AND MAY YOUR BLESSINGS BE MANY AND YOUR TROUBLES BE FEW

And May Your Blessings Be Many 

and Your Troubles Be Few 

Valentine's Day Shadow Box

Before I get started on my post.  I want to take a moment to thank each and everyone one of my followers. I am up to 79 beautiful followers now and I am delight. Thank you!

So my world is out of balance and falling apart. 

I have never liked when I hear someone complain all the time and I make an effort not to complain.  I try to stand up to whatever I am facing and do the best I can do.  That doesn't mean that there are not times when I sit down and have a good cry.  Not really because I am feeling sorry for myself but because for me it is a catharsis.  I do not like always having to be the strong one in any situation.  There are times when I want to hand it to someone else and let them handle it.  I have never tried to cover up the fact that it is always nice to let someone who loves you take care of something for you.  Matter of fact it is absolutely wonderful.  

This is not one of those times in my life.  My Eric is away and as always when he is away I am faced with more problems then I need.  This week alone the HVAC (heating and AC) system went out in the house, hot water heater went out, AC drain pipes got stopped up, June Bug was hit by a ball at school and broke her front tooth, fence outside had to be repaired (was getting nasty grams from the HOA threatening to fine us), weeds had to be killed in front yard (again HOA letters),  and well everything else in between all of this stuff.  I have had one of the most trying weeks I have had since Eric left.  I am tired, worn out, exhausted, and on top of that I have been sick all week.  I have made several attempts to get in to see my Doctor and every time I have not been able to see him.  You know accident at school with June's tooth, trying to get to dentist for her, no hot water, etc etc. etc.  

So tonight I was trying to see the good in all this and I thought well at least we have a home for things to go wrong and need fixing.  It isn't that I don't appreciate the good things in my life.  I always appreciate our blessings and all that we have as a family. Yet, somehow right now all I want is to be in a happier place.  I want to see my Eric and have him home at least for a few days and I want the house to stand still and stop breaking apart.  I just want a few days that are stress free and happy so that I can recuperate from all this craziness.  

So instead I am writing this post as a way to find some release from all that is going on in my world.  Life can be tough at times and it can also be amazing and wonderful.  Our blessings are many and I am trying so hard to focus on them all and appreciate them.  So it is my hope that tomorrow the sun will be a little brighter and life will look a little better.  For tonight I am tired and sad and overwhelmed and I just need a hug from my Eric.  

Perhaps my world will go back into balance once 

my Eric is home. 

And may your blessing be many and troubles be few.  

Before my world fell out of balance and then fell apart, I manage to decorate for Valentine's Day.  Above is a picture of my Valentine Box I made.  I used vintage cupcake picks and all sorts of things to make this shadow box.  And of course their names are Eric and Beverly.  

Just in case I don't get to post before Valentine's Day, you know world out of balance and falling part, Happy Valentine's Day. 

This is another shadow box I made. 
 This one does not have as much detail but it is still so sweet.  

And here is a sweet bracelet that is perfect for
 Valentine's Day

See you all very soon.....

Beverly 
Tea Cottage Pretties

iPhone AND CHRISTMAS - SHABBY CHIC STYLE

iPhone and Christmas 

Shabby Chic Style

Panoramic Photos!!!

My Shabby Chic Living Room, all dressed up for Christmas

Okay I am the one in the house that never has the latest and greatest in gadgets.  I tend to be more concerned with economy and the more simple things in life.  However, this time I decided to go for it when it came time to upgrade my cell phone (do they call them cell phones anymore?).  Well I got the iPhone 5 and it is fabulous!  I love all the cool stuff it can do to include the panoramic photos you can take with it.  Although, it will take me some time before I learn to take them properly.  So today I played around with it and I took a few photos of our living room.  I like how they turned out but I can see in them what I need to work on to make them better.  

I was so excited about this feature that I wanted to share the photos.  I really do like my iPhone very much.  If you are thinking of getting one and do not yet have one I totally recommend it...... 

Just loving my iPhone camera and enjoying taking photos of my Shabby Chic Christmas.....

I am off to take more photos,
Beverly

Tea Cottage Pretties

THE HOLIDAYS

The Holidays!

The Holidays are over and I must say I am really kind of glad.  I felt like I was carrying a very heavy load and there was so much to do and not enough time or energy.  I typically love the Holiday Season but this year it was hard.  I so missed my Eric and it is never the same without him.  My poor little mom has been having a hard time with her health and I worry all the time.  I am overworked and I miss a lot of sleep these days.  Even still I was able to find the good in the Holidays and we had moments when we smiled and laughed and had a good time. I tried to make it the best I could and I held a lot inside and kept up with everything for my girls and my mom.  

The girls and I got to attend a little Christmas Party for the spouses and children of our deployed soldiers.  Santa came to visit the children and every child got a gift from Santa.  Even my 16 year old got a nice gift from Santa.  They actually went out and bought a special gift for each child based on what each child loves.  My Tiffany got a Barnes and Nobles Gift Card because she so loves books.  My June Bug got an art set because she loves to do animation.  We had a great time and I wanted to share our pictures from that day.  

So here we are happy and spending our Holiday together.  These are my beautiful girls and these are the memories they will have to hold on to as they grow up.