Remembering Friends

Hello everyone!  It's been a while since I have posted anything.  Sorry about that, but you know me.  As always, I need to work on that.  Summer break is in three and a half weeks, so hopefully I can become more organized and get a post in every few days.  That would be nice because I miss doing it.  I can't believe that summer break is almost here!  The school year went so fast.  My sweet little girl, who is growing so incredibly fast, is going to be done with first grade!  Snif snif!  She's already 4 ft. 2 in. - just a foot and and inch shorter than me!  Was I that tall when I was her age?  Maybe Scott was.  I know I was pretty short.  Anyway, it's time to start planning my summer days.  I know I want to spend much time in my flower and vegetable gardens as well as flower gardens.  Art will be a daily occurance.  I need to reopen my Etsy shop and possibly create a web site.  That would be amazing!  I hope you are all enjoying the slow transition to spring.  It's been pretty grey and chilly here, but the warmth will be here soon!

Anyway, the title of this entry is remembering friends.  I have started a new project (just one of a few), and it will ultimately end up in the hands of my best friend.  Also, I gifted a present that I made for a friend who just finished her chemo treatments for breast cancer.  Friends, new and old, are fabulous parts of our lives, and they should be cherished and celebrated.  I am lucky that my two best friends from my school days still hang out with me four times a year.  Even though we live indifferent parts of the state, we still make time for one another.  Besides texting and talking on the phone, we make sure to have a ball every time to get together.  I know that I don't talk to anyone, or share things with anyone like I do them.  They are amazing, and I am so grateful to have them.  Betsy is one of my oldest friends.  She and I have been close since sixth grade.  We have shared so many crazy memories.  We roomed with one another for two years in college, were bridesmaids with one another, and probably know one another better than almost anyone.  She has been there for me when I needed her, and has brought me so joy.  We laugh and laugh and laugh whenever we get together.  I laugh harder with her than anyone else.  It's amazing.  So, I decided to create an art journal for her.  Within this art journal will be mementos, memories, trivia games, other games, photos, and art, art, and more art!  Below are a couple of the pictures I have created so far.

Hilarious moment!

I love flowers!

Jumble

Then I also gifted the paintings I made for a friend of mine who was undergoing chemo for breast cancer.  I would like to keep her name private.  She is an honorary sister along with my other sisters.  We all love her.  During her chemo, I regretably did not keep close contact with her.  She is closer to my older sister.  However, I did talk to her a couple of times.  But she was always in my heart and prayers.  I thought of her often, and that is what inspired me to create the following paintings.  She is an amazing woman who takes everything with grace, has a positive attitude like nobody I have ever met, and creates joy in the lives of those she knows.  So I created these paintings as a reminder of her joy, and the positivity which she bestows on others.  I think I have already posted these, but I iwll post them again for context.  So far she is tumor free, and will have a double mastectomy later this month.

So, the point of this entry is to remind you to cherish and enjoy those who have been there for you, whether they are new or old.  Thank them for their love and support.  Let them know how much they mean to you.  You never know when they may not be there.  Enjoy life!

Until next time, may there be peace and happiness in your life ~S.