I will not be moved - Natalie Grant

I love this song.....thought I would share the video......
(of course, don't forget to go down to my music player and hit pause, so you can hear the video)
Hope you enjoy it~!

Thanksgiving/My new space/and a Blog Award~!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Thanksgiving at the Speer home went very well! Three of the four kids came home, plus both of our parents, a nephew and a niece! I love a house full of family and as usual, I cooked waaaay too much and everyone got a "doggie bag". Unfortunately, I completely forgot to take pictures! My blessings are bountiful! God has been good to me!

Black Friday is something I normally do every year, but just not something I wanted to vest my time in this year. The only child left at home is 11 and bless his heart, is very content. He only as four things on his "list" this year. I did manage to make it to Lowes around 11:00am for a new 6.5 foot tree with 500 lights on the prelit tree for $58.00, so I was pleased with that.

Ok, so one of the other things I've done with my time away from blogging was move my......."space". I'm not sure what to call it any more. It started as scrap booking table - then evolved to scrapping and journaling table, to scrapping/journaling/art journaling and then to scrapping/journaling/art journaling/painting & collaging table. So! With all these additions of creativity, I've outgrown my little space in the computer room and I have moved my newly titled "Art Space" to the basement. It was nice having it next to the computer, for referencing, printing pictures and blogging, but I'm so much happier in the basement. I have a TON more room, a stereo and a T.V., too! (now I just feel guilty that I'm so "removed" from the rest of the family.

Today, I'm taking the time to be creative and am in my new art home, full of ideas. Mostly trying to get caught up in my son's scrapbook that I'm soooo far behind in!

But anywhoo..... I come upstairs to take a break - cuppa tea - and check my blog and discover.....

I've been awarded my VERY FIRST blog AWARD ever! Woo-Hoo~!


This award states: This award states that: This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY- nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends, they are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these artists.

Thank you so much Linda, for the prestigious award! I've met so many wonderful people here and it's so nice to see not only the appreciation for my what seems like feeble blog attempts at times, but for the friendship that is offered between each other, as well! I would like to extend the award to:

The always faithful, Dove.

The very brave and real, Erica.

The always encouraging and creative, Linda.

And my warm friend, Karen.

Pumpkin Cake

This was a dish that someone at work brought in and it was soooo yummy!
I plan on making it for my family on Thanksgiving and thought I'd share.

Pumpkin Cake
1 lg can pumpkin
1 lg can evaporated milk
1 c sugar
3 eggs
3 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt

1 pkg yellow cake mix (dry)
1 cup chopped pecans
2 stick butter/margarine

Mix first 6 ingredients together and pour into greased 9x13 pan
Sprinkle dry cake mix over top of pumpkin mixture then the nuts.

Pour melted butter on top

Bake at 350 for 50-60 min until pumpkin is set.

Top with cool whip.

Welcome to my neighborhood

I see so many posts about people's every day travels and I thought I would introduce everyone to my neighborhood. I've met so many great friends through this blog and I love seeing where other people are from and their daily routines. It seems to help get to know everyone better.

I live in a pretty small township where everyone knows everyone else. Everyone in the community really reaches out to everyone else and I love it here. We are just 15 minutes from the city, and yet just far enough away to feel like we are in a private little world. There is no easy expressway near us and maybe that's why we feel a little "out of the way". We are lucky enough to live right on the dividing road between postal delivery routes, that we get our mail delivered, but the actual post office for the township I'm in, doesn't even have trucks to deliver mail and operates on post office boxes.



Every day, this is the road I travel and it's really pretty in the midst of fall with all the changing colors of leaves lined up against the lake. I wish I had a picture just a month earlier.

"Town" only consists of the post office, the local Family Diner, a McDonald's (who DOESN'T have McDonald's, right?), a library, the local grocery store and a Rite Aid on the corner. That's it and I like it that way!

Our church is located right down the street from our home.....seriously, like, 10 houses down. And this...... our modest little square in the world that belongs to us. It's where all our kids were raised........ our home. (guess I should have raked before I took the picture, huh?)

