*A caring friend...*

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares. ~Henri Nouwen

Here are some pics of the Magnolia Park (near Augusta) we visited...on one picture you can see a well...was pretty cool...I never saw a live Alligator in my live...that was pretty exciting :) the turtles were so cool, I love turtles :)

The beach pictures are from Hilten Head, SC they are having a wonderful beach we were renting beach cruiser bikes and went a long the beach...it is sooo nice to have Kevin at home again, I was missing all those outdoor things we love to do :)

*Guess who that is LOL...*

...ME...yep...I think I was 5 or 6 years old! I came accross as I went through some paperwork and I found this long lost picture of me...OMG I had to laugh as I saw it...I think I had lost my baby front teeth already and my Mom was so happy that I had my mouth closed as they took the picture he he

I thought I post it so you have something to laugh :)

*Miss Lilypad*

Good evening :)

I wanted to share with you that I have listed a Make Do Frog on Ebay :) he was sooo much fun to make!!! Here is the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=330323715044

The weather here in GA is fantastic...not to hot not to cold AWESOME!
My husband Kevin and I went Mountain biking today in Magnolia Springs...it was so cool!
We saw Alligators and Turtles...I will post some pics tomorrow...

Hugs Ivonne :)

*I didn't drop of the earth...*

...I'm so sorry that I didn't post anything lately...

On the 22nd of December my husband came home from his 14 month deployment from Iraq...finally :) We have to catch up on a lot of things...
It is so nice to have him home again :) He was on leave for a few weeks...the 1st week he relaxed and the 2nd week we took on a big project...we put hard wood floors down...OMG it is sooo much work...as you can see *Spooky* my 6 old month kitten was "helping me"...it took us forever but it we love how it changed our home...and we put tiles in our guest bathroom. We glued the wooden floor down...I was the glue girl :)...this glue was absolutely crazy! Anyway...we have a beautiful floor now but I have carpal tunnel syndrome on both arms :( it is pretty painful! I'm wearing my stabilizers at night...slowly but surely it is getting better YEAH

Kevin will go back to college for 1 year...after that he has to go for 6-8 month to Captain's school in a different State...but I will stay put :)
This upcoming year, I will take the opportunity to spend as much time with my husband as possible...after this 1 year in school he will be very busy again and he will work long hours.

I will not stop making dolls...I'm planing to sew a doll here and there but not regulary...I hope you understand...I will keep you updated...I will send you an email when I offer a new doll :)

I also included a picture of us all dressed up...we had a Tribute ball to our fallen Soldier's in our Battalion...

Hugs to all of you :)

*Merry Christmas*

I want to take the opportunity to wish you ALL a *Merry Christmas* and a *Happy New Year*

A big thank you to all my loyal Customers who like my work, thank you for all the nice emails and posts I received about my dolls...I couldn't have come so far without you!

I will take a little break...I will offer my work again either in February or March...I want to spend time with my husband :)I will keep you updated...

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends :)

Kevin and I will stay at home for Christmas...we feel so blessed that we are able to spend Christmas together!

Peace on Earth
God Bless America

*We made it...*

...Kevin is HOME WOOHOO :) he was in Iraq for 14 month...long month!
He came home on the 21st at 12:30am...it was wonderful to see him and to hold him again!

We had about 8 buses coming in and it happened that the bus where my husband was in had the lights on and I could see him...I was about to flip out...that was the time when it really hit me...I was sooo excited!!!

Here are some pictures :)

*Happy Thanksgiving*

I want to wish you ALL a Happy Thanksgiving :)

I found this on the internet...

Thanksgiving, also known as Thanksgiving Day, is a harvest festival. Traditionally, it is a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general. It is primarily a North American holiday which has generally become a national secular holiday with religious origins.
The dates and whereabouts of the first Thanksgiving celebration are a topic of modest contention. Though the earliest attested Thanksgiving celebration was on September 8, 1565 in what is now Saint Augustine, Florida, the traditional "first Thanksgiving" is venerated as having occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in 1621.
Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. Thanksgiving dinner is held on this day, usually as a gathering of family members.

*Holly*

This is *Holly* she will be on the TDIPT Mercantile site on the 1st of December...:)

*Veteran's Day*

...to all our men and women who served and still serving our great country!

I found this wonderful poem on the Internet...by Gerd Schroeder, Major in the United States Army...

