Reflections of the last year 2008….

2008 found its way in, in a big old hurry and it seems to want to make it out of here with a big bang… We have had snow, rain, freezing rain and wind like you can not believe this winter… Or maybe you can as it seems that everyone is getting hit with it in one way or, another…


Life has this way of making you think about what you want out of it... I want to be healthier for the rest of my life so, the treadmill and I are going to become better friends...:0) I have a lot of great friends and family in my life and online as well and I want to Thank all of you for always being around when I have needed you...

This year has had its ups and downs for all of us… We lost our nephew in January at the age of 19 he was too young and will greatly be missed…

My BIL and SIL celebrated their 24th anniversary…

In spring...
My online friend TOS Sharon showed me some neat new tricks for clickable links on my PC…

The in-laws found their way home again all tanned up from the sun in AZ….

I won an online contest and got some of my very first HM stamps…:0) I also got the chance to help out at the stamp show in Portland for Auntie Amys Embossing Arts I bought some awesome new rubber with my day of work… It was the first time that I got to teach anything stamping related… What fun!

I started working on my own personal goals for my weight loss/health it has paid off in a few ways and I still have a ways to go before I can reach all my goals… Thank you for all the support that you have given me friends and family I need all the help you can give me… We bought a treadmill in May and I have been working on my weight even harder… Thanks to my sister and my BIL I got my treadmill sooner than I could have because, they gave me an advance in pay I work for them cleaning their business…

Let see we went on vacation in April to CA., NV. UT. and AZ. it was so much fun and the best two weeks away ever... I got the chance to go on the U.S.S. Midway and see what Navy life was like for my DH… It was one of those things that you will never forget… I highly recommend it if you get a chance to do it… We also went to day at the dock and had a blast…
Then one of our niece's got married no, we where not there...:0( She got married when we where on vacation… That is two down and two to go...

July came in with a bang we spent the fourth together just the two of us for the first time in a long time because we spend most years with DH’s brother, his wife and family at their fourth party but, this year they where away camping…

Then I got the early morning call that my grandmother had passed…. She will be missed by many… She passed one week before her 90th birthday… I flew back to MI. to be with my family as they laid her to rest… It may have been one of the hardest things I have ever done… I hope that she knew just home much I loved her…
I flew out the night of our fifteenth anniversary…

We made it to fifteen years of wedded bliss… What? Where did the time go? It has been a wild ride and I have no regrets at all and would do it all over in a heart beat…

I came home from MI. and got really sick and slept for two days straight it could have been the flying the weather or, the fact that I lost grandma and it all came to head…

My sister had spinal cord surgery in August and I took a week off to be with her at her side to help out as much as I could… She came through it very well and was cracking jocks shortly after surgery…

We went for some great outings around the state and I played with my new camera that we bought this year…:0)

My sister and her husband became grand parents the last day of September to the sweetest, cutest, cuddly little girl named McKenna Mae… I became a great auntie but, like I said lets face it I was already a great aunt…:0) Our family is so very blessed to have her join it…

DH and his brother went away to Las Vegas for a convention and they came home with new tattoo’s and fun stories about what they had seen and done… They did get the chance to go to the NHRA drag races while there and to breakfast with the ladies of drag racing…
We spent Turkey day just the two of us and it was great…

Made a trip out to see the Christmas lights...:0))))

I made cards for the troops this year again it feels good to do something… God bless them all… My brother is still in the A.F. and serving our great country…

Christmas was fun we opened gifts here at home and then headed to my sisters house… We spent the day with them and it was a white Christmas here... Games a food and fun was had by all...:0)

My birthday was a hoot at my BIL and SIL house we had pizza and drinks, played dice for hours and I won one game..:0) My SIL won seven and my BIL won five I joked and told them that they did not need to let me win...LOL

I have learned a lot this last year and hope to learn and grow in more was this next year... My love for my DH has grown more and my family has become even closer and I hope that they both keep on this path...
I hope that you all had the best year possible and that the next year is even better yet...

Happy New Year!

reflections:0)

Happy Birthday to me!

It is my Birthday!!! I am 36 today age has never been a big deal to me I mean after all it is just a number... Someday I feel really old and others just as young as the day I ran trough the sprinkler when I was a kid or, stayed out side building a snowman in the cold... I got some great flowers and ballons from my sister and her family and my DH made me a card...:0) A few phone calls and emails have come in wishing me a Happy one... I will be spending the rest of the day with my SIL and BIL having dinner and drinks as well as playing games... I need to make a call to my cousins wife and wish her a Happy one as well she is one year younger than I am...

I will have my reflections of the last year in a day or so... I did this last year as well just kicking back and reflecting on all the things of this last year....


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My Christmas loot!

