HOPE is like a bird . . . . . .

My dear friends and fellow bloggers,

As some of you already know, this past week has been a difficult one for my husband Lee and me, as well as for our sweet greyhound Harley. Lee has been in the hospital for the last nine days, with a complication of an ongoing condition that has been under control for quite some time.

In between long and sometimes stressful stints at the hospital with Lee, I have managed to spend some time quiet time here at home with Harley who, despite being lonely, has been amazingly mellow throughout all of this. But productive, I have NOT been. And there has been very little time for my usual creative pastime (indeed, my "therapy") of cardmaking.

Nevertheless, because my Blog is also a creative outlet for me, as well as a valued connection to the outside world, I've been trying to continue to post a few entries during the past week. Not surprisingly though, I don't have many words right now to go with my blog entries, so I've been relying upon some of my favorite photos and photo memories, as well as some of my previous card creations and favorite quotes to carry the "messages" of my blog posts of late.

Tomorrow, Lee is scheduled to undergo another diagnostic procedure to help the doctors figure out what's causing this current health issue and to help decide where we need to go from here. Lee and I are both relieved that we now have a plan, and we are thankful to have a group of skilled and knowledgeable physicians involved in his care.

So it is with a hopeful and confident attitude that both Lee and I are approaching the next few days. Hence, the theme of my Blog post today is HOPE . . . . .

(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Until we meet again. . . . . may all your days be filled with hope.

INAUGURATION Day!

It's been over a week since I've posted a Blog entry, and I've missed my blogging!

Since my last post, I've been keeping busy with my cardmaking and various other tasks (read: "life"!) that demanded my attention, all the while obsessing about topics for future Blog posts! And indeed, I have a couple of ideas in mind for upcoming Blog articles.

But right now, what I'm most excited about is January 20th, INAUGURATION Day!

In all my adult life, I've never been much of a "political" person. REALLY. Now don't get me wrong. . . . .I've taken my right and my responsibility to vote quite seriously, and as nearly as I can recall, I've voted in every general election since I turned voting age (and that was MANY years ago!)

But I've never been registered with either major political party, I've never been a "dyed-in-the-wool" Republican or Democrat, I haven't actively campaigned for any candidate, nor have I "marched" for any particular cause.

Yet, this last presidential election has energized me, moved me, touched me, like no other ever has.

And like so many other fellow Americans, I am SO excited and SO hopeful that our new President and his administration can bring positive change once again to the United States of America.



I wish I could be in attendance at the actual Inauguration Ceremony to witness President-Elect Obama getting sworn into office, but since that's not possible, watching it on TV will have to suffice!

And I know I'm going to be glued to the TV to catch everything I can!











I feel so privileged to be living in a time when this exciting and momentous election has taken place. This is a time that I know for sure, "history is being made."

Until we meet again. . . . .May you, too, recognize and enjoy watching history in the making.

A Treasury of HOPE

Happy Thursday, Everyone,

I'm honored to have one of my favorite handmade cards featured in a lovely Etsy Treasury created by fellow Etsyan "Reflections"....the title of the Treasury is "Keep Holding On" and the overall theme is one of HOPE.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=10985

Please take a moment to stop by the Treasury........and make a comment if you wish.