Saturday, January 22, 2011

on the outside...

On the outside we go day to day uneventful...
The greetings of pleasantries, "How you doing?" Answer for me is always "good, good..."
I have never been one of many things to say. We were raised to be seen and not heard.
It is not a bad thing necessarily, it taught us to be private when we needed to be. It taught us humility, respect, privacy, and that sometimes things are just better unsaid.


With that came a man who wants it all on the table. Everyday to tell me how he feels and look me in the eye. To share the ups and downs together. With that I have often stumbled. Often times having to tell me to say it, and say it like you mean it. For a quiet man he is honestly open about many things that I was not raised to say or do. Honestly, I think that it has been an extraordinary experience, to live in this outspoken life and it has brought me full circle in some ways. I have always been one, "to buck the wind" as it were, that hasn't changed. Tell me left I'll go right out of my way to differ. But what it has taught me is to raise this awesome human being in a whole another world of positive thinking. To talk to her, love her out loud and praise her everyday. The most I raise is my voice to her. Not saying that is not somewhat powerful in it's self. But it has also taught me to soften and reflect.


I am a mere few hours now away from this tumor coming out. It is time. last night I went to bed my body begging to lay still and rest. Falling asleep isn't hard the pain awakes within about 4 hours now. It is currently winning all of my limbs and my mind. It is all I think about, when I am awake or when I am asleep. This morning I awoke dreaming I still had my hair ( which is another story in itself) and dreaming that I was taking pills to feel better. Trying to choose a color. Okay so that can't be good. I'm dreaming the discomfort and the pain wins no matter how hard I try.


It has become larger than itself and within me but on the outside of me. I hurt every moment of every day with all of my being. It is time. It is time to face this evil and let it go. It has changed me, I am again the little girl that didn't speak of her pain. The tumor is winning and I must find the strength to brave another scar in the face of this pain.


I am so tired of not just, feeling great. Great about all the things that I do and want to do. I no longer wish to feel the burden, that wears on me. I am tired of not being free of the doctors mercy and their forever running tab of bills. My sweet husband and I talked and talked about what to do and when to do it. The doctor said you have a little time, but that time is filled with this agony of pain that I take everywhere with me. My decision came to do it as soon possible, when my husband said, "we just want the old you back, before this tumor."


I can't remember her, she will have to be anew. It a time for letting go. I cut off all my hair, I donated. It was the fourth time or so...but this time I sat there and let go, and I seen the pain I have weathered in my face. I am so happy to have donated the hair. I made the mistake and someone asked why I did that and I said it out loud.."I didn't want to take it with me." In many ways I am being honest and honesty is often not wanted to be heard..."good, good" would have been better. Maybe what I meant, was that I didn't want it on this journey, and if my long crazy hair could do some good elsewhere it was time to let go. To let go of the weight of this and cut fresh. Make a new scar and be the survivor that I am.


I am more than a number, I am a strong survivor. Yet, I am still that little girl afraid to say it out loud. So lets just not, and lets move onward without this pain. I am hoping our mornings of 1:30 and 3:00 am are numbered and I will soon sleep. I will look in the mirror and see the pain leave my face. I will be, who I have lost, who they miss...because who are we, without the ones around us we treasure most. Don't they deserve a happy me.


Good day world and carry on ~L

Friday, January 21, 2011

faith....


faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.....Martin Luther king Jr...
Have a little faith and ye shall walk again.....
Faith is about doing and taking a chance. Being willing to step without caution. I am not a risk taker. I am a planner.. My hubby tells me all the time, life is about taking a risk, a chance you'll never know unless you just jump. He says that I shouldn't be so afraid of everything. That I ought to step forward and leap into the unknown. Well, to my sweet man--I say, I am a risk taker, just a small jumper. I walk to the destination I don't run.

When I met you I took a chance to be loved.
For you, I jumped...
For you, I ran...
For you, I didn't think...
For you, I loved...
For you, I have faith...
My faith in your love opened my heart and I let go....
Love you forever....~L

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

create.....

Create....define how?

To be creative? To do something fancy, unique or filled with design?

We all work hard to create a life that is designed for ourselves....one that is uniquely our own. It may not be fancy but it will be filled with our own design.
A design that hopefully is suited just for you.

Many of us create with pen and paper. Some create with food, or paint. Maybe you create with your children, or your time. Whatever it is, it is "your" mark on this earth. What have you created with?
I have worked hard to create with a life that is good for my husband and daughter. It is not a big fancy life. It is simple and it is good.