My beloved got me a 14 K white gold chain from Harry Ritchie's for the pendant that I got on our anniversary a few years ago... I put them together in the box for the photo...;0) He also got me the inks that you see Ranger distress inks, Martha's, Color box and Origami book (because I have never done it before)... Five new yummy Stickels colors Yellow, Lime green, Orange peel, Fruit punch and Cinnamon... 15 packs of the Studio G stamps Series 25... Stumps for color with my pencils a stump sander and my very own hammer so, I will stop taking his...LOL He also stuffed my stocking with all the candy, gum and that cute little rooster which came named Booster the rooster....LOL He knows just how much I love roosters and he knows my tastes...
The iPod and nano and the iHome came from my sister and her family... The iPod is the 16GB and she had it engraved with:--- Merry Christmas Love the Bender's --- on the back... She know just how hard I have been working on the treadmill to loose weight and she thought that this could help me to work out even longer... Love you sis....:0)
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7up contest that was local...

I did not win but, I had fun making a card that used 7up in it... I had a 7up stamp and that was the funny part... I put it inside the snow globe stamp that I had...
The bottle has green and red Stikles on it...

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Happy Holidays!

Well, it has been a long time... I am home and not feeling at the top of my game today so, I thought I would post here today seeing as how it has been well over a month since my last post... Sorry, I know I have been away but, I have been great up until two days ago when I came down with this chest cold(I think that is what it is)... Thank you, for the E-mails...:0)

The first card you have seen before it was my prototype for our Christmas cards this year and it went to my sister...
Then the others are the ones I ended up sending out as well...

The image stamp is and Auntie Amys Embossing Art stamp
Warm Wishes stamp unknown it was RAK'd to me thanks, Linda M...
C.B. folder snowflakes
Stickles diamond
Ribbon is Kirkland from costco

reflections:0)

Thank you vets!

To all of our men and women that serve and or have served this great country that we get to live in... A Veterans Day thank you to all... God speed!...

The jets will fly over soon... I just love the sound of them it truly is one of the sounds of freedom to me...

My lil brother is in the A.F. and is serving in Turkey, then off to Ice land or, was it Green land either way, God Speed lil brother! You are in my heart...

My D.H. was in the Navy and he comes from a long line of Navy men... I am sure that you read my blog last year about this so, I will not go into it again because, I feel the very same way today that I did last year...

The only new thing is this year we got a new F150 last month and D.H. got Retired Navy plates for it... I am so very proud of him for his service...

Hug your hero's!

Incase you missed it 2007.....>> http://flexies.blogspot.com/2007/11/wishing-you-happy-veterans-day.html

This year we got to go on the U.S.S. Midway when we were in San Diego on vacation... It truly was awesome for me... Below you will find a few shot that my D.H. and I took while on board and walking around the off the the carrier in the park...

Thank you! reflections:0)

Fall 2008

I love fall color so very much that I talked my beloved into going for a ride on his weekend to the coast... I snapped photos as we drove over the mountain, I was looking for the awesome reds but, I could not find any... I will be on the look out for taking more fall photos with red in them next time...
enjoy, reflections:0)

A little treat...

My sisters little one is getting these goodies from her auntie and uncle on Thursday with a card... It has the candies Airheads inside it... She likes them so, i thought that they would be a great treat for her...


The idea for the wrapper came fro a blog I like to read... Link below.... http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/dawns_stamping_thoughts/2008/10/sunday-share-10-12-08.html

Thanx for looking, reflections:0)

Take hop over....

Stacy has Birthday candy going on over on her blog... Hop on over and take a peek.... What a hoot because, I loved these stupid little dolls when I was a kid... I found some up in the attic and asked what they where and I was told wishniks... Well I had to have one back then...LOL

http://stacysmemorytriggers.blogspot.com/2008/10/got-trolls-blog-candy.html



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Are back yard is coming along...

Can you stand a little look into my back yard and a new photo's of my boy...:0)

Fall is in the air!...

Friday Sketchers Blog #23...
Here is the card I made today for the sketch over at Friday Sketchers Blog. It truly was a lot of fun making this one. I had not used either of this two stamps before today...:0)

Image: is Auntie Amy's Embossing Arts
Sentiment: Studio G, Happy Thanks Giving
Ink: Versafine, Onyx Black
Pencils: Prismacolor, baby oil & stumps
PP: Slab II
Ribbon: Black, Gold, White w/gold; all unknown maker

Here is a link to there blog sketch if you would like to play along.
http://fridaysketchersblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/friday-sketchers-sketch-number-23.html

Thanx, reflections:0)

More cards made for

2P's SOF challenges this last week... The first five snow cats are also going to Gina K.'s card for troops challenge I will have more some more to go along with them...:0)

Thanx, reflections:0)

Have you gone pink yet?

I have many friends that have been effected by cancer, a few by Breast Cancer and I hope that you will join me in going pink... I went pink a few days ago but, you can still go pink for the month as well... October is national Brest Cancer Awareness month make the pledge and join me in going pink...

