Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Here’s a fun, patriotic card to help celebrate the holiday.  I got my inspiration for the design from one of Lindsay’s Disney Trading Pins.  It’s definitely a quick and easy, clean and simple card with lots of impact.  It would be perfect to give to anyone…male or female.  Don’t you think?

I have been trying hard to get into my studio to work this week without much success.  I’m really busy wearing my “Mother of the Bride” and “Matron of Honor” hats lately.  We’re only 2 months away from Brittany and Sam’s wedding and things are really starting to ramp up.  I’m working on their invitations (Yep…I’m making them…) and I need to get them finished soon.  I have about a week or so left before they need to be on their way to the guests.  No pressure!  School is also VERY busy now that we’re in the middle of SOL testing and gearing up for the end of the year festivities.  I can’t wait for SUMMER when I’ll be able to stamp and create.  I miss it SO much!

Now…I need to make sure to tell you some important dates for Stampin’ Up!…  Here you go….

May 31st:  Last day to order from the Spring Mini Catalog

June 1st:  NEW Catalog goes “LIVE”  Be sure to contact me if you’d like to get your very own copy of the 2013-14 Stampin’ Up! Catalog.  It’s AMAZING!

June 3rd:  Last day to order from the Retired List of Products  Just CLICK HERE to visit the Retired List page and see the items that are still available.

There are SO many exciting things happening at Stampin’ Up! and I know it’s going to be an incredible “New Year” with the new catalog and all of the new products.  I can’t wait to share them all with you.

Have you found me on Pinterest yet?  You should!  I pin lots of amazing projects and ideas over there and I’d love to share those with you too.

Wishing you a happy and relaxed Memorial Day with the ones you love.

Stamped Blessings,
Michelle

Hey there, Peeps,

Tonight my heart is so full of joy.  Today was a day I will never, ever forget and I will treasure the memories forever.  Today was a wonderful celebration in my hometown, Fredericksburg, VA.  We had a lovely “Garden Party” themed Bridal Shower for Brittany and Sam and it was just awesome sharing all the love and joy with some of of family and friends. 

Brittany looked absolutely stunning and Sam was handsome as always.  They got some wonderful gifts and I think the reality that their wedding is coming up soon has finally set in…in a GREAT way.  🙂

Today was also an incredible day for another reason.  After the festivities were over, we were cleaning up and I decided to change back into my comfy shoes.  I was sitting down changing them and I noticed Zach watching me.  When I looked up at him he said, “Mom is beautiful”.

I have no words….

I can’t even begin to tell you what it did to my heart.  My son who doesn’t talk said that I’m beautiful.  That’s better than any gift I’ve ever been given and it is an unimaginable gift.  One that I’ll treasure always.

I’m thanking God tonight for all that He’s given me and for sending me a sign reminding me that He’s in control and that He loves me and will never, ever let me go.  I’m feeling blessed beyond measure.

So here are some lovely smiles and wonderful memories from the day…

The beautiful bride and handsome groom…Brittany and Sam

Wiley Kate and Reid – Our lovely Junior Bridesmaids

Linz and my Mom (Nannie)

The “Junior” Crew…Wiley Kate, Reid and Owen – The Junior Groomsmen

A gift for Sam from Mike….”All he needs to know”……a “Yes, Dear” tshirt

Brittany loved it!

My two “little sisters”, My cousins, Heather and Richelle with Richelle’s girls, Wiley Kate and Reid

Two of my favorite people EVER. I grew up with Tecia and Tammy.  They are twins (duh!) and were two of my bridesmaids.  Fun Fact…Britt has twins in her bridal party too!

Britt with Nannie and the Great Aunts…L to R: Frances, Jessie, Nannie, Brittany, Lelia, Betty, Linda, Margaret and Melba

My beautiful children

My new son  <3 br="">

Just the beginning of a wonderful love story….Stay tuned!  <3 br="">

Ok….I guess I need to stop….I have SO many more I could share.  If I haven’t told you lately….THANK YOU for stopping by to check in with me and my family.  Thank you for your sweet notes, prayers and love.  It means more to me….to us….than you’ll ever know.

Blessings to all of you,

Hey there Peeps!  Happy TGIF!!

I’ve been one busy bee this week.  I’m getting things ready for Brittany’s first bridal shower this Sunday….we started SOL testing at school and lots of other odds and ends.  Whew.  I’ve tried to squeeze in some time in the studio but it’s been a little tough.  Last night I stayed up late and made a card because I just needed to get my fingers “inky”.  LOL  I needed to create.  Here’s the card I created.  I bet you can guess what’s on my mind…..SUMMER!

