In Memory of Dad......

Yesterday was my father's 82nd birthday, but he left this world 24 years ago.  I still miss him and when I visualize his smile, I tear up EVERY time.  I'm glad that I was not a disappointment to him.  He believed in working hard and going after what you wanted to do in life.  I did,  and I would not have changed anything.  He would have still been proud of my sister and I today, 24 years later.  

What is success?  Is it having the best job, the best husband, the best house, the best children?  Or is it  being a good person; charitable, a good wife and mother, a good neighbor, and a happy, responsible, hard working soul committed to the Lord?  A house should be a home, a gathering place for family, clean and well kept, but it doesn't have to be mansion.  On our day of reckoning, when He reviews our life and what we did with it....will he say, "Well done."?  That, my friends, will be success.

Barb

From Scrappin' to Sewin'.......

I am going on vacation in about 5 weeks!  So, I have this great craft room that I scrap, sew, sketch and paint in.  It is a pretty good sized room, but I have removed most of my paper crafts into baskets for the next couple of weeks.......so I could SEW!  We are flying to London, staying there a few days and then renting a car and driving up into Wales & Scotland.  Then we will drive back to down into Southampton and embark on a 7 day transatlantic cruise on the Queen Mary 2.  It seems this ship operates a little differently than the past cruises we have gone on.  It is usually casual every night,  except for the 2 formal nights.  But, this one has FOUR formal nights, 1 semi-formal night, and 2 elegant casual nights.  My husband, Jim will have to wear a jacket EVERY NIGHT!  He is okay with it, though, really.  So, I have decided to make some dresses.  I went overboard at the fabric store and there is now 15 yards of fabric I have to turn into "something" by the end of August!  I have the top of the black satin gown finished, now just to sew on the bottom and put in the zipper.  It is looking good! The next will be a silver sequin jacket and gray skirt, then the taupe lace, shantung and satin 3 piece suit, the black shantung and snakeskin print sheath dress for semi-formal, and finally 2 shrug jackets to top off the black satin gown, so I can accessorize differently, being able to wear the gown twice! I also have a couple of bags to make that will lie flat in the bottom of my suitcase!  It is fun, though, isn't it?  I love to CREATE.....from paper to fabric to canvas!  Happy Crafting, for whatever you do, and however it turns out, it IS an original, made by you, and it made you very happy creating it.  Peace and be happy!

Barb