The Gift that keeps on Giving.

This is a wedding gift I did for my friend's daughter. I wanted something unique to give them and this was it! It is divided into chapters; (1) wedding highlights; (2) first year including their first residence and major holidays; (3) their first thru tenth anniversary then every five years. I dedicated the last page to list children. These are a few of the pages..........

A New Chapter in my life.....

2009 and a new chapter in my life has begun. I have found myself becoming too rigid and dull in the last several years, with all that I do. I have suppressed my true talents and creativeness. I have not fully enjoyed life and what it has for me, like I used to do. Somewhere along the way, I got old. Not in age, but my pleasures and activities. I got a small taste of enjoyment and freedom when my friend Paula and I ran a bakery last year. When we had to give that up, I lost myself again.
I want to be more spontaneous again, not think so hard and beat myself up over decisions. I want to look at life with new eyes and really see what I have. I will not look back to see what I have missed, because I can not change what is done and it will just bring me down. I need to start anew and go forward.
I look forward to going to crops at my LSS every week. I love being with my friends and creating art. It is like a "happy pill" for me. I will spend more time with my Grandson and my children. I will start a book of ME

2008 Overview

I can't believe 2008 is gone. This has been an eventful year. John and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary on January 15th. I was given a 1-carat diamond! Whoo-hoo!!!!!My grandson, Grayson Luke, was born in February. What a joy he has brought to this family! He is crawling all over now and pulls himself up to whatever he can reach. Being a Gramma (Nanna) is so fulfilling and I look toward many more ( I hope)! We lost part of our family this year too. David Bowman (my BIL) became very ill and passed away the end of March. He will be sadly missed. I spent time with my sister and her family for a few weeks. Her and I are 13 yrs apart and really didn't grow up together, as she was in college when I was little. This trip was like making a new best friend! We found out how much we are alike and what our favorites are! It was fun, we have so many similarities. In August, she flew down and stayed with me a week. We went to a scrapbooking convention in Charlotte. It was great and our feet were killing us! Would we go again???? In a heart beat!Our eldest son, Matthew and his wife, Ashley celebrated their 2nd wedding anniversary in Oct. It was not long ago they were engaged and we had 2 yrs to plan a wedding. It's been 4 years since that moment and we even added a baby!Our family is ever growing with new members. My second son, Michael is now engaged and my daughter, Ashlyn just got engaged this Christmas! Two weddings to look forward to in 2010. My children are no longer little and the house is quiet, often. I had a difficult time with Christmas this year, I think the empty nest thing has appeared. No one to wake me up at the crack of dawn Christmas morning, wanting to open what Santa brought them. No messy room with torn wrapping paper and bows scattered. No screams of joy. Hmmm?Another year has begun and hopefully will be full of excitement and LOVE.