I like to decorate for the holidays. Truly I just like to decorate. I actually think this is why and how I celebrate most holidays—it's all about the decorations. I do like traditions too, but I kinda think the traditions grew out of the fact that I was putting up decorations, so needed to come up with a way to justify them, ha! I collect little do-dads and place them around my home, in the corners and on my kitchen window sill. I'm weird like that. I think my grandkids (when I get some) will like this about me. It seems grandma-like don't you think?

Early in my marriage I had a little wood shelf that I painted barn red. I had no money, so I saved up and bought it unfinished. I called it our holiday shelf and I would tote it from house to house and hang it in a prominent location and then decorate it differently each month. I even took a tole painting class—yes, this dates me—when I lived in Utah, so that I could create little wood decorations to display on my shelf. It was DIY before DIY was cool. I'll have to see if I can find a picture to post!

Check this out. It's the WHY you should attend RootsTech video and I'm in it! 

If you're like me and you're rather an on again, off again type of memory keeper, then you'll LOVE this super EASY method for capturing the present personality and interests of family members or anyone else (say, friends, roommates, etc.) 

I don’t remember where or even exactly when this picture was taken …
it doesn’t really matter. What’s important is that this is the only photo of just me and Valerie Rose Julian. Valerie is my mother-n-law, who died just days after my 2nd wedding anniversary. She was a strong and independent woman who fought hard for two years before losing her battle with cancer.