Love love love

Hello dear friends~  I am so glad you chose to stop in today, and I truly thank you for taking time to visit my blog.

 There is something troubling me, and I really don't know how to approach this except just to say it;
My mother is very ill.
  She has been weak for quite some time and very inactive.  She has also battled cancer for years
and it is taking it's toll on her and my dad - her care giver~
Life has been so full of challenges for me; especially  these past 6 years. So much "trying of my faith" and so much testing of myself- my courage and strength . . .
And all with  'just enough  time'  in-between to keep me from truly falling under the weight.  Perhaps that is a bit dramatic; but maybe a little justified too.

And what of blogging?  I've been away so long, and lately wanting to follow my heart and get back into 'creating' and sharing things with all of you.  But serious and difficult things can re-align us!
and lead us "elsewhere"  once again.
Some of us blog to share art, some to share life lessons and stories, and many - to do both!  And my heart is here, but
my 'life' may not lend to it right now.  We shall see~
I may need to go back to Colorado soon (temporarily) and help any way I can.  I should know soon.

So for now,  I will share 'past' posts and creations, and that will have to be enough for me : )
Thank you for looking!

This is my mom, Emilie Juliette, and my dad, George Joseph - their High School graduation pics.
They met in 6th grade.  YES! And fell in love and never looked back <3
I made this collage as a small gift for her several years ago.  A layer of cardboard & heavy cardstock, layers of scrapbook papers, lace, linen stamping and distressing~

Here they are on wedding day of course.  Isn't she so beautiful!?
This is a page from a small album that I actually made for - - myself!  It holds wedding pics from both mine and my late husbands family.  Perhaps I can share more from the album another time~
 My page here is a mix of ribbon, layered paper, a painted chipboard butterfly, and all the flowers were hand made by me.  I really enjoyed creating this.~  <3


I'm hoping to enter this page into Wen's Simply Neutral Tuesday party~
I wish you would take a moment and stop in to see what she is sharing from other bloggers in the way of  "neutrals" just click on  -->         http://appleapricot.blogspot.com/   

Thank you so much for peeking in! I appreciate you : ) and hope you have a blessed and beautiful day~
Love and hugs,  Karen O

Support~

To my dear sweet friends and acquaintances~
     It has been quite a journey for me; since I last blogged well over a year ago~
When my younger daughter was killed in that auto accident (10/16) my life was changed forever.
And since then, I have felt a little bit like - -an onion (for lack of a better analogy).
Ever- - So- - Slowly,  the layers peeling away - and revealing what God is re-creating in me;
 as I yield my heart to the lessons that are opening up~

and so, my heart wants to go on and on - pondering and talking of all that I have learned through this 'crushing event';
but space and time will not allow me at the moment...  SO - let me address what is on my heart and mind concerning all of you - - my blog-world friends : ) <3
"SUPPORT"
I'm not really one for 'picking a word'  ; )
 - but this is my word for you.  Support.  I have received so much from the blog community that
It left me speechless for a long time~  You have reached out to me with loving kindness and
sincere gestures of  sympathy and - - support.  Thru your comments, e-mails to check on me, and even  creative gifts sent right to my door - I have received love and uplifting, encouraging help.  You are women of a generous spirit - who take this art of blogging to an emotional level; by your outreach and care.

I realize we are friends 'from a distance' - since we come from 'all over the world' (literally) and many of us have never met each other.  But you bring more than just creativity, inspiration and ideas for the things we have in common (... <3 art ...) you also bring (the universal word) LOVE into the equation - and I cannot thank you enough for all the Love I have felt along this last year~~
Thank you so very very much.

In case a few may be wondering, I am now living in the north western part of Montana, USA. I am still working full-time from home as before (accounting) but I am now just minutes away from my elder daughter and her family; as well as my (widowed) Son-in-law and grandkids.  This is soo healing for me~
  It is a snowy and beautiful place to be!  And Spring arrives at a slower pace here - but with it comes the hope of warmth and Summer ahead.  So;  I'm waiting for April . . . <3

I want to share just a few of the things I received from the beautiful hearts out there~
Lets hope I can find the photo's and post them here!  I no longer have the type of computer I was used to for blogging -so I'll need time to learn a different route~ (you will notice the lighting and camera need work : )
 From dear wonderful Karen  @ Todolwen blog.   http://www.todolwen.ca/

She sent me a beautiful gift at Christmas ~ this tiny box (maybe 3-4inches,) personally addressed
to me <3   My photography does Not do this lovely piece justice.
You really can't see all the gorgeous details here - but this is on her blog as well. I encourage you to stop by and see her amazing work~
She included some lovely sheet music snowflakes and wonderful card.

 I also received something from my dear friend Ivana, @ papergirl crafts https://papergirlcrafts.blogspot.com/
an assortment of the sweetest softest card-making supplies!  She has been so good to me over the years I've known her.  Taking interest in my hearts concerns; sharing with generosity, and keeping in touch.

 

Dear dear Marie at lost bird studio  http://marie-lostbirdstudio.blogspot.com/
sent me a gift a few weeks ago; and it has been the focus of my first 'creation' in over a year; albeit a simple one~
She sent gorgeous laces and ribbon, vintage paper-people : ) some metal, some vintage buttons., tags, & on and on!  And if the next image looks familiar - she had shared/started this collage on her blog in her Feb 13th post - and included it in my package~

 

It is a very cool vintage style gift bag with the butterfly girl,   and on her wings it said:
CREATE  ART
So, I did! : )
I made her some paintbrushes (toothpicks,) and I added some canvases for her to work on : ) using some of the things Marie included in my gift.

 

I am blessed more than words can say. 
And I wish you all so much love and Gods very best for the coming new year~
Hugs and blessings,
Karen