I started the challenge!!

Hi All, thanks to those of you that took the time to read through my l*o*n*g inaugural post of 2013! I promise not to be so wordy in the future. Just a quick note to let you know about the 2013 Challenge offered by The Scarlet Letter Blog that I follow. We are doing a "stitch along" (SAL) and we have the year to complete it. We each will be sharing our choice of samplers and will post our progress. I'm a little late in starting but I'm now officially on the way! I decided to stitch two smaller samplers instead of one big one. This evening the first stitch will be in place! YAY! The first sampler is a miniature sampler and is stitched all in one color thread and will be mounted on a claret-colored cotton piece of velvet. The finished size will be about 2 1/2" X 3". Miniature samplers are a rare find according to the information on the chart. This is c1805 and comes from a private American collection. There is speculation that the miniatures were done on "childish whims" to decorate their dollhouses. The second one I will stitch is The Antique Alphabet Sampler and it is an original design by The Scarlet Letter based on alphabets of 18th and 19th century samplers. I absolutely love the colors in this sampler. The finished size will be approximately 4 1/2" X 7". More about this one later as I get going on it.

The Year In Review

January 7, 2013.....WHAT the WHAT???? How did that happen? Where is the time going and why must it go there so quickly? Never mind - let's get to enjoying the moment. There is method to the madness of starting this blog up again. It has been just sitting there, reporting nothing, while my life is just moving along very nicely. I need to get back to this. I don't even want to know how many times I've said that.....'cause this is the one that counts! How about that title...The Year in Review? You might say, "Which year Willa - there have been a few that need reviewing." Well, we won't hit those years; just 2013, and we'll do it topically. That way you won't lose your place when you come back to this novelette. Marriage: Yup, still a happy girl there. 42 years married to my best friend and high school sweetheart! Last anniversary, June 1, we drove to Raleigh NC and spent a wonderful day and night there just walking while holding hands, talking while laughing, eating at a fabulous gluten free restaurant (more about that later), plus a little summer planning....and that's where the reporting stops! Spiritual: I continue to be blessed Sunday after Sunday and of course, daily, as we serve our Lord and worship with so many friends at Alexandria First Baptist Church. Our Sunday School teacher, Rozella is amazing and has such insight. We look forward to learning each week as we study God's Word with her. Our pastor, Don Davidson is so dedicated to his calling. He is a wonderful preacher, teacher and pastor and we never tire of his sermons. In January I was ordained as a deacon in our church. Sam and I are serving together on the diaconate of our church and each of us have several families that we minister to throughout the year. Attending our women's weekly Bible study, a Retreat in March (Williamsburg) and a Couples Retreat allowed me to continue growing in the Lord. Oh, and I read the Bble through chronologically last year for the second time and LOVED it. Doing it again this year with Sam and look forward to what we learn together! Health: I started the year gluten free. I call it undiagnosed celiac. My darling sister has been telling me for years that all my digestive problems are caused by this little annoying disease, but I didn't believe her even after she was diagnosed. So I decided, in late fall of 2011, to prove her wrong. WELL, that didn't work out the way I had planned. Turns out ALL my symptoms disappeared in 3 days and I haven't looked back since. I almost looked back when my doctor told me that in order to get an accurate diagnosis I'd have to start eating food with gluten for two weeks. NOT!! So celiac or not, I'm cured...as long as I don't eat gluten. But there was another little issue that needed attention - my gall bladder. After having 6 attacks in 4 months all the while refusing to have surgery (I thought I could control it with diet...) I had the pesky thing removed mid-June! HAPPY GIRL NOW! And then there is one more REALLY important change in the year 2012....I've lost 82 lbs. Even I have trouble recognizing me in the mirror but I like it A*L*O*T!! I have 18 more to go and they are the hardest - guess they've been on the longest but I have no doubt that I will do it....and soon. Did I mention that I love Weight Watchers! Family: Oh my do I love my family! I traveled a lot to Texas this past year - visiting Mom, Scott, Ally and the boys AND Baby Anna (more on that joy later), as well as my other family there - sister, brother, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins! And family came to me; Andy, Lisa, Alyssa and Katy visited us in May. It was the first time for the 5 year old twins and we "did the town!" Christin, Connor, Rachele and Olivia moved closer to us (than they were in California) and visited us in March. Such fun! And in September the adorable Baby Anna Grace Brown joined this happy clan. Scott and Alison are the proud (and I mean proud) parents of their first girl. Austin and Tyler have a baby sister at last and the entire Brown/Gilkeson family agree that she is just the most beautiful baby girl born in 2012! In addition to our immediate family growing, the extended family grew as well; My sister Jan added two new "grands" to the Smith clan....Brynne to Cory and Hannah, and Jude to Josh and Bethany. We had a big ole family reunion with everyone Thanksgiving and the next day as well. Counting my brother and Valorie we had 32 family members all in the same place at the same time! It was more than wonderful!! Grief: On July 5th my precious mother went home to be with her Lord and Savior as she celebrated her 90th birthday with the angels! She always said she wanted to live to the ripe old age of 90 and by golly, she did just that and slipped into eternity on her special day. We had the most amazing service and celebration of her life that I have ever witnessed. Surrounded by family and doing what we do best - sing - we just know she was smiling down on us as she was enjoying her party in Heaven. The party that will never end! And my three loves - Music, Longaberger, Stitching: I'm still teaching piano and coaching an occasional vocal student and I play for our Sunday School department. I still TRY to sell Longaberger but it isn't on the front burner anymore. I still love the products and adore the company! And lastly I became the president of the Loudon Sampler Guild last January and this has become a very important passion for me. I have learned so much about the samplers that were stitched by very young girls in the 18th and 19th centuries from these ladies. I have way more project than I could ever finish, but I'll keep at it and share them with you as they are completed. AND NOW: I say bring on 2013! I realize that this entry is waaaay too long for most to read and if you managed to get all the way through it....Thank YOU! If I can keep up, there will be no need for so many words next time even though my title is a Basket of Words! Blessings...WB

