Christmas Wish Countdown #8

                                                               Just one wish a day...

Image Source: Salvatore Vuono 
  Portfolio is: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=659

#25 to Mend All Broken Hearts
#24 for all to have A Proper Nest
#23 to Give Selflessly
#22 to Remember to Look Up
#21 Delight in the Sweetness of Christmas
#20 Reflect on Favorite Years' Past
#19 to Play for Him pa rum pum pum pum
#18 to Begin or Uphold Family Traditions
#17 May you be inspired to Sing With the Angels
#16 Deck the Halls and Find Christmas Cheer
#15 by chance, May you Be Kissed Under the Mistletoe
#14 that you somehow find a way to Honor the One You Love and Miss in Heaven
#13 that your Gift List be Atleast Started
#12 to Pay It Forward
#11 no matter what, may You Find Hope
#10 may The Holidays Bring Amazing Surprises
#9 Cherish Time With Those You Love

                                                                 Today my wish is that you

                                                            Do That Which Gives You Joy

Days leading up to the holidays can sometimes be busy and stressful.  There is a lot to do...cards to get out, shopping for gifts, wrapping, baking, decorating....

In all the craziness, it is important to focus on that which gives you joy.  Take a few moments -take an hour - maybe even the whole day and just focus on whatever it is that allows you to experience all you need to fill your heart with JOY.

We headed into the woods this afternoon for a snow hike.  Two dogs.  Five Peoples. 

                                                                  Fun for All.

May you do that which gives you joy!

Christmas Wish Countdown #9

                                                             Just one wish a day...

Image Source: Salvatore Vuono 
  Portfolio is: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=659

#25 to Mend All Broken Hearts
#24 for all to have A Proper Nest
#23 to Give Selflessly
#22 to Remember to Look Up
#21 Delight in the Sweetness of Christmas
#20 Reflect on Favorite Years' Past
#19 to Play for Him pa rum pum pum pum
#18 to Begin or Uphold Family Traditions
#17 May you be inspired to Sing With the Angels
#16 Deck the Halls and Find Christmas Cheer
#15 by chance, May you Be Kissed Under the Mistletoe
#14 that you somehow find a way to Honor the One You Love and Miss in Heaven
#13 that your Gift List be Atleast Started
#12 to Pay It Forward
#11 no matter what, may You Find Hope
#10 may The Holidays Bring Amazing Surprises

                                                                 Today my wish is that you

                                                        Cherish Time With Those You Love

One of the greatest part of the holidays is the priviledge and joy of getting to spend time with those we love and don't always get to see.

                         I spent a good part of the day today just waiting and anticipating....

I knew something was different about today...the whole house was abuzz....

And then...Finally...the doorbell rang...

YIPPEE!!

My Kootenai IS Home!

A Sisterly growl after an Eskimo Kiss

I still have to show her who is the Boss!

Christmas is coming.  Those we MISS often come home .

My wish for you is exactly this.  May you cherish the time you get to spend with those you love.

Time is a gift.

                                               

Christmas Wish Countdown #10 and Another Award

                                                               Just one wish a day...

Image Source: Salvatore Vuono 
  Portfolio is: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=659

#25 to Mend All Broken Hearts
#24 for all to have A Proper Nest
#23 to Give Selflessly
#22 to Remember to Look Up
#21 Delight in the Sweetness of Christmas
#20 Reflect on Favorite Years' Past
#19 to Play for Him pa rum pum pum pum
#18 to Begin or Uphold Family Traditions
#17 May you be inspired to Sing With the Angels
#16 Deck the Halls and Find Christmas Cheer
#15 by chance, May you Be Kissed Under the Mistletoe
#14 that you somehow find a way to Honor the One You Love and Miss in Heaven
#13 that your Gift List be Atleast Started
#12 to Pay It Forward
#11 no matter what, may You Find Hope

                                                                 Today my wish is that

                                                     The Holidays Bring Amazing Surprises
                                                       
One of the best joys of Christmas is the surprise stuffed down in the stocking or inside those beautifully wrapped gifts...


 image source Danilo Rizzuti's portfolio is:http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=851

The surprise is why the little ones can't wait to open THAT first present.  It is the reason they can't get to sleep on Christmas Eve...the excitement, the anticipation, the wonder of it all...

