Thank You for the Difference

I know that I've been really quiet this week.  It's been very hectic in my life at the moment.  I have many things to share today.  It's actually a bit of an emotional week for me.

A few weeks ago I got a call from my dad.  Normally a conversation with my dad is full of fun and laughter.  However, this was not one of those calls.  My dad informed me that he has prostate cancer and will be undergoing surgery next week.  While I believe the prognosis is good I am asking that you all please pray for my dad.  While this is all very difficult,  it is compounded by the fact that his wife has Alzheimer's and he is the one that takes care of her.  Now he needs someone to take care of both of them for a few weeks.  I am so lucky to have a wonderful husband ( who has a wonderful boss) who is willing to take time off work to be a Stay at Home Dad for a few weeks.  I will be leaving next Wednesday to go stay with my dad for two weeks to take care of him, as well as, his wife.  You can say a prayer for me too please!  I'm not sure I will be that great of a nurse, but I'm all he's got at this point.  So, he'll just have to suck it  up...LOL.  My dad is a very positive, upbeat person.  He has a great attitude towards all of this.  My quote this week at the top of my blog is in his honor:)

  Also, this is the first time I have ever been away from my kids for so long.  I think we will all need quite a few prayers over the next few weeks.  I am the one constant in my kids' lives.  I'm ALWAYS here. (A curse as well as a blessing:)  My hubby will do a fabulous job I know, but it will still be hard on everyone.  So prayers all the way around, ok?  Thanks!

I have a lot on my plate at the moment.  Being on THREE design teams and trying to get my sister's wedding invitations done before I go has been a bit stressful.  I am so fortunate to work with amazing people who have given me permission to do what I can and not stress.  I hate not fulfilling commitments.  I had to make a difficult decision.  I have decided to step down as a Design Team member for Stamptacular Sunday Challenge.  This Sunday will be my last project with them.  I am so thankful to Priscilla for understanding and being so kind.  My card today is for her.

 I owe a lot to Priscilla.  She is the first person to ever take a chance on me as  a designer.  I have grown so much in my crafting skills in the last year and I attribute most of that to her challenge blog.  It is truly one of the greatest ones out there.  You never know from week to week what challenge she has thought up.  I have stepped outside of my comfort zone many times using her challenges.  Just knowing her has helped me grow as a person.  I think she is AMAZING!  When I'm having a bad day or week I think about her and her strength to push on and just get things done.  To look at the bright side.  If she can go through all the things that have come her way and still keep a positive attitude than how can I NOT do the same.  If you are reading my blog for the first time you can read about Priscilla HERE.  She is a wonderful, inspiring person.  How blessed I am to" know" her and even better, to be inspired by her.

I will have several posts over the next few days and then a few pre scheduled posts for Whimsy stamps while I am away.  I am actually contributing to one of the challenges on the NEW Whimsy Inspirations blog.  This is  a challenge that is dear to my heart.  Please stay tuned for that.

My card today uses the Mojo Monday Sketch 127 and I got my color inspirations from the Curtain Call Color Challenge.

I realized as I was putting this up that I forgot to add the Kraft card stock to the back of my image.  So let's just pretend that this is all adhered to a Kraft base, shall we?:D  I have to pretend quite a bit in my life.  I'd love to pretend that my sister's wedding invitations are done, but that's a reality that's SLAPPING me right in the face.  My supplies have STILL not arrived.  Wish me luck with that please!

Hope you have a great day!  We just got a blanket of beautiful WHITE snow.  It's so pretty out.






What's In It?
Stamps: Love's Flower, Because of You VERVE
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, antique linen TH, Spring Rain PTI, ballet blue
Paper: Cosmos Cricket's Material Girl and Girl Friday, Vanilla, watercolor, white dotted
Other: Labels Nestie, sponge, rhinestone brad, dimensionals, Enchanted Evening satin ribbon, Kaiser pearls, scalloped edge punch