Grandpa Martin died

My husbands' Grandpa passed away at 8:20 PM tonight (December 30, 2007). He was born March 4, 1921 in Michigan. He was a twin, his twin sister died at birth. He was a fireman, and work at Consumers Energy. It's a sad day in our family, the patriarch of our family is gone. Please keep our family in your prayers, especially my husband's grandma, I can't imagine loosing my husband after 63 years of marriage.

I have another LO to share for the 40 days of Scrapping Purpose, but I don't really feel like sharing it right now.

Scrappin' Plans...

Hello my friends... The 2peas Challenge for today: What are your scrapping plans for this last weekend of 2007?

Well I don't really have confirmed plans, but if my husband is home on Saturday I plan to clean off my scrap table, and organize what is on it. Then maybe I can sit down and do some actual scrapping. Haha! If I can't, then I will be doing some more digital scrapping! :)

I am totally embarassed by what my scrap table looks like, but since Thanksgiving I haven't really done any traditionaly scrapbooking...and things just keep getting added to the pile. LOL

Now onto the 40 Days of Scrapping Purpose I am up to Day 9. Here it is...


Journalling: "What is a home? A home isn’t about the four walls that surround you or what kind of decorations you have in it. My Home is wherever you are, no matter what kind of house or what state we live in, as long as I’m with you... I am home! :) ily"

Scripture: ...where you go I will go, & where you stay I will stay. Ruth 1:16

Credits: Butterfly paper & Butterfly by Royanna Fritschmann 40 days of Scrapping Purpose, Journally mat is from Fall Leaves Embellishments by Amie B., Baubles-n-Scraps (baublesnscraps@gmail.com), & the Open Book is by Pineapple Plantation Designs by Shauna Burke Smith www.PineapplePlantation.blogspot.com

Two new LOs...

Add on to today's post....

(Credits: Daisie Company)

(Credit: Raspberry Road)

Merry Christmas...

... I found this pic in the shoebox of photos I got from my mom's photo albums. Gosh, look at those cowboy boots!!! And that dress... way too funny.

I hope everyone got what they wanted for Christmas. I got a roaster, a Xyron (2 1/2 inch), some scrapping paper, some stickers and some wonderful art work from my kids. Speaking of the kids, they had a GREAT Christmas! Everyone LOVED what they got even though it wasn't really what they asked Santa for...but they got some awesome stuff! Santa was generous this year. ;)

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Now, onto the 40 days of scrapping purpose

Day 8: The Focus of Life

Journally: "With a quiet whisper my focus is my time spent with Him. I have always had trouble sitting down in the morning & reading his word...but I found that the process is not important to Him, it’s actually being with Him. I don’t do it everyday, but I should, but when I do I sit at my table with my bible, a devotion, a book of prayers, a notebook, pens, highlighter and a cup of coffee with my French Vanilla Coffee-Mate. When I do this I am at peace during the day & things don’t seem so crazy around here. It is then that I feel that I get the most and that is what I want to share with my family through my scrapbooks...."

(Credits: Butterfly Paper by Royanna Fritschmann & the Gold brackets are from Raspberry Road's Country Cuddles freebie. Font: Title font is BradyBunch & Journalling is 2 peas Plain Jane)

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PS. Please keep praying for my dad & my husband's grandfather. Both are sick, Marty's grandpa isn't doing well at all. They think it's his TIME! I don't know how Marty will handle that. My dad is doing better, but the meds they have him on makes him very sick. I hate that I couldn't spend Christmas with my Daddy!

Dreaming about my mom...

I had a dream Saturday night. My mom & I were sitting on a sofa (I don't know whose, because I never saw it before) and talking. It was so great... we were just sitting there, talking & laughing drinking tea (at least I think it was tea..it was in a coffee cup lol). We were also looking through my scrapbooks and pointing, smiling and sometimes bursting into laughter. I woke up Sunday morning with such a great feeling. :)


Now onto the 40 days of scrapping purpose

Day 6

Credits: Background, butterfly, Journal box by Royanna Fritschmann; Tag & Frame around flower photo is Raspberry Road.

Day 7


Credits: Background & butterfly by Royanna Fritschmann; Laugh every day Word Art by Shabby Princess

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2peas Today's Challenge~ What are your Christmas Eve plans?

