~ Isn't She Beautiful ~

What a joyous moment in 2003 to be blessed with this little

beauty ... Tatiana Isabelle. She is wearing my Grandmother Maggie Carty Neu's baptismal gown that she hand created ... this gown has

been worn by my Mother & her siblings, my children & now my

wee kid-lings. It has 3 gowns beneath the original over gown. One is a half gown for changing the baby on, the next is a flannel type

gown for warmth, & then there is the petti-gown. The intricate

handsewn stitching is awesome. It has been retired after Tatiana's baptism because of the delicate fabric state.

~~~~~

***(Thank you, Mini and Everyone!

Love, Tatiana

P.S. Your post, it's pictures, and everyone's comments were wonderful. She really enjoyed it. Emery (her dad)***

Tatiana was having a grand time at her first birthday

party. Look at those delicious chocolate brown eyes.

Do they get any cuter ...

In 2007 Tatiana became a ballerina & tap dancer ...

she is as elegant as a swan gliding across the floor ...

don't we all wish we had those long slim legs? You should see her tom-girl self outside of dancing ... she loves her sports.

and, today Tatiana is 7 ... art is her passion & she is really quite good.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, sweet precious angel girl. Poppy & Mimi/Mini (she's decided I am Mini now) love you with all our hearts. You are our pride & joy.

We hope that every day of your life is full, rich, warm & wonderful ... full of surprises & joys ... may God bless & keep you close as you continue in life.

Forever our love, Mimi/Mini & Poppy

~~~~~

~ Blessings & Joy ~

As we greet the New Year, please pray ...

*that God will continue to bless & protect each of us

*our troops that give selflessly for our protection be kept safe from harm

*our wonderful nation & its freedoms remain in tact

*disease be squashed with new medical breakthroughs*

*we each be guided with good common sense

*love one another without question

*to forgive, the extended hand is always there

*reach out to those less fortunate, to give without questions

*for all souls that have gone before us

*the evils that lurk in this world cease to be

Thank you each for a wonderful & fun filled year of meeting each of you fantastic ladies. Despite a few bumps & bruises ... friendships have been deeply forged ... love has been bountiful & shared ... I have deep gratitude for each of you. May it continue to be a warm blessed NEW YEAR for one & all.

I will be in & out of communication over the next few weeks ...

Hugs ~ Marydon

~ To One & To All ... ~

The leaves of the Holly actually symbolizes the crown of thorns, with which Lord Jesus was forced to adorn his head with, while its red berries reminds one of the blood which Christ had to shed in this world.

Remember the precious GIFT that our Lord gave to us ... Happy Birthday Jesus!

http://www.openmyeyeslord.net/UltimateFreedom.htm

MERRY CHRISTMAS & blessings ~

Marydon & Harold

(You may enjoy several posts from this past week, particularly the 'Apple...')

~ May I Just Find An Apple Under The Tree, Lord ... ~. ~

A couple weeks ago I wrote about a girl in my life that made me feel terrible about the hair barettes (we 4 girls only Christmas gift from Mother that lean year) we were so proud to have received ...

