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Hey Peeps, it’s been a WHILE since I’ve posted anything…remember Me. Yes, I have been hibernating and haven’t been able to wrap my thoughts around blogging and recipes. I haven’t forgotten about you though and sorry for the disappearing act.

Since the holidays I have put together and glued 15+ Jigsaw Puzzles, a couple were 750 piece, a couple of 2,000 piece and the rest 1000 and 1500 piece. I know I sound like a Dork, but I’ve always loved jigsaws and puzzles. My Grandmother always kept them around for me. She passed away last November, so I guess you could say that has been my way of remembering her? Besides I find jigsaws very relaxing.

Just recently I have embarked on something new. I’m trying to reteach myself to Crochet. You see, I’M GONNA BE A YAYA!! YaYa is Greek for Grandmother. I don’t have any Greek roots in my family, I just like the sound of YaYa….it sounds like a Cool Grandma. This will be my first Grandchild and I’m so excited!

I see a lot a baking, M&M cookies in my future. LOL.

Bon Appetite
The Backseat Gourmet

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If you read yesterday’s post, you know I’ve been dreaming of a white Christmas. Obviously, Debra Shiveley Welch, author of A Very Special Child, was dreaming of one, too, and her dream came true.

She shared this picture taken from her deck this morning as snow fell and created a white blanket in her world. Like many of us, Debra is a dreamer, and it’s been a blessing for her in many ways other than being able to enjoy the beauty of a white blanket of snow.

Debra always dreamed of being a mother. Fortunately for her and her adopted son, that dream came true when she and her husband became the proud parents of Chris. Another dream of Debra’s was for her son to know how much he always has been and is loved. That dream was the force behind her book, A Very Special Child.

Judging from the heartwarming stories Debra shares with us on our network about her and Chris’ day to day life, she and Chris were definitely meant to be brought together as mother and son. Dreams and what they bring to life in our life…it’s wonderful, isn’t it?

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What kind of holiday traditions did your family have when you were growing up? Do you still carry on those traditions? Have you started any new traditions of your own that are a result of our much more mobile life today?

I’m curious to know because sometimes I feel as though my family is the only one that has to WORK to be able to get together for any one holiday. We’re all spread out among 4 states and coordinating holiday time together each year can be a REAL challenge at times.

The last few years DH and I have decided to stay home during December simply because of the unpredictable and surprising weather patterns our state has experienced in recent years. One year there were the two back-to-back ice storms here in Arkansas that literally froze up the state and shut it down for days. Another year there was the surprise snow storm that snarled traffic for hours as folks all tried to get home before the roads were covered.

Fortunately, we didn’t have any holiday travel plans either year. Both weather events happened right about the 2nd and 3rd week of December. One of those two weeks would’ve been about the time we would’ve planned trips due to DH not being able to get off work the actual week of Christmas.

We’ve been known to make use of our computer video camera to at least be able to “spend the holidays” together with out-of-state family members. Of course, it’s nothing like being truly being together, but it sure beats no contact at all or having to talk one-at-a-time on the phone with each other.

So, what are your traditions, old and new?

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