I love both of the sets featured on this card….”By the Tide”(Wood Mount 129117/Clear Mount 129120) and “Feel Goods” (Wood Mount 129681/Clear Mount 129684).  They are both from the Spring Mini Catalog.  Don’t forget that the mini will be ending on May 31st. 

I used the collage technique and stamped the images from By the Tide onto a piece of DSP from the “This and That” Designer Series Paper pack using Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray, Bermuda Bay (NEW), Brown Sugar (NEW) and Coastal Cabana (NEW) ink.  I sponged the edges with Brown Sugar ink to give it a rustic feel.  The sentiment is stamped in Bermuda Bay ink onto Naturals Ivory card stock. (LOVE that paper!)  I tore it out and sponged the edges with Brown Sugar too.

The card base is a piece of the yummy, new Brown Sugar cardstock that was embossed with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder and then sponged with Brown Sugar ink.  (Can you tell that I LOVE that new color???)

I love how the colors blend and just feel like a sweet, summer breeze.  I don’t know about you but I’m more than ready for summer.

If you haven’t gotten the things you’d like to have from the Spring Occasions Catalog, don’t wait.  Time is running out.  Head over to my Online Shop by Clicking Here  There’s a phenomenal NEW Catalog coming, Peeps.  It’s going to ROCK YOUR SOCKS.  I’ll be sharing projects with stamp sets that will be retiring in the next 2 weeks so make sure to stop by and see them.. You’ll want to make sure to get them before they’re gone.

Wishing you a magical day,

*DISCLAIMER*  This is a “non stamping” related post.

When I first started my blog, I did it so that I’d have a place to write down my thoughts, feelings and memories of our family.  Mostly, I needed an outlet just for me….a place to pour out all of it….all of what comes from being a parent of two children with autism. 

As I drove home today, after my son’s IEP meeting, all I could think was….Just hold it together.  Don’t cry and scare Zach.  Just do what you do and bury it all.  You can burn up that keyboard tonight and pour it out and just release it for the day.  So…that’s why I’m writing today.

It’s interesting that every time I get the emails scheduling the next IEP meeting I generally have the “Yep, check that box” feeling.  Let’s just do it and be done.  The actual meeting day(s) though are definitely a whole other story.  I woke up this morning (after not much sleep last night) with a feeling of dread.  I wasn’t sure why.  It definitely was NOT my “first rodeo”.  Been there…signed that.  But the dread was there all the same.  I went to work and did my job until it was time to go and the dread built as the hours ticked by.

Now….It may be that you read this and think, “Ok, really?  It’s just a meeting”.  Um, No.  It’s not.  I’ve sat through so many during Linz and Zach’s years in school that you’d think I’d be immune to all of the “findings” “test scores”, “labels”, deficits and more.  But, alas, I am not.  If you’ve read anything autism related here before you may remember me saying that there are times that sneak up on you when you “mourn” the loss of what might have been again and again.  This is one of those times.

You can simply click your big red “X” in the right hand corner now if you don’t want to continue.  I wish I could.

I had already read the copy of what was coming up in today’s meeting that they sent home.  That didn’t change how I felt today though.

My heart hurts.

Not like heartburn…..not like my steady boyfriend broke up with me….

It is the most gut wrenching, piercing, take your breath away kind of pain.

WHY?

That’s what I need.  I need to know the “why”.  I’ve lived my whole life doing what I’m told.  I’m a good rule follower.  Yep.  No prob.  I’ve followed rules as a child….as a teenager…and as an adult.  I followed every single rule during pregnanacy.  ALL of them.

WHY?

I’ve loved God first and everything else has it’s order after that.  I’ve prayed, sought God….prayed for wisdom…prayed over my children….read books…researched….fought….and fought some more to get them what they need and deserve.  Yet here I sit today feeling defeated again. 

