I'm sitting here this morning watching the news coverage of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan – simply speechless at the thought of the devastation and destruction that has occurred there… and just after seeing similar images not that long ago in Christchurch with the earthquake that happened there.

I am just overwhelmed with sadness for the people and my heart goes out to all the mothers who are wondering if their babies (young or old) are OK – all the fathers doing the same – and all of those people elsewhere in the world preparing for the aftershocks that will be coming.

All I can do at this point is say a prayer – and remember that everything happens for a reason, even if we don't know (or never know) the reason.

Have you seen “The Bucket List?” Where Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson play cancer patients who decide to “seize the day” and work through a list of things they’ve always wanted to do before they die.

It’s an engrossing movie… at times comical and at others sad and poignant.  One I would recommend everyone sees at least once in their lives.

I decided I’d like to start my own Bucket List – or Life List, as I prefer to call it, since I hope to do these things as I embrace life as opposed to preparing to kick the bucket.

This will be an ongoing list and I’ll cross things off as I accomplish them and add things as I think of them.

Any suggestions? Add them in the comments!

• See the Grand Canyon
• Visit Italy where my family is from (Calabria)
• Learn to knit
• Run a 5k
• See the pyramids in Egypt
• Write a book
• Take the girls to Disney World & Epcot
• Go back to Hawaii (with the kids)
• Take my mom to Italy (on the aforementioned trip)
• Learn to (really) use Adobe Photoshop Elements
• Become debt-free
• Finish a “real” knitting project (not just a washcloth)
• Complete an advanced bible study course
• Learn to speak Spanish fluently enough to carry on a conversation
• Publish a cookbook
• Learn to geocache
• Master bread baking (the old fashioned way, not with a machine)

Because we’ve struck up an ongoing conversation over here in blog-land (and thank you again for your kind comments on my posts!) I thought I’d spice things up a bit and create a new community for us to share.

The idea behind this is to share thoughts/topics that may not be enough for a blog post all on its own, or that you may want to share with other readers of the blog.

There are topics similar to the categories here on the blog:

• Recipes
• Cooking/Baking
• Parenting
• Silliness (of course)
• Random Thoughts
• Books/Reading

I hope that you will join us on the community forums and share your thoughts and ideas!

You can find the community from the menu at the top of the blog. If you’re not already a member of Blog Frog, I encourage you to join in. There are lots of terrific people there.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming!

If you had a choice between stairs & an escalator, which would you choose?

What if the stairs were way more fun?

http://www.facebook.com/v/686979186115

How cool is this?

People are so creative.

I love it.

I’ve been blogging for about three and a half years now… Most of that time I figured I was just “talking” to myself… I didn’t think (or care, originally) that anyone was “listening.”

It was more about getting all this conversation that goes on in my head all day OUT of my head and SOMEWHERE other than my head.

But it’s grown into so much more than that.

I’ve “met” some wonderful fellow bloggers and scrapbookers.

I’ve heard from you as you’ve de-lurked to comment on posts – or to tell me in person how much you enjoy reading my ramblings.

And I’m touched and thrilled that you actually LIKE me!
(I sound like Sally Field now, don’t I?)

I have been really enjoying your comments and interactions (PLEASE don’t stop!) and I finally feel like I’m not just talking to myself like a crazy person.

So, I wanted to THANK YOU for reading my silly words and for sharing my life.

I hope I continue to keep you (relatively) entertained in the future.

I’d love to know what you like (and don’t) about my blog so that I can continue to learn, grow and make it better.

And I’d love it if you keep coming back for more (and commenting!)

Thank you.

From the bottom of my silly little heart.

One of my “resolutions” – which I don’t make – is to be more active this year. Yoga is on my list. As is walking (maybe even *gasp* running) and finding more ways to move my body.

What about you?

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas day.

Here is a page dedicated to the Journal Your Christmas albums I’ve done.

You can see the pages I’ve completed – they’re posted on Flickr.

• 2009
• 2010

And a few samples here: