Ready for some crafting time...

I have a 3-day weekend coming up and I am SO ready to spend some time in my craft room.  Other than the items I made for my niece's birthday party, I haven't done anything creative in over a month.  Of course, there has been so much going on, but generally I feel like crafting is very therapuetic, so it's time to get back into the groove. 

On the agenda...completing some workshops, making some birthday cards, taking pics of my creations to get posted online  and nailing down some ideas for card kits.  I'm also hoping to get some things moved around in my living room so I can spend some time in the evenings scanning family photos.  I think I will need a lot of Mt. Dew to get all that stuff accomplished!

Pictures to come!!!

Birthdays...

I stopped getting REALLY excited about my birthday several years ago...and this one is no exception.  Turning 34 is pretty uneventful, and experiencing my first birthday without my dad is tough.  What's really strange about this birthday is that my dad bought me a birthday gift several weeks before he died...which is not the norm.  Those of you who are friends on Facebook probably see me often post about how ready I am for the weekend...so my dad's last gift to me was a mug he found on his travels that says "Is it Friday yet?"  How appropriate.

So Raw...

My dad passed away suddenly on April 22, 2011.  I don't think anyone is ever prepared to lose a parent, but with no warning, he was gone and I have so much left I needed to say to him.   So much I just assumed I would have more time to do with him.  I grieve those lost moments.

There really are no words to describe the wave of emotions I've been on for the past 2 and a half weeks, but the exhaustion and the stress of it all is catching up with me.  I don't think I'm ready to blog about all the details just yet, but I do want to remind myself that my dad is in Heaven and I will see him again one day.  I also feel the need to remind myself that I am not alone and that God will carry me and my family through this. 

I have known for quite some time that there are things I need to stop ignoring and take action on in my life...there's nothing like losing a loved one to bring that to the forefront, I just really struggle with knowing how to fix all the things I feel have been so messed up.  So I guess my thoughts are also consumed by this need to change things.

If you are reading this and there are things left unsaid between you and your loved ones, don't wait.  You are never guaranteed your next breathe.