Just be held

I usually listen to a Christian

station on Pandora in the morning.

Today a song came on that

I love, by Casting Crowns, called

"Just be held".  Part of the chorus:

"So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held"

I think sometimes I need to

remember those words.  I get so

caught up in things I can't control

and no answers seem to be coming.

I feel like my prayers are just

bouncing off the ceiling.   I think

I need to just relax back into the

arms of Jesus and just let Him

hold me.  I really do need to

let go of these concerns.  I can't control

things or people and there's no sense

in trying.  But I do anyway.  I 

know that's not what He wants us

to do.  Why is it so hard to just

let go and be held?

It's been raining off and on since

late yesterday afternoon and I

love it.  I have just a touch of

a headache, so the barometric

pressure must not be changing

much, thankfully.  I love the rain, 

but of course, I'd like a thunderstorm,

too. Beggars can't be choosers,

I suppose.  I'll take it!

This is another stamp I rarely use, mainly

because I can never get it to stamp

properly.  So don't look closely.

It does lend itself well to the wheat

die cut and word "dream" though.

I'm finally using things I don't use

often enough.  I love this lattice

background.  It is also a die cut.  It's

a pain to adhere, but very pretty.

I'm still in my black and white

phase, with a little gold thrown in.

I would rather have used another 

colour  flower than pink, but

nothing else looked good.  All those

colours and all I can come up with

is pink!  Very girly.  Truth be

told, I am not a girly girl.  Give me

a pair of blue jeans and a tee shirt

any day and I'm happy!!

Yesterday's sad news

Anna (Patty) Duke died yesterday.

I was shocked and saddened.

She was an amazing actress in

spite of all her struggles with bipolar

disorder.  She was also a tireless

advocate for mental illness

working closely with NAMI

(National Alliance on Mental Illness).

I read her book years ago, "Call me

Anna" and didn't even see myself in

her words.  It took me many years

 of pain and anguish for anyone

around me, to be diagnosed with

bipolar disorder.  It's a rough illness

for the one who has it and even moreso,

I think, for those around that person.

Thankfully I finally found a doctor

who was able to adjust my medication

to a perfect level and I have been

fairly stable for about 12 years.
She was also president of SAG
(Screen actors guild) from 1985-
1988.  She made a huge impact
on me and I'm sure many others.

I pray she knew God although I

never heard her talk about it one

way or the other.  Someday I would

like to meet her in person.

This is called a split panel card.  I should

have taken a picture of it standing up.

The top and bottom panels of the

card are open, being held only by the panel

in the center.  It love how it looks.

I haven't used that flower vase

stamp in forever.  I have many like

that!  I'm a little bummed

 that I didn't notice the mark to the 

right of the flowers.  It's

not extra ink, it's a flaw in the paper.

Oh, well.  I thought about trying

to cover it up with a tiny butterfly

or something but decided not to bother. 

I think it's supposed to be warm today.

At least I hope so.  I am so

ready for warmth.  I feel like

I haven't been warm in forever!

Have a good day.  :)

Another day

I made it through the day.  Was there

any doubt?  It's the getting 

through to the other side that

sometimes is hard, but I always manage,

with God's help, to make it there.

Sign class was awesome last  night

and I'm really looking forward to

next week.  We have a field

trip!  We are going to Ft. Wayne 

for "deaf, deaf world"

That is deaf people running a

real-life simulation.  There are

stations such as a store, hospital, 

real estate office, etc.  You get a card

to tell you what to do such as

"I have a burned foot and need

a doctor".  You have to convey

this in any way possible-without

using your voice!  Every time you

get caught talking you get fined

a quarter!  I'm going to get some

to take with me, lol.  Any person

of any level of sign can participate.

My teacher had had two classes when

she went the first time.  I am

really excited about it.  If I am

going to learn sign to communicate

with deaf persons I need to learn

the culture as well.  They have to

live in our world.  This gives us a

chance to live in theirs.  I wonder

where all this is leading?  I guess I

will have to wait for God's good

time when He reveals it. 

Not super happy with this as I

see things I could have changed.

