One of Dad's many toys

On December 31, 1944 my daddy was born.

On 23 June 2015 my daddy passed away of what we believe to be a massive heart attack.  

Others have died and I have been sad but not anywhere near the sadness or overwhelming grief as I have experienced since I got the call saying my dad was gone. 

I have never understood others pain when their parent passed.  I am sorry I didn't have the least amount of understanding into your grief.  Although I do not know that one can understand having not been there themselves.  I still feel like I am on a gyroscope spinning on my side.  

Robert James Norris was Loyal, onery, handsome, kind hearted (although I had no clue to what extent until he had passed away and stories were told), his dry humor was extremely funny... Well most of the time.

I am most grateful for the opportunity we had to see dad and mom for 3+ days just a month before he passed away.  I am grateful that we were able to tell him how much we loved him and how important he was to us.  People if your parents are living make sure to tell them the important stuff... you don't know when your last opportunity will be.
I am proud to call him dad.  Proud of the loyalty and love he showed to not just me but those around him and those in need.
My life is a bit off kilter missing him... 

Ric's promotion weekend to LTC May 9, 2015.
See that ornery grin!

At Gram's Funeral 2014

So glad dad got to see our home.

Again do you see that ornery smile, only God knows what he was saying!

doTerra

I really only planned to use DoTerra for personal use.  Then I started using it and I enjoy the results so much that it is difficult to not share. If you have questions I will do my best to answer them. If you would like to buy some you are welcome to go to the link above and order them. If you plan to order much I would love to help you sign up.

Christmas is so much fun!  I love the celebration of Christ's birth.  Ok so I know that this isn't really the time of year he was born, however it is when we stop and take time to celebrate it.
When my beloved and I got married we did not have a single ornament between us.  We have now been married 28 years and have enough ornaments for a number of trees.  These are among my most prized Christmas decor.      

My Gram made this set off of an original set she had gotten years before.  I never remember Gram not setting up her dwarfs/gnomes.  While the very original set has disappeared those of us that received her reproductions love them.  While the painting has nothing to do with Christmas it was a wedding gift from Gram.  She had so much talent!

This little bead tree is one I made in
1995 while in Springfield MO.

Our main tree is very victorian in decor.

This was purchased in honor of our girls
The box was acquired on a trip to VT in 2006. 

The front ornament is an egg.  Purchased in Germany
The ornament behind it was found near a geocache (which
I might add was a DNF~ did not find)

This is one of about 11 ornaments we purchased that first year.

This was hand painted by my step MIL.
She too has talent.

A blossom hand painted from Ric's pen pal.

A gift from a friend who went to visit England

 

Not sure where I got this little bird

Crystal one of my favorite things

This is the nativity I spent so much time making fun of my mom as she made.
When she finished making it it was beautiful.  She took pity on my attitude and
gave me this most beautiful nativity.  Since the wisemen didn't show up for
another 2+ years I put them AFAR.
 Thanks Mom

Another Nativity just in a German form.

One of my lanterns just festively decorated.

The buffet decorated with yet another Nativity and a few other pieces.

Our dining table with the puzzle piece quilt my cousin Nikki came up with, it is
a snow flake.  We do advent this year we did Tabitha one of 3 it is a great series.

This Nativity is made by Elim Mission in Poland.  A different
person gets a different part of the set.  So in the end each one
can support their family with the proceeds of what is purchased.

Here is my tea cup tree.  Tea cups and crystal.

Under our world tree is a little village along with our new to
us train set.

Here is our world tree.  Much of it is military.

A little church and house

Oh the plans I have for Nikki's little squirrel...---...

The tree is all decorated in little bits from S
Korea.  The big balls are from Germany.

Our little nut cracker collection started in 1981 when Ric's dad brought back
his first one.  We have collected a few over the last number of years.  

Niagara Falls

On our way to the North Country we made a stop of a few hrs at Niagara Falls.  It was beautiful to see.  Parts of the water seemed so peaceful while other parts were raging.  One can take a boat ride down pretty close to the middle of the main fall. 

Bridal Falls is absolutely spectacular and evidently many people choose to get married there.  We will have to go back because we only saw it from the US side.  I would love to see it from the Canadian side also.

 

 

See the boat it is headed into the fall

My favorite view of my favorite of Niagara Falls this is Bridal Falls