Well, we are sleeping in...(it's 1:29 AM right now and I'm getting ready to go to bed). We wil be decorating Christmas cookies, doing our last minute shopping, hanging our stockings, reading the Christmas Story, opening ONE gift & then after the kids go to bed Marty & I will be wrapping more gifts. Now that's all if my dad stays out of the hospital. I think I told you in my blog back in May that my dad was diagnosed with Lung Cancer, he went through Kemo & Radiation - they thought everything was good, but he started getting sick. He was rushed into the hospital today, he gave us a big scare he started throwing up blood. But, they sent him home, doctor says he has Diverticulitis, which I'm told it's is a condition in which diverticuli in the colon rupture. The rupture results in infection in the tissues that surround the colon.

Oh yeah I just wanted to say that on Sunday, December 23rd Marty & I kinda celebrated an anniversary...17 years ago on the 23rd he asked me to marry him!! I love ya babe!

This is the DAY that the Lord has made...

...I will rejoice and be GLAD in it! Today is my Mom's birthday... Ohhhh boy! A friend of mine (Shirlene) said "Just think your mom is having a party in Heaven for her birthday!" I am trying to really think that.... at this time, I am also missing my sister, she passed away January of 2006. I miss my sister so very much! She died way too early!!

I have a busy sort of day today... kids all have to be at church this afternoon to practice their Christmas program. I have to finish shopping, not much to do, but just a little....enough to NOT be ready for the big day which isn't that far away! I am having lots of fun with the 40 day challenge. I've got to DAY 5 done! YoooHooo!

(Credits: Royanna Fritschmann's Overlay from 40 days of Scrapping Purpose, ShabbyPrincess (Kiwi kit) back ground paper, ShabbyPrincess (HarvestSpice kit) sewn stem with leaves, and NewlifeDreams flowers, branch with bird, envelope & the ribbon on the envelope.)

If you get a chance to check it out, go to Divine Digital and look in the forum & gallery for 40 days of scrapping purpose.

Ok, now for the 2peas Today's Challenge is: This being the last weekend before Christmas. What do you need to finish or complete before Tuesday?

WOW, I need defrost the Ham for Christmas dinner, get my house cleaned, go to program practice, get all the kids bathed, wrap gifts, buys last minute gifts, go to the cemetery and leave flowers for me mom, grandparents and great grandparents, Hmmmm... bake cookies for santa, make those date nuts balls I talked about in a earlier post (yep haven't had enough time to do them yet... maybe Christmas eve??), sing some carols and feel in the Christmas spirit, watch my kids play in the snow, build a snowman with them.... whew! Is there anything else??? Nope, not that I can remember... anyways...

Winter ???

Challenge for today is: What are three things that you enjoy most about the winter season? What three things do you dislike?

Wow, I enjoy watching the kids play in the snow, also watching my husband play in the snow (LOL) & watching the snow falling down. I dislike icy roads, cold cold cold weather & snow days... UGH!!

I did Day 4 on the 40 Days of Scrapping Purpose, here it is



Credits: Raspberry Road, Shabby Princess & Royanna Lea Fritschmann

Keep my husband's grandpa in your prayers, he isn't doing good today. I don't know how much more he can handle.

40 days of scrapping purpose

Hey friends, a friend sent me a link about a 40 day challenge at Divine Digital. The goal is basically to "Create a 40 page Art Journal about YOU and Why You Scrap." It's called 40 Days of Scrapping Purpose. I've done three already, so I wanted to share that with you...

DAY 1

(Credits: Raspberry Road & Shabby Princess)

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DAY 2

(Credits: Raspberry Road & Shabby Princess)

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DAY 3

(Credits: Raspberry Road & Shabby Princess)

Holiday Celebrations...

Trying to get into the Holiday Spirit...I don't know if that is working or not... these are some of my favorite Christmas orniments, some are very old and some are new.

2peas Challenge for Today is: Share a memory you have from a holiday celebration you had in school. Can be a holiday sing, gift exchange, etc



Memories...sometimes I really don't want to remember. But okay, I remember on Christmas Eve, I would go and visit my mom and have Christmas with her. I would get tons of gifts and we would eat and celebrate Christmas. We would also celebrate my mom's birthday. It's really hard knowing that her birthday is coming and we will not be celebrating her birthday... Ok, I'm not gonna go there.



After the day at my mom's I would head home, and my father's family were having their family Christmas party; when I walked in, I always felt like I was interupting the party, so most of the time I would go into my bedroom and hide (after I snuck some cookies, fudge & other goodies). I would then wake up in the morning and we would open our gifts from SANTA! After all that stuff, we would head over to my Uncle's house to have Christmas dinner.

Well, that's about it.... Merry Christmas!!!