The trees didn't get a good crisp 

stamp, but it's OK.  I made it

for my ex's grandfather.  We were close

 until John got sick and then I kind

of lost touch .  I contacted

Allen's aunt and got his address as

he is now in a nursing home and have

been sending him cards.  I guess

I should get his phone number and give

him a call as well.  He's such a sweet

man and always considered me

his granddaughter even when Allen and

I divorced.  I love him like my

own grandfather.

Two years

Today marks the two year

anniversary of John going home

to be with the Lord.  For some 

reason I've been having a much

harder time this year.  I've been

crying a lot.  I miss him so

much.  But it's comforting to know

where he is and that I will see him again.

Not that that makes it any easier.

Two years ago, My sister, Robin,

son, Cody, Daughter in law, Pam,

and I sat around John's bed.  I whispered

all the wonderful times we had together.

Aquariums we visited, zoos that we

enjoyed so much.  I told him it

was OK to go, that I would be

OK.  That was a hard one.

 I had heard that sometimes loved

ones were reluctant to leave because

they worried about the ones they left

behind.  I didn't want him to be concerned

about that.  Before he died he raised up by

the shoulders and stared straight ahead.

What he was seeing wasn't in this

world, we all knew that.  I saw a

movie by Bruce Marchiano called "The encounter,

Paradise lost" .  As the man was ready to

go with Jesus, he looked back at his

wife and Jesus said to him, "don't worry,

I'll take care of her."  I like to think that

as John stared ahead he saw his Savior

saying, "Don't worry, I'll take care of

her."  Then he laid down and died.

Yes, God has taken care of me this past

two years.  That's not to say it's been

easy because even if you haven't

lost someone you know it's not easy.

But I've been OK.  That day changed

all of us in a way that none of us

can explain but that bonded all four

of us together forever.  You can't experience

something like that and ever be the same.

I'd never seen anyone die before.  I don't

want to ever again.  But His last wish

was to die at home and I was able to

honour that.  I miss him so much.

I hope no one who reads this minds hearing

the story, but I just really needed to put it

in words this morning.

I love black and white together.

He is not here

For He has risen!

Matthew 28:6

Happy Easter!  Let's remember what

this day is all about!  The Savior 

has risen!  

Our church is having a brunch 

after the service.  What does one

do when one signs up to bring 

a pastry?  One calls her

sister in law!  Hey,

she owned a restaurant and

knows all about this stuff!

I picked the wrong picture and

this one is sideways, but you

get the idea.  It is a cherry pie 

square.  I think everyone will love it!

golden butterfly

Again, this didn't come out as I imagined

it, but I like it, I guess.  I wish I 

hadn't put the black flowers on, or put one

on the other side to balance.  Oh, well.

I was in a gold mode this morning!

I hate gold jewelry, but I like

gold in cards.  It adds some 

elegance, I think.

Another class day.  This class is

much harder than just learning

vocabulary, but that's what makes

it challenging.  You have to

have enough vocab in order to take

the class because they sign

questions to each other, things

like that, and you have to write

down what the question was. 

That was last week.  I'm

not sure what this week will

entail, but I'm sure it will be

challenging as well as fun.  I

was encouraged because I

understood most of what Anthony

signed to me, but he was patient

and took his time if I was not quite

sure.  The dvd for this class

does not do that, although she

will repeat a section if

someone isn't sure they got

it.  Then we get chosen

to write on the board what

the questions (or whatever

the section is about) were

asked.  I got  most right

last week, missed a couple

of numbers.  But I don't do well

with numbers in the hearing

world, either!  The questions

I missed two out of 5.  What would

that be in school, a D+?  I 

wasn't entirely sure what

we were supposed to be doing

at first and there is NO TALKING.

Do you know how hard that

is for hearing people?  Naturally, there

was a few times we "forgot"!

The dvd explains it, of course, but

still, I just wasn't totally sure.

So, all in all, I'm looking forward

to the class this morning. 

Brrr!

What  happened to the warmth?

I was really bummed out yesterday.

