Sweet friends,
Today’s post is a parting look at the last month of 2017. Sharing my December in a “Sentence a Day” and linking-up with a heavenly host of bloggers as they share theirs. If you have a “Sentence a Day” post, won’t you link-up with us below? And then mark your calendars as we continue this series into 2018, posting our sentences on the first Thursday of each month.
Adios 2017
The first of the month found us winding up some projects around the house…actually, on the house.
Fresh Paint
- Finally able to wake up without contractors or painters knocking on the door; the house looks lovely with its fresh paint and even the pool looked pretty today. 12.01.2017
- Slept in a bit then ran errands to wind up Christmas shopping, almost. 12.02.2017
On the Road Again
- Early morning wake up to catch a plane for Kentucky, sad to say goodbye to my kitties but happy to see my mom and brother. 12.03.2017
- Nice to wake up in a room surrounded by things from my childhood and in my parents’ big bed where I would go as a little girl when I awoke from nightmares. 12.04.2017
- Breakfast with my mom in Lexington then on the road to Ohio, with a stop at the Dayton outlet mall and a well-stocked Loft Outlet store…such good bargains, beautiful things….but do I need more clothes?…pleasant evening with PC’s parents, Greta (SIL) and John (BIL). 12.05.2017
- The bitter cold wind blowing through central Ohio today had me buying $5 gloves at JCP when we took PC’s mother…the Queen Mum…shopping this morning, pizza, church and Christmas choir practice for a performance I won’t be here for on Sunday. 12.06.2017
- Feeling constipated and emotional today (TMI? TMI?), even after two stool softeners and everyone’s favorite home remedies (prune juice, probiotics, water, oranges) I am still ‘backed up’, visiting is hard on my body and my heart. 12.07.2017
- Successful day, if you get my drift; on the trip from Ohio back to Kentucky, stopped at the Dayton Outlet Mall and scored three blouses, a velvet tee and a warm cardi at Loft there, then on to my mom’s for Chinese and a scramble to figure out our cancelled flight home for tomorrow. 12.08.2017
- Although both flights home were delayed due to a rare dusting of snow in Atlanta, we arrived home when we were originally scheduled to and were completely lazy the rest of the day. 12.09.2017
There’s No Place Like It
- Laziness continued right through today allowing me to catch up on my blog reading and planning, begin the laundry and just enjoy being home. 12.10.2017
- I was all over the place today right here in my home…caught up on phone calls, email, laundry, worked on my Christmas garland, mailed Cady’s Christmas box, and played dress up in my fashion haus…back on Weight Watchers, too…already feel better. 12.11.2017
- Finally, the fall decorations are down, my kitchen cabinets are washed and oiled and tomorrow I will finally go to the grocery store again, after an appointment with a lawyer about the pool, back to running again, and another day on WW. 12.12.2017
- Met with a lawyer about the unresolved issues with the pool; made me nervous…the only time I visit a lawyer is to sign divorce papers…I dressed up for the occasion so PC wouldn’t get any ideas while we were there. 12.13.2017
Sharing the Love
- Blessed to be a blessing – took gifts to Sergio and Ariadna, the homeless children of migrant workers from my last school assignment, treated Lorena to breakfast, gathered food for the pantry at church, thankful that we have the means to help others. 12.14.2017
- Congratulations to my daughter Brennyn and her very own Prince Charming Mustafa on their engagement today…talk about romantic, a gondola ride proposal complete with rose petals, champagne and a beautiful ring and a big YES! 12.15.2017
Making a Dent on My Mini Christmas Bucket List
- Fun day…lazy morning then progressive dinner date with church in the middle…dinner at Pot Au Fue French restaurant, dessert from Bella Cora Bakery and drinks at TradeCraft where we talked and giggled and almost danced! 12.16.2017
- Accomplished a lot today, decorating inside and out for the holidays, working on my garland that has turned out to be quite the project, scrapbooked with my sister while Skyping, Bethlehem dinner and the Broadway version of “A Christmas Story: by candlelight, video-chatting with both daughters and grands. 12.17.2017
Deck the Halls (Clean Them First)
- Looking forward to seeing my Plumpies the end of this week; she has been so sick all fall with anemia and pica, and eye infections; just want to get her down for a good hug, finally took time to make my wish bottles (DIY directions, here) after three years!! 12.18.2017
