Mexi-MO....No Bull!

One of the changes in my life for 2010 happened last August when we moved Clarissa to Columbia, MO to live.  She obtained a High School teaching position in the Spanish department.  Lots of changes for us all.

Me?  Just homesick for Clarissa and the time that we were blessed to spend together for over 24 years.

Clarissa?  Just homesick for her family and friends that she too had enjoyed for over 24 years.  She also had the first year teaching stressors on top of taking Master's classes!  If all goes as planned, next fall semester will be her last before we get to attend another graduation on MSU campus!

For Christmas I officially became an honorary member of the Mexi-MO Spanish club!

I love my new T!  In case your wondering what Pah-oo-la means....it's how the children in Mexico have said my name when I went on mission trips there.  It's so dang cute!  Clarissa is officially Senorita T to all her students.  AND.....on the front, No Toro means....NO BULL!  How funny!  Their school mascot is a bull.  The designer of this shirt thought of everything even down to the Mexico flag colors!

I know that pride is not a pretty thing to exhibit but I am so proud of the woman that my daughter has become.  When I visited her classroom is was unnerving to see my baby in charge but with so much admiration and respect from students less that 10 years her junior.  Her kindred spirit and caring heart flows over into her career.

P.S.  You might be wondering why the Mexi-MO?  Clarissa studied in Mexico (the country) for two semesters and we were getting friends, stories and traditions mixed up when we talk these days.  Now we call Mexico, MO Mexi-MO and Mexico the country it's right full name of Mexico!  I always knew that my daughter would end up in Mexico but I NEVER thought that I would be blessed for her to be only three hours away instead of a 12 flight and bus trip.  Another one of the blessings that I had never imagined!

2010 Endings

This year has brought many changes to my life and the loved ones around me.  As I said last December..."It will be interesting to see what God has in store for me in 2010".  I now look at 2011 and think the same thoughts.  He has brought many changes, good and what I thought bad.  Once again I learn that for every door that is closed, (or what I thought was a dead end) comes an open door which is much better and unimaginable!

My friends and family have too suffered many trials throughout 2010.  From the death of parents and family, to the loss of careers.  God has carried us all through the hard times and will continue to bless us with open doors.

Starting the New Year of 2011 I see many blessings in my short range of sight!

1.  On or around May 2nd I will become a "GLAMMA" to a little baby girl!  So excited!
2.  Employment with Service Noodle as it reaches for National status.  Me being in on the start up!
3.  Major life changes that I will post on a later date.
4.  I will be blogging more this year!  I am sick when I look at my last posting date!
5.  I plan to research and find recipes to try that are from my German heritage.  I so want a German Christmas tree next year too!  Here is a picture of the Man who started it all....

Meet my Dad!  Robert James Stieb who is 100% German.  I don't know if we look alike or not.  What do you think?

May you all have a wonderful celebration of the New Year to come.  Most of all....be safe and sweet!

Flip that Chair!

 In the beginning...there was a lonely chair that lived in a house where it was lonely, outcast and felt no love

As many of my friends know, I was laid off from my job of eight years at Edy's Ice Cream.  To supplement my income and to keep my mind busy the past five months I have been training/working under the leadership of my Mom, Mary, in learning how to work the trade of upholstery.  I have developed a passion for "flipping" the old, unwanted chairs and furniture into a beauty that one loves again.  I have many favorite tools and "foo-foo" items that make the process easier and add that special touch in the end.  My love for nail heads is very popular these days.  They come in all different colors, finishes and shapes.  The two below are the most popular with customers.  I would estimate that 50% of the work we put out has some type of nail heads on them.  We buy by larger quantities because of cost and each piece takes way more than you could ever afford to buy at the fabric stores.  Someday...I will count them as I install them!





In the end...........
The ugly duckling became a beautiful much admired, wanted and loved piece of the family!

My passion for yo-yo's continues!

Anyone who knows me at all knows of my passion for yo-yo's.  I am continuously searching for new templates from Clover to make them with.  I can make them from just circles and thread but find that I can use the templates when I want to do something mindless while I visit with friends or when I am on a road trip and can be more accurate.