Pictures....I forgot to add them!

Here are a few pictures from Christmas. As they say, "you had to be there" and if you had you would have split your sides laughing! We had so much fun. We missed Andy, Lisa, Alyssa and Kaitlyn so much though. We are planning our next family reunion and with this large family, so spread out, this is not an easy task!

Tom bowling and everyone else laughing
DANCING

and more DANCING

And the famous DIP!

These two need to take this show on the road

4 of my Beautiful Grands!!

What a gorgeous family!

Scott being....Scott!

...and Connor doing what he does a lot!!

Scott singing O, Holy Night!

Tom and the incredible Christmas dinner

Olivia and Larry are great pals! What a cute picture!!

The great pal team of Brown and Gilkeson!

We were always laughing...always!

.......or we were at the piano!

Ty getting ready for battle

Take that Daddy!

Not quite as long between post.....

.....but close! Since I announced on facebook (3 days ago) that journaling was to be one of my goals (not resolutions) for the year, here I am trying to work on that goal. I let time get away from me. I need to learn from Andy, the consummate blogger, about stick-to-it-ness because he is awesome! I find myself at the beginning of each day checking to see what he has posted and yes, I am terribly disappointed when there is not a new note or picture or two. Yeah, I know, I know....something about working strange hours, but he still manages to delight me with his words and or course the many, many pictures that make me think the twins are just down the street....I*W*I*S*H!!

So what news should I share with you? How about the goals for the year? That's easy because they are fresh in my mind and they are written down and they have been shared on facebook for all my 135 friends to see. I did that on purpose because it does no good to have a goal if you keep quiet about it. I have to answer to someone about these things. So here goes:

• I will read through the Bible this year. It has been several years since I have done that and I can't think of a better way to the new decade. Now here's the amazing part. I announced this on facebook a few days ago and got only one response. I was kind of sad about that because I was hoping several people would join me. Well, last night I was chatting with Donna, one of my favorite cousins in Texas, and she suggested I start a facebook group and invite people like that. I had no idea to do that, but in less than a minute or two she had us up and running. We now have 28 people joining us; friends and family of mine, hers and Christin's. HOW EXCITING is that?! Each night I will go there and post the next day's passage and we might or might not have a discussion/comments on what we read. The important thing is that we are all doing something together that will benefit us individually and as a whole. It's not too late to join us!!


• I will walk 200 miles this year. Now, for you athletic types out there in "read-a-blog-land" that might not sound like a very lofty goal, but believe me for this gal with bad knees, a bad back, osteoarthritis, overweight, and lazy on top of all that...THIS IS HUGE!! I broke it down into 4 miles/week or 1 mile 4 times each week. I can do that!! I WILL DO THAT!! I asked for people to join me and got a few.....anybody else?