- Scrambling today for last minute groceries and stocking stuffers, took the retainer fee to the lawyer representing us over our issues with the pool, attended the school district board meeting where Oralia, the volunteer who helped me so at Whitaker, received recognition as Volunteer of the Month. 12.19.2017
- Busy day cleaning upstairs, changing out our warm weather bedspread/curtains for our winter ones, hanging my Christmas fabric garland (read my how-to, here) and baking cookies…fell asleep with a feeling of accomplishment! 12.20.2017
- Cleaning continues downstairs and wrapping packages; pizza for dinner and blog reading and writing tonight. 12.21.2017
Getting on Our Fam Jam
- Baked sugar cookies to go with the peanut butter cookies and buckeyes from Wednesday, saw “The Greatest Showman” – Hugh Jackman can sing and dance; Lauren, Lucia and Francisco arrived at dinner time, but by bedtime Lucia had a fever of 103. 12.22.2017
- Baby girl rallied enough this morning for a visit to Santa where we were thankfully second in line, and where the bearded fellow commented that he wished all babies were like Lucia…merry Christmas music to our ears; enjoyed dinner at Olive Garden but little one’s fever returned this evening. 12.23.2017
- Bundled the kids off for Francisco’s parents’ house, then PC and I trekked up McKelligon Canyon for the first time in months, beautiful Sun City day, Chinese buffet for us for dinner and then our first annual holiday light scavenger hunt (find out how we fared, here). 12.24.2017
Merry Christmas
- At 1:45 am our house phone rang (yes, we still have one for 1 am phone calls), Lucia was inconsolable at her paternal grandparents’ home, sobbing, exhausted yet unable to sleep which had the kids piling everything back into the car and making the trans-mountain drive back to our house, where she was asleep in 10 minutes. 12.24 1.2.2017
- Our very late night had us almost interrupting Santa as he stopped at our house; Lucia slept until 10:30 which meant adjustments to the plans for Christmas dinner but by pushing everything up, we enjoyed an hour at the park, leisurely gift opening, nibbles and nap late afternoon and lots of playtime before eating at 7:00 pm. 12.25.2017 (Big shout out to my prince for being so flexible and helpful)
The In-between Days
- The kids spent the day at the Buendias’ so I had a chance to pick up around the house and scrapbook with my sister, using my Cricut to finish a layout from last Christmas, p.s. Mustafa proposed to Cady, asking her to be his step-daughter, she said YES! 12.26.2017
- Another quiet day with the kids across town until bedtime. 12.27.2017
- Fun day…playing with Lucia in the morning, Chico’s Tacos for lunch, a leisurely trip to Target, more sliding and swinging at the park, hamburgers on the grill for dinner, bedtime stories and snuggles with my favorite toddler. 12.28.2017
- My sweet Lucia makes me smile, when she left today for her other grandma’s house, she wanted me to go along, too, but PC and I had tickets for the Sun Bowl game and were accompanied by my nephew’s Flat Stanley doll for 70 degree sunshine and fun. 12.29.2017
- Entertained Lucia or maybe she entertained us? playing with my ‘jewels’ and dancing on the bedroom balcony; PC and I walked McKelligon Canyon with Flat Stanley, finished the day Skryping (scrapbooking + Skyping) with my sister and eating Panda Express for dinner until my girls returned for the evening. 12.30.2017
Out with the Old, In with the New
- Spent the day with PC, Lauren, Lucia and Francisco while missing Brennyn, Cady and Mustafa, so thankful for the year coming to close and the year shining bright before us; adios 2017. 12.31.2017
Your Turn
What was the theme of your December? Are you happy to set aside 2017 or sad to see it go? I have mixed feelings. But the arrival of a new year is always exciting and hopeful. As I shared in a recent post, going to try this word of the year business. Have always been kind of anxious and high-strung at times, but feeling that way much too often lately. Hoping to become more conscious of how I am feeling and why, and then relinquishing my worries to God. Keeping with that wisdom of letting go and letting God. My word for 2018 is peace. Found this blog post about choosing a word of the year by Dominee at Blessing Manifesting. So, if you were going to pick a word for the year, what would it be?
If you have a “Sentence a Day” post, please link-up with us below.
Would love to have YOU join this series for 2018. January has just begun so get started now! If you don’t blog, consider sharing your sentences or month’s highlights in a comment!
Wishing you a warm, snuggly January filled with great success at all you endeavor.
Hugs and kisses,
Rebecca Jo
Yoi were in Kentucky. Yahoo… I’m in Louisville.
I laughed at the constipation thing. That is pretty miserable.
