And so the year comes to an end.....

And what a year it was, so much happened, there was the trip back home to Africa after 10 years of being away, and there was a new addition to the family with little Anastacia.

It's been ups and downs, scary moments and happy times and everything in between, but we made it didn't we? We survived another whole year of this crazy roller coaster called life.

I want to thank each and every one of you for being here with me through my blogging journey, it's been amazing and it's surpassed anything that I had ever imagined this blogging world to be.

So I leave with wishes of a wonderful New Year filled to the brim with love, health and happiness and all that you could ever wish for.

I'm off to eat pizza, snack on chips and have a glass of wine safe in my home. I'll see you all next year LOL
Don't forget Slow Cooking Thursday tomorrow!

God Bless!

It's Sunday, wow, last day of the year!!!

Good morning everyone, I'm actually trying to get back into my normal schedule and that includes blogging every day, something I've missed dearly. I know I know, and thank you for all the emails inquiring as to where I am and why there's no updated news on the blog.

I promise to do better, as a matter of fact, starting tomorrow, I can say that I'll be back to blogging every morning, so don't forget to pop on in and have a Hot cup of coffee with me :)

Now before I get into my usual blabbing, I need you to run, don't walk, RUN over to my dear friend Jaymi's blog........go see what she has to share with us all. I'm SO SO happy for her right now, I know it's something she's been wanting for a while :)

Ok so I realize I didn't even share any christmas pictures with my family, ughhh...I'm a bad bad blogger and family member sometimes, well friend too. I can't remember the last time I actually called my friend Veronica. Veronica if you're reading this, I'm SO SORRY, I haven't forgotten you.

If you want to see some pictures of the kids, just go HERE.

Isn't it funny how things change as you get older??? I remember being young and really looking forward to New Years Eve, I anticipated it and couldn't wait to go out with the family or friends, celebrate ringing in the new year in style. Yeah, that was until I got married and had kids, then I realized that I wasn't all that thrilled about driving somewhere on that night, with all the weirdos and drunk people out there, it really is much safer to stay home.

And then as the years went by, not only did we stop going out, but we've pretty much stopped celebrating the New Year, there's actually been a few times that I remember going to bed and waking up to January 1st.....wow, how pathetic is that I thought....well really not that pathetic. I'm not one for confusion and mass crowds, too many people bother me, guess maybe that is when my claustrophobia kicks in LOL

So today is no different than any other day, I'll be doing laundry and housework, cleaning carpets, putting away christmas decorations and all that other fun stuff. We'll act like it's any other day, we'll eat dinner and afterwards stay up a little with the kids, but then I'll do what I do every year, slip into bed and wake up to a WHOLE new year ahead of me.

You know what though, I'm one of those people that find it a bittersweet thing. I mean I look forward to a new beginning, but I also dread what may be coming up. Have you ever just sat there at the end of a year and thought back on everything that's happened??? Then you realize "wow, if only I had known THAT was going to happen"....guess I'm a bit of a worry wart, which is really ridiculous, since I've learnt over the years that there is no sense in worrying about things that are out of our control.

See this is where my faith in God comes in. That all tiring battle on my part, because I'm stubborn and no matter how many times he tells me to just let it go and leave it in his hands, I'm always trying to do it myself....I put something in his control only to quickly snatch it back after a few minutes because I feel like he's not going fast enough for me, or I can do it better. What a joke!!! LOL
I think the Lord has a sense of humor, I mean, how could he not when dealing with the likes of me LOL

But one thing I've learnt, the hard way at times, is that EVERYTHING that has happened to me has been a blessing, and yes I am referring even to those Blessings in Disguise. You know the ones right???
When they happen it irks you to no end, you quickly do the double take "WHAT??? WHY ME?".....and then you remember that good things always come from even those bleak situations, but you're still not quite sure how something that seems so awful at the time, can mean good in any way.

Until a few weeks or months later, sometimes even a year, then you remember it again and realize that if it weren't for THAT specific moment in time, things wouldn't have worked out so great. Yeah, it's quite a revelation!!!
I've had that happen to me many times, but you know what??? When something else happens I STILL do it again, it's like a vicious cycle for me.....one I hope to break someday.

Anyway, the moral of the story??? STAY HOME ON NEW YEARS EVE!!! Bwhahahaha

Just so you know, I'm heading your way, YES, I'm actually coming by to say hi, isn't that a shocker???

Before I do though, I want to wish you all a VERY VERY Happy New Year. May this new year bring you all peace, love and health in abundance, I truly hope you all get everything you ever wished for.

I leave you with a non alcoholic recipe for New Year's Eve Punch, enjoy :)

Serves 12-14

Ingredients:

3 1/2 liters ginger ale
2 quarts orange juice
2 oranges, sliced into rounds
20 maraschino cherries

Directions:

1. In a large punch bowl mix ginger ale and orange juice.
2. Place sliced oranges on top of punch and arrange the cherries on top of the orange slices.