Argh.... Those Olympics!

Anybody else blame their bloodshot eyes on Michael Phelps and EVERY OTHER Olympic sport and athlete???!!! WAHAHAHA!!! Those DARN Olympics!!! Why do they have to be so addicting and be on SO LATE at night here on the west coast of the USA? Ha ha ha! Guess that's what happens when China happens to be all the way on the other side of the world eh? I admit I've missed a few nights (HAD to catch up on my sleep at SOME point...) but most other evenings I've tortured myself squinting up at the TV through zoned out eyeballs.... needing to see for myself if we got another swimming medal! LOL! Hopefully now that the swimming is over it won't be so bad....

Thank you to everyone who has sent me emails with well-wishes for my mom and the rest of my family. The day before yesterday she really turned a corner, and is now actually 'recovering.' I have to admit, I've been a nervous wreck over the past few weeks.... it's just horrible seeing her in so much pain. I feel hopeful now though that she will actually get better.... and maybe she will get to come home from the hospital by the end of the week. (Maybe. Cross your fingers.)

I wanted to send out a BIG THANK YOU to Pamela and to Lei who gave me awards AGES ago on their blogs (LOL!)... but with all the crazy stuff going on with my mom.... I haven't blogged in forever!!! They both made me feel SO great---I can't thank them enough for the wonderful things they said about me. (Big {{{{HUGS}}}} for you both!!!) Make sure to check out both Pamela and Lei's blogs for all kinds of fun freebies they've been busy making lately!!! Woohoo! They are both very talented AND are very sweet ladies!

And OF COURSE Kim Broedelet has been up to her eyeballs creating great new scrapping gear lately... (I've gotten totally behind...) Kim has a FANTASTIC new CU grab bag out NOW that will be up till Wednesday at midnight at a BIG SALE price!!! Go grab it now while it's cheap!!! (And it's 100% worth it!) So I threw this little layout together last night (with some of her grab bag gear---along with some past Kim goodies) so my kiddos could each have their own 'family tree' to look at. Here is an example of one with my youngest son in the 'ME' spot: (I think you can click the image to see it closer if you want to...)

I thought you might find a use for it too.... so I figured I'd offer it for a while here as a freebie. Hope ya like it.... and make sure you check out Kim's new CU bag... it's wonderful, as usual!



I put 2 versions of the page in the zip file.... one WITH text and one WITHOUT... so you can add your own labels/names if ya like. Here is the download link:

(This link has expired)

Thx! C ya later!

Mothers Are...

"Mothers are, or should be, the very heart and soul of the family. No more sacred word exists in secular or holy writ than MOTHER."

I suppose I wanted to include this quote in my blog today.... because that is exactly how I feel about MY mother. (The picture above is of me with my mom and my two daughters.) My mom is such an exceptional example to me of 'goodness' in the world.... she puts everyone else first - and is constantly encouraging me in everything I do. She provided me a wonderful home growing up.... full of love and safety. We have SO MUCH FUN together --- she loves to laugh and have a good time. She's not scared to try new things. The more I learn of the world, the more I know how LUCKY I am to have her... and how unique my experience has been with such a wonderful mom.

My sweet mom is having surgery today. And although I try not to be nervous.... I can't help it. I just thought I might 'let the digi-world know' about her.... maybe if you are able to include her in your thoughts & prayers - maybe the 'positive energy' will make a difference. She's been in the hospital for over a week now.... and her condition is not (hopefully) anything life-threatening.... but she's been in pain for too long now.... and this surgery should help.

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while.... there are SO MANY things (other than things about my mom) that I WANT to say.... but they will have to wait for other blogging days.

Thanks for all the support you've given ME.... and thanks for any prayers you might have to offer for my MOM.

{{{HUGS}}} for all of you!

P.S. The cute frame and heart are from Kim B.'s new kit: "Just Because" which she just released!

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Update: Since writing the above.... I've talked with my mom, and her surgery is now pushed back till Wednesday. (She's NOT very happy about having to wait evern longer.... but she trusts the doctors.) Her recovery will keep her in the hospital for at least a week or so AFTER her surgery as well.... (if all goes according to plan) so her hospital room is really becoming her 'home away from home.' Ugh.