My sweet girl gave us a Christmas card this year and she wrote"Mom+Dad, You make me feel like the greatest girl on earth!" Those simple words will be with me always....

So, I have created the best thing there is on this earth for me---it is her. It's that simple. We are not fancy, wealthy, our lives are day to day things. We get by with the basics and today that is the greatest gift I can give her. Family of love.

If it were up to me, I'd probably write this story a bit differently. Who knows, maybe in a lot of ways I already have. I'd make things a little easier, filled with less burdens. Then I thought about it and decided... Maybe you don't want to be the one to create the story or change it, because you don't want to know the ending yet..


Maybe....I think, it is just accepting there are just things, we don't get to create or understand. We all believe that we'll keep going forever, that is what drives us to survive. To work hard to be better, to create goodness. To fully live, to live full in the beauty and grace of life eternal. It is possible.

Well, so I guess this is going to be my story. One that is filled with "How do you do this" My answer is I don't know. I have faith in all that can be good. Even in the midst of all the worries and the what if's, there is this "I know". "I believe"

Today is hard. Tomorrow won't be easy. But it will appear and it will be a new creation of beauty. Though this is hard, I really want to rise above it. I will be willing to change, to be stronger. I am not strong, I am not a fighter...I am a survivor....

I think.....

If you can walk.....walk.

If you can sing.....sing.

If you can write....write.

If you can believe....believe.

If you can.....then do....

I wish I knew what I had to do, I wish I could create a good, to strengthen my heart. It's a new way of living and looking at this world. This world I created, or shall we say this life that was created for me.

I will have to do something. I will have to take this dare and create a new path. Sometimes you don't even know when you have taken your first step until your already there. Monday I'll be there. Looking forward to seeing the Tuesday, God gives us...... I will be grateful.

Be sure to name your gifts, even if they are ones you have created. Remember to list a good life.
~L

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

nothing is better

when you find a great big note......

things to love....

Love my family...
Love my girl....
Love my man...
Love my dogs...
Love my friends...
Love spring and fall....
Love Christmas....
Love Margaritas...
Love real Christmas trees....
Love chips, any kind....
Love caf free dt coke...
Love it on ice with a straw...
Love vintage goodies...
Love a good book...
Love to be in bed by 6...
Love fabric...
Love early mornings...
Love a good fire...
Love to walk...
Love quiet...
Love simple...
Love bunnies...
Love my scrappin'...
Love olives...
Love my studio....
Love picket fences...
Love sandwiches...
Love cows...
Love the woods...
Love front porches...
Love quilting...
Love to goo places...
Love to wear black...
Love the birds...
Love my yoga...
Love my sewing machine...
Love all my can do's...
Love to talk to mom at 8...
Love beef jerky...
Love color...
Love Hardwood floors...
Love lots of cute pillows...
Love yummie jewelry...
Love flowers...
Love clean...
Love good yarn...
Love blue cotton candy....
Love a good breeze...
Love pattern books...
Love a great smile...
Love sweetarts...
Love to knit...
Love popcorn...
Love valentines...
Love to read...
Love slippers...
Love my backyard..
Love loons....
Love good hair products...
Love to get good mail...
Love the movies...
Love the smell of babies...
Love the phone...
Love old brick buildings...
Love to talk...
Love to listen...
Love Belle's piano playing...
Love junk....
Love to be lost...
Love Mr.C's voice...
Love Starbucks....
Love the bookstore...
Love when it rains and snows...
Love sweatshirts...
Love a good photo...
Love light blue with brown...
Love my time...
Love to Believe...
Love a ride in the woods...
Love award shows...
Love strawberries...
Love to collect goodies...
Love good music...
Love my ipod...
Love paper...
Love antique shopping...
Love to go for a ride....
Love Sundays...
Love you and me and Belle...
Love my girlfriends...
Love to make lists...

Finally this love list could go on forever....may this life add many more loves in my life...~L

verna...







Meet Verna.....she is our sweet farm girl....
This is the dog that gives every once of love...every single time your with her...
If Verna could talk she would tell us how to better this world....
She would inspire and offer hope for all occasions....

Verna is "that" dog, one that sticks with you and makes you want more love and gives you the undeniable desire to pet her just one more time. To never let go, and kiss her every single day. Verna is that dog. She is the one who could teach the world to be a kinder, better place. She brings peace and understanding to every visit. She can make a snarly man smile and quiet any voice..

