THANK YOU, FRIENDS

Thank you most sincerely for all your beautiful words of comfort and support after losing my Mom. Some of you sent gorgeous cards that truly served as a special reminder of your friendship. It's times like this when you realize how genuinely nice and caring people truly are. I deeply appreciate your kind expressions of sympathy in my time of sorrow. Losing my Mom has been quite traumatic for me but am taking it one day at a time trying to get used to my new normal. I am wrapping up the end of the year at work with inventory in my library. After that, I plan to get back in to my old stamping ways (after June 2)!

I could easily start posting iPICKS again, but am having major issues with Clipmarks. I recently upgraded Firefox only to find out that Clipmarks isn't compatible with it yet. I have loaded Clipmarks in to Internet Explorer, but can't get it to work. After clipping, the html code that I copy and paste in to my blog does not appear. I've contacted Clipmarks customer support but haven't heard back from them yet. If anyone knows a solution for me, I'd love to hear it. I'd even consider going back to the old version of Firefox but don't know how.

My beautiful Mom, Carol Ann Olson, lost her battle with brain cancer and passed away on April 12, 2011. I have been away from home since the 8th and am now spending some quiet time at home. Thank you for your kind words and prayers throughout my Mother's illness, and for our family. See my mom's obituary here.

UPSY SWEET SUNDAY SKETCH

I can't believe how out of whack I am in my stamp room these days! I've had some time to stamp the past couple of weekends and always hit a brick wall. This card sat at my work station all week unfinished. I finally had a chance to order some new Stampin' Up! product today ... I'm sure that will get the creativity flowing again. I'm hoping to get more stamping done over this long weekend! Wish me luck!

I used Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #104, along with Upsy Daisy stamp set, and Night & Day designer paper (retired).

RECIPE
Stamps: Upsy Daisy, sentiment from Create a Cupcake
Paper: Night & Day DP, Basic Black and Whisper White CS
Ink: Basic Black
Embellishments: 3/8" White Taffeta Ribbon, Clear Rhinestone Brad
Tools: Scallop Trim Border Punch

Click HERE to order the products used for this project 24/7.

I've been asked frequently about my daughter and my mom. I know many of you have continued to keep them both in your prayers! -- THANK YOU!!! My daughter Allie is doing fantastic! She is back to school doing all the things she once did! It's unbelievable to think about how far she's come in such a short time! God really performed a miracle! Allie has even spoken at church about her accident, and how God has been working in her life. They jokingly refer to her as "Pastor Allie"!

People ask me all the time how my mom is doing, and I'm never quite sure how to answer that. On one hand, we are very thankful that she is still with us and not in pain. On the other hand, this ugly cancer (glioblastoma brain cancer) is greatly effecting her quality of life. My mom and our family are still in great need of prayer. {thank you}

CHECKING IN ......

I've received many e-mails wondering where I've been and asking if things are OK. My daughter's recovery from her accident (see this post) is coming along very well. She's still doing physical therapy three times a week in hopes of regaining full range of motion in her arm. She has quite a bit of dental work still ahead of her, and isn't driving much yet. She can't wait to return to college in January!

My mom is terminally ill and not doing well. The glioblastoma brain cancer is extremely aggressive, and it's been a year of fighting it with two craniotomy surgeries, radiation treatment, two rounds of chemo, and yet the tumor continues to grow. It's a very sad time.

I haven't had time for, or an interest in, stamping and blogging ... my mind has obviously been elsewhere. I miss it, and know that someday I'll make time for it again. Thank you for your concern and prayers ... please bear with me .... I'll be back one day. (Also, thank you for your Stampin' Up! orders through my demonstrator website!).

Hugs~
Nancy

I'M BACK .... (sort of)

Although I haven't found time for stamping quite yet, I wanted to tell you all how Allie is doing! It's been one month since her accident, and she has come soooo far! She shows improvement every single day! Her arm is still in the sling, she has physical therapy three times a week, and movement in her arm is constantly increasing. Unfortunately, her schooling had to be put on hold for a semester ... an architect major needs both hands to do her projects! Although she'll be returning to college in the Spring, she will have to wait until Fall 2011 to start up with her design classes again. Thank you again for the outpouring of prayers and well wishes for Allie and our family! It's quite overwhelming reading all the comments left here on my blog .... I have the nicest readers!!!!!!

I have caught up on my blog reading and have many iPICKS to share with you since my last iPICK post on July 11 (there's some insanely talented stampers in blogland that keep iPICKS going!). I hate to make promises like this for fear I won't be able to follow through, but I'm planning an iPICK post every day until we're caught up!

A MIRACLE

Dear Readers,

I need your prayers like never before! Yesterday (7/20) at around noon my 18 year old daughter Allie was driving on the I-10 in Phoenix when a 4 ft. steel rod came from nowhere through her windshield and hit her collar bone ... spun her car into a 360 and ended horizontally across three lanes of traffic without touching another vehicle. Allie was rushed to a nearby hospital where they immediately took her to surgery for suspected life-threatening injuries. They feared severe damage to a major artery. Three hours later, we received the most incredible news ... no major damage to a major artery! God is quite the miracle worker!