Here is link for you to make your pledge and get downloads... http://pinkforoctober.org/downloads/



TOS~ this year I am going pink in honor of you... Best of luck my friend!

Thanx, reflections:0)

More cards from WCMD!

I made these cards for over at 2P's for the challenges that they have going on...

This first one is a Flourishes, Three things, Cut it out, Cuttlebug, Make it sparkle challenge.

This one is for the "You're such a character" challenge and will be sent to Sandy for the Hero's.

This one is for the Vintage lace Holiday challenge with real lace...:0)
This one falls under the Holidays, Make it sparkle, Cuttlebug. The Ribbon looked fine before the photo off to fix that..LOL
This one is my Fat Book Page... My very first one...:0)
This one is for Spiders Galore, Make it sparkle. The spiders also have Stickles on them in Black but, you can not see it well in the photo.

Thank you for looking, reflections:0)

WCMD Challenge...

This last Saturday was World Card Making Day. I made a few cards and this is one more I made for a challenge over at http://iheart2stamp.com/ I{heart}2stamps blog... What is it with me and detail stamps to make the card just so... I had no tee stamps so again I went to work drawing them out well, they are not to bad I guess... It is not like my BIL will really care and it is totally the thought that counts right! the ball is done with a punch and C.B. folder stamps are Lizzie Anne Designs. I do have a space over SCS but, I do not really know how to use it I hope that just posting here is okay Jen...

A few new cards.

I made this first one for Meg's card "I want candy!" post. I drew the coffee beans I thought I had a bean stamp but, I do not so, next best thing draw them...

Cocktails card is for my SIL I will send it to her in a few weeks but, she is not a PC so, I can post it now because, she will never see it...LOL All $1 stamps...Sweet little get well card...

Updated: The Starbucks Stamp comes from Viva Las Vegas stamps and the cup comes from Stamps N' More. The cup had Boxes on it that said Shot of Joy, Whip of Fun, Quiet Moment but, I masked them out...

It has been a long time...

I needed some down time and I am sure I still need more but, friends and family have E-mailed and asked if I am okay so, I said I would post to let you all know what is going on some what...

My sister did really well and is getting stronger and back to her self more and more every day... We had a little LOL in or texts a few weeks ago because, she has always been the fit one and I was kicking her butt so to speak on the pace and time on the treadmill... LOL Sorry, sis but, this maybe the only time I ever out exercise you in my life so, I had to tell everyone...:0)

I have hit the wall hard this last month I thought my blues had gone away but, they have not... So, whats a girl to do when this happens? No really, tell me if you know... I need to go see my doctor but, I do not like to go and I hate taking anything... Maybe there is another way...

Yesterday, I became a great auntie to a cute and cuddle little girl named McKenna Mae. We are so very blessed to have her in our family... I told her first thing that I am the fun auntie and that we are all crazy in the family and to hang on and that we love each other like mad no matter what...LOL
She came into the world at 10:40 a.m. and is 8lbs 11oz and 21" long she has dark hair and more than likely brown eyes but, she would not open them for me and I forgot to ask...
I went to the hospital to see her and I was the only one with her mommy and daddy at the time so, I held her for the longest time hard for me but, so worth it...


Thank you for caring! reflections:0)

My sister is doing well...

Yesterday we got up around 4 a.m. to go to the hospital because, my sister was having her spinal cord surgery to remove a tumor. This was the second time she has had spinal cord surgery the last time was ten years ago...
She arrived at the hospital a little late but, DH and I where already waiting for her. We got to see her for a little bit and then she went back for the surgery... She came through it really well... We did not get to see her until around 3 I think it was...
She had way less swelling this time around in her face... She had some in her hands and right arm but, that was from an I.V. that did not stay in place... She said that hurt worse than her neck did last night... Her oldest rubbed her hand for her and it helped...

She got the best room in the hospital no joke... She had the room in the new wing that they said the hospital president would get if something was wrong with them... They asked her who she was and how she got the room...LOL The view was great from her room!

She was talking to us and laughing and making jokes from 3 to 5 before we headed back home a little over and hours drive...

The day before we went up she said she was coming home at 9 p.m. that night...:0) YGG!
They told her she would be staying the night yesterday...

She called me this morning and she is coming home already...:0) It is her personal best as she calls it, last time she was in for two days :0), and they told her she would be in for a week...

Thanks, for the E-mails, calls and texts! Sorry, I did not update sooner...:0)

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We went for a little drive...

We went for a little drive on our last weekend together two weeks ago... LOL Not so little it was an all day trip as we went over the mountains... We had a nice visit with a friend and drove back home in the same day... DH even got a little fishing in...
DH has odd days off mid week so, this month I change my clients around and have his days off as well...:0)

I got to play with my newish camera while on our ride... it is a Canon Power Shot S5 IS, just incase you wanted to know... What do you think?