happy new year!

Emphasis on the happy. :) I've been down in the dumps the last several months, due to financial woes, and was bummed about not being able to buy all the gifts that I wanted to at Christmas ~ my favorite thing about Christmas is giving to others. But then some very dear and generous friends helped to put a big holiday smile on my face, by giving to me. It wasn't so much the gifts themselves that made me happy. (Don't get me wrong ~ I LOVE the gifts!) It was the knowledge that my friends were thinking of me and caring about me that touched my heart and made me smile from the inside out. (There were a few tears of joy shed, as well!)

I am thankful to ALL my friends. I received so many sweet cards over the holidays, as well as emails full of encouraging words. Just knowing you were all out there, sending me cyber hugs, helped me more than you will ever know. But I especially wanted to thank a few friends who went out of their way to give me a merry Christmas:

1. Robin H. and Robin B., both of whom sent me some fun scrap supplies to play with!


2. Karen K., who also showered me with scrap supplies, even after she told me that we weren't going to buy things for each other this Christmas!


3. Karen R., who sent money for me to buy prizes for IDOS


4. Tammy R., who gave me 3 wooden cutting boards made by a friend, so that I could give them to family members as gifts


5. Jeanne S., who sent me a box of Twizzlers (my favorite candy!) and a Target gift card that came right when I needed it most, and made it possible for me to buy some food and gifts that I'd wanted to get


6. Dawn H., who sent me these fun snowman figurines:
   
7. Stephanie C., who sent me these adorable snowman plates and a matching hatbox to store them in:
   
8. Mandi A. and her family, who opened their home to the 5 of us on Christmas night so that we didn't have to add 3 hours of driving to our trip to Iowa. Mandi also gave me this cute snowman platter:
   
9. And last, but certainly not least, Pam G., who gave me one of the biggest surprises of my life by sending me a digital camera! (Now I'll be able to post photos whenever I want!!):
   

I don't know how I can ever thank you all, but please know that I appreciate your generosity, your thoughtfulness, and your friendship more than I can put into words. I {{{love}}} you guys!!

I received many wonderful gifts from my family, too. Santa never did bring that winning lottery ticket I asked for, LOL, but I did get the warm new coat I needed (and a new outfit) from George's parents, gift cards to buy clothes and scrap supplies from my parents, scrap supplies from my sister, and many other gifts that I love, as well. My parents and sister visited us for a few days, then I saw them again, along with many other loved ones, at my grandma's on Christmas Day. And then I got to spend time with my in-laws, as well. I really couldn't have asked for a merrier Christmas!

Now it's a new year. I'm hoping to keep that happy feeling in my heart, and I wish you all a 2008 filled with happiness, too!