Happy Mother's Day: Miss You

I am looking back in two ways today.

I am not generally one to look back - there is so much to look forward to!  But as I sat at my son's lacrosse game yesterday, I saw so many grandparents and I missed my mom.  My mother moved to our town thirteen years ago when I had my second child.  It was wonderful to have her and it was very good for her too.  My father died very young - in his mid-40s.  At the time, he was a well-respected high school principal and the town honored his life by naming the high school gymnasium after him.  My mother lived many years in that town with those memories - and it wasn't always happy.

My mom truly blossomed when she moved here.  She had two young grandchildren to play with.  When she wasn't playing in the park or taking them for ice cream, I introduced her to card-making.  (For those that know both of us - I started her in card-making!!)  She quickly started our church card-making ministry which became a huge part of that church - and the community, as once people knew that there were racks of cards there, the church got regular visitors!  She was also a Close to My Heart consultant.  Creating cards became her life.

When she died unexpectedly almost six years ago - I knew that I would miss her, but I cannot say I mourned her.  She was a strong Christian and I knew that she had missed my father for over half of her life.  

She had become such an important part of the church, that church members could not believe she had only been part of that church for only seven years.  The church memorial service was postponed almost a month because the choir was doing a European tour but they couldn't imagine not singing at her service. The service was followed by a potluck meal with fried chicken because it was well known that she never missed a good Lutheran potluck!!  We also celebrated her life when all of the church card-makers gathered at her home and raided her stash!   Her stamps, papers and supplies got a new life with each of these card-makers and the church card-making ministry continued.

I love you mom...

The inside of that poppy is much nicer in real life.  I used Black and Pitch Black Spica Glitter pens and just started dotting.


I started by saying that I am looking back in two ways.  The second reason is that I had the honor and the thrill of being part of the first Dynamic Duos design team so I had to play along this week as they celebrate their first anniversary!!  The challenge is to pick a favorite from their past color challenges.  I picked Poppy Parade and Lucky Limeade mainly because I was totally distressed that these two colors didn't make it back into the new color line-up at Stampin' Up.

Happy Anniversary Dynamic Duos!!

• Stamps: My Favorite Things Pretty Poppies
• Paper: Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade, Basic Black
• Ink: Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade, Poppy Parade
• Accessories: My Favorite Things Pretty Poppies dies and Fishtail dies, Lifestyle Crafts embossing folder, Divine Twine Black Licorice, Spica Glitter Pens in Black and Pitch Black