What is the Greatest Sacrifice a Soldier Gives to us?
For the thoughtless the answer is "his life",
For the mother and wife the answer is his time,
That is taken for a year or more,
Or for eternally,
The Christian may say "no greater love..."
A whole man can say his limb, his health,
In truth it is something that no man can know unless he has served his countrymen,
How long a mortal must labor to replace this ghost little thought of,
Like virginity it can only be given once,
And God or his angles never can replace,
A wonderful, and a horrible gift paid for spiritually,
What does a Sergeant give to us when his team is all killed?
Or a friend, as dear as any brother lies in pieces in his arm?
Or the commander,
Who counts his men at the gate?
Again and again,
Who refuses to stop rather than admit the truth:
That one, some, or many, is never to return,
What does a soldier give to us when he takes another human's life?
One, two or many, what he gives took just one sure shot
But will be exacted throughout eternity,
What of the Medic, who toils for hours in vain,
To save a strange, blood covered man, woman, or child,
With a face absent a name,
But a Child of God all the same,
What of the Soldiers in hospital beds,
With no feet or with no legs,
They still yet yearn to return,
To a sand covered land,
Filled with haters, and killers, not a few,
To stand in harms way with his brothers again,
What of the Soldiers, who conceal wounds deep and unseen,
Who will struggle in secret until the years wear him thin,
And still in the end he will not win back his gift,
This thing that is lost, given,
To Americans one and all,
They bear the same burden, and yet most can hide the scars,
But no doctor can ever heal,
Nor saint could atone,
That God will not return the most precise gift these Soldiers give,
To us all unbidden,
For one cannot see, or understand what is gave,
Unless one has given the same terrible gift,
Secret, unfelt, by most of the American masses,
We oft profess awe, and feign understanding,
In grand speeches, marches, and holidays,
Yet eternity will fade and we can't comprehend,
This deepest sacrifice given, unbraden and freely,
By millions of American Soldiers,
Throughout the last fortcentury,
It rips these souls asunder,
Leaves the brave quaking,
Alone in darkness,
For the most prime part of his soul,
That no matter what joy or richness of life after,
Can never return to fill what the soul, will now, be eternally lacking,
So what is the Greatest Gift A Soldier, too you gave,
We lucky Americans?
His life, heath, time, or wealth?
No, nothing so mundane,
He creeds to us freely simply His Humanity,
Given without grudge,
Too all Americans, whether sinister or saint,
Too us all the same blessings are counted,
So today as we enjoy our families, friends and freedom,
A holiday from our short good lives,
Remember the rights,
Given unalienable by God,
Yet, exacted through brave men's sacrifice of their Humanity to you,
Thank a Soldier but don't think you can understand,
Unless you have served, his deep pain, pride and honor,
In giving his Humanity to you.
To all the American Fighting men, and women we in ignorance thank you for all that you have sacrificed and will sacrifice to protect this Great Nation.
May God grant you peace.

Gerd Schroeder is a Major in the United States Army. He is a Veteran of OIF and OEF; and when time permits is a contributor to the American Thinker

God Bless America!

* My sweet Maja...*

Today was a very hard day for me and my cat...I had to put my dear cat Maja down...she was so sick...I didn't want her to suffer any longer...

Maja is a Main Coon such a beautiful, smart, gentle and adoreable cat...she was living with us for 17 1/2 years she was my real first pet...I had no idea how hard it is to let an animal go...she was a part of my family...and will always be!

My friend Jennie went with me to the Vet for support and afterwards we buried her at a nice place on her property...I'm so thankful for that...I know we have to move again in 2 years and Jennie is planning to stay for a long time...that makes me feel better. Even her dog Tye and her cat Muffin joined in us as we put her in the ground...

Jennie thank you so very much for being there for me...you are such a sweet person...I'm glad I'm having you as my friend :)

Maybe she will sit in my Dad's lap now :)

Maja, we love you!

*Emily the Snow Queen*

Christmas

provided by: www.unclaimedmoney.net

*We reached the 1 year mark*

Today, 25th of October...it is exactly 1 year ago that I had to say Good bye to my husband Kevin...he and his fellow Soldiers are stationed in Iraq...if everything goes by plan there is a big chance that they will be home by Christmas...YIPEE!!!

That would be the best Christmas gift :) I'm already preparing his home coming...I want the house real cozy looking...Christmas lights everywhere...awww I wish it would be Christmas already :)

Please keep our brave Soldiers, Men and Women,
in your prayers...thank you.

God Bless America

*18th of October is the Sweetest Day*

Today is the *Sweetest Day* and I want to take the opportunity to say thank you to all of you...family and friends and of course my husband for being there for me, caring for me and listen when I had sad days...it wasn't an easy year... Kevin in Iraq and what happened to my Dad...it is so important to have friends in our live's!

A big Thank You to all my Customers who like my dolls :)...I will have a doll for the 1st of November on TDIPT Mercantile :)

Thank you!

Hugs Ivonne :)