The TV starts scrolling "severe thunderstorms"

for our area.  High winds, etc.

For about 3 minutes we get a semi

hard downpour.  No thunder rumbles

or anything!  What a disappointment!

and since then it's been cold, damp

and a breezy.  I long for warm 

weather.  Enough of that.

I made a card today that looked

a lot better in my head than it turned

out.  Sometimes they look just

like I imagine, sometimes not.

I'm not sure if I like it or not....

The word "believe" looks almost

red here, but it's more of a deep

pink.  It just looked much better

in my head.

I heard from the hospice coordinator

yesterday.  She is going to start

sending me their newsletters and

is trying to get in touch with one

of the people she wants to help

with the orientation.  I guess 

she is in another part of the state

settling her husband's estate.  She

told me it would be early April 

anyway, so I wasn't thinking much

about it.  It turns out Dianne will

be presenting part of it, as well.

The end of life section.  Sorry

if I've already said that. 

Speaking of Dianne, she loved the

journal and cards.   I always worry

when someone asks me to

make something for them that

it might not be what they

want, but so far...no complaints!

I suppose I should get the birds

out of their cages.  They tend to

get cranky if I don't!  Since I goofed

off and had lunch with Dianne 

yesterday I suppose I should also

clean the house today.  Not

sure why as not too many

people come over, but I guess

it is more for me than for anyone

else.  I like having a clean house.

I just don't like doing it!!

Great day yesterday!

It was wonderful meeting Anthony

and using my fledgling skills to

communicate with him.  He seemed

excited that I was learning.  Not once

did he appear confused by what

I was saying, or look to Cody for

an explanation.  Cody doesn't know

as much sign as me, but they have

developed a way of communicating.

I had to look at Cody a few times, though, 

when they started talking computers!

They both like to build them and 

Anthony showed me one that he

built.  It was very cool, the

case was clear so you could

see the inside.   He brought his

little 3 year old boy, Noah.  He was

such a good little boy, but at the

end got a little restless, naturally.

I signed bored to him (he is

learning a little bit) which is the

finger on the side of the nose.  He

didn't quite see what we were doing and

put his finger IN his nose.  Of course,

that made us all laugh, so he just kept

doing that even though his dad even

placed his finger in the right place.

Such a cutie!

Unfortunately, I have occasion to make

yet another sympathy card.  LuAnn, after

losing husband, Dennis, only 5 months 

ago, lost her oldest friend to a massive

heart attack yesterday.  She was only

48.  No warning or anything.  No heart

problems that anyone knew of.  Pam 

was best friends with this lady's daughter,

so naturally, she was like a second

mother to Pam.  It's been difficult for them.

 It's rainy and dreary out today.  I love

days like that, but would like

thunderstorms better!  But what

it signals to me is that Spring is here!

I've seen it snow in April, though,

so I'm not holding my breath just

yet, but one can hope, right?!

Today is the day!

Today I am going to meet Anthony and

use my sign language for the

first time with a deaf person.  I am

anxious and scared to death!  I hope

he will understand me and that I will

understand him as well.  This is

why I have been learning, to be

able to communicate with someone

who is deaf.  If God called me to this

as I believe He did, then He will work 

things out perfectly.  Not that the

communication will be perfect because

I know it won't be.  But that we

won't be too uncomfortable with each

other.  Cody and Anthony's wife

and possibly his two small children

will be there, so I won't be flying

solo, lol.    Sam and others have

told me that deaf people are thrilled

when hearing people go to the 

trouble of learning their language

so they can communicate.  He and

Cody communicate fairly well, Cody

said, through some sign and some 

made up stuff, maybe writing it

down.  I am really looking forward

to the experience.  Next month

I plan to attend "Deaf Deaf Deaf world".

More about that later.  It is quite

an experience, I am told.

My muse has been working overtime

this morning, and I made two cards

 which I am pretty happy with.  The 

Easter card is for Dianne.  I usually

don't make Easter cards, but

I saw a few pretty ones and it sparked

my creative juices.  This one is

not a CASE  (copy and steal

everything), but just a jump off

idea from other cards I've seen.  So

get to it already!!!