We love you with all our heart Verna and we are so grateful that you choose us to be a part of your dog days....

~L



Monday, January 17, 2011

pet layouts




one of my favorites here, are to do layouts of my sweet pets.
they are such an important part of our lives and our family....
that we must include them in our scrapping days....
we have so many "moments" with our pets that we need to document them.

Our pets leave such a lasting legacy in our lives and we are often better people because of them. I love to share our blessings and remember them always.

In our house the pets have their own books and are fabulous to scrap..

It seems they always have good hair!!


There's never a bad side, or lack of a smile....

Each layout shows the love.....you can't get that wrong :-))!!

Friday, January 14, 2011

journey....

what is a journey....

it is not a trip...

it is not a vacation...


it is a process, a discovery....

it is a process of self discovery....


a journey brings us face to face with ourselves...

a journey shows us not only the world....

but how we fit in it.


does the person create the journey

or does ..

the journey create the person?


the journey is life itself...

where will life take you....


~L

Thursday, January 13, 2011

countdown begins....


well it's time.....time to get all my bowls in a row...
I have been nesting now for days, weeks perhaps....but now all that doesn't matter any longer...

It's my last few days to cook, clean, pay bills, smooth out a schedule, there are so many things to take care of. How do you just drop off the map for weeks? Mom's just don't do that....
Time to let go....to talk about all the "what ifs", to talk about my wishes, my hopes, and worries..
Time to say it all out loud....Time to pray.....

It's time to let go....it's time to jump...to take a leap of faith...
the days are numbered and I am counting....

I have put all my eggs in this basket...in the hands of a stranger...

It is a basket filled with a girls biggest fears and hopes of a "quick fix"...

I am however willing to fight for this...I am just a girl....and these days I feel small....

I feel without power....I feel sad, mad, and glad....

Sad to have this happen to my family....

Mad to have this happen to me....

Glad to have a chance to fight.....

Time to be selfish and concentrate on this failing body...Time to test my strength and to prove to myself I am still that 17 yr old girl...That girl fighting to survive and be a part of this living world....

To do this thing on my own....and to not fail.....

Time to get all the bowls in order and clean this joint....

Pack a bag girls, put on some big girl panties, this is going to be one hell of a ride.....

~L

daddy...

remember to always.....

tell her you love her....and your proud of her....everyday love her with everything you have.
hold her hand..hug her..kiss her...no matter how old she gets...never let her leave 'til you say it
take her picture for all the moments: and the everyday stuff put them in a box and save them
do homework with her each day, remember to stay on her grades you'll be happy you did
be sure you say "no" when you should, it is ok to say it and hold to it
always know where she is, and who her friends are.
always wait up for her
keep rules! make rules and follow them
always ask the questions..say "it" out loud you'll both be happy you did
always forgive her and let her forgive you
always answer all her questions...be honest and look her in the eye
talk to her everyday, no matter where she is
never let friends become more important than family
take her places no matter how old she gets, take her camping, fishing, the zoo. find the time
Love her everyday and every moment
tell her you love her every time don't miss it.
always tell her and be proud of her
be her Dad, be her best friend, be her rock, be her home. be "Dad" first!
Love her and shower her with kisses
walk her down the aisle graduations and a wedding ..

Don't miss a thing and be proud of yourself, because your a great Dad and there is no greater love than her love. Love her everyday the way you did the moment you held her in your arms.

You'll both be ok stick together and love one another....

Love ~L

retreat goodies....













SO we took so scrappy time away for me....and the girls...what a great weekend!!!
I got a few two pagers done...and aren't they delightful!!!! One of things that I love is a dark background!!It allows the artwork and the photos to jump out of the layout or the page.
One of the great things about packing for a weekend of scrapping, is that I am able to clean the studio. I love walking back in the studio everything is crisp and clean and in its place. Delightful!! A clean space that welcomes me back in and begs me to mess it up!!!

This little space my be a bit lonely for awhile. As the countdown is on for the big surgery.

The weekend away was perfect timing. I have a few more days of freedom left and on a girls weekend anything goes. I even took time to donate my hair. I have been working hard to growing it again and this was donation number 4 or 5 for me! It is so rewarding and I am happy to have it put to good use before I move forward.

We spent the weekend laughing, creating, crying and enjoying each others company. We catch up and just enjoy all the creativity that's flying....life's good when your scrapping with your peeps
~L


Tuesday, January 11, 2011

snow days snow days



The prairie is covered with another blanket of snow once again....the earth rests and it is peaceful.