Christmas Cottage

The movie 'Christmas Cottage' is the story of Thomas Kinkade,

the amazing artist.

I have watched it several times and I love it

more each time.

The picture above is the actual painting of his family's cottage.

The movie tells about his life and how he became the

"painter of light".
What a great Christmas movie.

Answers always come...

After everything that has been going on in the last few weeks, I have had such a 'defeated and I can't try anymore' feeling. It's almost like I have just gone numb waiting for the next crisis or tragedy not knowing if my family can handle ANOTHER one. This has been so hard because this is my favorite time of the year and I just want to be able to feel the magic of Christmas. I had all but thought the magic was gone for this year. But, answers always come. Last night the answer came in the form of my cousin Annie and her husband Garth. They brought us a wonderful dinner, helped us get some things in our house put back together, shoveled the snow, brought in wood and then showed us this clip. Which, helped me find a glimmer of that Christmas magic!!

This I know, Answers always come!!

You have got to be kidding me...AGAIN!!!!

So after an almost fire what do you think would be a logical next step in life's progression. Well a flood of course! Yes, I did just say a flood. Not a major flood, but enough to have to pull up carpets, take out part of the ceiling, pull dry wall off the wall and need a new paint job. Will it EVER end!!! Did I mention I am getting a migraine! (Pictures to come, of the flood, not the migraine)

Off to the hospital we go...

I knew that my lungs weren't going to hold out with all the smoke damage, it was just a matter of time! So last Tuesday night, with great efforts from both myself and my doctor to stay out of the hospital, my lungs took a turn for the worse and I could fight it no longer! I realized that I might have a slightly higher chance of surviving in the hospital than at home so, putting previous hospital visits aside - I decided to take the chance. I was so bummed because I had my laptop with me, I was just so sick I didn't even have the energy to blog...Now you know the seriousness of my illness. With lots of steroids, breathing treatments and tons of other medication, I am still alive and breathing relatively well at home!!

While I was in the hospital I was coughing so much that my lap bad became inflamed and swollen so I had to have all of the saline let out. It is really weird to have a "normal" stomach again. I'm thinking I might have to go to Craigo's for a pizza bomb!! But, I will be filled up again in a few weeks and be back to normal (or so to speak).

The best of friends...

My Dad and Zoe have found a new and unique relationship!

Anytime my dad sits somewhere Zoe loves to find him and

give him a little help with that daily hair washing thing.

And this is the end result!

I am so glad we have these cats for my dad.

They truly make life more exciting for him.
And it is obvious how much he loves them!!!

All the excitement...

This was the culprit!

It was really quite a lovely pillow,

but MAN can it put off smoke!

I must admit that this was a first for me.

I have never had a fire truck come to my house before.

Too bad I didn't get any pictures of the FIREMAN!!

But, at that point I wasn't breathing well,

so Mr. Hottie Fireman called the ambulance.

I didn't get a picture of that because,

well, I was in it.

When we got to our hotel we wanted adjoining rooms,

But they didn't have any, so they offered two other nice rooms.

I decided to take

one for the team and stay in the honeymoon suite!

This was in the corner of my bedroom!

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

With feeling so sick, I think I used it about 4 times a day!