• I will journal. I think it is important to write down thoughts and feelings and comments and hmmm, even questions. It really doesn't matter who reads this or if anyone ever comments. What matters is that I am engaged and trying to develop a discipline! Besides it gives me a place to brag about my husband, children, grands and kitties!!


• I have a very strange music goal to share with you. I decided that I listen to basically the same music day after day. I switch things up, but end up hearing the same ole, same ole 'cause I like my collections. SO once each month I'm going to choose a different category; is that called a genre. Anyway, someone can correct me on that one. But I will listen to as many songs within my chosen group each month as I can. Two choices each month: one is always classical (this month it is music by Mozart - it's his birthday month) and the other will be whatever pops in my head. This month the theme (yeah, I like that better - theme) is music from Broadway Musicals. I'll let you know how I do. In the mean time I'm uploading songs from some oldies, like Brigadoon and Carousel. FUN!!


• My Longaberger business will grow by leaps and bounds this year. I really do love this company. I love what it stands for - I love the made in America by Americans. I love the family owned, family run business. I love the only-in-America story of the man that had so many things going against him but kept believing in his dreams of a better way of life for many, many people until he made the art of basket weaving that started with his father and his grandfather into a multi-million dollar company. AND I love that before he died of cancer in 1996 he gave the company to his daughter who took up the challenge and has lead the company through the best and worse of times and it just still keeps thriving. ALL THAT TO SAY THIS: I plan to "grow" my team, "grow" my customer base and "grow" my income so Sam and I can retire already!!


• And finally HEALTH with all capital letters! I have to get on top of things this year. On October 31, 2009 I entered a challenge with Andy. We are both on Weight Watchers and each night we are supposed to tally what we ate and send a report to each other. We have been doing awesome....well, at least until Christmas week, but we will get back to it...RIGHT ANDY??? I have lost 15 lbs since the two of us started this and 25 lbs since I started from my highest weight.....which shall forever be kept a secret until maybe when I reach my goal. AND speaking of goals, I will reach it this year. I set milestone goals for Christmas (was over by 1 lb), Valentine's Day, April 28th, June 1st, September 15 and for November 16th when I plan to reach my final goal. This will take prayer. Along with this weight loss goal is the goal to go to my doctor more regularly. I haven't been doing that. In fact I would be mortified if you knew how far behind I am on some very basic tests. I just got tired of hearing them tell me to lose weight and that everything that "ailed me" was due to my weight. Well, take that doctors....now I'm on the way to that goal, but I won't be waiting until I get there to see them again. Hmmm, note to self.....need to think about adding the goal of conquering some doctor fears to this list!

There you have it. I will try and entice you to check back often by posting pictures TOMORROW. I hope you will feel free to comment, offer advice, pray for and with me, join me on any of these goal challenges if you like and just check back when you can!

Oh Happy Day!

Has it really been 6 months since I last posted? Guess so, the date doesn't lie. I thought I would be more faithful to blogging, but life got in the way and I didn't think it was the kind of things that everyone wanted to read about.



So here is the short version:

Sam, my beloved, got sick in January - really sick. Turned out to be pneumonia that wouldn't go away. After months on antibiotics with other odd symptoms showing almost every week we decided that something else had to be going on. Well, you know the military heath care system - that took time and time and then some more time!

BOTTOM LINE: He has been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, (RA) and just FINALLY began treatment last Friday. He has had numerous appointments and test along the way to rule out other things before we could proceed with treatment, but we are now on the way. He has lost a lot of weight, not dangerously, but through Weight Watchers (and my excellent cooking) and is feeling 100% better. Last Saturday he actually did some manual labor by cleaning out the garage and he did fine. We are thanking the Lord for the healing that is and will continue to take place.



Another thing that has happened is the loss of my sweet kitten Oriella. It has been hard to go back to look at her pictures in this blog so I have avoided doing that. She died, quite unexpectedly, on June 28 of FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) and we grieved for a very long time. Pocahontas is fine except for the fact that she misses her playmate terribly! I have become her new playmate and she is now very spoiled!!



Good news is that she has a new baby brother; literally because he has the same parents as her. His name is Wolfgang Amadeus Brown and was born July 18. We will get him mid-October and we can't wait. He is a cutie, the only boy in a litter of 5 and he is already almost twice as big as his sisters. Pocahontas will have her hands (paws?) full when he arrives. We call him Wolfie for short.



THIS and THAT:

Trips:

#1 - #5 - I have been to Texas 4 times since January and I'm so thankful I get to go often to see Mom and the rest of the family. I always stay with Scott and Ally and love my time with the boys! Next trip there will be Sept 3 - 7 for Austin's birthday.

