365 Days

Over the last year life has taken some major turns for me and I have not

really felt much like blogging. I am now thinking that I am ready to start sharing with those few of you who read my blog again.

This week is marking an end to the first year with out my Daddy, the beginning of a new manager's position for Michael and the beginning of the finial year of high school for Stephenie. So as those of you who know me know the water works have been working over time. As I look back over the last year of first with out Dad and Daddy T it brings mixed emotions both happy and sad. Not only the for mentioned beginnings I am also watching Katalina start her high school days, Joesph starting his second year in middle school, Sophia moving into 3rd grade and waiting on the arrival of a new niece along with her proud parents Bryan and Bethany.

My art has taken a backseat this past year as the mojo just had not been there. I must apologize to those of you that look forward to cards and such but I just couldn't do it. SORRY! Hoping to get back on track soon. I have done several projects for me (this collage piece about is one) and have a couple more in the planning process too. I will post pictures once I get them all done.

The house has taken priority this past year. While Daddy was in the hospital he and I had many discussions about what and how I needed to do many of them. Some of them have been hard to start and complete as they were to be our projects and he was not there with me in body, he sure was in spirit. I talked many things over with him while doing them. Once again now that I am feeling like sharing again I will be posting pictures.

My heart is heavy with sorrow, full of joy and hope for the future as I write this. I am glad to know that I now have two Angels watching over me. Knowing that God has carried me through the last year it the biggest comfort of all.

She is ???

Seventeen years ago on a beatuiful Palm Sunday I head off to the hospital to see what if it was going to boy or girl! Well we had the little sister that Michael had been telling everyone he was going to have for 9 months. That day I had my Stephenie Wren named after to of the most special people in my life my Daddy and his mother. I am still wondering where the last 17 years have gone. She has gone from my little red headed chubby baby girl to a wonderful young woman. I think she is the most beautiful girl in the world and has become a very strong young lady(used loosely:)). Happy Birthday my baby girl I love more than words can ever express.

She has had a very diffucult year. As she had to at a very young age say good-bye to Papaw, has had the flu twice, mono, only will have had about 16 weeks of her junior year spent at the school and maybe facing surgery in the next few weeks. So I am trying to do some extra special things for her this year to make her birthday weekend fun. She had dinner with her Dad last night at Nagaski, on Saturday for lunch we will be having lunch with Michael, Emily, and Brittany. Sunday well I have a few things planned, but can't reveal today as she might just read my blog. Monday she will be having a message, her first and I am sure if she is like her Mom not the last.

But as with all that has happened over the past 8 months it is a bitter sweet celebration. As this will be the last birthday that she will be celebrating at Ninie and Papaw's house. She had her first one there and pretty much had the last 17 there. Mom has sold the house and will be moving to Arlington by the end of the month. So as we prepare to help Mom move on to another new phase in her life, I am sure there are going to be mixed emotions.

**Photo by Marci Lambert

Finished Art

Here is another first for this year. This is my first canvas that was over a 5x7. It is a whopping 16x20. Which in my world is huge especially since I started it to help with the healing process after Daddy passed away. This is the scripture that carried me through the last seven month. I also have a hard time with doing art and not judging it or comparing it to others work. This piece was the first time I really just let myself go and do art. I really like the way it turned out and it will be the first piece that I will be hanging in my house that I have done.

This morning I went into the studio and it screamed out at me and said finish me! I think that is is only fitting that I finished it today. Today would have been my Daddy's birthday and tomorrow it will be 6 months since I said goodbye to him for this last time on this earth. I still refer to this passage often for strength and the promise that there is a season for everything and a purpose.

Birthday Thoughts

rEven at 44 you must keep up with the trends. Cupcakes are it. My girls(Stephenie, Emily and
Tori) made me a giant one to celebrate my birthday. Mom took all the family out to Steak and Shake for dinner tonight. There are sometimes that a burger and fries with a coke is so good. Tonight was one of them.

Yes they let us light this fire risk in the restaurant. I have you know that I blew out all 44 candles plus the ? in one breath while making a wish! And no spit on the cake. So I guess this old girl still has it.

Here are the 3 bakers. They were so sneaky about making this to surprise me with it.

As I look back over the past 44 years there have been good times, bad times, tough times and times that I would not like to repeat. But I have been blessed with many great things, family, friends and that is what I plan to focusing on this year. So tomorrow on 01.10.10 I will start the 44th year of my life looking for Sunshine and Sliver Linings.

PS! Even though I am trying to look for the positive in everything. I am still learning to live with out my Dad here to be apart of it. The positive side is I had 43 year 7 months and 28 days of love and memories of my Dad and no one can take them from me.

