My Favorite Gift ...

This Tile was made by my youngest daughter Makinsee, she is 11 almost 12.
You see I started a tradition with my children from the first moment they started school. As they would be ready to exit the car and walk into school as kindergartners, I would say"Remember who you are" and then I would say "Who are you"? and they would smile or grin and say "A Child of God" "bye Mom"
That is how I began every day dropping them off at school or where ever they were going .It became a ritual that I have always continued. Now that Al works from home a lot he takes the kids to school and lets me sleep in. So I do not have those moments with them as often. So on Christmas morning as we were all opening gifts, I was quiet and very tired but enjoying the Christmas fun taking place. Makinsee handed me her gift and as I opened it...I broke out in tears...her sweet spirit of kindness and love towards me just knocked me off my feet...and I was already sitting!!! I wish my camera was better to really show you the tile, but I thought it was most important to share this gift on my blog since it is my family journal. Makinsee reminded me that these few words we would share meant something to her and it meant something to me.How I loved this Gift, the special reminder, As a Mother, I live for these moments and she reminded me of who I am. I hope we can all go into the 2010 New Year remembering who we are...Aloha

Missing Paris...

BON JOUR
This is a collage of our 2ND trip to Paris in November 2005. I wanted to post these photos since I just came across them and I realized I hadn't written about it. This trip included France and Belgium. The majority of our time was spent in France. We stayed at our timeshare in Paris and we rented a car. We drove everywhere!! Loved it!! The open markets are definitely a favorite. Paris is a city that I am most happy to walk almost anywhere.
Our first trip to France included the South of France , the Riviera and Northern Italy. I had my perfume made in Grasse at Galimard . It was on my Bucket List and I am still thrilled to of been able to of done it. I named my Perfume... Queenie... I can order it online and also get it in shower gel and body lotion. Really fun!! Walking along the river, dinners at street side cafes,chickens roasting at the open markets and the drippings from the chickens flowed down into a pool of potatoes happily bathing in the hot juices.The Museums , Parks ,Architecture,History just overwhelmed us with their beauty.
A dinner cruise along the river in Paris was magical, and the accordion players leaning on the bridges as you walked by watching the Artists paint.
The Crepe Carts were so fresh and always available to serve up a delicate treat sweet or savory.
Standing in line at the Eiffel Tower and listening to all of the International languages....just a few highlights of Paris ...I love Paris....don't you?

I Could Live On Bread Alone!

I made these rolls for dinner tonight.My family loves them! I have been making these for 21 years. I got the recipe from a luncheon I went to, the Hostess gave me the recipe over the phone and explained how to do it. Well the first batch was not half bad, but after many years of making the rolls it has become a no brainer!! So please try this recipe and they are the best when you have your teenage Son  or daughter around to knead the dough by hand for at least 5 minutes!!! I have been making them for years with my Kitchenaide, but they are most tender when kneaded by hand they melt in your mouth!!.So if you have a teenager around...friend or relative...get them to help you and it is a great time to spend talking and catching up! They have fun too...Bon Apetite

Sisters in Paradise for 2009

 My Mom(Kathy or Nana as she is known to us) had a surprise visit from her eldest Sister Julie from San Francisco on Christmas Sunday. We were able to get to church early and so I caught a moment of them on the church bench together. I thought it was interesting that Kathy has the exact coloring of their Mother Bernice , lovely white hair and Julie has their Father Julian's dark hair. I grabbed the shot of them and thought it would be cute to show that how the generations continue even in coloring, they love their time together and we really enjoyed visiting with them. As the evening came to a close, Aunty Julie and her husband Jim were able to catch a standby flight on United back to San Francisco. So, My eldest daughter Aubree who is 16 and ready for her license offered to be the chauffeur for the airport. I was designated to be the assistant chauffeur and we had the three Seniors in the back seat of the Cadillac. Nana on the left side Julie in the middle and Jim on the right. The ride to the airport is about 30 minutes. and as the conversation began amongst the Seniors in the back seat, I noticed that each one had a tight grip on the over head grips above the window on each door and Julie seemed to be white knuckled on the front seats where Aubree and I were very comfortable in the front seats and enjoying the ride. As a turn came up to enter the airport freeway, Aubree was going a little fast and had to adjust her speed during the turn, it became very quiet at that moment and we all exhaled and were happy to of survived the merge onto the highway with no casualties. It was actually a fun excursion and they arrived in time to catch their flight. Definitely a memorable experience for these fun seniors who all love to drive still have their licenses to drive and do!! It was great for them to allow our new driver to spread her wings on the open road at night with 3 back seat drivers and all over 70!! It was a great accomplishment and I thought she conquered it well....You Go Aubree!!!

