What's Colorado got?

What's in the news this week. . . this month? 

James has left us for bigger bluer skies. He has moved to Colorado. Colorado Y'all! Colorado? What's in Colorado that we don't have? Sure they have all of James friends, mountains, blue skies and snow. Boy! do they have snow. . . and now Colorado has our James. 

So you know what happened?  

The Best Nana Ever threw a party.  We lived it up! We had a great time. We showered James with presents and sent him on his way.  I took loads of great pictures. I even up loaded them to my computer. 

Then something really terrible happened. It was even worse then James moving to Colorado. 

My computer crashed and I lost everything. I couldn't play with my blogging friends, check email, edit pictures or do anything computerish. I know! How sad. . RIGHT?! I miss all those beautiful pictures I took at the party. . . 

Oh! Yeah. . . and I miss that kid James - that kid I watched grow up. 

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Friday Fragment,  Favorite Photo Friday,

the Kingdom ~ 2011

On this  earlyTuesday  morning I sit here and think: "What should I write about today?"  "What do I have to show you?"  "How can I show you how much I love it when you take the time to come to my little corner of the world and say hello."             and then. . .

It hit me.  

I haven't shown you Christmas and the love our mother pours into her decorating.  I haven't shown you the splendor of the ribbons, garland and tulle.  I haven't shown you how our mother sets the tables and makes everything look as if we were living in a dream: the trees, the candles, the angles blowing their trumpets announcing the Savior is born.  

I haven't shown the grandeur in the front hall adorned with deer, ribbons and berries.  Every year it gets better. . .each room makes us feel as if we are royalty and nothing could be finer.  Each year the love she has for her family completely inundates us.

I didn't introduced you to the fair maiden Miceala.  I haven't told you how this lovely girl  puts a smile on my Prince Matthew's face and how she is becoming quite a regular at all the family gathering. 

I haven't shown you how great the Squire James looks this year as he has grown into a fine, respectable man. 

I haven't shown you the magnificent gifts that were exchanged with simple love.

I failed to show you: how battles are won in this kingdom of plenty,  

the pure love a growing boy has for his father,

the girl that is growing up into fine Lady,

and the new baby's first Christmas. 

I almost missed showing you the magic of Christmas at our parent's house. I almost missed showing you the pride our Queen Mother has as she looks on and celebrates not only Christmas but a life she built with her one and only King.   

                                                                              

                                                                                           Our World Tuesday ,

                                                                               My 3 Boybarians

     Communal Global

"Wanna Play?"

It happens every time these guys get together.  

Someone says. . . "Hey, y'all wanna play football?"

AND 

Every time this happens, my girl Kathryn kicks off her shoes, 

and they all run out the door for some serious family fun. 

Thanks Giving and a Few Important Things

With the Thanks Giving Turkey all snug in it's bed, 

the dinner began with 

George making a toast: "To the toughest year over and new one to begin." 

 The dinner was perfect with the table set so fine. 

With many things to be thankful for, we sat down to dine. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ya, Ya, Ya, 

All that IS really nice! 

But! 

 It is time to get serous! 

Everyone knows Thanks Giving Day is ALL about football! 

You know the kind: The kind were you separate the "Boys from the Men".

AND 

The kind you separate the men from the girls. But then again. . . every one knows: "Behind every good man there is a better woman." and This is were the training begins! 

at Nana's house...Thanks Giving Day, the back yard turned into a football field. 

Where the girls and the boys are tough and "play hard or go home". 

They play Son against Father

Uncle against Nephew 

The competition IS. . .

Doggy, Dog....

Okay, just Dog. I got carried away. . .

But, just look at the size of these guys! 

They meant business. . .NO one was safe! 

And "Brother" did they mean business! 

It was do or die! 

The dads gave it their all. 

AND 

The boys. . .Didn't give in.

UNTIL

Someone mentioned Whipped Cream dessert. 

