remembering...

I know it has been a few days since I have posted... there have been a couple reasons for that, one being that it has just been a few hectic days & the other... is why I have titled this post "remembering". Last Wednesday night when we were coming home from church my cell phone rang, which is very odd at that time of the evening... my family knows we are in church & they just don't call... it was my mom & the first thing she said is, "we have bad news." How many of you have heard those words & wonder what was to follow... 20million things go through your mind all at once. It was my Uncle Joel in California, he is my dad's oldest brother, he suddenly passed away that afternoon. He was in his 70's, which I am realizing as time goes by that is far from old. He has had many health problems in the last few years, but he has been pretty consistent in the way his health was... they figure he had a heart attack & was gone.


















Now for the remembering part... last April my mom & dad & Luke & I went to CA to visit family. We were able to spend a few days with my Uncle Joel & Aunt Pat, which we had done in 2003 & 2005 also. Because they lived so far from us I never really had the chance to get to know them as I was growing up. Well, in the past 5 1/2 years I did get to know them better & I am so thankful for that. I am also thankful my hubby got to know them & that we both truly learned to love them... they weren't just "relatives that live in CA." I am thankful that we got to know each other & that I was able to experience that in my "grown up" life. I know this may not make sense to some of you, but it does make perfect sense in my brain! *Ü*

In this pic, my uncle is seated with my dad behind him & of course me... this is a priceless picture and today it is why I have a grateFUL heart, carin

Just sharing...

Hi all... I have had a very busy day, but I still wanted to share a few things with you.

I had a great time with my mom, sisters & niece yesterday... we went to a local orchard here in the Thumb called Leipprandt Orchards... they have a lot of really neat things to eat plus lots of gift items & of course the best apples. I picked up a peck of Honey Crisp apples, a jar of fudge sauce & some rhubarb jam... yummy! Wherever my family goes it is usually a "project" but we almost always have fun & no matter what it includes a lot of laughing!!

My sister, Renee, who is the SU demo had a party in the afternoon, which my mom was invited to so I went along & had a great time... she is so good at what she does. You should checkout her blog at Renee's Ramblings ... she has some really great cards & projects on there, not to mention, now you can order from SU online... just a little advertisement for her!!!

Also, another blog candy is on Carmen's blog... check it out!

I am heading home tomorrow & even though I have had a good time... I am ready to be back in my own home... plus my hubby will be home tomorrow too! It has been a little rough for me since I haven't talked to him since Saturday night... we talk everyday no matter what... I know I probably sound like a whiner, but I can't help it... I miss him! My mom has kept me very busy today & I am ready for a good nights sleep, so with that I will just say good night with a grateFUL HEART, carin *Ü*

Alert!!! blog candy

Here are a few blog candies I came across... don't eat too many, but enjoy there isn't too many calories : Busy Bees Craft Place; Jessis Kreativblog; Kreativ Kristin; and Stempelwerkstatt

It is a rainy day this morning in the "Thumb" of Michigan, hopefully it will get a little nicer, but I'm not complaining... too much to be thankful for... speaking of thankful, over on Verve they are launching some new stamp sets & they are giving away new sets in a random drawing & all you have to do is leave a comment of something you are thankful for today... how easy is that, just click the link above.

Today I want to say thank-you to all you who helped get me to 1000 hits on my blog since June and that gives me a grateFUL HEART, carin

Great Sunday...

it was a great Sunday... my day started out with me getting up a little late... oops! When Luke isn't home I sometimes have a problem falling asleep... well once I did fall asleep I slept too good & you know the rest. I needed to be to church by 8:30 a.m... I was just a little late, but the service doesn't start 'til 9 anyway. It was an awesome worship service & a terrific message... our pastor started a series of sermons on Looking Through the Eyes of God... it is about finding God's vision for your life. It is only the 2nd week & it is so good... can't wait until next week!!! I get so excited to see what God has for me if I am just willing to follow. I can honestly say that I have not always felt this way... I have so much more passion for God then I ever have known... it is just so great the work He is doing in me & Luke too!

Once again I am in the Thumb staying with my parents for a couple days... it seemed like a good time to do this... no job, no husband, no problem (yeah right!). Going shopping or whatever with my 2 sisters & my mom & 1 niece tomorrow & dentist appointment on Tuesday... that is about it.

I miss my hubby dearly... sure he is fine... but still miss him! Being here with my family & safe travel is why today I have a grateFUL HEART, carin

sorting out my saturday...

Good morning! I have been up & at it very early this morning... my hubby started tossing & turning bout 5 a.m. this morning... he was excited about leaving for his fishing trip to Canada & wanted to go into the office to tie up a few loose ends... so that meant I was awake & I decided to get up & bake some cookies for him to take with him. The guy he was going with must have been anticipating the trip also because he showed up an hour early. So...Luke is gone for a few days & I am on my own... oh & BTW, he took our camera with him so I will not be able to take any pics for a few days. I don't like it when he is gone... but I am glad he had the opportunity to go... they are going to a lodge in northern Ontario... it is one of those places where they have to fly from the mainland & land on the water... I don't really like that part of it, but then I am not the one that has to do it! *Ö*

I came across something important on Kelley Holland’s blog (Our Daily Bread Designs owner) regarding "blog candy" & about a dear friend of hers that is having a health issue & could use prayer... please check it out HERE

Since I don't have any "creations" to share with you this morning... I thought I would finish my post with a word about my hubby... he is such a good man... I love him so much!!! And today, like every other day, he is the reason for my grateFUL HEART, carin

birthday card challenge...

I know, I know, TWO posts in one day... I am on a roll... or else I just didn't want to do any housework today????? hmmm??? I did get some things done around the house, plus I need a special birthday card for my mom-in-law & there was also a birthday card challenge on http://www.ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/ so I am killing two birds with one stone... pardon the pun! *Ü* I was also trying the corner punch frame technique tutorial I saw on http://www.amazingpapergrace.com/ ... it is really cool but now I need to get some prettier corner punches!!!! So how did I do?





What I used: card stock is Natural White, Wild Wasabi, & Purely Pomegranate; SU DP is Holiday Harmony; some old SU sheer ribbon; and Stickles.
I have a grateFUL HEART for any of you that visit my blog ramblings, carin

back blogging...

Hi, I know it has been a few days... am I a little out of touch? Maybe. It was a busy & fun weekend/holiday! Spent lots of time with friends, which is a good thing... no better way to be busy!


I am once again doing a Mojo Madness challenge from http://poeticartistry.blogspot.com/ and here is my card... first I started searching for my mojo and eventually this is what I came up with: stamp set is SU Garden Collage; card stock is Really Rust, Kraft & Blue Bayou (textured card stock); DP is Western Sky; black ink; pastels; gold brads; and a faux crystal on the ribbon.

I think I like the way it turned out... what do you think? I have a couple other challenges I want to get to this week, maybe even today... yahoo!

Finally being able to blog today is one of the reasons why I have a grateFUL HEART, carin