Ghost of Chrstmas Past

Christmas 2011

Here is a picture of my Christmas Tree. It sits in our family room and I absolutely love it. Plugging in the lights is my very first chore of the day, even before coffee (if you can believe that).  Christmas is a beautiful time of year, but I would be lying if I didn't say that with it also comes much stress and sadness.

My mother loved Christmas. We didn't have very much "extra" money growing up, so she scrimped and saved all year to always give all four of her children a Christmas to remember.  When I close my eyes, I can still see the pure joy on her face as we tore into our presents.

Mom is gone now.  She became one of my angels. This will be my 18th Christmas without her. I make her an important part of my Christmas in many different ways.

I had a special ornament that hung on my tree as I grew up. I still remember searching the family tree each year to find it.  This pinkish red ball with white sparkly dots is the first ornament to be hung on my tree every year. The years are starting to show on my trusty Christmas friend, but you will find it front and center on my Christmas this year and hopefully for years to come. Thank you Mom for giving me my Christmas spirit and teaching me the joy of the season. I love you and miss you always.

In the Beginning

There were two sisters growing up in Brooklyn, New York.  Not much thought or guidance went into building their future.  Study typing and steno in high school so you can graduate and get a job as a secretary.  Not a bad life...but is that our only option????

Fast forward some 40 years (give or take) and the sisters are still together.  No longer in the Brooklyn projects.  They where secretaries, then supervisors and even middle managers.  One traveled a great deal and the other stayed closer to home.  They became wives and mothers.  They forged ahead through many of life's challenges such as death of their parents, job loss, illness and divorce.

Now we find them raising their families out in the country of North Carolina.  Talk about change!  These sisters embody the true American pioneer spirit.  Packing up their families and moving south to create a better quality of life full of possibilities.  Stay tuned for more about Kim & Staci...