Why I Relay

I am participating in the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life
because I want to make a meaningful difference in the fight against
cancer.

Cancer has been a plague on both sides of my family for as long as
most of us can remember. All different kinds to so many amazing
people.

Currently my Papa is battling lung cancer. He has done 2 rounds of
radiation, chemo and a pill therapy and can do nothing more since he is also battling COPD. The lung cancer is a result of Agent Orange and I'm sure working in
maintenance in the public school in Lawton OK in the 70's. He is such an amazing man and so strong. He strives to keep going even though we lost our Nana (his wife) a year ago so suddenly. So many times, I can't believe he hasn't just given up so he can be with her. I can only guess that he knows we need him too.

Fun Take on a Picture Frame

I actually did these frames as a birthday present for a friend. You could get creative on what you use for the frame...a block of wood, old cabinet door, etc. I actually have a lot of old wood samples from a furniture company from my work that I used.

What you'll need:
Whatever you are going to use for the main part of the frame
(Cabinet door, block of wood, be creative)
Picture
Accessories to add on
(Metal pieces, appliques, etc.)
Glue

So on these wood samples, one had a lot of texture and the other a lot of wax which makes it kind of hard to glue anything on. I had to use a paint stripper to remove the finish from the raised panel in the center.

(If you are going to do this step have a clean surface that nothing can possibly be ruined if it drips our spills.)

Wear thick rubber gloves, if the stripper gets on your skin it will burn extremely bad. Pour the stripper into something you don't care about: an old bowl our cup. I  used an old coffee pot I bought at the thrift store for a dollar for this very purpose. Use a paint brush and brush on the stripper. Let sit for about 30 mins. Use a paint scraper to scrape off the paint or finish. It may take a few applications to remove everything. Feel free to leave some for a rustic, antique look. When done clean with a damp cloth and let dry completely. I would use an old rag just in case it ruins it.

(Sorry I didn't get a picture of this)

A Smile That Will Be Missed

Monday we lost a very special person in this world. A person that we can't necessarily understand why he would be taken from us. A person who didn't care if he knew you well, he made you feel like you were best friends for years. A person who would never pass you by without saying Hello with the biggest smile you'd even seen on a person. his smile was truly infectious. If you don't know, just go on his facebook and read the many stories everyone is posting and see all the pictures of that infamous smile.

I know that I will never forget that smile. I will never forget what an amazing friend to my brother and all his other friends you were. Your family is truly blessed to have had a son that touched so many people in only his 24 years of life. We all wish to be so lucky to know such a person and we were all truly blessed to have had him in our lives. I can only hope that if my time came, I would see that I was able to touch at least half the people that this amazing man did.

I know that it is hard for us to understand why he has left us. I can only believe that his job God put him here was done and was needed more in Heaven. He is now there to watch over each an every person that he has touched. So don't think that he is gone because he's not. Every time the wind blows through the leaves, he'll be there. Every time your heart is aching, he'll be there. And everytime you laugh and you put on the biggest smile that you can, he'll be there.

Missing Loved Ones

I have my days, when I look back and miss those who I have loved and are gone. It is a tough ordeal, losing people who mean so much to you. How does one deal and move on from it? It was a tough thing for me. You understand that God has a better plan for people in his Kingdom, but you still feel a sense of betrayal. How could he take someone who meant so much to so many from their grasps.

Bobbi Denice Garwood.First was a dear friend of mine.  I grew up with her and her older sister (who is my age). We went to elementary school together. I played soccer with Bobbi for several years. She had such a great sense of humor and was such a loving person. She accepted everyone for who they were and never judged a soul. I will never forget the day I received the news, I was in my Freshman studio class and my mom had called me. When I got off the phone, I just sat there. I couldn't believe it. I began to cry, and people began coming up to me asking what was wrong. I asked to just be left alone to sit there. All my memories of her came flooding through my mind. Also, her family, I couldn't imagine what they must be feeling. They are all such amazing people and I knew that Bobbi would be loved even though she was gone. She was such a sweetheart and so young. I always think, who would she be today and what would she be doing? She was only 16 and would be 21 now. Its crazy to think how this world works and I know God needed her more than we but she is deeply missed by us all. I will never forget her and am so blessed to have been in her life and her in mine.