Hope you enjoyed the tour...... It's going to be a busy week for everyone! Remember what's it's all about this week and take the time to sit quietly and give thanks for all of your blessings!

Christmas stuff

Ok, so seriously.....what have I been doing? Too much to fit into one posting.

Last weekend our family volunteered at church to help pack shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child through the Samaritan's Purse. My son's family volunteered last year, but my husband and I did not, and we decided to make it a family event this year. My husband, myself, middle son, his wife and kids, and our youngest son all got there at 9am ready to pack.

What an operation it is! Last year, 1000 shoe boxes were packed and this year's goal was 1200. Brenda did a fantastic job organizing it and now I realize what a year long project it is for her. Each month throughout the year, Brenda will announce what sort of items should be donated. Example: January may be hygienic items, then February may be stuffed animals, and of course September is always school supplies..... you get the idea. Well for a year worth of donations with a goal of 1200 boxes, Brenda's pole barn was full!

One problem...... we're packing ..... on the weekend of.....opening hunting season! Where are all the men that are supposed to help lug all these boxes!? We managed though and had a great time doing so. Tables were set up in assembly line format. First get the hygiene products and school supplies that all kids need, then to the table of the correct sex/age bracket and fill the rest of the box.

We made our goal of 1200 boxes and had them all packed, and on the trucks by 12:00 noon! Woo Hoo~!

Next, my employer takes a big part in volunteering for Operation Home Front who has identified 28 Michigan families who were deployed to Germany with very little notice. they were not able to prepare for their departure very well and for reasons not understood, they are also not allowed to leave their base very often, so they are having a really hard time providing for their kids the way they normally would. We have "adopted" the 28 kids and employees of our great company are buying Christmas gifts for these kids so ensure they know they're home state of Michigan appreciates what their Daddy's are doing for all of us. If this is something you are interested in volunteering with, please visit the web-site. There are lots of different opportunities there.

Lastly....... our daughter has an absolutely, goose bump providing singing voice. She sang around the house constantly, while growing up. She sang with the youth group in church and then as she grew older... she sort of got away from it. She recently sang at her brothers wedding, but really, that's been it.

Well my always willing to sing father, be it in a house, in karaoke, or in plays, was recently in a 1940's vaudeville show at a local theatre. In hopes to encourage our daughter again, I suggested to my Dad...."Hey - the next show coming up - why don't you give Marie a call?" (ok - so I'm hoping the guilt factor will come into play when "Papa" calls her...and she yes...... rotten I know...lol)

Fast forward.....she said yes - she auditioned for the Christmas Crescendo at the Pix Theatre and she was accepted! Woo Hoo~!

I've seen so many people, posting pictures of their daily travels lately and I think that's a great idea! I doubt I will introduce my mug to the world yet..... I had hair down the middle of my back and in July... I cut it all off! I mean ALL of it!! I've only cut it once since then in attempt to let it all grow back out again.....so I'm still not feeling the hair love and shy away from a lens.....
BUT..... I have a few pictures already of my little area of the world..... that I will try to add to and post next time.

Seeya soon ladies~!

Just begin

First of all.....where have I been?
I'm not really sure. Here, there and everywhere. Mostly in a dark closet hiding and crying.

I found this poem on the 1000 journal project web-site. I really liked it and thought I would share it. I couldn't read the author's name, so I guess I will say...."author unknown".

Begin..... Just begin

At the beginning...... or the end

Just begin

Begin again.....Put pen to paper or

Set your foot on the road

& follow with another

Make a mark

Start a spark

And tend the fire within

Breathe in

Be inspired

Time is running

Don't let it run out

Time is turning

And doesn't wait.

Clouds drift, sun burns

Rivers flow

things grow and die

Does a bird not sing?

This moment won't ever be, again

So begin!

Just do it!

A chance not taken

Ends in nothing

Listen to your heart

Don't miss a beat

This is it!!

You ARE the answer

And...the question.