Hi There!! A Little Bit Of This And That!!

Well hello there my crafty friends!!!  This blog is in some serious need of TLC and TLC it will get!!  There have been so many changes in my life since I last sat down to write, some things really great and some things really not great.

I will start off with what is very near and dear to my heart and that is my great niece Briana.  Back in the beginning of summer Bri was diagnosed with stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma.  Now mind you, she is only 2 years old, and she is one of the bravest 2 year olds I know.  She has just finished what we hope will be her last round of chemo.  She still has a long road ahead, so please keep her in your prayers!!

In July we lost my nephew Joey.  He was 16.  His passing was unexpected and has left a huge hole in our hearts.  Joey's parents are really hurting right now, so please keep my brother and his ex-wife in your prayers.  No parent is meant to bury a child.  I remember the day he was born, holding him in my arms when he was just hours old, and then having to say good bye to him.  It is just not fair.

I have also had a change in my job situation.  I no longer work at the local high school here.  The kiddo that was my main responsibility turned 22 and "aged out".  So that left me with out a job.  I was able to secure another position within the same school corporation, but now I am with little kiddos and not high school kiddos.  This also meant that I lost my full time hours, which meant I also lost my health care benefits, which were really good.  So I was able to get on my husband's health care plan, which really sucks.  Chasing these little ones is much different than high school students and there is only one word to describe it....  EXHAUSTING!!!

With all the stress on our family, there is bound to be drama, and there has been a lot of it.  It is unfortunate and it saddens me that people who are supposed to be grown adults refuse to take responsibility for some of their actions.  They are more than willing to shout from the roof tops (or hide behind an email) and spout off on all the wrong doings of others with out taking some responsibility for their own part in the drama.  But, I have stood up, because I can, and reached out to those family members who are hurting right now, and for that I have been chastised and called evil.  But that's ok, because I can get up in the morning, look myself in the mirror, and with honesty say, I've done good.  You see, you can lie to all those around you, but you can't lie to the face looking back at you in the mirror.

My grandbabies are growing like weeds!!  Khloe is in 1st grade, Liam is in Kindergarten and Penelope turned 2 in July!!  Penelope did have another pretty hard seizure that required me to call 911 because she decided to stop breathing on me.  Shortly after that incident, Penelope was attacked by a dog at the baby sitter's requiring 6 stitches on her face, and still has major bruising weeks later.  Needless to say, the dog is no longer there.

I really need to thank my friends, those who live here locally and those who are part of my online crafty community.  This has been a very difficult few months for my family and most of you stood by and supported me through all of this.  There were many events that I missed, but our family needed time to disconnect and heal.  To spend some quality time together because we are not promised tomorrow.  A few people didn't understand and took things personally and for that I am sorry.  It is my sincere hope that they never have to suffer through what our family has had to endure these past months.

On a happier note, I have been on the design team for 7 Gypsies and Tattered Angels, which is owned by a company named Canvas Corp Brands.  I have had a lot of fun working with their products!  I may also have a surprise announcement for you all later in October!!

But my grown up kids are doing great, Kevin and Katrina are doing great, Kevin is still teaching and Katrina is still working for a physical therapist.  Samantha is still working as a social worker in Columbus and........  Donnie moved back home from Evansville!!  So, we are no longer empty nesters again, kinda!!  He is never home, so we don't really see him!!  Jim is still working hard as a retail manager and I am arting up a storm!!!  My mom's house down in Florida survived hurricane Irma with minimal damage, and for that we are very thankful.  That is her little piece of paradise and it would of been heartbreaking for her to have lost that.

I was watching a video the other day, and for the life of me I can't remember who it was.  But they said something to me that just grabbed me.  So often I hear people say, (even myself) I can't do that!  Well I am here to say yes you can,  you need to  BEGIN, BELIEVE and BECOME!!!  I think you are going to hear that a lot from me!!!  So be on the look out!!

And before I sign off here, I just have one thing left to say, and I've seen this sign all over my neighborhood, and it says:  Just Be Nice.....  so to all of you, go out and do something crafty and JUST BE NICE!!!  It's really not that hard!!!

Always,

Leslie