The joy is truly in the not knowing.  May that happen for you this Christmas!

Speaking of Surprises....Last evening, I was thrilled and astonished to be recognized with yet another award!  Dachshund Nola has awarded little 'ole me, The Scrapster, with this beautiful award

My tail is sure wagging now!  Thank you, NOLA!

After receiving this award, I am to tell you 10 things you might not know about me. 

Then, I am to pass this award on to six fellow bloggers...

Here is the Scrappy Truth

1)  Hard to believe, but I am a girl.  A tom-boy, yes...but still a girl...(with maybe a boy's name!)

2) I have a Twitter Boy Friend...his name is Jakey and he is a Yorkie too.  We have a virtual thing going.  He lives far away in Connecticut and he is so twitter painted that he is sending me a beautiful couture red Christmas dress made JUST for me!  Watch later in the week for pictures of me all dolled up wearing it!   Oh...HE also wants me to be his Valentine!

3)  I am 9 and a half years old...that's why I know so much.  Lots of years to learn about you people and the world.

4) I suffer from separation anxiety.  I like my people to either stay home or take me with.  I do not know why I cannot go everywhere they go.  I fit in a purse and never make a peep.

5) I have an enlarged heart....(I say it's because I  LOVE too much, but Dr. Scott says it's not a good thing, so I  reluctantly take a pill morning and night for that) 

6) I am sneaky about that pill taking thing...I have to be watched.  I am good at fooling the people here that I actually swallowed it, when later after I run all the way upstairs and get up into the bed, I spit it out!

7) I definitely have Little Dog Syndrome.  Raised with my long lost Shadow and most recently with my sister Kootenai  (soon to arrive HOME for Christmas with (speaking of) SURPRISES for me!), I for the longest time had NO IDEA I wasn't a big black dog.  I used to bark incessantly at that silly little dog I kept seeing in the mirror!

8) I am a dog of faith for these reasons: I had a near death experience.  Also, I have actually been IN church twice...once as part of the children's lesson and the other...well....I was in the purse under the pew because my people did not have time to drop me at home before the service once.  No one knew I was there until after Communion.  A very nice lady sitting behind us whispered in my Mom's ear that HER purse was moving.  BOL   (I  stretch a little in there sometimes)   If I do stay home, Mom leaves the radio on and it is always on the Christian station.  That is how I have grown so much in my faith.  I have heard on there that sharing our faith is important.

9) I love the outdoors.  Hiking, Camping, especially Fishing.  There is nothing I cannot do.  I  WOULD follow my people ANYWHERE!


10) I  believe wholeheartedly that EVERYONE who knocks on our door is THERE to see me... I bring ALL my toys out to show them.  I put myself right in their lap, whether they want me there or not.  I shower them with love and sometimes kisses.  Stop by sometime, I'll show you!

 Now for the passing of the Awards to my amazing Blogger friends for their Kreativ efforts:  I bestow now upon you...this lovely Award....

1) Bailey & Katie@ http://sheltietimes.blogspot.com/    (Shelties with great toys!)

2)My new friend Sarge @  http://sargespeaksout.blogspot.com/    He speaks out well!

3) Kirby @ http://www.kirbythedorkie.com/   Not at all Dorkie, by the way.  Adorable.

4)Cosmo @ http://www.todogwithlove.com/    Likes getting Air!

5)Miss Mindy and her human Gloria @ http://hoodshappenings.blogspot.com/   Fun to follow!

6) Roberta and her Silverwalk Sanctuary @http://www.dog-blessed-silverwalk.org/   Doing Good Work!

Congrats!  Now, share the love and Pay it Forward!

 

Christmas Wish Countdown #11

                                                                  Just one wish a day...