Roll'n in Dough

It has become a Williams Family tradition to deliver these Cinnamon Rolls on Christmas Eve in hopes our friends and family can enjoy them on Christmas Morning! I feed those I love," it's my way"...and the funniest thing is that when we go to the door as a family to deliver them and wish  our friends a Merry Christmas, we do not SING!! and everyone thinks we come to "Christmas Carol"...We just say Merry Christmas and give the rolls . It's funny but we have fun and it is something we look forward to doing together every year. Who knows maybe we will break out in Jingle Bells this Year for a twist!! So tonight Connor was my assistant Baker and dough kneader as we were definately  knee deep in dough. Tonight we finished the first half and another 7 dozen tomorrow. I am sorry if you are to far away for me to deliver these to your door tomorrow night,I would if I could, but here is my recipe and my sincere wishes for a sweet and doughy Christmas.....Aloha

A Family Heirloom ...the gift of many colors

What do you give your Mom that has it all. I don't mean everything material, but the things that are important, she has. Now how many Holidays do you pretend slippers,lotion, or a new movie that is on DVD is the perfect fit? She can only wear so many earrings!. What  about photos of the kids or family? well she lives with us, so she has those by default. I was just not sure what I was to do for her this year to make it special. Being that she was on her Mission last Christmas and she came home to Hawaii only long enough to help me pack boxes and  to contemplate yet another move. I  really wanted this Christmas to be memorable. Her spirit was so spiritually grounded, that of a return Missionary and I sure needed that upon her arrival and loved her even more for it. Now I am going to tell you a little bit about My Mom Kathy and My Mother in Law Dottie.After my Father in Law Roger passed away October of 2006,my Mother in Law Dottie  had slipped into a Coma the day after his burial.. . Dottie woke up from her nine day Coma on a Tuesday and  she remembered me telling her that if she could get well enough to come out of the Hospital, my Mother offered to come and live with her as her care giver so she could be in her own home. My Mom was my Hero in that time of need. You see we were living in Idaho and running a restaurant and 4 kids in school, I could not be in San Francisco with Dottie, but My Mom could .And it was my Mom's idea to do so. So it was a Tuesday night and Dottie had been in the Hospice wing for people who were shutting down.No tubes,no meds, just nurses care. On the 9th day, she woke up around 6pm called for the nurse, asked what day it was, where are her sons and she wanted a diet coke and turn on Dancing With The Stars.!!! And in that order she was on the phone with us and the first thing she asked me was when is my Mother "Kathy" coming to get her out of the Hospital?. Kathy my Mom was on a plane that same week on Friday. She went to the Hospital everyday to be with Dottie, she lived at the house to take care of the daily things like mail, water the plants etc, and get it ready for Dottie's return. Dottie was home within 2 weeks of my Mom's arrival and was able to stay at home with the help of my Mom and in home Nurses that would come weekly. Dottie's stayed home for almost a month, but by Christmas, she had returned to the Hospital due to her failing health,. I know Dottie was very happy to of returned home even for that brief time.You see I promised her she would not have to go to a nursing home and with the love and care of my Mom Kathy, I was able to keep that Promise. Dottie passed away January 4th 2007 in the Hospital.  So this afternoon, Makinsee and I put together a  Quilt that is made from some of  Dottie's  silk scarves that she loved to wear . I saved only the ones that were roughly the same size and of good quality. I thought it would mean a little more to my Mom that this Quilt was made from Dottie's scarf collection and from her daughter and Granddaughter. So when you see all the different colors, they do not all match, but they are all silk and full of lovely colors. Dottie loved flowers and colors, especially Red and Vibrant Blues. Dottie's eyes were a gorgeous blue and it was a wonderful contrast to her Raven hair, she was half Swedish and half Hungarian..  Makinsee and I just finished this tonight  and  it was really good quality time with her especially to teach her the basics of sewing '1A" and I mean basic. But it is the thought right?!?!?! My Mom won't see it until Christmas morning....so shhhhh...keep our Santa secret and I hope she likes it?  
DOTTIE AND ROGER 2006  

           

CATCHING THE SUNSET

IT'S ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE,


TRYING TO CATCH THE SUNSET...........


TOTALLY WORTH THE EFFORT....


I LOVE THE MEN IN MY LIFE...........


NANA LOVES HER GRANDCHILDREN


I FEEL SO BLESSED TO HAVE THESE LOVELY
WOMEN IN MY LIFE
TRAVIS CONNOR AUBREE MAKINSEE
These photos seem to capture what I could never express in words. The love I have for these wonderful people in my life is eternal. If they remember only one thing in their life about me, I really hope it is that I loved them unconditionally. Life is filled with so many distractions, sometimes I think it is easy to forget what the most important things are in our lives. When we feel love, give love,accept love unconditionally..that is all that really matters..