Word for 2010

As I have been thinking of my word for the NEW YEAR one has not jumped out at me like in the past several years. I was talking with a friend in sunny CA the other day via instant messagener(man computers are great) and as we were talking it occurred to me that instead of a word for 2010 I really want to have a different attitude. I use to really try and most of the time did find the positive in all situations and life occurrences. As most of you know this past couple of years has thrown me multiple bad things back to back and my attitude has taken a real shift to the negative. It seems that once you start down this path it is very hard to get back on the positive path. So instead of a word for 2010 I am going take an attitude change. I have several things that I am going to do to help with this along the way. I have them ready to go and will start on 01.01.10 to incorpate them. So, as those of you that cross my path in the coming year and see that ugly NEGATIVISM coming out, if you would gentle remind me to see the sliver lining, it would great be appreciated.



As I say good bye to 2009 the 43 year of my life I said good bye to my Daddy and Daddy T. These men played a very big part in my life and will be greatly missed for years to come. I also said good bye to alot of money that went on the house and hopefully the big stuff is done for awhile. Of cousre I still have small things left to do and many are non-money projects, just getting done projects. I did do more going green this past year and look forward to the challenge of doing more in 2010. As with most years people came into and left my life. Stepehenie did get through several sickness and will be able to go back to school on Jan 4th. I saw my first born Michael turn 21 and turning into a great young man loving life. Lived through Stephenie turning 16 and getting her license and experiencing that freedom. Learned how to go places by myself which is very hard for me, I am doing it enjoying it. Am learning what and who I am and boy at times that was scary.



GOODBYE TO 2009 and WELCOMING 2010 WITH OPEN ARMS. Ready to learn to embrace life!

21 years ago today......

I was blessed with this precious gift! Just in time for Christmas Michael arrived 4 weeks early to celebrate it. He has blessed my life in more ways than he will ever know. As I wonder where the past 21 years have gone I remember the good and bad times. I will be the first to admit he and I have faced a few trails over the past 21 years but not to an avail. I think he is finding his way in life. He may not be doing the way I had planned for him 21 years ago, when I first welcomed him into this world but he is doing it his way. As we all know we must do it on our own. He has turned into a wonderful young man with a love for live that makes me envious. He has the looks of the other most special man in my life my Dad. I look at this handsome young man and wonder how did I get so luck to be blessed with this most SPECIAL young man. I am honored to have him call me Mom. Happy Birthday my first born and FAVORITE son. I love you and am proud of you! So now go out and celebrate your life and keep doing for many more years!

**Photo taken by Marci Lambert.

Santa is Coming to Town

Here is a small shrine that I did for Rock Candy Studios. I used a preformed tri folded shrine on which I placed the vintage Santa image, added a couple of the metal snowflakes, stamped swirl and to finish it off white Dresden foil brocade trim.

Million of Things on Her Mind

be This piece is done on a lantern panel from RockCandy Studios. I printed out a image from the Girly Girls cd on a transparency. Then computer generated a list of things that needed to be done. Layered the picture of the woman then the words under the glass. I add labels with the title to the glass and antique brass picture corners .

To make a stand for this piece I took a piece of hardware from RockCandy studios and made it into a stand. Add a few buttons by the shot from RockCandy to add interest.

Another Goodbye

Most people are only blessed one set of parents that love them. I was lucky as I had two sets of parents. Many years ago when we started at a new church we met the Taylors. The Moms and Dads became friends and us kids became sisters. As to the names Daddy and Momma Taylor was the solution to as what to call them. Yes either one of the mothers could have had all five of us. Even in this extended family I was still oldest. We shared many holidays, events and life memories together. As even with real families there were times we didn't see each other for extended times but when we did the let the talking and catching begin. It gave me great comfort to know that if I ever need them all I had to do was pick up the phone and call. There were times I did and they were there.

So with a very sad and heavy heart I am now having to say good bye to my other Dad only about 3 very short months since I said good bye to my Dad. Daddy Taylor was a great person and cared very much for everyone. He touched so many lives who knows were to start counting. He just had a way with young people that they were drawn to him. He was a great inspiration to my son Michael and he loved his Dad Taylor time. I do know that now he will be able to expound on the questions when asked and will be able to not hurt any more in heaven. I just hope that both of my Dads will be up there looking out for me.

My love goes out to Momma Taylor, Alice, Christy, Buff, Craig, Nathan, Bryan, Taylor, Samuel and Caleb as I know that you have lost a great person and even though you know he is better off in heaven, the human side is hurting here on earth.

Daddy Taylor if you get an Internet connection up there and see this post: I love you and you meant more to me than I know I ever told you. You blessed my life and you will missed more than you will ever know. PS. Give my Daddy a hug and tell him I love him.

No so Haunted House

My friend Cyndi and I went to Hobby Lobby one Saturday way back in the summer and both bought these really cool paper mach houses. Well then I got to looking through all my cool RockCandy stash and this is what you get. I covered the roof with Ten Second Studios metal that had been cuddled bugged and sanded, covered the walls with some paper that I have been waiting on the right project to use it on, add a spider web, glasses with eyes, ghost to the windows, happy moon, puzzle pieces for the broken brick on the chimney, arch way for the door and of course some of the great Dresden Foil trim. For more pictures of this house go to RockCandy Studios blog.