It's been a while

It has been a while since we took a family photo at Christmas.

Oh sure we have had lots of pictures taken

kids opening gifts

hubby and I opening gifts

the Christmas tree

the gifts wrapped

the manger

all the snowmen I collect.

But not a picture of  our little family.

This one was taken in 2008. We still had our Molly and our boys were so young.

Now we are all a little order.

The boys and my hubby are still handsome.

My hair as grown out really long I am seeing.

Justin wears glasses now and Damian is working out alot.

Also our most recent picture was taken with a cell phone. Phooey!

Not as good as hubby's camera that wasn't charged.

I am very Thankful for my family. The Lord has trusted me with our boys and has given me a pretty awesome hubby.

January Giveaway

UPDATE: I corrected the date on my giveaway!!
Thank you for letting me know :)


Good Sunday Morning Bloggers.

I sit in a bit of a chilly house this morning.

Arizona has been really chilly this past week.

From what I can tell we have been more cold than yall that live out East.

It is currently 37 degrees outside and for me that is COLD!

We have been dipping down into the low 30's at night 

so I have had to turn up the heat a little bit here to keep warm.

Northern Arizona where the mountains are has been

getting some great snow!

I found a saying via Pinterest and I fell in love with it.

It so speaks to my heart.

In this life we go through trials and if we did not, we would not find our strength.

The strength that comes from knowing a merciful God.

This will be the first of many giveaways in 2016.

All you have to do to win is leave me a comment. 

Share if you would like but it is not required to win.

Thanks so much for following Cynzplace!

Merry Christmas

I hope that this week brings you joy.

I pray that happiness fills your home.

I hope that you stay warm and snuggley.

May you know our Saviour.

The King of Kings

and Lord of Lords.

May we know each and every blessing he has for us.

Thank you Jesus...

for coming to this earth

to Love me before I loved you.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Winner Winner Check Here

I really enjoyed this blog hop!

I love blog land so so many great bloggers!!

Thank you everyone for a great Year!

Cynzplace is going to be doing some wonderful things in 2016.

Will you be along for the ride??

I really hope so!!

I had hubby pick the winner...

Diane of Lavender Dreams Too

Diane send me an email with your address and this will go out to your home!

You never know

You never know who may stumble upon your blog.

Someone who needs and encouraging word.

Someone who needs a quick how do you make that sauce?

Someone looking for some wonderful hand made goodies.

Someone who can't sleep and just wants to know you are there.

For me blogging is connecting with others. Hopefully bring some light and love into the lives.

Thought I would share this picture.

This is my mom, Me, my little brother and Santa also known as my Grandpa.

Christmas for me as a child was always wonderful.

I come from a large family with lots of cousins!

My Grandpa dressed up as Santa every single year. Always came in jingling his large sleigh bells.

Such a beautiful sound.

This picture was probably taken I would say around 1975 or 1976.

One of the ones that slipped through and didn't get a year on it.

I am blessed to have old memories like this.

Greatest Gift is Love Blog Hop

Welcome to our Greatest Gift is Love

Blog Hop Giveaway

Below you will find the links of all blogs participating

I hope that you will pay each of them a visit to sign up for their ornament

while you are on their blogs be sure to follow them as well

Here is the giveaway you can win from me:

​
Visit the other Thirteen blogs at the links on the list to
sign up for each of their ornaments


Brenda of  http://therustythimble.blogspot.com/

Lisa of http://themoonlitstitch.blogspot.com/

Terra of http://terragarden.blogspot.com/

Jessica of http://blessingsinthecountry.blogspot.com/

Cindi of http://cozyexpressions.blogspot.com/

Danice of http://homespunhannahblog.blogspot.com/

Cynthia of http://cynzplace.blogspot.com/

Suzan of http://sjcountrycrafts.blogspot.com/

Karen of http://buttonsintheattic1.blogspot.com/

Tracy of http://hattiesattic.blogspot.com/

Judy of http://hollyridgefolkart.blogspot.com/

Anne of http://annesphamily.blogspot.com/

Laura of http://dogsmomvisits.blogspot.com/

That is Correct this blog hop is a bit different

You will go to each blog to sign up for their ornament

You can sign up for my donation of The Snowman Believe pocket

By Leaving a comment on this post

For extra chances you can share on

Pinterest

Google Plus

Facebook

Twitter

Be sure to let me know in your ONE comment 

where all you share this at

Also remember to leave me contact info

if you do not have it enabled for me to easily contact you

Thanks so much for hopping along on this blog hop!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

The older I get the longer my Thankful list gets.

