My Mom was Buried Today

Today my mother was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.  She was 89 years old.  She was my best buddy.  She had been suffering from COPD and had been hospitalized several times with pneumonia.  Each time she had pneumonia, it was harder and harder for her to recover.  She finally felt that she had lived a good, long life and didn't want to be hospitalized anymore, so hospice came in to care for her 24/7 until she passed away last Wednesday, August 21st, at 7:28 p.m.

When she was in better health, we sure had fun together.  We tore up the roads here in Katy shopping for all kinds of things.  Her favorite store was Tuesday Morning.  I'll never be able to visit a Tuesday Morning without wishing she were with me.  I used to do her grocery shopping......and I hated every minute of it, but now I'd give anything to get her grocery list and do that shopping for her.  I miss her sweet eyes and her sweet voice.  I'll miss fluffing her hair with a hair pick.  I'll miss taking her shopping for T-shirts and beaded jackets and white hoodies and shoes.  She loved going to Wal-Mart, which I absolutely despised doing with her.......but now I'd give anything to take her to Wal-Mart one more time and let her browse up and down the aisles. One of my fondest memories will be when I would drive into The Atria parking lot to pick her up. She would be standing there under the carport, perfectly dressed, and smiling because she was happy to see me. 

I'll miss you mom!  You were my biggest fan and you encouraged me with my jewelry and you were so complimentary about my stamped cards.  I didn't realize it at the time, but you were so generous with your kind words.  You encouraged me.  I wish I could hear those words again just to remember how sweet they were.  I wish we could tear up the roads around here going to IHOP for waffles or French Toast or the Memorial City Mall where you loved to shop or Tuesday Morning.  I'm happy that you're with dad now, and your mother, your father, and your sisters and brother.  I wish you could tell me what it was like to meet your dad for the first time in Heaven because he passed away when you were an infant.  That must have been such a sweet reunion.

Whenever I make brownies, I'll think of you.  Whenever there is Kleenex left in a pocket that is washed and Kleenex is strewn all throughout the washer and dryer, I'll think of you.  Whenever I see a black Dachshund, I'll think of you and how much you loved Schnitzel and Heidi.  Whenever I eat Milky Ways, I'll think of you.  Whenever I sit in church, I'll think of you.  Whenever I see quilts, I'll think of you.  Whenever I make Peach Cobbler, I'll think of you.  Like my brother says, when I look up into the night sky and see stars twinkling, I'll ask you if you're one of them.  Thank you for everything, Mom.  I'm going to miss you so much.  You are my best buddy and I love you.

Babies, New House, and Sympathy!

Greetings!

Yesterday I had to (or got to!) pull out my stamping stuff and make some cards.  Although I have totally immersed myself in making jewelry lately (gosh, it's just so much fun!), it felt really good to do some stamping and it reminded me of how much I love it!  I have a good friend whose daughter just had a baby.  Babies are my favorite theme to stamp for!  When I saw the elephant punch being discontinued in the Stampin' Up! catalog, I debated and debated over whether to get it........and I'm so glad I did.  I love this little guy - and using vintage papers with him is something I can tell I'm going to repeat over and over again!

The other exciting news is that my niece has purchased a new home!  Champagne?  Yes, please!  Here's the card I made to celebrate this great occasion with her.  On the inside, it says, "Come sit with me and drink champagne"!  I'm so happy for she and her husband! This is Stampin' Up!'s "Good Neighbors" and "Balloon Celebrations" stamp sets.  I cut out the houses and roofs and pop-dotted them up on the base.  I put a tiny little rhinestone on all of the door knobs.  SO CUTE!

Unfortunately, I also needed two sympathy cards.  I like this style, easy and elegant, but gets the respectful message across.  The little pearl on the tag is the finishing touch!

Have a wonderful day - and keep on stampin'!

I'm Still Here and Kicking

Frona, I hope you see this post because I mainly did it for you!  Yes, I DO still stamp, just not as much as I used to.  Here are some note cards that I just made.  It's gotten me back into the stamping mode!  The top note card was made using Stampin' Up!'s standard note cards.  Love that they're cut, scored, and ready to go!

The "Mon Amie" note card was made using Stampin' Up!'s narrow note cards.  I will be using these quite a bit because I tend to like smaller cards.  I pulled out a really old and classy brass template, Finest Flourishes, from Stampin' Up!  Just a simple dry embossed image with a greeting is all you need.  It looks so crisp and clean.

What originally got me into making my own cards years and years ago was my love for dry embossing.  I made a set of eight of these narrow note cards using different French terms:  Mon Amie, Bonjour, Carte Postale, and Amour.  I've been on a French kick lately! 

I also made some really small business-sized cards (which has become a favorite of mine) with images of the Eiffel Tower.  Yes, please!  You can't see it, but there's a rhinestone in the center of the Eiffel Tower.  The cards fit into a coin envelope, so they are as cute as can be.

I've still been making jewelry, too - another passion of mine.  I saw this fleur-de-lis heart with crown charm and it had to be mine!  See?  It's the French thing!

I love the pink pearls and the antique brass together.  It's so pretty and feminine.  So, see?  I'm still here and kicking - and enjoying all that retired life has to offer!