Empty Nest?

Do they always fly on their own? Do they sometimes need a shove? Is it okay? When? How? What? Why?

Today was a hard day... okay, well if I'm being honest, this whole year has been pretty stinkin' rough. Not getting into details here; let's just say that being the parent of young adult children is excruciating in every way possible. And I thought childbirth was painful...

And now for a nap.

"Perhaps that's what it means to be a parent: to teach your child, day by day, to learn to live without you."  —Nicole Krauss

"Parenthood is what happens when everything is flipped over and spilling everywhere and you can't find a towel or a sponge or your 'inside' voice."  —Kelly Corrigan

"Do not let the lures or the irritants of the moment draw you away from your family."  —Spencer W. Kimball

"Being a parent is dirty and scary and beautiful and hard and miraculous and exhausting and thankless and joyful and frustrating all at once. It's everything."  —Jill Smokler

Recovering Slowly...

I've been slowly recovering, and I've a ways to go. Had surgery on my jaw two weeks ago today. It's an owie and it's been no fun at all. Not able to do much, eat much or sleep much. Thank goodness that the Olympics have been on TV... lounging on the sofa and watching the tube are about all I can manage these days.

Have you seen this commercial? It makes me cry every time... So cute and so true!

OK, time to go rest and watch more Olympics. Go USA!!

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well."  —Pierre de Coubertin 

"The triumph cannot be had without the struggle."  —Wilma Rudolph

Smile

When life gets hectic and challenging as it often does, do you sometimes need to be reminded to slow down, relax and smile? I know I do... so today I thought I'd show you another of my new stamp sets just released by Impression Obsession: This one is called simply SMILE. Here's a card designed by IO design team member Julie Koerber which features this set. I love the layering of images and also the cheerful color combination that Julie used on this card. Well done, Julie, and very cute! Go HERE to get your set today, and don't forget to smile!

Let's make it a good day.

"Peace begins with a smile."  —Mother Teresa

"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."  —Thich Nhat Hahn

New Fall & Winter Goodies

Hey - It's been a rough month, sorry for not posting for a while. I am recovering from some oral surgery that involved my lower jaw and it's been no fun...

Anyhoo, in spite of my sore mouth I am excited about my new stamp designs that were unveiled at the CHA convention in Chicago last week! Daniela Dobson and the other design team gals over at Impression Obsession have been putting out some sweet sample cards using my stamps so I thought I'd share one of those today. This card features my "Winter Banner" stamp. Such fun, and so versatile! Love it. There are lots of other new Fall & Winter goodies as well - hop on over to IO and check them out!

Ok, well, I gotta run. Are we all enjoying our summer? How quickly time is flying by... There are so many things about summer that I love, and right up there on the list is fresh fruit. I ate the most luscious peach yesterday... even though I had to cut it into tiny pieces to fit it into my sore mouth, it was delightful! Yummmmmmm.

Hugs!

"In Summer, the song sings itself."  —William Carlos Williams

Stop It!

We all love motivational posters, don't we? Well, here's the best one I've seen since Awesomeness. Here you go. Read it, learn it, do it:

"This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: Stop it!"   
                           — President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, April 2012 General Conference

Poster Source: ModernMormonMen.com

Happy Independence Day!

Hurrah for the flag of the free!
May it wave as our standard forever,
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.

Sing out for liberty and light,
Sing out for freedom and the right.
Sing out for Union and its might,
O patriotic sons.
Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation,
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, 

The flag of Freedom's nation.

              —John Philip Sousa (1897)

                 "The Stars and Stripes Forever"