I could never fit it all in one post.

I am pretty sure that blogger doesn't have enough space for it all.

My Jesus, My husband, Our 2 boys, Our kitties and Our Home.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Sending lots of love your way!

Is it Brrr where you are?

Good morning!

I have seen around blogland that some of you are already having

snow flurries and even more so

some of you are having lots of snow!

No snow here but we have finally cooled down.

I have turned my AC off and I am enjoying the 70s and sometimes 80s weather.

Been making some of these pumpkins to sit around the house.

They make up fast and are so cute!

Not sure if winter weddings are popular where you are but they sure are here,

Keep warm!!!

Untill next time have a great week!

Deck the Halls FAAP Celebration

Deck the halls with boughs of holly....

Fa La La La La La La La La

Yep that is what we are doing at FAAP.

Over 50 shops participating.

Over 900 items.

You are sure to find something you Love!!

Seach Code DTHFAAP on Etsy Or you can 

click Here to see them all.

I am offing a discount in my shop. 

25% off by using code DECKTHEHALLS2015

I have been working alot to get some new goodies into my etsy shop.

Just in time for Christmas.

Happy November

Good Morning and Happy Weekend!

Has everyone's weather cooled off?

Where I am in Arizona it sure has.

We have been having many cloudy rainy days and I am ok with that.

In the morning it has been cool enough to wear a sweater,

which makes this lady happy!

I wanted to share the BIG Giveaway I am having on my facebook page.

Its not to late to sign up and when each winner is chosen the prize will be as well!!

You don't want to miss this one!!

Cynzplace on Facebook

I am pretty sure...life is chugging along

There are days I look up and think...WOW...the year is almost gone.

When I am going through old pics and think..oh I need to make some more of those!

When I remembered that time I ate sweet potatoes for the first time and thought...

I will stick with good ole russet.

When you remember you and hubby took a wonderful hiking trip up in Northern Arizona.

Yeah...time is going way to fast...I am trying yo slooow it down and Enjoy it!

Etsy Team Celebration

The Folkart and Primitives ETSY Team is having a wonderful celebration!

Lots of wonderful hand mades!!!

Make sure you SEARCH: FAAPGIVETHANKS on etsy!!

Happy October

I love Octobers.

Who is with me?

What this Arizona Native Learned on her Trip

The Top 21 Things I learned on my Travel to the Midwest

1.I never realized Indiana was actually the Midwest. I always referred to it as back there.

2.When people say fall is in the air, I now know how that feels.

3. In the Midwest a "creek" or "spring" has water in it.

4. Traffic lights are not always hung on big metal poles.

5. Fire hydrants have large poles on top to be found in the snow.

6. Blue Jays are real birds.

7. Neighbors really do sit outside on their porches.

8. I have never seen so many people mowing lawns.

9. The trees are so full of color and life and so soft! Yes I touched!

10. A person can wear a light sweater in September.

11. A rock front yard is out of he question.

12. Neighborhoods exist without fences.

13. If the weather man says 20% chance of rain, its going to rain.

14. It was nice seeing an umbrella used for rain instead of keeping the sun off ya.

15. A traffic jam is not 2 hours sitting in traffic.

16. Correct change at a toll booth is awesome!

17. Rolling hills filled with grass and trees is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

18. The sound of locus, crickets, and frogs still does NOT appeal to me.

19. One story homes are not as popular as two story homes.

20. A barn sale really does take place in someone's barn.

21. Watching and listening to my hubby talk about childhood places he grew up, filled my heart to over flowing!

RV and MH Museum

Elkhart Indiana was on of the most greenest places that we traveled through

on our road trip.