The next one, I

have had this stamp for a long

time and keep forgetting to

use it.  Unfortunately I have a lot

of stamps and tend to use

certain ones over and over

again.  I really need to

stretch and use some of the

other things I have.

The daisy die cut is from the

other set that I got for 30% off.  It

has 3 sized dies.  I love it.  I

will probably use it often.  Well,

if I remember, that is!!

 

Psalm 23

I finished the inside of the

journal for Dianne's friend

and also another card.

I love how it turned out.  

I included Psalm 23 on a

bookmark to slip in the pocket

and it can hold a few sheets of

paper in case she wants

to save something.  I wanted to

put some pearls in the center

of the flowers, but that would

have left a dent in the

pages eventually, so I opted to

leave them plain. 

The card turned out well, also.

I just got the die for the cattails

the other day at 30% off!  I couldn't

resist.  I also got some daisy dies.

When it's that cheap you have to

take advantage of it!

Tonight I'm playing some cards with

John's sister and husband and I intend

to win!  I have been on a losing

streak for weeks and I'm tired of it!

So my motto is "take no prisoners".

Of course, that was my motto last week,

too, and it didn't work, lol.  We have

a lot of fun and are quite competitive.

We play phase 10 and then a few

games of farkle.  When I played that

in South Carolina it was just called

dice....So wish me luck!

Believe journal

This is the journal I made for

Dianne's friend.  I thought the

word believe made a nice sentiment

without having a sentiment.

Does that make sense??!!

I forgot to put ribbon along the side

before I put the pearl flourish on.  

Oh, well.  Inside I am going to make

a pocket across the front that

she can put papers in and it will

include a bookmark with the Lord's

prayer on it.  I guess the ribbon wouldn't

have worked anyway!  It would have been

in the way of the pocket.  I'm a genius

and didn't even know it!

On random pages I'm going

to stamp verses or other encouraging

things, like the word believe which I

have a stamp for.  It's one of

my favourites.

I'm really excited.  I think I'm going

to meet Cody's deaf friend Wed.

It will be a real test  of what

I've been learning the past year.

Cody says he is patient, so that's good.

I'm not good at understanding

what is signed to me yet, 

but I can tell him that in sign!  I

can also tell him "again" if I don't

understand, or "slowly" so I think

we will do well.  I'm a little

nervous (which I can also sign!)

I'm just really excited!

Happy Sunday!

I have a few minutes before leaving

for church, so I thought I would

go ahead and update my blog.

I have to keep back spacing because

for some reason I can't type today, so

if there are mistakes I miss, I apologize, lol.

I didn't mention that I talked to the hospice 

coordinator  the other day and

in order to get some families to

follow I have to go through

an orientation.  That's no problem

and might be quite interesting-

other than the HIPA part.  It turns

out that Dianne is teaching part

of it; the end of life .  So that will

be very interesting, I'm sure.

.  After I get through HIPA which

I think is the first one, I will get assigned

some families, so I am really 

excited about that! 

Something else I'm excited about

is that I think I'm going to get

to meet Cody's deaf friend, Anthony,

soon!  I told him to tell Anthony that

I am just learning and that he has

to go slowly.  Cody said he's patient

with him, so no worries.  Whew!  I

talked to my cousin, Cathy, who's

parents are deaf, so sign is her

first language.  She said it is totally

normal that I am having trouble understanding

what is signed to me.  My new teacher

said they are two different skills.  So

I am feeling much better about that.

But if I'm not exposed to it, I will

never acquire the skill.  I

like that my new teacher signs much

more than Sam does. In first level

you are just starting to learn

and don't have the base

vocabulary.  By third

level you have much more

of a base to work

with. So I'm happy

that I'm getting that exposure.

This is the first card I'm making

Dianne for her coworker.  I just love

using the feather and the Angels

sentiment.  I think it really looks

neat.  The vellum piece on front

is embossed in white embossing powder.

It looks so elegant, but you have

to adhere it with ribbon like I did,

eyelets, or hide the adhesive under

some of the embossing.  I did hide

just a tiny glue dot under the butterfly.