Date Nut Balls (No Bake)

Challenge for today: Write about one of the five senses (related to your winter experience): *The smells of winter *The sights of winter *The sounds of winter *The touch of winter *The tastes of winter


Well... The senses of winter that I remember most is at Christmas time, I lived with my father's parents when I was a kid. My Grandma was the best thing I could ever think of... she was the best grandma ever. She used bake and bake and bake. I loved sitting in the kitchen and watch her bake. The smells were so delectable, that still to this day when I smell baking, I think of my gram and smile. Sometimes I would wake up on a Saturday morning and hear her baking something. I loved that sound... cuz I knew yummy, tasty things were coming my way. I think that covers four of the five senses. :)


This is a very easy recipe. My grandma use to make these every Christmas, I didn't eat them as a kid because they looked funny....but I finally tried them as a teenager.... YUM-O!!

DATE NUT BALLS

1 stick olea (melted)
1 c. sugar
1 c. dates (chopped, sugar rolled)
1 egg (beaten)
1/2 c. nuts (walnuts)
2 C. Rice Krispies
1 tsp. Vanilla
Coconut

Combine olea, sugar, dates, egg & cook on low heat for 10 minutes. Stir constantly. Add Rice Krispies, nuts, vanilla. Cool slightly & then roll in balls, then in coconut; then chill.

(Photo, not mine, found it on yahoo.com - but don't they look YUM-O!)

Looking foward...

Hello friends, I just wanted to update you guys on my husband's Grandpa. He is actually doing better. We had a real big scare, but he is doing lots better. :) Thank God!!!

I'm doing ok. Some days I'm really weepy and sad, other days I'm fine. I'm told that this will happen a lot, especially since Mom's birthday is the 22nd, and Christmas is coming. UGH!! Then for me, my sister passed away in January of 2006 so, I think about her too.

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Ok, off to the 2peas challenge...

Challenge for today is: What is one thing you look forward to during these last few days before Christmas?

I look forward to baking Christmas Cookies, Date Nut Balls, and other yummy goodies. I look forward to seeing my kids' face when the see all the lights on our nightly drives around the neighbor hood. We're not having our family Christmas party this year on Christmas day...it's on Jan. 5th....so we will have a relaxing day at home. YEAH!! We wont have to go anywhere or do anything. So I am hoping none of the kids will be grounded for that day, because I really want to see them playing with their new toys. Last Christmas, it was so warm that my two boys went outside and road their new bikes... I don't think we will be that lucky this year!!! I am hoping to get the rest of my shopping done tonight, gotta find a babysitter. LOL

Merry Christmas!!!

Gosh, not again!!!

Hello friends. My husband's grandfather was rushed into the hospital this morning. I just got the call from my husband (he went up to see his grandpa) and they've decided to put him in ICU, and they told the aunts and my mother n' law that if there is anyone that needs to come up to say goodbye, now would be the time to call them. In the photo to the left, Grandpa Martin is in the dark blue suit and is on the right. My goodness, I just don't know what to think. It's too darn close to my mother's death. Grandpa Martin is such a great guy and so very sweet. It's hard to see him suffer, and be so tired all the time. Please pray for him.

Reflections...

Hello Friends. It's such a difficult experience when a parent dies. The one who gave me life, someone who was an undeniable part of my existence is now gone. It feels like part of me is gone. Whatever the relationship, it's very hard to say good-bye. My mother and I have not talked in 7 years, and before that our relationship was rocky. I know I have said that I made peace with her since my grandmother's death in June, so I wont repeat that whole story. I have said for such a long time that I would not be upset when she dies... guess what I am. I thought it was just that I was tired, but I'm not tired anymore, and I am still weepy, space out at times & just plain don't want to do anything. She was my mom, no matter what she has done in the past, she gave me life, and even though I felt rejected by her most of my life - she really did love me (I have a shoe box of photos to prove that). Here are a few LO's I did yestreday, hoping that I could get back to feeling normal.

LO #1 : "Mom"


Credit for the above LO: Raspberry Road (This was a Quick Page that she was selling, but the paper and elements were free to download, so I copied the Quick Page LO. I thought this was perfectly elegant for my mother's pics.)


LO #2 : "Three Generations Together"

Journaling: "Three Generations here together, in a photo for all to see, Happens only so rarely, but luckily to me. Learning from each other, no matter what their age. Living our family history, here on this scrapbook page. A moment in time to treasure, and be remembered by one and all. Will mean so much to those in this picture, especially those so very small. For time goes by so quickly, like millions of grains of sand. And there'll be times when you wish, you could just once more hold onto their hand. But when you miss their smiling faces, and can't remember how they look, Here will be their picture,treasured inside my book."
Credit for the above: Raspberry Road

LO #3 "Santa 1974"




Credit for the above: Raspberry Road (This was a Quick Page, but I added the Christmas Tree & the Gingerbread man from another Raspberry Road kit)



LO # 4 "Daughters are..." I did two LOs of this, can't decide which I like better... please leave comments and tell me which one you like better. :)




Credit for the above: Raspberry Road

...a quick note...

