Welcome to my blog.  Please forgive me if mine seems so basic.  I'm very new to this whole blogging thing. 

My first post will just be an introduction about me so that you can get to know me. 

I was born in 1970 in Ohio.  When I was 5 my family was transferred to North Dakota via the US Air Force.  I grew up in a family of five to include my dad, mom, and 2 younger sisters.  My parents divorced when I was 6 and when I was 8 my mom married my step-dad.  He passed away in early 2003 due to a very rare blood disease he had called "Fabry Disease".  Here are a couple of links with information about the disease.  I'm not sure how to describe it so this is probably a better way to help everyone understand what my step-dad had.  What I do know is that women are typically the carriers of the disease while men are the ones who typically inherit the symptoms and problems associated with it, however, both genders can be and sometimes are affected by it.

http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/fabry-disease

http://www.fabrycommunity.com/en/Patients/Education/Overview.aspx


I lived my teen years in what I have described to my children as "a decade all its own". . .the 1980's.  There has been no other decade like it.  Big hair, leg warmers, banana clips, bright clothes, and some of the best music (not that noisy stuff called punk rock, but the other more mellow tunes).  From what I understand some of those things are coming back.  I've seen leg warmers in stores recently and have been tempted to buy some for my daughter.  LOL

When my daughter entered kindergarten I started taking classes online to FINALLY obtain a degree in accounting.  After four consecutive years of hard work I was thrilled to walk down the graduation aisle to reeive my Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.  I was blessed with my job 2 1/2 years before graduation and have been an Accounting Technician with my current employer ever since.  I am very blessed to have the most wonderful co-workers, the greatest company to work for, and the most awesome boss.

Many things are important to me, but nothing is as important as my relationship with God.  He has brought me through some very rought times and has never failed to provide my family's needs.  I give all the thanks in the world to Him for all of the good in my life and even some of the bad experiences.  I believe He allows us to go through some negative experiences because He knows it will make us stronger and increase our faith.  He doesn't put us through those experiences, but rather allows us to go through them. 

I have many interests.  These include cross stitch, cake decorating, scrapbooking, soap making, and some DIY home repairs and improvements.  I would have to say that I have been interested in cross stitch the longest.  Back in 8th grade, my home ec teacher taught the class how to do it.  I have loved it ever since. It still amazes me that you can make beautiful pieces from "sewing" a bunch of "x's" onto a piece of fabric.  I would have to say that Alma Lynne is my favorite designer.

My decorating style is a combination of Victorian, romantic country, and Americana (but each in a separate room in the house).  I love using roses, pastels, and other soft touches in my decorating.  I would have loved to have lived in the Victorian era.  Everything about it was elegant from the houses to the clothes to the etiquette.  It's all so me.  While I do have "fancy" taste, I am quite the frugal lady.  I will shop thrift stores before going to a regular store to find something.  Some of my most beautiful treasures and home decor have come from thrift stores at such a smal cost.  Freecycle or Free Recycle is another great place to "shop".  Everything is FREE.  It gives people a chance to both find something they need that others might not need anymore and also give things away to others.  It's all about "recycling" what someone else might throw away.

I'm not quite sure how active I'll be at this blogging thing, but I'll sure try.  For now it's a matter of trying to figure out how to get it all set up.