The wings are not adhered to the card,

but I don't think it's really noticeable.  

Actually,  I think I'm going to remove

that and put it under the body

of the butterfly.  Sometimes I can

be so daft!  Anyway, I like how it

turned out, and I think Dianne will 

too.  When I finish the journal I

will be sure to post it.  I am hoping

to come up with an idea in the

next day or two so I can get

started.  I'm not putting a sentiment

on the front such as "prayer journal"

just making it look pretty.  (Hopefully!!)

Better get ready to go to church!  

Have a great Lord's day!!

Mr. Haupt

I do not  know this man.  I know

that sounds strange.  I heard about

him on the internet.  He is an

elderly gentleman in Canada

who lost his

beloved long haired dashund

from a mauling.  They are

asking for cards for him.  so

I contacted the person and

got his address.  I know just

how he feels as everyone

who has ever lost a pet

knows.  They are much, much

more than pets, they are our

family.  Sometimes much

better than the human family

we have!  My heart just

broke for him so I wanted

to send him a little comfort.

I heard that he is getting hundreds

of cards from all over the

world.  People can be so

loving and understanding to

someone they don't even know.

It gives me hope for the world.

I like how it turned out.  It's the only

dog stamp I have, but I don't 

think the image matters as much

as the fact that someone

is thinking of him.

Today I have a new class, Signing

Naturally.  I've probably already talked

about it, so I won't bore you, but

I'm anxious/nervous about it!

Anxious to take a new class and

learn about facial/body expression;

nervous because I don't know quite

what to expect.  Sam has shown

me a little of the course so I'm

not going in blindly, but still...

I had lunch with my friend, Dianne,

yesterday and she asked me to

make a journal for a coworker

of hers who  was recently

diagnosed with cancer.

She asked me also to

make a couple of cards

for this woman.

I love doing things

like that because she will

know that Dianne cares

about her and the more

people that care, the more

strength you have, I think.

Cancer takes all the strength

you have to face and hopefully

beat.  But in the end, as the

song by Mandisa says, 

"You're an overcomer
Stay in the fight ‘til the final round"

 

Sometimes the 'final round' isn't

in this world.  But what a wonderful

place we have to go to if God calls

us home.  I've been thinking more

about that as the 2nd anniversary

of John's death approaches.

It's been difficult to accept that

almost two years have

gone by.  I miss him very

much.  I hope he is proud of

the way I've lived my life

since then.  I hope he approves

of (most) of the decisions

I've made.  I know there's

a couple he wouldn't be too

happy with. I wish he

hadn't had to go, but as

I've said before, I know where

he is, that he is happy and that

I will see him again someday.

So as much as I miss him,

if I could, I would never

wish him back. As much

as he loved me I know he

wouldn't want to come back.

And I  know I have to go on.

 

Wishing you joy

New card fold.  Sorry the first

one is blurry.  I didn't realize it

until I put it on the computer.  But

you get the idea.  I love this

fold and may make some more!

I don't know if you can tell by the first

picture, but it stands alone.  Most

cards do, I suppose, but not

this cool of a fold! 

The wind nearly blew me away

yesterday!  Still windy

today but not like yesterday.

I can't imagine going through

a hurricane like my sister and

my son, Andy, did with hurricane

Andrew.  I've been in 2 small

tropical storms in South Carolina,

but with the winds the way they

are, you get just a small taste

of a hurricane.  Andy was

visiting Robin when Hurricane

Andrew blew in. They were

scared going through it.  I was

scared because I couldn't get

any news from them.  Every

so often she would be able to call,

but this was way before cell

phones (not that they would

have worked either) and they

had to depend on electricity

to get phone service.  It was something

none of us would like to do again.

She moved to North Carolina

not long after that, LOL.

