And the Winner Is . . . . . . . . . .

I thought I was oh, so clever when I came up with the name for my blog.

Apparently, not so much, since the first person to guess got it right.

And even though the second guess was not what I was originally thinking when I came up with A.B.O.M.O.


I liked it just as much, for it was . . . . . ..

All Because Off My Offspring

that I started

A Blog Of My Own

So, thank you to my two friends, Stephanie and Debbie, for playing the game.

And CONGRATULATIONS to Stephanie for winning the prize!


You should look for this

coming to your mailbox soon.

And just in case you were wondering, yes, I do know that you are not supposed to start a sentence with the word AND, but I did it anyway.

Clearing out the Clutter

So, last Saturday, I cleaned out my closet. . . . . . . .

because it looked like this

and this

and I couldn't take it any more.

It was time to go through and clear out the things that I no longer needed. Things that had once served a purpose, but needed to be let go of.

Clearing out your closet is always such an enlightening experience.

For instance, honestly, how many pair of black flip-flops does one person really need?

(apparantly 5, I only got rid of one pair)

And then, there are always the things that make you say. . . . .

"What was I thinking?"

like these little lovelies.

(Frank was actually mad that I was getting rid of them. He loved them)

and there are the things that hide out in the back of your closet that you hold on to for sentimental reasons

and sometimes you even find things you forgot you possessed,

but in the end you have a big pile of stuff to get rid of

and you feel better,

because now your closet looks like this

and this

and it makes you happy just to stand back and look at it.

Sometimes we need to clear out the clutter in our emotional closets, because we just can't take it anymore. Because things that have once served a purpose need to be let go of. There are the things that make you ask "What was I thinking?", and there are the things that hang out at the back of your closet that you hold on to for sentimental reasons, and sometimes you even find things that you forgot you possessed. But in the end, you have a big pile of stuff to get rid of, and you feel better.

Because now your closet is cleared out, clutter free, and in order. And it makes you happy to just stand back and look at it.

Funeral For A Friend

T. Dennis Barney

with his beautiful wife, Ann

Today, many friends and family members gathered to say goodbye to an amazing man. He will leave a very large hole in many people's lives, but he will also leave a very large legacy as well. His funeral was a beautiful tribute to a great man who touched thousands of lives.

As we left the funeral we were handed a bookmark with the following saying:

The time to be kind

is now.

The place to be kind

is here.

We needn't be told

the way to be kind

For the way to be kind

is clear.

But it's good to pause

and remember

In the heat of our stress

and drive,

The very best time

to live

Is while we are still

alive.

The time to be happy

is now.

The place to be happy

is here.

The way to be happy

Is to make others happy.

Simple enough, I fear

But the simple things

we are apt to miss

As we struggle and fret

and strive

Forgetting the very best time

to live

Is while we are

still alive.

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions. But I think this year, this poem wil be mine.

I have put it in a place where I can see it every day, and in memory of Dennis Barney, I will strive to live while I am yet still alive.

(and forgive me once more, Shelly, for stealing a picture from your blog)

KIDS



Somehow these adorable little KIDS











Have turned into these adorable big KIDS














Who still just want to be KIDS

Bragging . . . .

Last Night I was chatting with a friend, bragging about the great pictures from THE WEDDING. She in turn began bragging about her sister who is a photographer. Needles to say, she had every right to brag, her sister's photos are more than just photos, they are truly works of art. I wanted to post one of her pictures, but didn't think I had permission to do so, and since I have not yet figured out how to link a site in my post, you will just have to look to the left where I have added her blog, PiedPiper Photography. The bad news---- she lives in London, the good news ---- she comes to Arizona a few times a year.

And since I am bragging and since posts are not any fun without pictures, I will brag about these cute photographers

Who took these cute family pictures,

and hope that Shelly doesn't mind that I stole these from her blog.

UPDATE:

These cute photographers now have their own blog site. Once again look to the left for their blog.

LANG PHOTOS

FIRSTS


The FIRST day of the new year.

The FIRST foray into the world of blogdom.
{not sure if blogdom is a word, but if it isn't, it will be soon}

I am sure you are asking yourselves, "What the heck is A.B.O.M.O?"
No, it is not a misspelling of the soon to be President, nor does it have anything to do with him, and although I did not vote for him, I am praying that he will do a good job.
So, your FIRST assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to figure out exactly what A.B.O.M.O. stands for. We will play it like "Balderdash"
{since that seems to be the game of choice lately}
I will post all of your guesses, and you can choose the right one.
The winner will get a bit of movie money, so make sure you give me contact information.
{although that request seems a bit silly, since the only ones playing will probably be those I already know how to contact, but just in case. . . . . .}

And since one of the reasons I was waiting to create a blog was that I was waiting for wedding pictures. . . . . . . here is the FIRST picture



So Merry New Year, and Happy Holidays to you all!!

PS Aren't you impressed that I figured out how to do this all by myself?