, and debilitating headaches.My Uncle Sam who is battling cancer was well enough to attend the Manning Family Christmas and I was able to hug him and tell him how much I loved him. I was also able to see my son Jamie who came home for California this summer for a visit. Timmy has recovered nicely from his school drama from last year, made honor roll, and is actually enjoying school. This past May I was able to take Timmy to Disney World and my cousin David and Marty joined us for some great fun.Manning family Christmas was a happy success. It is so wonderful to see my aunts, uncles, cousins, and second cousins. What is even more of a blessings is how so many make the effort to come.  So my memory book and mementos include, pictures, notes, and yep---mouse ears. My sister in law continues to recover from her stomach surgery and we are overjoyed to be able to visit her on Christmas day in her own home and not at U of M medical.

On the other hand it wouldn't be life if we were not faced with obstacles to overcome, and sadness to bear.I lost my dear cousin and friend Skip a few weeks ago. He was my buddy and conspirator in all the family history research. He died barely over the age of 60. I will remember him how I last saw him, as well as the young man who loved to surf, would throw me over his shoulder, and always seemed to have a "model" of a girlfriend hanging over him. He served as a medic during the Vietnam war taking care of the guys shipped stateside. He married the love of his life who already had 4 children who became his, and added a beloved daughter. He joins his wife Pat in heaven and leaves us with richer lives because of his presence.

Kaylee moved to New Jersey with a boyfriend and we do not hear much from her. She did send a note to Timmy on his birthday, but besides that she remains absent from our lives, but present in our prayers, My Aunt who turns 85 in January has had dizzy spells and I have spent a couple of days and one night over there recently to help out. She has always been so active, seeing her use a walker has taken some getting used to.  But I treasure these days we get to spend together as I know that there are not as many ahead as there once were. We love to talk about our adventures together in the past, and dream of the things we could do if the right lottery ticket ever changed our lives . Her daughter Christine has been shuffling between my aunts home and her own. She is a jewel. I remember well the long years of taking care of my own mother, driving back from Detroit for a day or two, and then back to college, I used to joke I was raising my kids and my mother-now I treasure those days that at one time seemed so endless and trying. 

The other day I  found myself pondering about life, work, family friends and Christmas. I guess crossing 50 gives you a bit of perspective and an uncannily ability to look both back and forward. I find myself forgiving more easily, forgetting more often, and measuring my words more effectively. I now understand what my mother meant when she said, "Some day you will understand!"While neither my husband nor I remember what we "got" for Christmas last year-we do remember many things. We remember and recall the call from our son, Timmy sleeping in for the first time in all the Christmas's we remember. I recall with perfect clarity the look on my sons face when he spotted us at the airport. That look of joy and love inhabits a special place in my heart. I have to smile every time I recall Timmy cantering his horse around the ring with a smile that was half terror and half joy. When I recall handing out diplomas in May to my 8th grade homeroom, I still tear up a bit because I surprised myself with how close I felt to them all. So as I look back this holiday season, it is the memories of people and events-and not of things that have brought both joy and sadness. Ying and Yang.

Now I love "stuff" as much as the next person-but the kind of things I love seem to have changed. My treasured possessions all have a memory attached to them. I treasure a ring my husband gave me on our 5th anniversary when he told me" I was the love of his life." I treasure a hand carved spinning wheel my uncle made for me that reminds me of the full size one I used to play with at his house. I have a emerald ring that My Aunt Geri had her father make for me. ( He was a jewelry and like another grandpa to me).  I have an old weather predictor from my grandpa, a special pin from my aunt Jean, and hand made clay art from each of my children. My grandmother and I shared July birthdays so I was left her ruby ring. I have a dutch cupboard that was made for my mom and a lamp Tim's dad made for us. The retail value on all of this put together would likely be rather small-but to me they are the world. They represent my world, filled with family, and memories, and events.

All this brings me to the gift giving part of Christmas. In a year when gift cards seem to be the gift of choice, I just have to pause and wonder how many memories a gift card makes? I remember my Easy Bake oven and the hours of cooking with a little light bulb, as a kid. I remember getting the ugliest pare of slippers that ended up being the best foot warmers ever. My grandmother bought me a little plastic sewing machine that I used forever and whenever I use my real sewing machine now I remember her lessons on my little plastic one.

So Mom-I get it now...it really is the thought that counts. It's the time spent together, its the memories, and the momentous that remind us that we are blessed to have special people in our lives. Our lives our touched by those who love us. It is the joy we ourselves receive when every now and then a gift we might give-becomes a memento for another person. Not a gift card-but a thoughtful gift-the gift of ourselves,