Thursday, My Childhood Best Friend Died...

On Saturday, I received a Facebook message from the daughter of my childhood best friend. She told me that her mom, Kae, had collapsed and died at an airport from a blood clot in her lungs as she returned home with her son from a trip to Paris. I don't know, yet, if she died at a U.S. airport or if she were still overseas when she died.

When my family moved across town, just before I entered fourth grade, I met Kae and we became the BEST of friends! She was petite, with dark hair and eyes. Kae was genuinely sweet, kind, unselfish -- just the nicest girl!! There was NONE of the drama in our relationship on which so many of our peers seemed to thrive. We were NEVER-EVER jealous of each other, but were truly THRILLED when the other achieved success and recognition!

Not until we were grown, and had lost touch with each other, did I fully understand that our friendship had been a RARE TREASURE.

Kae realized her childhood dream and became a nurse -- a career that must have been VERY hard on her little body. She had probably practiced for ten years or so, when she developed an illness that made it impossible for her to continue working. No one gave it a "label," but her symptoms seemed much like Parkinson's. In fact, the last time I saw Kae, she could only walk with the help of her husband and I was unable to understand her speech. We had to settle on communicating via emails. I can imagine that Kae must have struggled to type the few paragraphs she would send me. We always wrote of getting together for lunch and a visit when Kae would come to town to see family -- but, when her mom died, she no longer made the trip -- and we never got together to "do lunch" and enjoy a time of catching-up with each others' lives.

And, now she is gone. Her funeral service is scheduled for Thursday and I will be taking off work to attend. The thought of seeing her lying in her casket brings instant tears to my eyes, but I do believe that Kae trusted in Christ as her Savior, so for her to be "absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." That comforts my heart.

Here is a condolence card that I made tonight. I will mail it to Kae's husband, Mike, tomorrow.

a THANK YOU card

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to present a workshop at a childcare conference (even though I am no longer in the childcare field) and last week, I received a gratuity in the mail.

Today's card is to express my appreciation for the speaking invitation and the gift, as well as the assistance I received when setting-up for my presentations. Since it must be sent via the U.S. Postal Service, I kept the card relatively flat and kept frou-frou to a minimum, as well.

I used a premade card base and added PTI die-cuts and stamping, along with a vinyl-covered border sticker. Yep, it-will-do. (grin)

Kaleigh's card, inside & out!

As I sooo often do, I added a wee bit to the card front. It's just a tiny thing -- some sparkly, green, dotted sticker border -- but, the card needed a lil somethin' somethin'. I considered adding some fabric lace to the bottom, but it seemed to me that it would be OVER-KILL, so I left it alone. (grin)

I completed the inside. Instead of using my (Sizzix) balloon die-cut for the inside signature panel, I decided to bling it up and just sign on the card itself.

I'm satisfied. Yep, it'll do. And, I think that sweet Kaleigh will like the balloon, even if she notices NOTHING else!

Little Kaleigh's 3rd Birthday!!

My granddaughter, Kaleigh, turned three years-old, today, and our family feels VERY BLESSED, indeed!

You see, Kaleigh became critically ill soon after her first birthday and at thirteen months of age, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. At the time that she was diagnosed, Kaleigh was the youngest child treated for Type 1 Diabetes in the history of Oklahoma City's Children's Hospital. (She may still be the youngest -- I have no way of knowing, now that she is home.) We came TERRIBLY close to losing her!!

As if that disease were not difficult enough to treat and control, about a year ago, Kaleigh was ALSO diagnosed with Celiac disease, so must have a gluten-free diet. I will spare you the description of how violently ill she becomes if she ingests even the tiniest bit of gluten...sigh.

Let's just say that life is NOT EASY for my son and daughter-in-law for they must be vigilant in planning special meals, testing their child's blood sugar at least ten times per day, and administering meds that keep Kaleigh stabilized. Day after day after day.

So we REJOICE that Kaleigh has reached the milestone of her third birthday and we pray she lives many, many more happy and reasonably healthy years!!

Here is the front of her birthday card. (As usual, I will photo and post pics of the inside when I complete the card.) The card has many patterns, but because the design is simple and the colors repeat, it works. Well, in my opinion, it works, anyway. (grin)

Hope you like it!

Easter Goody Bags for YMCA Co-Workers

After seventeen years of preschool childcare (and eleven years as a grandmother), Easter calls to mind GOODY BAGS OF CANDY!

Since I am working for a CHRISTian organization, I used a couple of rubber stamps and added "reminder tags/bookmarks" to the bags as a small witness of "what it's really ALL about." Though there are MANY employees whom I've not met, a number pass through the office on a daily basis, to clock-in/out, print copies, speak with the Exec. Director (my boss), etc., so I placed a goody bag in each of their mail/message boxes and hand-delivered one to the lady custodian who empties my trash container each day.

I think all were PLEASED with a lil somethin' sweet to eat and many remarked about the "GREAT" tags. Of course, that made ME very happy!! (grin)

May you dear ladies have a LOVELY Easter, tomorrow!

HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!!