Image Source: Salvatore Vuono 
  Portfolio is: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=659

#25 to Mend All Broken Hearts
#24 for all to have A Proper Nest
#23 to Give Selflessly
#22 to Remember to Look Up
#21 Delight in the Sweetness of Christmas
#20 Reflect on Favorite Years' Past
#19 to Play for Him pa rum pum pum pum
#18 to Begin or Uphold Family Traditions
#17 May you be inspired to Sing With the Angels
#16 Deck the Halls and Find Christmas Cheer
#15 by chance, May you Be Kissed Under the Mistletoe
#14 that you somehow find a way to Honor the One You Love and Miss in Heaven
#13 that your Gift List be Atleast Started
#12 to Pay It Forward

                                               Today my wish is that no matter what

                                                                   You Find Hope

Hope is everything.  Hope is what keeps us moving forward.  Hope is our spirit being lifted...perhaps EVEN being carried.  Hope is what we all need to survive, even when all we can do is barely hang on! 

                                                 Hope is there...always there... for you...


                                                                        and for me.

We need not search too far.

This Christmas....and Every Christmas...

HOPE

can be FOUND in the birth of a sweet baby boy. 

Not just any boy.  The Prince of Peace.  The Bread of Life.

The Redeemer...The King of Kings...Lamb of God....

Savior.

Hope of All Hope

Wordless Wednesday - Christmas Wish Countdown #12

                                                             Just one wish a day...

Image Source: Salvatore Vuono 
  Portfolio is: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=659

#25 to Mend All Broken Hearts
#24 for all to have A Proper Nest
#23 to Give Selflessly
#22 to Remember to Look Up
#21 Delight in the Sweetness of Christmas
#20 Reflect on Favorite Years' Past
#19 to Play for Him pa rum pum pum pum
#18 to Begin or Uphold Family Traditions
#17 May you be inspired to Sing With the Angels
#16 Deck the Halls and Find Christmas Cheer
#15 by chance, May you Be Kissed Under the Mistletoe
#14 that you somehow find a way to Honor the One You Love and Miss in Heaven
#13 that your Gift List be Atleast Started

                           Today my wish for you is that you might find it in your heart to

                                                            Pay It Forward

                         I can't be completely wordless, but the pictures do the telling...

Remember that photo?  That was me as The Nutty Professor for Halloween.  I ended up winning a big prize from Sam's Club....

Here's a photo of me with SOME of my loot:

Two BIG bags of Pup-Peroni and four bags of Waggin Train Jerky Tenders!  Whew.  Lil' Me won enough treats for an army of dogs!  My Pancreatitis keeps me from enjoying these, but I talked mom into purchasing some blankets (thanks to suggestions from many of you) and we packaged 'em all up and are on our way to the local animal shelter Paying It Forward. 

Now...Right in Line with my Paying it Forward wish is this....
 I am so honored and thrilled to have received my very first award from  2browndawgs - Thank you, Thank You!   Please visit their page and check out all the extra cute puppie photos!  Oh. My. Goodness.  How will they ever choose just one?

Liebster Award

These are the rules for the Liebster Award:

1. Thank the giver and link back to them.

2. Reveal your top five picks {with less than 200 readers} and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

4. Hope that the people you’ve sent the award to forward it to their five favorite up-and-coming bloggers and keep it going!

It is SO hard to just pick five, but I tried to give the award to some blogs I have been following for a bit and some of the newer blogs I just started following.  Here are my five picks (in no particuliar order) for this award:

1)  Dachsund Nola and her entire family are so endearing!  Boston is PG (yay!) and one of my favorite posts is about Nola's Gotcha Day!  Head there to read all about it!

2) Yuki and Rocket  the photographs are amazing...as are the Tasty Tuesday recipes and photos of those!  Yuki and Rocket were some of my very first followers and they have been SO helpful and encouraging along the way! 

3) Bailey Be Good I am so in AWE of Bailey's (yep, she's a girl) beautiful website and the cute ears that Bailey shows off in all of her photos!  Nala also is featured and is a cutie too! Make sure and check out their Dogs in Cars series...it is really pawesome!