Lungs 4 Life. . .Standing United

Editors Note: Because I have received many e-mails and comments saying the information I have in this post about Lung Cancer is vital to our community, I thought I would keep this post going for the week by playing many memes. I have also had many comments and e-mails telling me people would be putting this post on Facebook and Twitter. Thank you for stopping by my little blog and taking the time to read this post.   If you need more information about Lung Cancer and it's stigmas please go to the Lung Cancer Alliance Link I have on my blog. 

Lisa 

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The Cain Halter run was last week and since it IS a cause we ALL care deeply about, we thought we would get together and give this run our all. 

It didn't matter if we were runners or not. . .We know first hand that Lung Cancer kills. We know the Facts: "Lung cancer remains the leading cancer killer in men and women in the United States among every ethnic group, yet still receives the fewest research dollars. Lung cancer causes 1 in every 3 cancer deaths and took 160,000 lives in 2009."  

160,000 Lives in 2009! 

We know this is true because, one of those 160,000 was our father.   I will tell you this,  when you lose just one of those 160,000,  it really does feel like you lost ALL 160,000.  It's devastating to think. . . HE never smoked. He never lived with smokers. HE always lived a healthy life style. HE exercised everyday, even up to the last weeks of his life. When he couldn't get up anymore, HE exercised in bed. . .YES! In Bed.  

And still he died. . . of Lung Cancer.  

So here is another fact for you: "Over 60% of new lung cancer cases are never smokers or former smokers, many of whom quit decades ago. One in five women and one in twelve men diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked." 

Just in case you missed that, I want to make sure you heard me; Over 60% of new lung cancer cases are never smokers or former smokers, many of whom quit decades ago.  

Because we really care about Lung Cancer and we have to change the stigma. . . we turned into Team Finnell. . .AGAIN! 

But, this time with shirts.

We hit the road! To walk. To run. To support. 

Friends came out and ran with us.  

Speaking of beautiful friends and woman heres another fact for you:  Lung Cancer has surpassed breast cancer as the leading cause for cancer death in women.  Do you know: you don't have to be a smoker to get lung cancer?  

 

With this in mind, we clung to each other and supported. . .like we always do. 

We made it to the end. . .Like we always do. 

All of us

We ran on the Faith of our Father. . .We ran with his spirit by our side.  We ran meeting people who were survivors. We ran with people who lost loved ones ,  who were runners. . . 

It effected us deeply as we thought of what was. 

 It effects us deeply as we think of the facts. We stand united AS "Team Finnell" . . . now with shirts.

Even though everyday we remember . . .There are some things none of us will ever understand.   Maybe, just maybe a little family run for Lung Cancer might help us heal, one year at a time. 

It's not all about THEM

I don't think I told you we had a little company this past week.

My Aunts, cousins and cousins daughters came down for a little visit;

Bringing with them lots of joy, laughter and Anthony.

Aunt Joan

These aunts are my father's "little" sisters and two of triplets.

Among the many things I loved about having Aunt Jean and Aunt Joan here was seeing  

my father's smile again on my Aunt Joan's face.

I never realized it before but this time "IT" took my breath away.

Aunt Jean

I again saw Aunt Jean's kind, gentle nature. But this time we watched as she endured a serious illness. But, she never complained....just like someone else I know. 

In both these woman, I saw their big brother Billy and one of his best qualities....I saw

in them how he would take his time and listen patiently and talk to people from the family no matter the age, size or order of importance.  

I saw how they enjoyed playing in childish games,  

allowing the smallest be the leader of the biggest chains.

I saw how they relaxed and laughed at themselves.

There were songs sung with the greatest emotion followed by dancing in the dining room.

The weekend just flew by.

When it was time for them to leave we were all a little sad to see them go.

Today, as I post and think of these warm, wonderful woman, I think about what makes them so special:  I think what makes these woman the generation of these woman so special is ... 

Everything is just not about them.