In Remembrance of Mom

This is my second Mother's Day since I lost my mom to brain cancer and there isn't a day that goes by that I am not thankful for each and every precious moment I had her. This picture speaks to her playful sass and fun-loving nature. The hand cut chevrons to move the focus toward the photo. The  heart punched from vellum reminds me of her heart, and the sentiment reminds me of her watching over me from heaven. This one's for you, Mom!

"How Wonderful Life Is" layout supplies:

Glitz Design "77" papers: Floral, Feather

Glitz Design "77" 6x6 paper pad

Glitz Design "77" Titles & Accents sticker sheet

Glitz Design "77" Alphabets & Words sticker sheet

Glitz Design "77" Whatnots

Glitz Design "Carpe Diem" Giant Rhinestones

Glitz Design "Carpe Diem" washi tape - mint chain

Glitz Design "All Dolled Up" washi tape - cherries

other: cardstock, vellum, puffy letter stickers, sequins

Happy Birthday, Mom

happy birthday mom

A Year Ago

This week was another tough one for me, sorting out and reflecting on all that happened last year. Losing both of my parents quite suddenly just three weeks apart, from two different fatal diseases. This week marked the one year anniversary of losing my mom to glioblastoma multiform. She was 59 years old, just 8 days away from her 60th birthday. My mom had an explosive and contagious laugh. She was always knitting hats and making blankets for the babies in the intensive care unit. She was frank, spunky and a little unpredictable. We were blessed to take care of her everyday from the time of her brain surgery to the day she died. We laughed a lot, cried some, and made the most of every moment we had left. I love you mom. 

Mom is the pouty one in front.

On her wedding day




with the four of us kids

Mom with one of her doggies

mom & I


Almost all of the family (minus one brother)

Always the jokesters 

Mom & Dad celebrating dad's 60th birthday, just 10 days before she found out she had a brain tumor.

The tumor, that she nicknamed "Fred"

Mom & Dad with all of the grandkids

"Team Jackie" shirts
"My biggest problem is that the left part of my brain 
has nothing right in in, 
and the right part of my brain 
has nothing left in it."

If you have to cut your hair off, you might as well make it fun.

Emma lending Grum her hair 

Mom visiting Dad in the hospital

Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord;
and let your perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the Mercy of God,
Rest in Peace.
Amen

Moments in Time

In honor of Mother's Day this week's Glitz Theme focuses on the women in our lives. After I lost my mom, I spent some time going through all of the photos I'd taken of her over the years. My mom was always making things for people in need, and when I shot this photo she was knitting hats for the newborn babies at a local hospital. The Glitz cardstock sticker summed it up perfectly, "I will never forget this moment in time." As we approach Mother's Day, may remember to treasure those moments in time with the precious women in our lives. 

Be sure to check out the Glitz Blog to see all of the inspiring creations celebrating the women in our lives.

Glitz Design "Uncharted Waters" paper: Damask

Glitz Design "Uncharted Waters" 8x8 Paper Pack

Glitz Design "Uncharted Waters" Cardstock Title Stickers

Glitz Design "Uncharted Waters" Washi Tape - Anchors

Glitz Design "Uncharted Waters" Rubber Stamps

Glitz Design "Love You Madly" Cardstock Title Stickers

Glitz Design "Love You Madly" Washi Tape - Lace

Glitz Design "Love You Madly" Peek a Boos

Glitz Design "Hello Friend" Washi Tape - Coral

Glitz Design "Hello Friend" Peek a Boos 

Glitz Design "Yours Truly" Crepe Trim

other: card stock, pins, dot stickers, embossing plate, ink, doily

Not Out of the Ordinary

The past few weeks life has been filled with extraordinary moments of ordinary life. Beautiful sunrises out my bedroom window, my Grandpa's baptism, Holy Week and Easter to name a few. Since it is not out of the ordinary for me to fall behind on posting my photos, I figured I would update with just Instagram shots from my phone (and two shots from a year ago today).

I've been taking a friend of mine to the University of Washington for her radiation appointments. As she battles through colon cancer, we try to enjoy the artwork at the UW and the glory of everyday life.













Good Friday hairdo






Lighting the Pascal Candle


My newly baptized Grandpa at the Easter Vigil Mass


Easter Sunday










Daffodils 


A year ago today
Snowgoose Produce Ice Cream with my mom






A little something for my husband's love of cats... {cough}


Walking through Costco, this shirt display reminded me of my dad. He wore these nearly everyday.

“On the third day the friends of Christ coming at daybreak to the place found the grave empty and the stone rolled away.  In varying ways they realized the new wonder; but even they hardly realized that the world had died in the night.  What they were looking at was the first day of a new creation, with a new heaven and a new earth; and in a semblance of the gardener God walked again in the garden, in the cool not of the evening but of the dawn.”  -G. K. Chesterton, The Everlasting Man