4) Kootenai's Climb  This is a very new blog, but Kootenai is my BFF and sister...Her Mom is my Human Mom's daughter and they now live far away (but thankfully are coming home for Christmas)  Her blog will have lots of hiking adventures and scenic photos. 

5) Chronicles of Cardigan    Dewi & John Farleigh's site is also impressive.  They both recently got to go visit THE Tiffany & Company (which made me a little jealous) and their escapades are quite entertaining!

CONGRATS fellow bloggers!  Now it's your turn to spread the love and Pay it Forward! 

Christmas Wish Countdown #13

                                                                 Just one wish a day...

Image Source: Salvatore Vuono 
  Portfolio is: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=659

#25 to Mend All Broken Hearts
#24 for all to have A Proper Nest
#23 to Give Selflessly
#22 to Remember to Look Up
#21 Delight in the Sweetness of Christmas
#20 Reflect on Favorite Years' Past
#19 to Play for Him pa rum pum pum pum
#18 to Begin or Uphold Family Traditions
#17 May you be inspired to Sing With the Angels
#16 Deck the Halls and Find Christmas Cheer
#15 by chance, May you Be Kissed Under the Mistletoe
#14 that you somehow find a way to Honor the One You Love and Miss in Heaven

                                                 My wish for you today is that your

                                                    Gift List be atleast started!

12 days of Christmas starting NOW!   YIKES!

Have you even started?  Are you in panic mode ?  At a loss of what to do now?

Or are you one of those who is organized, all done shopping, the presents are already all wrapped and mailed off, the baking and pure enjoyment has already begun?

Every year seems to be coming faster and faster and I just watch the humans HERE get behinder and behinder.

They have been lax in getting cards out the past few years.  I heard them say last night that maybe Scrappy can do the cards this year... she seems to have ALL that time for blogging!  ??

All their friends and family would certainly be entertained if I did the card!   BOL

That got me thinking....what if I ALSO did all the shopping?   Wouldn't THAT be something!

I'd buy lots of bones and toys that squeak!

Just for fun...leave a comment on what you think I, the Scrapster, should get for MOM? 

Shhhhh...it's a secret.....

Christmas Wish Countdown #14

                                                                 Just one wish a day...

Image Source: Salvatore Vuono 
  Portfolio is: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=659

#25 to Mend All Broken Hearts
#24 for all to have A Proper Nest
#23 to Give Selflessly
#22 to Remember to Look Up
#21 Delight in the Sweetness of Christmas
#20 Reflect on Favorite Years' Past
#19 to Play for Him pa rum pum pum pum
#18 to Begin or Uphold Family Traditions
#17 May you be inspired to Sing With the Angels
#16 Deck the Halls and Find Christmas Cheer
#15 by chance, May you Be Kissed Under the Mistletoe

                                                 My wish for you today is that you find a way to
               
                                                Honor the One You Love and Miss in Heaven

Sadly, holidays are not cheerful for everyone.  Those who have lost loved ones (just recently or even long, long ago) often struggle during this time of year, grieving deeply.  It can be very difficult for them to simply get through the days leading UP to Christmas because they are focusing on the one who won't be there this year to share in what is supposed to be a joyous occasion.

If you have been there, you know the loneliness, the emptiness that comes THAT first Christmas.   Your heart is heavy.  Much of the day (and especially the dark of night) is spent crying.  You wonder how the rest of the world can just KEEP going...


                         It is almost impossible to see any light at all in all that darkness.

But the light IS there...always there...Even when you cannot see anything but glowing embers, there is a small fire still burning...

If you are presently grieving...or know of someone in your life working through the loss of a loved one...my hope is that you can somehow find a way to honor them...to keep their memory alive. 

It can be simple, yet meaningful.  A new ornament.  A loving donation given in their memory.  A seedling tree to be planted out in the yard.  An angel.  A necklace.  A plaque.  A poem written just for them.

What matters is the remembering...the thinking of them, the one loved and missed so very much.

                                   We can all find a memory to GIVE tucked away in our heart.

My wish for you this Christmas is that you somehow find a way to 

honor the one you love and miss in Heaven.