Now the test scores were not a shock.  I’ve heard them before.  The reality is that Linz and Zach aren’t just cute, little autistic kids anymore.  It’s not about how funny the things that Lindsay says are.  It’s not about any of it.  It’s about the fact that they are now young adults and I have no idea…NONE…what will happen to my children if/when something happens to us.  None.  Linz can tell you the day, date and weather of the day that she got her 3rd (or 15th) Disney movie.  She can tell you what she ate on the last day of school….in 3rd grade.  But my son,…..my sweet, gentle giant…he can’t tell me what he’s thinking.  He can’t tell me what makes him laugh…..what he dreams about….what his wishes he could do…..nothing.  He simply can’t.  He won’t have a first love….a true love.  Neither one of them has not one SINGLE friend that comes to visit, calls or anything.  Not one.  Can you imagine how lonely  your life would be without that??  I can’t  and my children live it.  That is pain….pain deep in my mother’s heart….And I live with that every minute of every single day of my life.  It  feels like pain that is eating my heart from the inside out.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not venting looking for pity.  Not at all.  It is just unfathomable to me that I still….STILL live with the WHY and the WHAT CAN I DO all the time.  I want to FIX it.  I  NEED TO FIX IT.   But….no.

Tonight I’m sad and heartbroken.  I feel like I’m being suffocated.  I can’t breathe.
So many people have said, “You are such a great mom”, “I don’t know how you do it”, or….my favorite, “Oh, sweetie.  God would never give you more than you can handle”.  Really?  Really????  Live in my shoes for about 6 months and tell me just how soon you’re ready to cry “Uncle”.
I know that people mean well.  Those people just want to be “supportive”.  But….Let me just set the record straight.  Mothers of kids with special needs do NOT want to hear that….they do NOT want to hear that “God only give those special children to his toughest warriors”.  No one could understand what lives within me 24/7.  The pain that doesn’t stop every time I watch other parents and their children graduating….getting married….having grandbabies…..giggling about being “empty nesters”.  Tonight….all I can actually do is pray that God sees fit to live me and Mike live really long lives. 

Tonight I’m angry…..I’m angry at autism….at God….at the schools…..Just plain mad.

My sweet Mama came down this afternoon because she knew….she just knew.  She is truly THE strongest woman I know.  She is faithful and loves GOD and her family first.  She puts everyone before her own needs.  She sat with me out on my deck and listened to me cry….she cried and shared her heart….and she was what God intended her to be.  The most amazing example of what a mother should be for me.  I know it hurts HER heart to watch me feel this way.  Fortunately, she loves me and always has my back.  I love her and my dad more than anyone could possibly imagine.

Unfortunately, Mike is on travel for the night and he’s called several times.  He felt horrible for missing today’s meeting.  His heart hurts too.  I thank God every day for sending me such an incredible man to share not only my life but to be the most amazing father for our three children.

If you’ve braved it this far and are still reading, I apologize.  I just really need to be able to write this down for myself.  I feel wounded….seriously wounded tonight and I don’t want to even put one foot in front of the other to make my way up to bed.  Unfortunately, like in so many other areas, I don’t have a choice.

I pray that God will send his Holy Spirit to minister to me while I sleep tonight.  I need something before I face another day tomorrow.

Please keep us in your prayers,
Michelle

Hey there, Stampers and Friends,

Wow!  I came home today and had LOTS of “happy mail” from Stampin’ Up!  Not only did I get my pre-order and a copy of the NEW catalog, I got my Paper Pumpkin for this month.  I knew at the Baltimore Regionals when Shannon West showed a couple of projects using the stamps included in this month’s “pumpkin” that I was going to LOVE it and I do.

This set is called “Seriously”.   No…seriously!  LOL

Well….I took the stamps out of the kit and made a card with my own style.  Here’s what I came up with.

There are three stamps in the set.  There’s “Seriously”, “you kick booty” and “love your guts”.  LOL  So fun!!!  For this card I used a Sahara Sand card base.  I then cut a Top Note out of a piece of Daffodil Delight DSP.  The flower was cut from Calypso Coral card stock on the Big Shot and the petals were embossed with the Polka Dots Embossing Folder.  (LOVE it!)  I added a piece of Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon for a little POP of color…and a faceted button with Baker’s Twine for good measure.  Now….stepping outside of my ‘box” just a bit….I added a few little pieces of our new Washi Tape that’s in the “This and That” bundle.  I have to say…I’m really happy with the way it turned out.  🙂  Oops….I almost forgot…. I used my Calypso Coral marker and the Color Spritzer Tool to spritz a little added color on there for fun.

So….you see how you can take those awesome stamps  that are exclusive to My Paper Pumpkin and make them into something totally different and magical?  I love that!

If you’d like to find out more about Paper Pumpkin, just Click Here.  Be sure to choose ME as your demonstrator.  🙂  You KNOW I’d love to be your crafting Fairy Godmother!

Wishing you a magical day,