Glad your holiday was so nice.
& love your thinking..let go,,let God
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I thought you were up near my mom. Beautiful countryside in Kentucky. Just wish it was closer to Texas! Or cheaper to get up there on a more regular basis.
Trying hard to let go and let God. I am such a worrier, though! Practice makes perfect, I hope!
Cindi
Oh my goodness, Leslie! You were a very busy lady!
I linked up too. Just in case, here’s my post:
https://diaryofamadretiree.wordpress.com/2018/01/04/december-in-a-sentence-a-day/
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hey Cindi!
I am very delinquent in getting all of the SaD posts read as I am out of town and haven’t had a moment to sit! Hoping to catch up today. So glad you joined us again. Please keep coming back and invite all your buds to join us. Happy new year, sugar foot!
curlycraftymom
Congrats on your daughters engagement and that was so sweet he proposed to her, asking her to be his step-daughter! Just love it! You’ve had such a busy month. Eek, I hate meeting with lawyers (only had to with my divorce and hope never to again!)… I really hope you get the pool mess figured out. Had to chuckle at that Flat Stanley… Autumn had one of those I had to send out last year.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, Carrie! I have lost Flat Stanley. I am so upset this morning. I brought him to Albuquerque and kept forgetting to get him out of the car. Finally remembered and now he has disappeared. Afraid baby Lucia has hidden him somewhere. We leave for home this morning and I don’t know where he is. Praying he turns up.
Thank you for the congratulations for Brennyn, Cady and Mustafa. He is a wonderful, sweet, kind, gentle guy. I hope they will be very happy.
Sarah @ Foxy's Domestic Side
My Mr. was in Atlanta that same weekend, he was trying to get out Friday afternoon, but they cancelled his flight, they finally left at 2am and he rolled home around 6am! Poor guy! Small world. Looks like a great month with lots of visiting!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ha! Would have been crazy to have struck up a conversation with your Mr. in Atlanta and then to have discovered who he was! It is truly a small world. I guess that was the week you were single-momming it. Funny.
jodie filogomo
How exciting with the engagement–nothing like a celebratory event to make everyone smile.
And I love seeing your family this way, Leslie!!! It such a brightening post to read every month!!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Jodie! My younger daughter Lauren and I knew Mustafa was proposing on the 15th but we didn’t know how. He blew our collective minds with his proposal. The gondola ‘driver?’ videoed the whole thing. A treasure.
The girls and I are together this weekend in Albuquerque but everyone but me is sick. Was hoping to take a good picture of the five of us. But there are three infected eyes in the lot, two fevers, and a stomach bug. Someday, someday I am going to get that photo!!
Terri Webster Schrandt
Yes, you were busy, Leslie…what woman is not in December? Your crafts are beautiful and glad to see you got lots of family time. I am glad to participate this time around and once again, thank you for hosting SAD!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Yay, Terri, so glad you continue to join in for SaD. I am so behind in my blog reading with being out of town yet again. Catching up this morning, I hope!!
You are so right that every woman is busy in December. So much to ready and to do! But January is starting off much the same way over here. And I need to keep my behind HOME.
Thank you for the sweet comments on my crafts. I love doing them. They make me happy.
XO
Natalie
Congrats on your daughter’s engagement, Leslie. What a full December you’ve had. Happy New Year and wishing you the peace you’re looking for.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Natalie. Hope this year is one of PEACE for myself but the world, too. Wouldn’t THAT be amazing?
Jo Tracey
Lol re the lawyer, congratulations on your daughter’s engagement & awwww at the Santa photo. Happy new year!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Happy new year! Ugh, the lawyer visit. And for our $2500 retainer, he has done exactly NOTHING yet.
Yay, for engagements and Santa photos and time with family.
Jamie Moore
Aw, congrats on your daughter’s engagement! He sounds like a real gentleman.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Jamie. Mustafa had told my youngest daughter and I that he would be proposing on the 15th but we had no idea about his plans. He blew this thing out of the water with the most romantic proposal. And we have a video tape (thank you, gondola driver) to watch over and over!
Sharon
Praying for both of us to have a peaceful 2018! Thank you BFF for once again being there for me all year! Love you and your family. I especially love the pic of you and your sweet Mama. Looking good Miss Nira! 😘
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, sweet BFF, we both need peace this year. Just hearing your latest yesterday doesn’t sound peaceful at all. But we can hold hands through 2018 and get through this, too. My mama does look great. Hoping to get back up to see her for her 91st birthday in March. Love to you and your family.
