~~Sweet Blessings~~

Hello fellow bloggers ~

Our journey to New York has ended and we are back home. As many of you know, Patrick's father passed away and we were in New York for the funeral. It was a very beautiful and moving ceremony ~ Pop's (as he was called) had so many friends/family that they had to have 4 showings...from 2-5 on both Saturday and Sunday, and then from 7-9 on both days! I have never met so many new people in a few days ~ please don't ask me to repeat the names of them all!!

They all found Jess to be adorable ~ she was soooo good at the wakes - especially since we were there for so many hours. It was good to see everyone again, just wish it were under different circumstances. The flights to and from New York were pretty good, kids did well. Lots of tears, shared memories, laughs, baked ziti, flowers, hugs, & kisses. Did I mention kisses??? *hee hee* Did you know that all new yorkers kiss hello, kiss goodbye, I would see the same person 5 times in one day and get like 10 kisses!!! (not that i'm complaining..but nowwwwww i have a cold)!!

My oldest son Mitchell will be venturing home from Fort Benning tomorrow and get here early Saturday morning ~ I sooooo can't wait to see him. With all the trips to New York ~ we are just now starting to decorate for Christmas and get our tree up. I'm hoping to get some baking done this weekend and hopefully some christmas shopping. After a loss of someone so loved near Christmas ~ it just makes you sit back and reflect at all the blessings you have in life. I am just focusing on family, love, & friends this christmas ~ gathering those I love dearly to me and celebrating us just ~ being~.

Board games, laughter, baking, cuddling around the woodstove, baby smiles and giggles, soft kisses at night, son home safely ~ these are things I will cherish this holiday season. As for my new years resolutions? To get and stay healthy so I will be with all those I love for a very, very long time ~ I have everything else.
Ciao
Bren