THANKFUL...

Ya know...I hardly cried at all about my son heading to Afghanistan...

until I started writing...and then reading, all of your heart-felt comments from my last post which started a huge pity party.

And now...I can't seem to stop crying. 

Until this morning that is. 

I woke up SO many times last night...and each time...

I'd put myself back to sleep by thanking God...the Universe...

for all of my gazillion blessings.

And boy am I ever blessed! 

It made the difference between wanting to go right back to bed

and wanting to stay up and greet a brand new day.

With a joyful heart.

Thank you...

each of you...

for your support and prayers and well wishes for our family. 

Words just fail me at a time like this because they can't really express how lovely I think you are. 

Moving onward...

The first few pictures are of bookmarks and contact cards that I sent as thank you's to online friends

and then of course the continuing vacation pictures...

which I'm still not tired of looking at. 

Remember a few days ago when I told you I couldn't wait to show you what popped up out of the water?!?

These pictures... 

are of more art that I won by leaving a comment on one of Nora Clemens-Gallo's posts.

She does fabulous batik and sketchbook drawings and I always love looking at her colorful, happy art. I'm tickled pink to own some of it!

Thank you Nora!!!

And again...

THANK YOU!

You are WONDERFUL,

AWESOME

friends

that I treasure.

Create Your Life, 

annie!

I know this picture is posted twice in a row...but I just love it so much!!! - Next post, I'll try to add a video of my girlie manatee.