Debs
That was certainly a busy month, I hope you’re able to take a breather now the new year is here. Congratulations on the engagement! How exciting!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I am out of town again as I type this but going home today and planning to STAY THERE!! Would love a breather and just some quiet time in my house for a few weeks before crazy starts up again.
Thank you for your congratulations on my daughter’s engagement. Hoping they will be very happy.
Em
What a wonderful and fulfilling month you’ve had (barring the, ahem, plumbing back up… There’s something about travel….).
Anyway, congrats on your soon-to-be son in law, How lovely that he proposed to your granddaughter, too 🙂
I truly cannot believe how much you fit into a month!!!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I am a tired girl, Em. Really hoping for some quiet days at home but need to get home first! On another whirlwind trip again this weekend. But home today.
Mustafa was so thoughtful to propose to my granddaughter. He is wonderful with her and she loves him, too. Praying for their happily ever after.
Debbie
What a full month you had Leslie, with lots of family time and celebrations. I love the news of the proposal and especially asking Cady to be the step daughter, that’s just too gorgeous! Your house is looking great and you should be happy to wake up without workmen around you. I like your work for the year and mine is FOCUS – so good luck to us both as we start the year off together.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, focus!!! Great word of the year. I need a little more focus in my life, too. I am very easily distracted. No bueno.
I am so glad to have peace in the mornings, freedom from contractors and painters but will be starting again soon when we decide on someone to repair our pool deck. But languishing in the quiet I have now.
Mustafa has been such a wonderful addition to my daughter’s and granddaughter’s lives. We welcome him with open arms to our family. Will be fun planning an Afghanistan-influenced wedding in the new year.
Tamara / My Retirement Project
beautiful and so very inviting. Are you warm enough in El Paso to swim year round? We’re now past swimming weather here in S. California, with temps down in the 60’s and low 70’s for the next few months, a bit too chilly for me.
Your granddaughters are just gorgeous, but the adorable chunkiness of your littlest one is making me crazy. Hooray for chunky baby cheeks, which this grandma can never get enough of!
Wishing you happiest of New Year’s, my dear, and that my comments finally make it out of Moderation purgatory this year . . . Hugs!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ha!!! You make me laugh. So glad that your comments made it out of moderation. Not sure what happened to put them there in the first place. Yours are some of the most heartfelt and genuine comments I receive. Always looking forward to reading them and your posts.
Aren’t chunky cheeks the best. Chubby cheeks on both ends of the body. Because both of my grands (and daughters) are part Hispanic, we refer to their bottoms are two whole wheat rolls. Perfectly toasty brown.
I think our weather is fairly similar to yours. Perhaps hotter in the summer and a bit cooler now. We can heat our pool for year-round swimming but it would probably be cost prohibitive. And the wind would make anything above the water pretty miserably cold. By end of March or early April, we should be able to think about swimming again. Our weather has been out of the norm, though, this past year so who knows what 2018 will hold. We are having highs in the mid-60s some days now with an occasional night below freezing. If we don’t hurry up and get snow, which is usually a one or two time winter occurrence in El Paso, then I will be ready for spring.
So thankful to have met you, Tamara…to have found your blog. Have a fabulous second week of the year. XO
Nikki Gwin
Oh Leslie, I know it wasn’t funny, but I still giggles at your TMI and glad to hear it corrected itself. And that small dusting of snow hit us here in AL too. We considered it a fairly big snow. hahaha And then the lawyers office trip…. girl, you crack me up. I hope you managed to get out of the office still married.
While I am (again) laughing at your “almost danced”, I so miss dancing. We danced every weekend for a few years and then it became once a month and then once a couple months and now I can’t remember the last time we went dancing. I am penciling it in right now for a weekend SOON!
That Flat Stanley really gets around! I’ve met him once.
🙂 gwingal
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ha! Love that you and Flat Stan are old friends. I am about ready to send him home to California. About lost him in Albuquerque and was thinking I would have to print a new one off and try to color it like the original. But finally found him slipped between the car seats. Whew. Close call.
I love to dance but alas my Prince Charming does not. So I have to sneak in dances when I can. Even a long hug with a little swaying qualifies!!
I was so jealous of the snow you Alabama folks and your Georgia neighbors have enjoyed this winter. Who would guess? We usually have at least one snow, and did have one while we were in KY and OH, where it was unseasonably warm. Dad gum my luck!
Have a productive second week of 2018!