The Clover small green template is the latest addition to my addiction.  It makes the cutest little yo-yo's to put on cards, headbands, in a cluster of different sizes on apparel or just about anywhere you would want to add a little splash of color.  These templates are becoming so popular that they are hard to catch in stock in the stores locally.  I found mine at the link below.  Happy yo-yo'ing to you!

Last of Graduation Celebrating

Well after graduation we finally had a date in common with everyone so that we could celebrate Nikki's graduation. We had aunts and uncles and cousins over for a hamburger cookout feast. Banners were handcrafted by Clarissa complete with yo-yo's and TLC.

Nikki's gift from big sister Clarissa and Piper was a coffee maker for her dorm room. It came complete with two coordinating coffee mugs, a frother and the coffee make itself was white and orange to match her colors.

These two pester each other relentlessly when they are together and have done so ever since the day they met eight years ago. Dustin actually gives the smile that shows how he really feels about his step-sis Nikki....proud of her and what a good gal she is to him.

This gift from me was a project that I had worked on since last November's scrap at the lake with my scrappy friends. It was a book of all the plays that Nikki had been since she began in eighth grade. It was really fun to see her look at every page in detail.

Nikki's cake that Clarissa designed and her friend Anna, who works with her at Beth's Bake Shop, decorated. We loved it because it says, "Nikki is Wicked Awesome!" We are taking a girl's trip to St. Louis to see our favorite musical very soon...all 12 of us (sorry Allen, 11 gals and one dude!)

After all these years and she still claims me as one of her Mommas. Watching her graduate was such a thrill and now she will be on her own soon. She is holding her bedspread and pillow sham that I made from the fabric she chose at Urban Outfitters online. Little birdies, their cages and lots of orange. I just took the panel of fabric and cut it to size, selected a coordinating fabric from JoAnn's for the backing and off to the machine quilter that I use in my area. When I got it back I bound it with orange/white polka dot fabric and made a pillow sham to match. I can't wait to see it in her dorm!

I love the conversations that we have now that she is a young woman making decisions on how she would like to see her life unfold. The most recent saying is WWPD....What would Paula do? We have been talking a lot about situations that she might get into dating in college, what to look for in a future mate and what God fearing men look for in a mate. I now pray for her as an adult child instead of a teenager!

Nikki Graduates High School

Grandma Lack and Nikki after graduation. They are to be future Sweet Adelines together real soon. Nikki and her friend Hannah are thinking about joining the group to keep their voices in tune.
Clarissa, Nikki and cousin Samantha are all such beauties. They had so much fun hanging together at family functions.
Nikki gives her Senior speech at graduation. Five students were selected from the students who tried out to give a three minute speech and she was one of them that made the cut.
Nikki without her robe looks like a superhero here. The thumbs up is a sign of "check-done".
Paula Mom and Nikki get a shot together. Watching her the past eight years pass through the grade levels to graduate has been a great journey. I have never had a step-daughter before but she pretty much has been the best and I count her as my own daughter! I can't wait to see what God has for her future. Off to MSU in the fall to pursue a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Theatre.

The great outdoors!

Clarissa and Nikki enjoying the sun after taking a spin over the country roads and river valleys.
All that was left is the watering after all is planted. Note the long wood firebox that Dustin installed over the past few weeks. Him and Katy will be toasty warm in their home this winter with lower electric bills.
Dustin supervised the planting. No, kidding aside, he tilled the garden, added fertilizer, tilled again, fetched us rakes and then supervised! He is just a busy bee worker just like his Momma.
Katy plugs in the garlic and onions. We planted the starts that she grew from seed and threw down some radish and green bean seeds. Her garden will be the perfect sides to go with that famous beef from their cattle. Yummy dinner time and yes, I will be there for that too!
Clarissa, Nikki and buckets walk to get the T-Rex from the barn to ride and let the "dust" run through their hair.

It was the most pleasant afternoon that I have had in the new Spring. Dustin and Katy live on a hill of 50 acres with the most scenic view of trees and the river. Their winding drive will soon be like driving through a tunnel of leaved out oak trees. Next weekend...we are staining the deck, cleaning out the oldest cellar built with rocks ages ago, burning the bonfire and going to their church in the country the next morning. Praying for clear and sunny weather.