Allie is still in ICU and we are preparing for another surgery in the next couple of days. They will be putting in two screws to her fractured collar bone. She is bruised, sore, some chipped teeth, and emotionally shaken.

Not knowing whether your child is going to live or die is something I hope no one ever has to experience. Add to this hysteria the fact that my son and I were thousands of miles away in Iowa. We were able to get a flight out and arrive in Phoenix at 1:00 this morning.

Please pray for Allie's recovery, my friends! Today is my birthday and I have received the most incredible gift from God !!! - my daughter! Allie's faith is strong, and she has many loving and supportive family members and friends.

Praise be to God! Love you all !!!
Love, Nancy

MARCH HIATUS

If you haven't noticed, I haven't stamped or blogged a single thing (except iPICKS) all month! Thanks for bearing with me during this non-creative month! I have been in charge of two large projects at my work, and was able to spend a week in Omaha with my mom during spring break. Your continued prayers for my mom in her fight against stage four brain cancer are greatly appreciated as she begins week five of radiation treatments. Each week has become more difficult but she has a great attitude, fantastic sense of humor, and is surrounded by loving, praying people.

Although I'm unable to play along until next weekend, be sure to stop by Karen Giron's blog for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #62! You can see what the other Sweet Sunday Sketch Team members have been creating ....

• Jennifer Tapler - she has a sick computer, so stop by and give her some love
• Joanne Basile - our special guest for March
• Karen Motz
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick

I'll be back tonight with iPICKS, and next weekend with some creative stuff made by me!

{{{ FEELIN' THE LOVE }}}

I can't tell you how much your encouraging words and prayers for my mom have meant to my family and me during the past few months. We received some devastating news a few weeks ago ... mom's brain cancer has advanced to a stage 4, and learned that the tumor had grown back larger than its original size from the December surgery to the January surgery. Please continue to pray for my mom as she begins radiation treatments and a chemotherapy drug to fight this aggressive cancer. Our family is large, our friends are numerous, and our faith is strong ... we are feelin' the love and support.

Sharing some love from friends in the form of handmade cards and written words ....

by Lynn Put ...by Lorri Heiling ...
by Karen Laub ...

PRAYERS FOR MY MOM

Many of you have been praying for my mom since she was diagnosed with brain cancer, and asking how she is doing. She will be undergoing another surgery on Friday, Jan. 22. I greatly appreciate your continued prayers and support.

UPDATE on MOM

So many of you have been asking about my mom ... THANK YOU for your words of encouragement, concern, and most of all, your prayers. My mom has been diagnosed with brain cancer. They will be surgically removing the tumor, followed by radiation treatments. Without going in to alot of detail, there's alot to be hopeful for! It's just a slow process, and we are currently waiting for surgery to be scheduled. I would very much appreciate your continued prayers for my mom (Carol Ann) and our entire family.

STILL AWAY

I'm still in Omaha with my mom (Carol Ann), and my return home is unknown at this time. They are running every test under the sun to find another primary site in hopes of not doing the risky brain biopsy. She was moved out of ICU on Friday. Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement! Keep 'em coming ... we could use a miracle!

I'll start up with blogging, iPICKS, and Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge when I get back home in a normal routine.

MY CREATIVE HUSBAND

So, you think I'm creative? I just had to show you what my husband does! These images are a sampling of his artwork which are computer generated images (CGI) using Vue and Photoshop software programs. John's occupation of landscape designer and professional photography background only enhance the keen eye he has for detail.

John just recently submitted some of his work in a gallery at www.zazzle.com/jrdesignsaz where you can purchase posters, mouse pads, etc. with his images. Expect more images to be added in the future! If you have any questions about his work, you can e-mail John at jrdesigns@cox.net.
Thanks for looking! I'll be back this evening with this week's iPICKS!

PROUD CARDINALS FANS

This photo is of my family ... my daughter Allie, me, my son Drew, and my husband John ... proudly wearing our Cardinals t-shirts. We celebrated Superbowl at family friends' John & Gaylene's house. That was some nail biter of a game, wasn't it?! A very disappointing loss for Cardinals fans, but we're very proud of what our team accomplished this year! I thought we had it in the bag after Fitzgerald's exciting touchdown! Imagine approximately 40 adults jumping up and down screaming at the top of their lungs! That was so exciting, and so disappointing to see them lose the game. There's always next year! We {heart} the Arizona Cardinals!

SADNESS

Yesterday, we had to do the most difficult thing we've ever had to do in our lives .... put our beloved pet Millie to sleep. It has been truly heart wrenching with many many tears shed. She was incredibly loyal, loving and obedient and has given us so much in her nine years. There couldn't have been a more perfect dog for our family.

RAKS from LORRI and GINNY

This first picture shows you why I've been away from my blog for a few days. As I've mentioned here before, I've been walking around with a painful heel spur since August. I've tried physical therapy and cortisone shots with no improvement. I had surgery the day before Thanksgiving and have pretty much been in bed since. To get around, I'm hopping on one foot with a walker and am very dependent on my husband and kids. THANKS for your well wishes in cyberspace, and to my weSTAMP girls and sister-in-law Norene who have been providing meals for our family this week .... they've been heaven-sent (and delicious too!). This first Happy Thanksgiving card is from my dear friend, Lorri Heiling. Lorri brought this beautiful card over on Thanksgiving Day, along with an entire meal for us! Sounds like she's delivering another one this afternoon. Lorri is one amazing friend! She is the probably the most giving person I know! Bless her heart!