Hello friends. Everyone is asking me if I'm okay. Well, no I am not ok, but I will be. I think the reality that my mom is gone is really hitting me hard. I mean her and I never really got along all the time...but she was always out there somewhere to make up with. I feel numb, and I feel lost. My momma is gone, I will never talkt to her again. We went to a Christmas party last night and won tickets to some play on the 22nd, that's my mom's birthday. I told my mom, that I didn't think I could go. Everyone's asking, "what can I do to help you?" or "What do you need?" I want my mom back alive, I want her to call me. The last few months have been good, because her & I have talked and reconnected, but I thought I would have more time. I mean don't get me wrong it hasn't been wonderful, but we've talked.

Okay, I will stop rambling. Here is a slide show of pics I have of my mom.

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Add on... Here's a LO I did. :)

More baby pics...

Hello guys, I was at my mom's house after the funeral yestreday and my brother Dan gave me a stack of photos to go through and I found the above pic. I said, "who is this baby" (before I looked on the back...lol) and my Uncle said, "That's you silling" I have NEVER seen this pic before in my life!!! I was such a beautiful baby!!! I am floored how pretty I was and how perfect!!! It was just a few days after I was born, I was born April 1972.


Things are going ok. I am really tired today, I couldn't fall asleep last night until 3 AM and got up at 7 AM. I think it will really hit me tomorrow when I've rested. I was told by different people I was so strong during this whole thing... and ok, I didn't break down to many times in front of people, but I did break down in the hospital and a few times at the funeral home. But I don't really like breaking down like that in front of people. But, I think once I don't have anymore responsablities to take care of... then I will fall apart.

Another pic of me above, I think this was when I was in my baptism dress, not sure. If it was, it was June of 1972.

I am really liking all these photos and stuff. I think I smell some scrapbooking coming on. LOL In the pic below, the two below is of me and my grandma (my mom's mother). We look so much a like, don't we??

Today's the funeral

Hello guys. I am so tired. I just want to sleep sleep and sleep. Well, today is my mom's funeral. I have to leave in about a hour to head to the funeral home. But I thought that I would jot down a few thoughts. I was asked to say something. I don't know if I can do that, but I will try. I only wanna remember the good times I don't want to remember the bad, and the sad part is I don't remember many good times. And because of that I don't know if I should even speak. My stomach is in knots right now, and I feel sick. But that also could be because of not getting enough sleep and not eating good.

Well friends, I am gonna get going. Thank you all for you all your prayers and well wishes. You can go to MLive.com to see her obit and sign a virtual guestbook.

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Here's my mom, my grandma & my aunts.

...something good...

Well, my brother gave me a bunch of photos of me as a baby, most of them is before the age of 2, and lived in Virginia. Most of them I have never seen. Like this one with the horse. The horse's name was Flame (my brother's called him Blaze) on November 4, 1973.

I really excited about all the photos. I have a whole shoebox full of photos of me, my mom & some other family members. It's so cool to see all those OLD photos.

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The visitation for my mother is on Sunday from Noon to 3 and 5 to 9; and the funeral is Monday at 11 AM. Things are close to crazy with my brothers. I just want to get through all of this with the least amount of DRAMA! I'm just glad that I have one day to be with my kids and husband.

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Here is a final photo that is in the box of photos. I don't know what year it must of been about Christmas 1974.

Santa looks a little different than I remember... LOL

update on my mom

Hello friends, thank you so much for your support. My mom passed away at 11:23 PM on December 6th. On top of all that... my purse was stolen out of the waiting room. UGH, no money or credit cards were in it, just my inhaler and my sons' inhaler.

Very Sad News...

Hello friends, I am off to bed. My brother called this morning and told me that they were taking my mom into surgery and putting a tube down her and put her on life support. This afternoon about 2 o'clock we got home from therapy and there was a message from my brother saying "if you want to say goodbye to mom, get up here now." She looks really bad, but she knew I was there... she would squeeze my hand, and even one time she wouldn't let go of my hand. I told her that I forgave her, and that I was sorry for holding onto my anger for so long. She cried and squeezed my hand again and shoke her head yes.

