My Circle of Friends

Three very special women, three very special friends. All of them entering my life at different phases. Lisa, my bff since were like 7 years old have crossed the friendship line, she is my sister by choice. We went from playing barbies, to high school antics, to marriage and children. Lisa once told me that through every stage of your life, you have a friend, very few are fortunate enough to have the same one. Kathy came into my life through a mutual friend, late teens, early twenties. Trying to find our way into the world and where we fit in. There were a few years where we had no contact and to be honest, I'm not even sure how we got back together, but we did and it was if no time had passed at all. Then there is Miss Lisbeth (Elisabeth). Our boys went to preschool together, idle chit chat between mom's waiting to pick up their kids. The time came for Cub Scouts and I was (un)lucky enough to be volunteered into being a Den Leader. I had 2 Tiger Cubs, Danny and Gavin. Elisabeth was at every meeting, every outing and we found ourselves doing more with the boys and while the boys were in school, we found ourselves getting together. Elisabeth is 12 years younger me. She keeps me young.
I have found my circle. They are my strength, my voice of  reason, my laughter and everything else in between. I am truly blessed to have these ladies in my life.

Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,
Sharon

Come visit me and the other fabulous designers at Crafting By Designs.

Best Friends

The day after I had Danny, we got this teddy bear with a floral arrangement from my work. Each month I would take a picture of Danny with the bear to show how much he had grown. I stopped taking pictures when he turned 1. Danny was walking by 9-1/2 months with help, 10 months on his own. He also started talking by 10 months. Simple words, "Mom-Mom, Ada (Daddy), Car and Up." By the time he was a year old, a new word entered his vocabulary, "Jeff." Jeff was the name he had given his bear. Jeff is also the name of our local weatherman on KDKA, Channel 2. Jeff Verszyla. When Danny would fuss as a baby and Jeff's forecast would come on, Danny would become mesmerized. Jeff's voice must have been soothing to him. As Danny began walking and talking more, no matter where he would be in the house, he would hear Jeff's voice on the tv and come running, "Mom-mom Jeff on." He would stop what he was doing, watch the weather forecast and as soon as it was over, he would go back to whatever it was he was doing. Danny and Jeff became the best of friends. Although most of the stuffed animals are long gone, we still have Jeff. My husband insists on "Us" getting rid of it. No way, mine and Danny's hearts would be broken.

Sorry about the flash glare. It snow/raining outside, not the best for a perfect pic. I'll try again for a better photo, but it is Danny and his best friend cuddled in for the night.
Thanks for stopping by!

My Granpap's Pigeon Clock

I'm feeling nostalgic today. All kinds of thoughts running through my mind. I kept thinking about my Granpap's Pigeon Clock and how it was in my bedroom collecting dust. Well no more! As soon as I got dinner in the oven, I got out the clock and cleaned it and found it a new home.
I have many memories of my granpap, (yes, that is granpap, not grandpap.) Most of them from when I was a little girl and we would go to my Gramma's and Granpap's house on Sundays. They lived on Good Lane which was a massive hill that was a one way street, down only, unless there was a fire, then the volunteer fireman would go up the hill because it was the shortest route to the fire house. We always entered their house through the kitchen which was on the first floor, to your right of the door was a radiator/heater type thing, to the left, a little place to hang your coat, then a window, then the refrigerator. To the right of the radiator was the stove, then a window. There was a little room, that had the kitchen sink in it, gramma kept her dishes and such in there and off of that another door that went to the other section of the house, the section we were NEVER allowed in. To this day it is sketchy as to why we weren't allowed in that part of the house. Back in the kitchen, the kitchen table was on the right hand wall and in the back of the kitchen was a root cellar. I can remember going in there with my gramma at times. She had a big tin full of buttons sitting on the shelf. She kept goodies in there and she ALWAYS had those jellied fruit slices, the ones that look like sliced pieces of fruit. Next to the root cellar was the stairway that went up to the rest of the house.
When we would visit, my granpap would meet us at the door, my gramma would be busy cooking dinner. Granpap would pick us little ones up, give us a hug, then do "skin the cat" with us. My gramma would yell at him, "Syl, stop that right now. Those kids are going to get burned." He never stopped and we never got burned. It was always a bonus when my granpap's brother, Chuck was there. He was so tall! Like a giant. He would do skin the cat with us more and of course gramma would scold him for doing it. All of the cousins would go outside to play in the yard if it was nice. In the back yard was Granpap's pigeon coop. My granpap raced homing pigeons. I remember begging him all day to take me in the coop so I could see the pigeons and the baby pigeons if there were any. Usually after dinner he would take me in, I would see the babies and touch them and hold them. Sometimes granpap would let me help feed them. I can still smell the smell of the coop and every time I see a pigeon it takes me back.
After my granpap died, my dad and his siblings cleaned out the house. My dad brought home my granpap's racing clock. It was on my mom and dad's mantle for a few years, then got moved to it's own shelf in the living room. After my dad passed, my mom asked us kids what we would like because she was getting her affairs in order. I asked for the pigeon clock. My mom let me take it home that day.
I'm not sure how it works, I'm not sure how old it is, just that it is very old. The writing is in German and I can not read it. The clock still has paper in it and the time is still set for when my granpap's birds came back from his/their last race. The wood is beautiful, all dove tailed built. The insides are brass. Someday I'll research it, but for right now it really isn't that important to me. What is important, I love that pigeon clock and the memories of my granpap it brings me.