Angels watching over us

Another bookmark card.  I have

such a hard time with these

and this one was no different.  I

tend to veer off to the right while

running the perforation tool along the

ruler.  Then the whole card is

ruined.  I just got these

bookmark stamps, so I have to

use them, right?  I think

from now on I'll just make plain

bookmarks without them being

attached!  Anyway, I also screwed

up the bookmark because it seemed a little 

crooked.  So in my infinite wisdom

I decided to take a little off

the bottom.  I should have known

better.  I can't cut a straight line

with a ruler.  (I can't perforate with

a ruler either, apparently.)  But

with all that aside, I like the

card.  It's hand made, so I think

the recipient will overlook

the flaws.  And if she doesn't

I'll take it back, lol.

I'm enjoying the warm weather

but it's not doing much for

my headaches.  I was told

yesterday that bipolar people

tend to have more headaches/

migraines then other parts of

the population.  That was a 

revelation to me, but I

believe it.

Lots of pink!

Nancy, here is the bday

card for your  mom.  Pink

enough? LOL.  I hope you like it.

If not, I'll go back to the 

drawing board.

I have my first ASL class tonight

with a new teacher.  It is 2nd

level which I am also taking here

in Angola, so I'll have a head

start, but it will be good to have

a different teacher than Sam so I get

used to seeing other people sign.

On Saturday I'm taking a class

called "signing naturally" which is

about facial expression, body language

etc.  Facial expression is quite important

because they can't hear the inflection

in our voices.  It's amazing, if you

listen to yourself, how much you put

into your voice, conveying emotions, 

questions, things of that nature.  Listen

sometime!  Sam showed Dave (husband)

and I some of the things we'll be

studying in that class as she has

already taken it.  It looks interesting

and scary as well.  But it's time to

move on.  I can't keep taking level

one, lol, and that's the one that

she teaches on Saturday.

I'll miss her as a teacher.  I'm

so grateful God allowed me to find

her as I'm quite certain I would 

not have had the discipline to keep

up with studying on my own. 

Besides, on the computer it

isn't always easy to see the 

complete sign.

Stars in the heavens

I am beyond thrilled with

how this nebula card turned

out.  I wasn't sure what I would

put on it once it was finished.  While

I was driving to the store the verse

came to me and I think it fits perfectly!

Sorry, I forgot to crop it.  It looks

just like you are looking into

space!  At least I think it does.  

I'm usually not so excited about

a certain card, but this certainly

is one that I am excited about!

I don't use this word stamp

much because I can't seem to 

get a good image.  So I decided

to turn the stamp upside down,

lay the cardstock on it and rub.

After one try where I missed

some of the sides, it came out pretty

well so maybe I'll use it more.

I don't use the punch much either.

I need to start finding creative 

ways to use what I already have.

There's always new products

that look so fun to play with,

but I should quit buying new

things.  Did I just say that?

As I have an order coming

for some new stamps....

You did not hear that come from

my  lips.  There is no such 

thing as buying too much.

Unless your bills aren't being

paid, of course.

Just cards today

I have absolutely nothing

to say.  Most people would not

believe that statement, but my

life has been boring of late.

So here are two cards which

I am very pleased with and

I will leave it at that!  :)

Volunteering for Hospice

I'm going to be making cards

for hospice.   They send cards

to people who have lost loved

ones (this seems very familiar, hope

I haven't already talked about it!)

for a year after the death.  So tomorrow

I will go sign a privacy paper and get

some names, I guess.  The thing

is, I'm a little concerned because the

ladies all get together and make cards

and that's just not how I work.

I don't have a clue what to take

with me to make cards.  I try this

and that before I finally come up with a

card I (usually) like.  I would have

to take my whole craft room with 

me. The cards that I have seen

from the other volunteers are very simple.

Not that they aren't lovely, I don't mean

that.  What I mean is that they don't

have layers and mats like I use on my 

cards.  So I'm not sure how that's going

to work out.  I will visit with them for a bit,

I guess and then beg off and go home

because I have an old dog

who needs to go out a lot.  I did

manage to find some doggie diapers finally,

though, so I'm glad about that.

Anyway, a card I threw together 

this afternoon and I hate it.  It doesn't

look anything like how I had it

in my mind.  That happens sometimes.

The colours don't even go together.

