So very blessed ~

I know I am.

Amazingly and abundantly....

and beyond measure!

Sometimes this fact eludes me and I have a big ol' pity party.

Just me thinking, "why don't we have this...

and why don't we have that"...

pfffft!!!

That's just STUFF!

So, what are your blessings???

Think of them now.

Mine are my precious family.

My mama and daddy who are still healthy and loving life...

And my hubby's parents who are the same!!!

They truly are our inspiration.

My mom and dad:

A sweet husband who loves me through all my faults

for over 30 years now ~

Five precious sons that I was gifted with.

I truly feel as each one was such a gift!

They are all amazing men now and I am so, so very proud

of each and every one of them.

And now our cup runneth over ~

We have TWO precious grand babies!!!

How beautiful is THAT?

Our little Clara and Murray and their mama Emily,

Brent's wife. Who, by the way is such an amazing mama

to these babies....she loves them like breath itself.

Also...I have so many dear friends that I've made over the years ~

Some in school...some in college...and through work...

and now through blogging.

Over the years you all have become so dear to me!

Even if we lose contact for awhile I know

that you are always, always my friend.

So today is a day of thanks...

thank you Lord for my precious family and friends.

You all are my gift in this life.

A thankful heart is a happy heart ~

let's all always,

always

count our blessings.

hugs and love,

Dawn

Feeling blessed this day ~

Some days are just the pits.

I mean it.

You can't find one single positive thing about it.

But then there are the other days ~

The days where nothing specific has happened but

YOU JUST KNOW IT.

You simply remember that
you.
are.

BLESSED.

It has hit you like a ton of bricks.

Here you've been concentrating on all the bad things going on,

all the negativity and stuff that clutters your mind and then

FINALLY

it is all washed away

and what remains?

The true realization that you are truly, unmistakably

BLESSED.

You have so much goodness in your life

to be thankful for.

We ALL do.

Thank you Lord for all you've give us...

may we always keep a thankful spirit.

Wishing you a thankful Sunday...

hugs and love,

Dawn

Feeling blessed this day ~

Sometimes we have days that simply beat us down.

I mean it.

They drain our spirit dry and squash our hope flat.

But then there are the other days...

those days that we finally realize

that we are not in control,

(even though we'd like to think we are)

and then something beautiful happens.

We see that our precious Lord above

is always, always on our side.

That He cares for us,

He listens to our prayers and

knows our needs.

Today I feel blessed and so very thankful....

Wishing you a beautiful Friday and weekend dear friends!!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby...

He was due December 20th...the birthday of our oldest son!

Our oldest turned 15 years old and the twentieth came and went.

I was 35 years old and felt ancient.

I was so very pregnant and ready to see our new baby boy.

Finally on December 29th, at about 5:00 in the afternoon
they hooked me up to be induced.

At almost ten days late, you could say I was quite READY!!!

Our precious family members poured into the waiting room,

just knowing that this being our FIFTH child, the labor should be swift and

we would all be able to see our sweet Noah soon.

Ugh NO.

It just wasn't going to happen!

My body was tired and said...uh, no, this ain't happening...

after much begging to my OB, I finally delivered a precious baby boy

early in the morning of December 30th, 1997 by cesarean section.

He was absolutely BEAUTIFUL.

But to me, all of our boys were beautiful!

So today, our least 'un...our little baby boy Noah,

turns fifteen....

And what a precious soul he is!!!

Just when I thought our family was complete,

this little angel sneaks up on me ~

Dear Lord, thank you so much...

I'm so very glad he did!!!

Happy Birthday Noah!!!

I'm sure you know, with four older brothers,

and your mama and dad

and really ALL of your dear family...

that you are truly, truly LOVED!!!

Counting my blessings
on this almost New Year's Eve precious friends ~

and always wishing you...

A Beautiful NEW YEAR!!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

I am so blessed ~

Thank you all so, so much for your sweet well wishes!! I'm feeling a little more human right now but still dizzy and coughing a bit. I do think it was cleaning so hard :) I'll have to remember that next time!! I slept all day Sunday on and off, took Benedryl, loved me some Vicks Vaporub and just tried to get over this junk. Every time I'm sick I realize how very precious our health is and how we should be so thankful and take good care of ourselves. Thank you so much for your prayers and well wishes,
you all are such angels to me ~

Friday Karin of One Perfect Little Miracle came over for a day of creating, having lunch together and just relaxing. And we did just that! She came bearing gifts....not pictured are TWO swing arm rods to hang those gorgeous antique shears on either side of the guest bed. Also two beautiful, large pieces of beveled glass! And then the sweetest nest on a branch that she made:

And look at what she brought for our angel Clara!!! A little Scottie dog stuffie and a doll quilt made with her own two hands!!! Isn't it gorgeous?? Plus she even brought Noah a little Farkle game!

Oh Karin, you are so incredibly thoughtful sweet friend, thank you so much for each and every gift ~

We worked on altered composition notebooks while we chatted ~ it's relaxing making these and we enjoyed digging through my images and papers. I think Karin really enjoyed working with the matte gel medium too!

Karin's beautiful notebook ~ she said she still wants to add
a few finishing touches with trims she has at home.
It's so gorgeous to me!!

My French themed notebook ~

It truly was a wonderful day! We should all take the time to get together, spend time with precious friends and relax with one another. Time is flying by us so quickly, we'll blink and another year will have passed. Thank you so much Karin for the blessing of your friendship!!!

Now, I'm off to finish an article for Somerset before Jenny puts me in the dog house!!

Thank you again for your friendship, I love you all so much ~ Happy Monday!
xxoo, Dawn

Do blessings come in threes??

Today, THIS arrived on my doorstep!!! Somerset Studio July/August edition with beautiful Colette Copeland's artwork featured on the cover! And if you turn to the very "Last Page" is my little piece of art . . .

A few sneak peeks inside ~ this issue is wonderful to me!!!

(not just because I'm in it, I promise :)

I think blessings really do come in threes!

xxoo, Dawn