The inside tape stamped with the time my granpap's last bird flew back home.

The big brass cover that covers the place where the bands go.    

The pigeon bands fit into these holes. 

The time is set for 9:33.

The top of the box, the bands get put into those holes.

The pigeon clocks new home. In the dining room next to a picture of
my dad holding his pride and joy, peaches from his peach tree. And
the "Hope" because you always have to hope a cure for cancer is found soon.

I Whaley Love You

For those of you that follow my blog or are on fb you know that January was not a good month. I've been struggling to be creative. It's not that I don't try, I do and I do have to say it is getting a little easier. I'm trying to focus on creating "Happy" things.
I am the hostess for the CAS Challenge over at Crafting By Designs. Valentine's Day is right around the corner and I started out thinking of silly Valentine Puns. I came up with this pun and my little creature goes right along with it. So the challenge is: Create a CAS card with a Sea Creature. Anything that lives under the sea.

Details for my card are on the blog post at Crafting By Designs.
I hope you all decide to play along!
As always, thank you for stopping by.
Hugs,
Sharon

Hogs & Kisses

I've been sad and haven't played with paper. Each time I try, I seem to struggle. I made a card last week for my friend...
I went on-line this weekend and checked out several challenges. I woke up this morning and decided that no matter what it takes I will play with paper and create something that makes me happy.
We do not have any little ones in the family anymore...so I made 4 (although one 3 are in the picture) of these for my big kids from other Mom's. I am entering this in the Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #100 Anything Goes and the Outlawz Paper ala Mode - Heart of the word "Love."

The little pig was cut from the Create a Critter Cartridge. Card stock is from my scrap pile and the dp is from My Mind's Eye.

As always, thanks for stopping by and don't forget to pop in over at Crafting By Designs to check out the fabulous challenges this week.

Hugs,

Sharon

A letter to my friend

Today's blog post is 2 part. The first part, posting a card that I made today. Almost 3 weeks ago my friend and her husband lost 2 precious babies. Since then I haven't been able to play with paper. I've sat at my desk and just stared. Stared at the paper, stared at the wall...I looked through my paper and found the papers and embellishments I used when I made Liam's very first scrapbook, before he was even born. I found the remnants of the paper I used to make Declan's brag book after he was born. Then I cried.
Yesterday, when visiting with my friend, she handed me a page cover filled with various scrapbook items she found in her house. When she gave them to me, I thanked her, looked at her and honestly told her that I've been too sad to create. I thought I could make Valentine's for the kids at Sandy Hook Elementary through the "I Feel The Love Project." Sadly I was not able. Today I was determined to create a card. I sat at my desk. Nothing...Looked through my paper...Nothing. Thought of who to make a card for...Nothing. I lifted a piece of paper and underneath it was a little pack of gray chipboard doves. I bought the doves at Michael's last week, they were in the clearance bin for .10. I opened the pack and held them. I thought of my friend. How I want her to find peace. I thought of Liam and Declan...Love. And this is what I came up with:

And now the Part 2 of this post.