The plan is that in the morning when my brother (I have 3 brothers; one lives with my mom, one lives in Ohio & one lives in Maryland) when my brother from Maryland gets here in the morning about 7 am, we are going to take her off life support. Please PRAY hard for my family. I will update everyone tomorrow some time. Good night.

12.05.07

It's "Fair" today, partly cloudy... it's 19° but the news say it feels like 11° - also the news say we are expected to get "Scattered flurries and snow showers. Cold. High 23F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph" Brrrr... brrr baby it's cold outside!!!

Not gonna blog a lot, my mom going in for surgery, so I am headed up to the hospital.

Christmas Activities...

2 peas challenge: Does your family have some special activity you do for the holiday season? Could be any thing like a winter walk, holiday hayride etc..

On Christmas Eve we go drive around and look at all the Christmas lights and nativities.

Well, I have all my Christmas cards done... and we will be decorating the outside this Saturday. And I am hoping to be feeling better. My cough is still around but, I don't have a fever anymore. I'm still sleeping a lot, but I guess that's good. Gram always said that "your body is healing when your sleeping."

i love you...

Credit: Raspberry Road Designs.

5 things...

2 peas challenge.... What are 5 things on your computer desk right now?

Wow... well, I don't have a computer desk anymore... I have a laptop... LOL. But on my husband's computer desk (that's where the printer/scanner is) I have photos I want to scan, a stack of blank disks, dust, a stack of Christmas cards that I have to mail, a book I was looking at, dust, toys that were taken away, pens, pencils, and did I say... dust!!

Well, I am starting to feel better... Sorta. I went out and did some grocery shopping and ate some lunch with my husband. Today was a busy day, I did the dishes, did 4 loads of laundry, cleaned the counters, and did some shopping. Boy, I very tired now.

Dad, and thank you's

First off, I forgot to put this in my post for yestreday... (I didn't forget it, just didn't put it in my blog). On December 1, 1937 my daddy was born. He is 70 years old now. Man I can't believe it!!! This photo is my favorite of him, it's at my wedding March 13, 1993 at my in-laws house for the party after wards. Even though my dad and I haven't always gotten along, he is a pretty good dad. :) He has just gone through Kemo & Radiation because he has Lung Cancer, and they believe that they got 90% of the cancer out. YIPEE!! Hmmm.... a little bit about my dad. He is the oldest of 6 kids, born to farmers. He served in the US Army, was stationed in Germany. He has 3 kids, my oldest brother Rick, my sister Kerry and me. He use to sell fishing equipement. You know how we have Tupperware parties, he use to be the "consultant" and have "fishing" parties. He was really good at it too, sold lots of stuff. I remember going to some and helping him set them up and be his "Vanna White" as he would call me. He also spent some time as a clown. Yep my dad was a clown. He has a photo of him as a clown, that I am trying to get him to let me barrow to scan, and he isn't letting go just yet. I know he will never read this as he NEVER gets online... but HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!! And just to let you all know, I did call him and wish him a happy birthday too. ;)

Now, I would like it if ya'll went to this website http://www.letssaythanks.com/, it's something cool that Xerox is doing If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! This is a great site. Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a few seconds. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our guys and gals over there need to know we are behind them...

To end, here some more pics of my dad...

To the above is him in the Army. I love this pic also.

Below is a pic of dad as a baby. Dad holding the puppy (left) & his cousin Della (right).

DECEMBER!!!

2peas Challenge for 12.1.07 is~

"Do you prefer to attend crops online or in person?"

Oh my goodness is it really DECEMBER!?!?!? Ok, well I have never been to an online crop, so I would have to say that going to crops at my LSS is the place I love to be. I love talk to all my friends and see their projects. Which reminds me that I missed going to a crop last night, I remembered in the middle of the night and it makes me sad. However, I don't think they would want me there coughing and hacking... LOL.

I actually felt good enough to sit up and watch a Christmas movie last night with all the kids. ABC had "The Polar Express" on last night for their 25 days of Christmas. The kids love this movie and it's a favorite of the kids, and my hubby and I like it too. Christmas is always a fun time with the movies.

My favorite Christmas movie is "White Christmas" I just love it!! My favorite song is where Vera & Rosemary sing the song "Sisters" - a bit a trivia Vera Ellen couldn't sing she was a dancer...so she never sang in the movie. They dubbed her voice over, the person who actually sang was Trudy Stevens. I have never heard of her or seen her pic, who was she? She had a beautiful voice and why haven't we heard of her.... I guess it's off to google her... :)