I asked my brother about his Christmas memories ... In his note you will read about the 'apple'. His wife has shared this story when they were visiting with us. How seldom we think beyond our own moments, but my SIL brought things to a screaming front position with her simple Christmas request as a child... Enjoy.

~~~~~

My brother reflects Christmas memories ~

I had many, and they all seem to be a blur as sometimes it’s easier to blank out things which we would like to forget . When you related the time Helen Jean asked: “Is that all”, brought to mind when I was in the third grade, and we were forced to go to the head of the classroom and speak into a wooden microphone which was crafted by Steve R’s (sic) dad to tell what we received for Christmas & where we went for the Holiday ’s. Mine was the shortest……….

I returned to my seat wearing hand-me-downs (amidst the snickering) thinking that when I got older, and had kids, that I was going to take them to every state in the union, and spoil the heck out of them. I haven’t been able to do that (yet), but it is one of the reasons that Trevva & Quaella have been to ½ of the states as of this missive.

I’m not bitter as I know mother did the best, with what she had for resources, but it did instill in me that internal drive to be the best that I can be ...

One of my goals prior to leaving this world is to start a food bank in the Philippines , by growing food, and then giving it away. My wife has related to me how she would go to bed on Christmas Eve dreaming of finding an apple under the tree for her. - - An apple. We as kids had it far better than many of the children around the world who go to bed on empty stomach, and fall asleep dreaming of just eating, and what the next day of scavenging will bring.

I will get off my soap box now, thanking you for asking the question of my most precious Christmas memories, as most of them go back to December of 1992 when I arrived in the Philippines for the first time and witnessed real poverty, yet such great happiness. The Philippines celebrate the birth of Christ, as we all should, and not the commercialization of it.

Your favorite brother,

Buck

*****

PPS This is why 'giving to others' is such a passion of mine, it takes precedent over much in my life ... these little moments in life molded me ... others before all else. I thank my Lord daily for the blessings that have been bestowed upon me to share in joy for & with others.

~ Rudolph... & That's The Rest of The Story ... ~

(True Story, TY Ann)

As the holiday season of 1938 came to Chicago, Bob May, 34-year old ad writer for Montgomery Ward, a father of a four-year old girl, was exhausted, broke, and about to lose his wife to cancer.

One night, Barbara, his daughter aked him, “Why isn’t mommy like everybody else’s mommy?” As he struggled to answer his daughter’s question, Bob remembered the pain of his own childhood. A small, sickly boy, he was constantly picked on and called names. So he began to spin a tale about a reindeer with a bright red nose who found a special place on Santa’s team. Barbara loved the story so much that she made her father tell it every night before bedtime. A he did, it grew more elaborate. Because he couldn’t afford to buy his daughter a gift for Christmas, Bob decided to turn the story into a homemade picture book.

Montgomery Ward bought the rights to the book from their debt-ridden employee. Over the next six years, at Christmas, they gave away six million copies of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to shoppers. Every major publishing house

in the country was making offers to obtain the book. In an incredible display of good will, the head of the department store returned all rights to Bob May. Four years later, Rudolph had made him into a millionaire

.Bob’s wife died in early December. A few days before Christmas, he reluctantly attended a company at Montgomery Ward. His co-workers encouraged him to share the story he’d written. After he read it, there was a standing ovation. Everyone wanted copies of their own.

He soon remarried and was blessed with good fortune and a growing family. There was more to come. His brother-in-law Johnny Marks, set the uplifting story to music. The song was pitched to artists from Bing Crosby on down. They all passed. Finally, Marks approached Gene Autry. The cowboy star had scored a holiday hit with “Here Comes Santa Claus” a few years earlier. Like the others, Autry wasn’t impressed with the song

about the misfit reindeer. Marks begged him to give it a second listen. Autry played it for his wife, Ina. She was so touched by the line “They wouldn’t let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games” that she insisted her husband to record the tune.

Within a few years, it had become the second best-selling Christmas song ever, right behind “White Christmas.” Since then, Rudolph has come to life in TV specials, cartoons, movies, toys, games, coloring books, greeting cards, and even a Ringling Bros. circus act. The little red-nosed reindeer dreamed up by Bob May and immortanlized in song by Johnny Marks has come to symbolize Christmas as much as Santa Claus, evergreen trees adn presents.

As the last line of the song says, “He’ll go down in history.”

~ Blizzard Beauty ... ~

Meandering down the country roads after our 24" snowfall/blizzard. The first home is a castle, that originally was a 5 room A-frame home & now is 26 rooms, featuring a gorgeous pond w/lily pads. The earlier post today below shows other beautiful pics. Enjoy!

~ Oh, What Fun It Is To ..... ~

This nativity card was handcreated in Haiti & sent to us by Luisette & Gerard (D-I-Love's parents) & has a constant place of honor on our family photo cupboard year round. It is hand cut

& drawn. I love it.

Here are some pics of our 24" snowfall/blizzard yesterday ... from our home. I'll post our trip around the countryside later on.

Enjoy! I am doing a happy dance ... I LOVE!!! snow.

~ Come Sit At My Table & Celebrate My Birth .... ~

Robert Ingersol Neu, my Mother's Father, was a real character with a great sense of humor. He was a 'handy man' doing odd jobs. When he worked in the Somerville Mill in Napavine, WA, one night he cut HALF of a fellow workers handlebar moustache off, & then took a hike ... when the fella woke in the morning, furious, he had a LOT of choice words for G'pa. G'pa rode a Harley Davidson 3-wheeler ... I loved those rides around town perched on top of the carrier platform on the back (that is where they put ice & groceries), hair blowing (no seat belts), waving to everyone. He migrated from NE, his parents were from Germany.

