~A FRESH NEW YEAR..and JOY...~

I want to thank all of you, my blogger friends, for giving me one of the most fun years ever! So many of you helped me learn..and of course, as with all of us, there are those special ones that have stolen our hearts with their kindness's that went so far beyond anything we ever expected to find doing something like this.

My very first post was on December 6, 2008! I had accidently found Mary at Little Red House, fell in love with the idea and decided to try it. Little did I know I was heading for a wonderful, creative experience that would introduce me to some of the most wonderful people with like interests, such as home, family, decorating and cooking! And even taking walks in all kinds of weather!

I am sure everyone comes to blogging knowing little about what is in store for them. We bumble and make mistakes and finally break down and ask some kind soul for help! NOT once did I find anything but a willingness to help and from that came friendships that are amazing.
Most of you I will never meet, and one day one of us will just suddenly be gone. Being one of the older ones, :):) it will probably be me. I just want to say this. If and when this happens...I want you all to know that you have been one of the joys of my life.
I have seen new babies, new pets, new husbands, boyfriends, and even new cars and homes! We've lived through tradgedy's of the loss of a loved one, lost pets and heard words that betrayed pain both physically and mentally and stood by feeling helpless with nothing to comfort them with but words on this computer. It was difficult! Some even had close calls with their lives and health.
Yippee! We made it my friend!

And the outpouring of love and sympathy when illness has hit us...the sharing of favorite recipes, the joy of finding a bargain when shopping and of course experienceing the fun of "giving" (which reminds me..I am about to do my first giveaway within a month or so and I am a nervous wreck!) And of course there is the joy of seeing gorgeous homes and dreaming of what it must be like to live in such a home!

We have learned how to make something from nothing and to use what we have and make it into something wonderful! We have seen cozy homes, from mobil homes, to lovely mansions to make us gasp! To find so many that share my interests and...even a few with gray hair which comforted me. This was my first year of going gray... what an experience! *smile* Such words of understanding and compliments got me through it.
Laughing, of course!


We get to visit countries we will never get to visit and learned about the people and the beauty of the way they live and think. (Hello, Christer!)
It's been such an experience and difficult to explain to those who haven't experienced it..
To meet so many women, and a few men, that share their lives and times with us and enrich our lives...there are no words!
A special thanks to Debbi for my beautiful backgrounds! (HUG!) The ones that made us smile and burst out laughing with their stories and talent for telling them! And the photography talent! I have gone shopping and seen the countryside of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and taken exciting rides on the back of a motorcycle at 73 years old! I have gone on walks into bogs and watched snow fall and ..and the list goes on and on! To all of you..what a gift you have given me!

It's been fun! I have learned I can love those I have never met and never will, and the experience has broadened my thinking, and..I am grateful! You all have blessed me so much and I thank you and wish you the happiest of New Years in 2010. See you then! I thank God for each and every one of you~!
Love,
Mona

*A brand new little great grandson (Rocco) weighing in at 9lbs 11oz. And was born yesterday afternoon. Does the name fit ..or what? *smile* (I got his weight wrong the first time...ah well!)

*I hope Patrick, the father of our seven children and 19 grands and greats, sees all that is happening. I think he does. God is good!