A Letter to My Friend

If I could take away your sorrow

I would

If I could hug all the tears away

I would

If I could patch the deep hole in your soul

I would

If I could give you peace and joy in the midst of pain

For just a moment

I would

I want let you know how much I love you

And am praying for you

And thinking of you constantly

And want to be there for you

Not just now but for always

Oh Elisbeth I haven't had the words. Funny huh? Me with no words. You know. This is the best I could do. You amaze me every day. You have found that strength that is buried deep inside of every Mother. The strength that you don't even know is there until it is needed. You know I love your boys. I am so thankful and forever grateful that I was able to be in their lives and them in mine. Thank you for sharing them with me. 

I love you Miss Lisbeth.

Sharon

Healing Time

I've ALWAYS been a firm believer in God doesn't give you more than you can handle. As of late, I'm beginning to lose my grip. I'm also questioning God and his reasoning. I know the morning of January 9th he did not create the 15 minute weather craziness, he did not cause the 48 accidents that occurred in that 15 minute time frame. I know he did not wake up that morning and decide he needed two little angels. I saw the wreck on line, a vehicle so mangled that it could not be identified, about 2 miles from my house. No names were given, just that 2 children died in the wreck. Something did not sit right with me. I had a horrible feeling in the bottom of my stomach, an extremely nervous and on the brink of having an anxiety attack.... all afternoon.
I do not remember much after 4:00 p.m. My husband picked up our son at the bus stop, came home and we flipped the news on. The headline was the accident. Showing pictures from the scene, I heard 2 brothers, ages 3 and 1...I didn't need to hear the mother's name. I knew. I freaked, hysterical. My son sobbing, my husband ghost white saying it's not true, me so weak in the knees that I had to hold myself up by clinging to the dining room door way.
My dear friend Elisabeth and her two babies. Liam (age 3) aka "My Lil' Punkin" and Declan (2 days shy of his 1st birthday) aka "My Lil' Irishman" Elisabeth sustained minor injuries, the boys were killed instantly. She did nothing wrong, hit black ice going down a hill. There was nothing she could do....
I can not tell my friend I know how she feels, I do not. I can not tell my friend this was God's plan. It was not. I can tell her that I know she loved her boys and her boys loved her. That her boys will always be with her. I can tell her that the journey ahead of her will be long, but family and friends will hold her hand along the way. That when she feels she can no longer go on, we will give her the strength to continue. Her 2 older children will help her as she will help them. I can tell her that I will be there, I will hug her, I will cry with her, I will dry her tears. I will be there for her.
I love(d) these boys. I always thanked Elisabeth over and over for having 2 more babies. And that she makes the most beautiful babies. Elisabeth knew exactly when I needed a baby fix, stopping over with them or posting new pics on facebook and tagging me in them.
So now, how do you go on? I know you have to. I can not sleep at night, my stomach isn't right. I forget for a split second then remember.
This is harder on me than watching my own dad die, 10 years ago from cancer. I knew he had it, I knew it progressed, I watched the progression. I watched my dad slowly give up his fight. I prepared myself the best that I could. Every night, weeks before he passed, I would pray to God and I would ask God to take him. Take him to a better place, somewhere pain free, somewhere he can hunt 24 hours a day... There is nothing in this world and I mean nothing that can prepare you for this.


And on the China Cabinet is a birthday party invitation for Declan's 1st Birthay, a birthday that was celebrated in heaven and not here on earth January 12th. Declan celebrated his 1st birthday with his big brother and the angels in heaven. I can only imagine how awesome that party was.

To my Lil' Punkin and my Lil' Irishman, Auntie Sharon loves you. We know that you are in heaven above enjoying every moment of your new adventure. Where clouds are like trampolines and rainbows like slides. With every slight breeze we feel, we know it is you blowing kisses our way. You will be in my heart...forever.

On the day of the funeral, I heard this song twice. The first time getting into the car at the cemetery. The second time when I was driving my son to his friend's house and he was sharing his favorite memory of Liam with me. I take this as a sign, all we can do is IMAGINE.