Another Year....

This year...what can I say? It seems like we were hoping too hard that this year would be better, less financial problems, less health problems for Evan, get back on track, etc. But life threw us a major curve ball this year. (Not sure about the baseball analogy).

We lost our dear Dad in Febuary. One day he was fine, helping out with car shopping for Taira, going to work, getting ready to help with Evan's birthday party...then he seemed to have the flu, then he was in the emergency room. He had apparently suffered a stroke. He had surgery after the first stroke to remove the pressure on his brain stem, and never really recovered after that. Most of February was spent at the hospital, then the hospice, balancing between hope and despair. During all of this, I quit my job (a long story), and Evan left Hearn Academy. So now I'm home-schooling, mostly just to get us through until summer, and hopefully get Evan back in a new school in the fall. My persective on life has changed so much.

So another convention has come and gone. Another chance to catch up with the "girls". Lynzee is about to have a baby boy. Melissa just moved back to San Diego. Taira and I went to Mad Scrappers for NSD, and I created a "Road Trip" cigar box album that the owner wants me to teach in a class. I was really excited about it Saturday, but today I'm just blah. Blah, blah, blah. Lots of stuff I "should" be doing. Getting the house ready to sell (ha!) Working on getting Evan ready for school in the fall. Planning summer activities for him. Working on my new web site, "Scrap Getaway", which will offer monthly kits and scrap retreats. Trying to figure how to make some money. I suppose a therapist would say that I'm blocking my feelings right now, hence the "blah" feeling. I'm either too high or too low.

Back from Nowhere

Ok, so I quit the blogging thing. I was very busy starting my "new life", with all it's challenges. I've been working at IAC (Insurers Administration Corporation) since last April. It started out rough, got boring, now it's interesting. I also shanghaied Joni Parker into working here, too. She had the computer skills and was looking for a more permanent job. So we've been sitting next to each other ever since July...until today, when she got moved down the row. But we have a plan that involves two cans and a string.

I can't believe all the things that have happened in everyone's lives in the last year. Three of "my girls" got married: Lynzee, Brianna, and Dani. Two, no make that three, of my girls had babies: Christina, Melissa, and Kristel on Jan 1st. If it weren't for the weddings and baby showers I probably wouldn't have any idea what's going on with anyone from the store. I did get to see some of them when we had our crop last summer.

So now I am ready to plan the Circle Journal. I want to add a "where are they now" theme, we could each do 2 pages (or a double page spread) THEN..and NOW. THEN being our favorite memories about the store, how we met and got involved in each others lives, NOW being what we have done since the store closed. I hope everyone still wants to do this! I would like to do an 8x8 format. Everyone that wants to participate can build their own book. We will make enough pages for everyone that wants them.

I'm all signed up for the Mesa Convention in April, so is Taira and Joni. Mom will be out of town. :( We're doing our usual routine, going down Friday and spending the night. We are NOT going to the organized crop, though, the last two were SO LAME. Anyone care to pass a big "R" around again? Instead, Taira and I are hosting a "card swap". We are going to design and decorate our own card files, and make cards together. Each person will bring their card ideas, and the supplies to make them. If anyone wants to participate, let me know. We were going to sign up for the "official card swap" but decided to save ourselves the $32 and do what WE wanted to do.

Anyone want to meet at Sluggo's Friday night? Or Saturday Lunch?

Hugs and Kisses to all. I will be sending an email about the Circle Journal, since no one probably reads this blog anymore.....