I really wish we could have spent more time there. 

The museum had some very old Rv's, I am talking back from like 1913.

The museum was very nice and laid out well.

Yep there is it made in 1913. The inside was really neat.

Look at these beauties! I will admit I think I would like one of these.

The insides of them were NOT redone, all original and let me tell you

time has been good to these.

This one reminded me of my childhood. My grandpa had a blue truck like this but the camper was a bit different.

We spent many vacations in that camper!

Here is me in a wonderful photo op they had. 

Oh hubby and I enjoyed this place!

If you ever get to Elkhart, Indiana it is a must see!

Potawatomi Zoo

I will have to admit. During our travels I had a bit of a hard time learning new words.

Being in Arizona my whole life,

I am used to certain names and that is how it goes. *sigh*

We went to ummm the zoo listed below.

and yes that is hubby in the monkey cut out. And yes I made him do it LOL.

There were some animals that I have seen before. Isn't that tortoise beautiful!

Wonder how he likes the snow. :)

And there are some I have never seen like this red panda.

This tractor hubby use to play on as a kid when he would come to this zoo.

I think that is pretty neat!

And there is me, I don't care what kind of barn it is, if I see it I gotta have a picture.

I will tell you for this Arizona native the humidity was up on this day and I was noticing it.

Didn't bother hubby at all.

Atleast there was a cool breeze which made it a million times better!

Indiana Dunes

On our adventure one place that I had to see was lake Michigan. 

I figured hey I am traveling 1800+ miles I really want to see

all that I can see.

Luckily, Indiana shares some of the shore line of Lake Michigan.

The only other "beach" that I have been to is the ones in California.

This beach was different for sure.

The waves were much faster, larger.

Unlike California, you can see cities in the distance.

If you look close you can see the Chicago skyline.

There is me and hubby. It was so so windy!

Lots of pretty grass lined the beach shores. 

The sand was also really soft and NO seashells anywhere.

All in all we had a great time there. It s really wonderful to see other places that you have only seen in movies and not you can say yep I have been there!

Notre Dame Indiana

It has been over 30 years since my hubby has been back to his home state.

He doesn't have family there anymore so visiting really never crossed our minds.

Until as of late, when we have been talking about moving to somewhere greener, 

and less brown and dirt.

The first place we visited, after getting the hotel and taking a 5 hour nap, was

Notre Dame University.

I have never in my life seen such a beautifully green campus before. All the trees and 

the beautiful buildings.

The pictures do not do this justice at all. When we got there it was getting to be a little dark.

That dome lights up so beautiful!

I think hubby said this building is  newer one. But man oh man it is so nice!

This one lights up at  night. I was not able to get a good one of it lit up.

The day we visited there we lots of new students and scared parents. I know it has to be hard sending kiddos off to college.

When we were parked taking quick pictures a few students walked up to us and asked if we were lost.

I smiled and said no just taking pictures.

I think the Arizona plate on the car..gave us away. :)

First stop Cadillac Ranch and Oklahoma

We left Sunday late about 8:40 pm. I don't know why we always start driving at night lol. Are we the only ones? 

The first gas up was in Alburqueque New Mexico. And as of that night that was the furthest East I had ever been. Yes this Arizona native has not travels much.  There was excitement,and I will admit Was a little scared. Going on an 1800+ mile road tr can be intimidating.

As soon as we left hubby looked at me and said, Hey you have now been past Alburqueque.  He was right.

The first photo stop was in Texas. Cadillac Ranch. 

It was very very dry, flat, and windy! This is hubby posing for one of my many many pics. These Cadilacs are in the ground and have been for a long time. There is spray paint everywhere on them. Yes for a few minutes hubby was tagging up one. 

If you ever travel through Armarillo it would be a great place to stop.

Next state was Oklahoma. Very green, not as flat as I thought it would be. 

Lots and lots of farms. Rolling meadows of grass and COWS!  I have never seen that many cows I. My life! They seemed to be happy cows too! Just out eating and soaking up the sun.