Lorri even made one of the scallop punch turkeys for the outside of the envelope! (Notice that I already ate the peppermint patty!) This next gorgeous card is from fellow weSTAMPer, Ginny Schembri. This Apple Cider designer paper will always be one of my all-time favorites! I love the twill ribbon, buttons, and the way she colored the stamped images!
Thanks for stopping by! Have a GREAT day!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I'll be away from my blog for a few days, as I'm having surgery on my foot this morning. I'll be away until I'm feeling up to hobbling on over to my computer on crutches!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you and your family!!!!

SCS HOLIDAY TUTORIAL BLITZ

I've been bustin' at the seams to tell you this news! TODAY, I have a featured tutorial on SCS for their Holiday Tutorial Blitz! In fact, it's the Top News of the day on SCS's homepage!

Remember these altered junior legal pads/wish lists I made last Christmas? ... click HERE to see more. Beate Johns asked me to write a tutorial for them for Splitcoast! You can see the tutorial HERE. All week, SCS will be having their Holiday Tutorial Blitz with a new holiday project and tutorial every day.

It was an honor to be asked to write the tutorial, and Beate was such a pleasure to work with! She was very patient with this inexperienced tutorial writer!

The icing on the cake was this gorgeous RAK I received from Beate Johns! Beate used the Stampin' Up! Statement of the Heart stamp, along with the color combination of Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, and Chocolate Chip and Dazzling Diamonds on the stamped flower image.

I'M STILL HERE!

I haven't abandoned my blog ... just real busy being a mom of a senior in her last couple of weeks of marching band season! Last night was the last home football game, and it was also SENIOR NIGHT! The seniors are given crowns from Burger King, spray painted gold to wear that evening ... I know - sounds silly, but it is a big deal for the seniors to get to wear their crowns that night. During pre-game, each senior is announced, along with their parents/significant other family members, and their future plans. The seniors and their escorts walk onto the football field for special recognition. Here's a photo of John and I with our daughter, Allie. Allie plans to attend ASU to study the field of architecture.

This morning we headed to Flagstaff, Arizona for the Northern Arizona University marching band competition. Our kids' performance knocked our socks off! They were amazing, and only a half of a point away from receiving the much deserved rating of "superior". They also received a caption for music performance.

After the competition, John drove me to the famous Flagstaff scrapbook store, About Memories & More! I had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Kirsten Mead. What a treat! Kirsten is just as sweet and talented as she appears on her blog, About Memories & More ... AND, her store is AWESOME - FULL of the latest and greatest scrapbooking and paper crafting supplies! Kirsten and I have been following each other's blogs for quite some time. I can't tell you how fun it was to meet in person! She is a doll !!!!!!!!!!

Kirsten Mead and Nancy Riley

ALLIE'S SENIOR HOMECOMING and a TAG

This weekend was my daughter, Allie's senior homecoming dance. I just love this group of kids and had to share a photo here! Allie is in the center in blue. Remember my good friend, Paula? (see here, here, here, and here). Allie's date is Paula's son, and the other two girls in the photo are Paula's daughters, along with their dates. They all had a GREAT time!I received an "I love your blog! Happy Autumn!" award from Jenn at Designs By Boo. Please feel free to consider yourself tagged with this award and you can pick your own autumn themed photo here. Thanks for stopping by! I'm putting the finishing touches on my weSTAMP swap cards tonight for Tuesday night's meeting & swap.

FAMILY STUFF - NOT STAMPING RELATED

Today is my son Drew's 14th birthday! We celebrated by taking him and three of his friends out for lunch. They then saw a movie without John, Allie and me, and one friend is spending most of the weekend with us. I love the young man Drew is becoming ... he's got a wonderful sense of humor, and he's lovable, caring, and respectful. And even though he won't keep his hair as short as I'd like him to (LOL!), I love him and am very proud! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DREW !!!!

Allie is in the midst of her senior marching band season, and is at a band competition tonight. Last weekend, they received a rating of Excellent, and were awarded all their captions but one. Their show is really coming along! I just LOVE watching those kids perform!

You may remember me mentioning my foot problems that started the first part of August ... OR, if you're a local friend, you've watched me hobble, gimp, or walk with my left foot in tip toe position for two months! Thinking I could baby my foot myself and live with what I thought was plantar faciitis, I put off seeing a doctor for it until Thursday! (I know, I know ... ridiculous! ... I'm kind of stubborn that way!) The pain has become unbearable, and I know I'm screwing up other parts of my body by walking funny for so long. Come to find out, I have a heel spur and am starting physical therapy on Tuesday. If by three sessions, there's no improvement we'll be considering a cortisone shot or surgery. I understand that the cortizone shot in the heel is pure torture, and surgery is no piece of cake either (4-6 weeks on crutches). UGHHH!