I should have used a different

colour flower.  I may take it off

and put something better there.

Something that matches...

Warm weather finally!

It's true!  The temps are in

the high 60's today!  I could

almost go out without a coat

except that I am always cold...

The problem is that when the 

barometric pressure changes

I get headaches.  I've had one

for 2 days now.  Finally broke

down and took an aspirin and feel

better.  But still, I'm not complaining.

I'm praising God and hoping

that it stays this way!!!

This is the gift bag I talked about

yesterday.  Not completely thrilled with

it, but it's OK.

My brother in law, Steve is having

a birthday later this month.

I saw a card with playing cards

for the age and just had to try it.

It makes a great "guy card" and

is unique.  Even if it wasn't

my original idea!  I thought about

colouring in the turtle but I think

it goes better with the black and

white (and brown...) theme.

 

Two more scroll boxes

Two scroll boxes, but one is

pretty unique in my opinion!

(I know, for what that's worth!!)

Anyway, these are for Robin's pastor

and his granddaughter.  

The pastor's is pretty standard

with scripture.  The little girl's

is the unique one.  The butterflies pop 

up when the box is opened.  Isn't

that cool?  I've used this technique

on cards before, but never

on a box.  I love how it turned out.

The little girl's box (sorry, don't know her
name) has sayings by kids in
it, like the one I posted in a card
earlier that says "You know it's
a good day if you didn't hit or
bite anyone."  I thought she would
like it and could use a
little cheer.  The final thing I'm going
to do before I send the cards and
boxes to my sister is make a gift bag
for her to put the boxes in.  I will
try to remember to take a picture of
it for tomorrow.

Yesterday was a great day, but sad
too, as two of the ladies in our
church have cancer.  One has had
surgery and waiting for the report to
see if it has spread.  The other is
due to have chemo and radiation.
I don't know them, but God does
and that's all that matters.  So if
you think about it, say a little prayer
for these two ladies.

And the snow is melting!  But I'm
not holding my breath as the LAST
time it got warm it snowed again
like two days later.  I am holding
our for warmer weather, though.
Maybe that darned rodent will
be vindicated yet.  But not soon
enough for me.  I still think he lied.
He's lucky I don't live in
Pennsylvania!!!

Sad day

I just saw that Nancy Reagan died.

She was the true epitome of a lady.

So regal and yet so down to

earth.  She took such good care

of president Reagan while he

was sick and when she

touched his casket at the funeral

I absolutely dissolved.  She was

a wonderful woman and I know

she will be missed deeply.

Sam's husband, Dave, has been

sick for a couple weeks now.

He can't seem to shake this

lousy flu that's been going around.

So I thought maybe a card

might cheer him up and make

him get well sooner!  OK,

I know the card won't help him

get better, but maybe it

will make him smile. 

Hope and dragonflies

Well, OK, dragonfly singular.  I have

trouble coming up with titles.  Maybe I'll

just name them by date.....

I think this card turned out fantastically!

 

Bri spent the  night with me last night

and we had a fun girl time.  She's

off today to have more girl time with

her best friend.  Apparently BFF's

take precedent   over grandmas!

Imagine that!  What is the world 

coming to??

Light of the world

I love this lighthouse  image.  It makes a

very nice masculine card and it just

goes well with John 8:12 as well

as others, I'm sure.  that was just

the one I picked, but I'm pretty 

sure that isn't the only time Jesus said 

he is the light of the world.  I like

how it turned  out.  Another one for

my sister's pastor.  We are going

to shower this man and his family

with love!!

It's supposed to get warm this weekend.

I'm not sure if I believe it or not,

but I'm ready.  I'm having lunch with

my friend, our weekly get-together,

then later picking up my granddaughter

 Bri for some girl time.  She can only

spend the night tonight as she has

plans to hang out with a friend.  I guess

Grandma takes a second seat to

the girlfriends!  And that's how it

should be!  I'm so proud of her.

She is quite a wonderful young

lady.  But I've probably extolled

her virtues in some other post, so

I won't torment you with any more

bragging.  I hate bragging 

grandparents.....     :)