Oklahoma was also mine and hubbies first adventure with toll roads. We don't have them back home lol. We pull up and it's one where you put money in the bucket and it counts it, once the fee is paid the light turns green and you go. After digging frantically in my purse,glove box,floor boards,hubby's pockets for change, hubby was tossing coins in and dollar bills lol I look over and there are bills just flapping in the wind, and he is saying why isn't it counting here as he is tossing more coins. Hahaha! I am laughing so hard I finally say it doesn't take dollar bills lol. He is laughing so hard  getting out to get is dollar bills. 

I honestly don't think the five cars behind us found it that funny! 

America Road Trip

Hubby and I are embarking on a wonderful wonderful, and maybe crazy, rad trip to the Midwest.

We are starting out from Arizona..and heading to his home state of Indiana.

Yep...3,000 + miles round trip!

Even when I say that i get a big ole lump in my throat.

But I am so excited!!

I have not been east of New Mexico.

I am super super excited.

Excited to see others states, and just enjoy my time with hubby.

I am taking along lots of hand sewing to keep my hands busy on the long trip!!

Where have I been

It seems like time just marches on..and I am not marching with it.

Or atleast not realizing how much

time has went buy.

Now that summer is over...and the busy craft season for me is here..

I get lost in my work and not on my blog as much.

I seem to be on a red homespun,lace,crochet flower kick as of late.

I really love these colors together.

Available in my shop

What are you up to? How's things going in your life?

August Already

Seems like it was just June..No???

I am happy summer is moving along.

In Arizona was have not had much rain this summer and we usually

get some great monsoon storms.

Just ain't happening! 

I love rain..so wish we had more of it. But that is what it is when living in the desert.

Ive been able to add a few new things to my etsy shop.

Fall stuff is my favorite to create!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Seems Like Life...

If you had to fill in the ... ( dot dot dot) on my title post what would yours say?

Does 1 things come to your mind?

or does many many things race past.

For me...Seems Like Life is going by fast.

I can not believe July is almost over. 

Which for me is ok because Arizona summers are not my favorite.

Maybe it is because I am a crafter and I have to keep ahead of the seasons.

I am usually making losts of fall things and yes even snowman in July.

Yes slooooow down time...

Or is it me that should sloooow down.

I miss being so active in blogland.

I do read blogs all the time.

I am bad about commenting but please know that I am reading.

Prayers to those that need them.

Christmas In July Giveaway

Seems like this year is seriously rolling along fast!

Soon we will be celebrating Thanksgiving and then Christmas.

My grandma use to tell me 

the older you get the faster it goes.

Of course at 12 I didn't believe her.

But at 42 I sure do now!

This is my Sleepy Snowman Ornament.

He is a big one.

This giveaway is on my facebook page 

Cynzplce FB Page

It ends July 31st!

Also remember this whole month I am having 

10% off in my etsy shop.

USE CODE: CHRITMASJULY2015

Cynzplace Etsy Shop

Hope you have a great rest of the week!

A Treasure Hunt for Christmas in July

Hello and Happy Sunday.

I hope that you have having a great weekend.

Boy do I have a great fun game for you! a treasure hunt.

Yep you heard me correctly!

Now listen up..here are all the details!

The Folkart and Primitives Etsy Team is having a treasure hunt where 

ONE person will win 25 Christmas ornaments!!!

You can VIsit Here to see all the shops participating!

While you are visiting these shops you want to look for the picture below on 

ONE of the items for sale in each shop.

Once you have found all the correct items, make sure you write down the shop name and the

name of the item with this ornament.

Email your list to one of the following Leaders of the FAAP team.

Cynthia Chapman : cynzplace (at) gmail.com

 Brenda Griffith : brustythimble (at) gmail.com

Cindi Toth :  cozyexpressions (at) msn.com  

You can also go to out facebook page below to see all the wonderful ornaments that

that you can win!!!

FAAP FB Page

New Dolly

Good morning.

I have been trying to work on a few dollys her as of late. 

I am working on some fall ones that

I think are turning out great!

She is a smaller doll. I used vintage lace on her clothes.

She is listed in my Etsy Shop

Hope you have a great week!!