This N That......

I know that it has been way too long since my last post, but life around this house has been crazy. In November my SIL and I decided to put together an open house and sell off some of our BeautiControl inventory and since I am a big or go home kind of gal I added a few other things as well. I have started two new little businesses...the first one is Sugar Shack Baking Co. home style baking with out all the work. The other company is Simply Express It! decorative vinyl lettering and designs. So needless to say I was baking and mixing, developing recipes, sewing bags, making gift packs and all sorts of fun things. We also invited a friend of mine who sells beautiful Amber jewellery. So we sent out 500 fliers, handed out around 150 personal invitations, sent out emails and facebook invites, so we were set. The day of the open house came and so did the crappy weather...-20ish with blowing wind and snow. 15 people came to our open house.....but I can't complain as I made around $300..and I have since sold another $100 or so. We are going to try and do some thing like this again, but in the spring and at a community centre...we are already starting to plan it. It was a good experience and I love having a project, so now I feel almost lost with nothing to do...oh yay I guess I could think about Christmas now....hmmmm.......

Which brings me to my next topic.....we are supposed to be down at my Mom's right now, but the weather is still crappy and so we are still here in the Loops. Looks like it is not really going to get much better before Christmas and so we are probably going to stay home this year. I am bummed and yet at the same time excited as I think it will be fun to just celebrate with our little family. Kal and I have some traditions we would like to start and so this would be the perfect time. It is frustrating to be so much closer to our families and yet stuck because of the the weather and bad road conditions...but I would rather not risk it.....especially when our family has experienced losing a loved one in a car accident.....which brings me to my next topic....

My sweet sister Kelly. She has been gone for almost 10 years now...wow where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday and yet so long ago. I have found a couple of her very good friends on facebook, Camille and Meghan. I was so excited, what is so nice about it is that they have memories of my sister like I do, they remember her laugh, her sense of humour, her temper, her dance moves, her nose, her hair all those things that I think of, plus they have some great stories as well of her. I feel connected to them because of my sister and it helps to keep her memory close. I found this quote :
"One of the best ways to have a little heaven in your home is to have someone you love in heaven"
One of my great heartaches is not having Kelly around to raise our children together. I know she is around and has seen them, but I so wish my kids could know her in this life. I have talked to Jackson about her and he often tells me his misses her...I often wonder if he has met her... and I just do not know it. Christmas makes my heart miss Kelly even more..miss the family traditions with her...we still do them but a piece is missing, a major part. I do not dwell on her death very much at all..I try and remember her and not her death, but I have my days. If you have never lost a sibling you will never understand what it means or how it feels to have that person gone from this life...life goes on, but in a new way, and personally I liked it better the old way to tell you the truth. Another quote I like:
"Change comes always bearing gifts" Tens years later I can see the gifts that have come from her death...they are many and I am so very grateful for them, but I would give them back in a heart beat to have her here living.

Life is good and I love my life for sure, but it is not always perfect!

Merry Christmas to you all!