Loved this man ... jolly G'pa had a twinkle of mischief in his eyes always.

His invitation to join Jesus was Dec. 19, 1949.

My Mother, Mary Caroline Neu Middaugh ...

You left us on Christmas Eve 1989 while we were in Mass … how precious of Jesus to pick you for this glorious day to help prepare His celebration of birth & sit beside Him, Mother … know that you are so desperately still missed.

You had such a fun & loving youth, were adventuresome & joyful, worldly travelled. You left your heart in Ireland, oh, so long, long ago. (Her Mother was from Ireland).

Raising 5 children single handed, you molded us all to be where we are today … strong individuals that love life & treasure our relationships in life. You carried us thru such difficult times that were very dire, but you never once gave up … this strength taught us all can be surmounted in the face of uncertainty.

You made sure that we were given every ounce of your love, to make up for living in a one parent home, providing us as best you could … alone. So selfless, you were …

Your quiet, yet strong wisdom was not always welcomed, but as adults we know & can hear those words echoing in our ears … oh, to hear your voice once again. Thank you for bearing with us as we grew into our adulthood.

Our long chats, travelling together, chatty lunches at the diner ... your delicious family swiss steak dinners together … that gentle touch … a soft hug … our sharing family stories of yore … memories in the making, have held me together in moments like this second, as I weep for you now ... tears flow looking at your pictures, remembering the love I feel for you in my heart & soul, that would beg for just one more day … one more word … one more gentle touch ...

Shamrocks & kisses, Mother … a broken hearted daughter that loves you forever… how blessed I am. One day we will be rejoined … get those Pinochle cards out, I’ll be ready. Hugs of love, I miss you. Your loving daughter …

…

On Christmas morning 1981, Jesus came & invited you to join Him for His birthday celebration. How blessed you were.

Grandma Hepsie … your life was a very hard life in Oklahoma raising 6 children alone. The era you lived in was tough, the land of the country was not kind, you scraped by with loving family surrounding you to see you all made it thru the ‘tough times’ in Oklahoma.

I remember when we went to your 100th birthday party, by now you were blind, had cancer, nearly deaf, & completely incapacitated. You hadn’t seen Harold in 25 or 30 years. As Harold bent over & said ‘Hi, Grandma’ you immediately said ‘Harold’. You recognized his voice. How overjoyed we both were to have this memory to cherish.

G'ma was just a few weeks short of 104 when she went home.

How blessed you were to have such a wonderful greeting as you entered Heaven … a joyous day.

May your soul rest forever in peace …

(Yes, that is Harold & me, ack!)

*****

~ A Little Memory Walk of Christmas' past ...~

1965 Our first Christmas with our families after our return from 3 yrs. in Hawaii. This is at my Mother's home ... Harold's family lived 2 miles away so we did a lot of running back & forth for

the wee ones to bring delight to the G'pa & G'ma's.

Check out those chubby cheeks on my daughter, isn't she a cutie? And such handsome sons ... this was around midnight ... we always went to midnight Mass & then opened gifts & had a tip'o'the'hand with sweets.

Emery, 3 yr, Michael 2 yr, Caroline 1 yr

Cari (Caroline), Joshua, Harold, Marydon, Emery

1992

1967

The little rocking chair was mine when I was just about 1 yr. old ... check out that GORGEOUS BRAND NEW STATE OF THE ART TV, chuckle!

Anyone, remember those beauties?

Emery 4 yr, Michael 3 yr, Caroline 2 yr

****Does anyone remember back in 1969/70 era when EVERY TOY came out needing batteries ... & every thing we bought needed batteries ... & we had NOT ONE SINGLE BATTERY in the house & 3 VERY UNHAPPY children with a heap full of unworkable toys?! Oy! that was a sad day. Harold drove for a couple of hours to everywhere he could to try & find batteries, na-da!

Joshua (c. 1993) (& his Poppy) would say "this is the kind of Santa I'm looking for" ... chuckle! ... but.......................

Joshua sure didn't like THIS Santa, one bit! He was beet red screaming & contorting to get away from him!

Just a simple wish that 'CHRIST'mas be remembered & carried in your hearts to celebrate His wonderful redeeming birth ... on Christmas Day ... AND throughout every day of the year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY REBECCA ... A GIVEAWAY

Rebecca ~ may your day be filled w/blessings & love.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY sweet friend

With love & hugs ~ Marydon

Pop over for Heather's wonderful

Repasy GIVEAWAY

Shabby.vintage.bliss blog

~Veterans .... Checking My List .... Special Tree .... Baking ... Andrew Has Left Us~

Send our veterans a card via this wonderful link ~ http://www.letssaythanks.com/ThankYou.aspx

~~~~~~~~

This vintage silhouette is (1) of a mere few that I kept, the other 600+ went to auction. I just couldn't bear to part with it.

Everytime I look at it, it brings back the memories of youth when Mother would tell us 'Santa is checking that list, you'd better be good .....'

This tree we had made special for Joshua's Civil War themed bedroom. It has a true Americana theme ... what young fella wouldn't love it. We leave it up all year in his room. Lights on ....

Chuckle time ~ don't you just love the wee ones when they do something for the first time ....

This is Joshua's first baking experience for Christmas in 1993. We get so tickled as memories flood of that disastrous day in the kitchen ... we had flour, dough & sprinkles everywhere ... he wore as much flour as the recipe called for ... what fun we had.

Just gotta LICK that good stuff ... no wasting here!

Look Mini, I baked!

Isn't that ecstasy ... look at those eyes, he's in heaven!

And the final touches ... so seriously trying to be neat!

MERRY CHRISTMAS & loving fun memories to you & your wee ones.

PS Please pray for little Andrew & his family, he passed away.

http://bellamella-melanie.blogspot.com