Fireman Birthday and a Prayer Request

These last two weeks have been trying. My mind has certainly been distracted as you will see later in this post . . .

Last week I couldn't get photos to upload. Today I noticed a teeny-tiny box asking me to agree to revised terms of service -- geez, that was all that was holding me back.

So here's the fireman jacket for the handsome 2-yr old junior fireman.

And here's his birthday card to go with it.

And then . . . my serious news. I told you in my last post of my uncle's untimely death. I feel fortunate to be in a position that I was able to spend some time with my aunt in this difficult time. During my stay, I took her daughter and my cousin Lisa, for some medical tests. That was Wednesday. On Friday she got the results. She has a brain tumor. I can't tell how frightening and devastating that news was. However, once the initial shock settled, we were told that this type of tumor (acoustic neuroma) is benign and non-cancerous. Thank you Lord! Nevertheless, it is still a sizeable tumor that must be removed in a very serious surgery and this is immensely frightening.

If you have the inclination to remember Lisa in your prayers, I would be forever grateful.

When It Rains, It Pours . . .

Remember the old saying that bad things come in threes? Well, the third shoe fell this week. On Monday my uncle had a stroke. He passed away on Tuesday. He was a young 65, in excellent health. I've learned that there are two types of strokes and this one, a massive hemorrhaging in the brain, could not be prevented or helped. It has been a harrowing week, however, as I've heard my dear Aunt Pam repeat many times over the past several days, his death was bittersweet in that he was an organ donor and thus provided the gift of life to several people. Particularly notable, his liver went to a 21-year old young man in Chicago who without the transplant was said to have hours to live. Doesn't that grab you? Many, many other recipients and beneficiaries as well.

I don't know what else to say except that if you are not a donor yet, please consider it. God bless.

Honoring Their Memory

Remembering that day eight years ago puts a lump in my throat. But it also reminds me of the strength and triumph of the American spirit. And the bonding we felt as a nation. Every year I recall a tearful conversation I had at work with a colleague in New York City. I'd never spoken to him before but we shared tears and prayers. Moving memories . . .


This week has been an eventful one for us. On Tuesday a good friend of my husband's had a very scary accident. He was climbing an aluminum ladder to the roof of his business building when electricity from a main power line five foot away arched from there to his ladder. His son had to knock him from the ladder. He was taken by ambulance to our local hospital then flown out by AirEvac helicopter to a larger hospital in Springfield. He was badly burned but otherwise deemed to be okay. Thank you Lord! And then - can you believe this, on the same day another good friend of my husband's (a young man) had a pacemaker put in. What an emotional week. So, I did the only thing I know how to do to make them feel better - I made cookies . . . and cards! :)

Sunday is my son's birthday. I still can't believe he will be 25! I am so proud him and the person he has become. He is a young man of integrity, compassion, intelligence -- and wit! (Sure didn't get that from me.) Last night we celebrated early by taking him and his darling fiancee out for dinner. Now that our kids are older, we usually give them cash so they can pick out their own gift (his will be binoculars this year) but we also try to come up with some little gifts as well. And I like to try to make something personal when I can. So among other things, my husband had came up with this monster spatula - about 2 ft long.



(Yes, it is laughable but will be good for campfire cooking and he loves that!)



That gave me the idea of making a potholder. I was trying to think of how to personalize it when Ashley reminded me that Sunday night is his night to cook. He looks forward to it all week. Seriously. Don't ask him to dinner on Sunday cause he ain't coming! So here's the pot holder. The back is a cute moose fabric.

And last but not least, his birthday card. Although I can't really take credit for it. I made it, but it was at a stamping party so the ideas, layout and colors were not mine. (Don't tell Kyle though! Even if I didn't tax my brain, it was one of my favorites and special just for him.)

Today is the 2nd birthday of Thacker - my friend Tammy's grandson. Today I will help her and Brandi (Thacker's mom) get ready for the party. A BIG FUN party, they don't do any other kind! So . . .

Happy Birthday to Thacker and Kyle!!! And a happy day to you too.

Two Precious Boys

Today my husband and I worked at Second Chance Animal Rescue. Just thought you might want to see a couple of charming boys that are looking for forever homes right now.

Johnnie is noted as a chihuahua dachshund mix but to me he just looks doxie. He is such a lover, I can't tell you. If your lap is within range, he will certainly jump into it! Look at those eyes -- one blue and one brown. He has an adorable face and an adorable disposition.

He's still a puppy so very playful and to get him to hold still long enough to snap a picture was a challenge. I managed to grab the following shot while he paused to devour the milk bone I brought him.

His small size, his friendly attitude and desire to please will make him a wonderful pet for some household. I can't say whether he's housebroken or not as I haven't spent enough time with him to know, but I can say that his stall was clean and the first thing he did when we took him out today was to relieve himself (both ways). I think he was waiting to go out so he could do so.



This is Prince. Oh my goodness. I totally fell in love with this dog at first sight. He is beautiful, far more so than you can tell in these photos. But even more beautiful is his personality. He has such a gentle, loving disposition. He too is a puppy and therefore playful but at the same time he has a careful gentleness about him, as if he is taking care to play nicely.

He is 8 months old, said to be a beagle mix. He's what I would consider to be medium or medium-small size. I don't know if you can really tell, but he has the most adorable speckled sock feet.
In the picture below, his hunter's nose has located the milk bone I have in my pocket for him. Can you tell how gentle and calm he is, even when he's found a treasure?! I think he himself is the treasure. He is one of the sweetest dogs I have met. Seriously. I'm told beagle mix dogs are less sought after for adoptions. I hope there's an exception for this exceptional dog. By the way, Prince also relieved himself (both ways) as soon as we brought him out. A good sign for training potential.

I'd love to get you more information about either of these dogs. Or if you have an interest in meeting them, you can contact me or call Second Chance at 618-283-9583.

Love and God Bless!

Kind of a Slow Week

. . . but that's okay. It took me all of last week to overcome a nasty bug. Then for most of this week I just felt lousy. My sister Deb told me it would take two weeks. I should have believed her! Anyway, I finally feel normal again. If there is such a thing . . . :)

I haven't had the energy to create much since I last blogged. When I did, it was mostly paper crafting. I was in that kind of mood - which is a good thing. It's a bit more low-key than sewing, which I've needed lately. Also it helped me to brush up and get back in that frame of mind and I need that for my next project -- working up a sample for the wedding invitation. Woo-hoo!

Simple but elegant. (The charcoal is embossed, click on the photo for a better look.) Our priest of the past four years was transferred and before leaving he asked me to make him a set of chalice veils for his new location.

The embroidery is elegant too, don't you think?! (I didn't get a photo of all but the set included green, white, red, rose and purple.) The card was a perfect finishing touch to complete the package.

And then I made all kinds of birthday cards. We're in a birthday hotspot on the calendar!

Can you believe Labor Day is upon us?! I can't. This weekend triggers my annual end-of-the-summer blues where I mope around and give my husband whiney grief about how I don't want summer to end. Along that line, I will leave you with a couple of images I snapped this year - the simple pleasures of summer. Whaaaaaa!

Hope you have a delightful holiday weekend!!!