#6 - I took a few friends to the Longaberger Homestead in April and we had so much fun. It was the Collector's Club Gathering. We drove from here to Morgantown WV to spend the night. Can you say "room party"? We got up early the next morning and drove to Fraseysburg OH where the Homestead is located and spent the day looking, playing, eating and oh yea - shopping. We all also worked with a Longaberger basket maker and wove out very own Lady-Bug Basket. TOO CUTE! We left late in the day for the 3 hour dirve back to Morgantown - more room partying and then the next day back home again to Virginia. We were tired but it was oh so much fun. We have plans to make it an annual event and hope to add to our numbers next year!!

#7 - Sam and I went to the Longaberger Bee (convention) earlier this month. If you have been then you know just how special this is. If not come with me next year. I can't describe the fun, learning, excitement and pride in a company that we get to experience for 4 days. It is something we will NOT miss. Both of us made a basket with one of the talented basket makers on the last day and they are beautiful. Tomorrow I promise pictures!

#8 - We leave this Sunday for Nags Head!!! It will be our first trip to the Outer Banks and we can't wait. We are spending the week with the Taylors. ALL THE TAYLORS! The older Taylors are treating family and friends to a week in a beautiful 8 bedroom home that is located right on the Atlantic. Oh yes, we are watching the tract of Hurricane Bill with great interest! For those of you that don't know, Randy Taylor was Sam's roommate (old lady as they are called) at A&M. He was best man at our wedding and he and Lois have been our dearest friends forever! This will be a treat for us to get to spend a whole week with them.

#9 - I already mentioned my next trip to Texas but I thought I'd also throw in Sam's travel to Atlanta Sept 11 - 13 to be with the Brown II while Austin participates in the Triathlon Iron Kid Event. Wish I could go...boohoo!

#10 - Speaking of Browns....September 25th - Oct 4 we will be in ANCHORAGE! It's been since January 2008 that I have visited and even longer since Sam was there. Thank God for the video conferences we have ever so often because we at least get to see the girls and Andy and Lisa often, but this is a dream trip for us. We can't wait to get there!

#11 - Might as well add this one that is really a trip within a trip. When we get to Anchorage on Friday, we will board the train the very next day and have a side trip to Seward AK. Yup, you read that right! You know me and trains. Well, Andy found us a trip that features a jazz festival while on board the train. We will party on the way down, spend the night in Seward and come back to Anchorage the next day.

#12 - When I get back from AK I will have to go to Texas to see Mom and the family, then rent a car to drive North to Dallas to pick up Wolfie and fly home from there. That will be a fun, but busy trip but look at the reward at the end.

# ????? - After that we don't know, but probably will make plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas that involves travel somewhere. When you live so far from family you love (wait a minute; they live far from me) you travel to go see them so as long as we have the means, then we will travel. Thank goodness for piano/voice lessons!!



Guess I need to get on with my day. It involves getting the house ready for Bunko Friday night and an HUGE Open House the day after we return from Nags Head. What was I thinking??? Oh, I remember - I wanted to have an open house so I could make money to take more trips!!



Look for pictures tomorrow. I have lots to download to the computer and and then to this site. Wish me luck!

Thanks for reading!

WB

Happy Easter...Happy Spring...Happy, Happy, Happy! I hope you are happy whatever your circumstance, wherever you are.

Happiness has eluded me the past two months, but I'm pretty sure I have discovered how to get it back and when I have it within reach there will be no stopping the smiles, joy and sense of well-being in store for me! Before I get there though, I need to make a list of things that have caused this doom and gloom I have been feeling. After that list is complete I WILL move forward with a major attitude adjustment and find the happiness that usually defines me.

I Stand Corrected....and more pictures!!

....okay, so I was a little harsh with my words. Thank you Josh for reading and if you were the only one, it would be enough!!

The new furniture is in place and we love it! Unofrtunately, so do the kittens. We alreayd have some very tiny scratches on it when they go zoom, zoom, zooming across. Pocahontas loves to sit and hide at the corner to watch for Oriella and THEN, it's Katie Bar the Door....off she goes. We're okay with that because it will have that lovely lived in look.

Sam asked me to take some pictures of the kittens up close and personal so I have included those as well.

have a wonderful Wednesday wherever you are. We have snow today, but it will be gone later when all turns to rain! UGH!!