Family Servicemen

Several years ago I did this layout in honor of Memorial Day and our family servicemen:

Both my Dad and Jack's served in the U.S. Navy. Mine achieved the rank of Quartermaster and served in the Pacific during WWII aboard an LST; Jack's worked his way up through the ranks to Chief Petty Officer.

Jack's great grandfather fought in the Civil War for the Confederacy. My grandfather entered the U.S. Army right out of college, but was discharged after three months when WWI ended.

Jack himself served in the Air Force as a supply troop, and did a tour in Viet Nam, keeping our planes in the air. He made SSgt in his 4-year hitch. Our older son, Paul, served in the Air Force during the first Gulf War and in fact was assigned TDY (temporary duty) to Kuwait where he photographed President Clinton.

The men and women of our military have joined for reasons as diverse as they are, but they are all amazing -- well-trained, brave, smart, enthusiastic, courteous (ever been on a military base?). They deserve our respect and our support and our appreciation; and they certainly have mine!

Cards for Operation Write Home

Just sent my first batch of cards to Operation Write Home. I love this organization! They send big boxes of handmade cards to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan (and at sea) who have requested them, so they can have a supply of unique cards to send to their loved ones back home. I had so much fun making these with odds and ends of kits that I've pretty much used up for layouts. I also found a use for little pieces I created when I was testing a new technique.

The rules are pretty simple (see operationwritehome.com) -- no glitter for safety reasons, A2 size preferred, envelope not needed, and just a few other small and easy requests. I just received the free "Operation Write Home" stamp I requested too -- so I should be good to go for future batches. I'm hooked now!

Big Mess, Little To Show for It.

I dragged out stamps, inks, alphas, scraps, Cricut, patterned paper, embossing powders, cardstock and probably more stuff I can't remember to make one stinkin' Congrats card.

And that's not even the stuff spread out all over the dining room table. Did I finish the card? Ummmm. no. I got as far as paper piecing a cute owl and choosing paper. It's not going to be anything spectacular; so I'm not sure why I'm agonizing over it!

5/23/11 follow up

Here's the end product. I really don't care much for it, but it will have to do as it needs to get out. Some days I am just NOT inspired, ya know?



Flowers for Mom

I get love and cards and calls from my children; but Jack and I both miss our Moms and think about them, especially on Mother's Day. This year Jack decided he was going to buy flowers for his Mom; so this is what has been gracing our table since Mother's Day:

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I think it's a lovely idea; and I sure am enjoying Jennie Mae's flowers! I miss my own mother, who died before I turned 12; but I was fortunate to have a wonderful mother-in-law, who taught me a lot about being a mother-in-law myself. Happy Mother's Day to Jennie Mae and Mary Louise!