The battle has ended

On Tuesday, my husband told us "Thursday's the day."  At just 10 minutes after midnight today (Friday), he took his last breath.  I was with him and held him in my arms.

Here he is doing what he loved, during the Vietnam War.  He will be missed by many.

Thank you for all your prayers during this final battle.



Emotional week

It has been one week since we signed up with Hospice.  A lot has happened with little sleep.  My hubby is deteriorating daily.  We've lived with a pendulum - many ups and downs, laughter and tears.

His daughters and brother and wife are here with me.  We are giving him the best care we are capable of.  He's growing frustrated and we understand.  The Pastor was here again today and we all prayed together.

I don't know how soon I'll post again.  Thank you for all your prayers.

Better day today

My husband slept well and has his 3 daughters with him.  They've been hugging and crying together, as well as praying together.  He's had friends visit also.  He's eating better today and feeling more cheerful.  The girls just have a hard time dealing with their daddy's illness.  I'm glad they are here.

The end is near

My husband is saying his body is shutting down.  The Pastor was here to pray with him.

I know he is growing weaker and sleeping a lot.  We're still praying for him, but he feels very tired today.

Hospice

The last few days have gone very fast.  We were told on Monday that the melanoma is enlarging and the chemo didn't help.  For my OWH friends, the oncologist was an Army doctor and recently returned from Iraq.  I did thank him for his service.  He also thanked my husband for his sevice.

On Tuesday, we brought my husband home under the care of Hospice.  We're trying set up a routine for the nurses to come out for care.  We have the hospital bed set up in the living room, next to his recliner.  I will be the primary caregiver with help from family, friends and Hospice.

I probably won't be making many cards for a while, but I'll be back when I can.  I truly believe in this cause.

Personal journey updated

It's been another tough week with my husband.  He's been getting weaker all week.  Yesterday, he was admitted to hospital by the oncologist.  They are doing tests to determine the extent of his cancer.  He's having a Pet Scan this morning.  I'm heading for hospital shortly and will probably be there a lot in the next few days.

Freedom Isn't Free

I've made 4 more of these Any Hero cards.  This digi is from Stampers Best (see coupon in previous post).  I'm attempting to color the uniform in camo with my Prismacolor pencils.  The sentiment is computer generated.

Now, I need to sit down and write messages in these cards and send them to Operation Write Home.  They will be sent to our deployed heroes to let them know they have support back home.  We wouldn't enjoy the freedoms that we have if it weren't for the sacrifices of our troops.

Soldier cards

These are some of the cards I made in the last few days with the soldier digis from Stampers Best.  I colored the soldier digis with Prismacolor pencils.  The missing you sentiment is cut with a Cuttlebug die and the Freedom isn't free is computer generated.

Masculine cards

Many of the missing you cards that I make tend to be very feminine.  I made this one to be a masculine card.  The soldier digi is from Stampers Best and colored in sort of a camo print with Prismacolor pencils.  The sentiment is cut from a Cuttlebug set.

This is one more make-over with my Freedom isn't free card - from the last 2 posts.  I distressed image with both Memento Rich Cocoa and Brilliance Thyme inks.  The soldier digi is from Stampers Best and the sentiment is computer generated.



Freedom isn't free

This is actually a make-over of my previous card.  The digi soldier is from Stampers Best and sentiment is computer generated.  I cut the image a bit smaller and added a brown layer.  I'll work on one more make-over because I'm not totally pleased with this one.

I'm actually not feeling well this week.  It's monsoon season in the desert, so we are having high humidity and a bit of rain.  This activates my hip bursitis and I'm hurting quite a bit.  With my husband's illness, I'm having to do the yard work and spending time driving him to oncologist. 

After mowing the lawn this morning, I'm pretty tired.

Freedom Soldier



This soldier digi is from Stamper's Best.  I colored it in roughly camo colors with my Prismacolor pencils.  Sentiment is computer generated.  I wish I could get better colors from my printer.  I'll have to work on figuring that out.

I can't seem to get motivated to make anything but any hero cards right now.  4th of July brings out the freedom message in my mind.  We really do have our heroes to thank for the freedoms we all enjoy.

OWH Virtual Card Making Party - #12

This challenge is from Sarah's Stamping and Stuff.  It is challenge #12 in the Operation Write Home virtual party.  This was to make a card with food or fruit.  The only thing I could find was this old strawberry stamp from Make an Impression.  I colored it with Prismacolor Pencils and added punched flowers.  Now, I need to find a bee or butterfly to cover my ink smudges.

I think the oldstamper is worn out.  Maybe I can do some more challenges on another day.

Edit:  I added some dragon fly stickers to cover the ink smudges.

OWH Virtual Card Making Party - #11

Yes, this is challenge #11 - I skipped #10 for now.  This challenge is from Hello With Kate - Pinwheel #3.  She gives the tutorial in her blog.  It calls for double sided paper and I couldn't find any in my stash, so I glued 2 pieces together with the Xyron.  Tip: cut squares larger than you need unless you are good at lining up sticky paper.

I punched a circle to go under the bronze star brad to secure the tips of pinwheel.  The background uses Sketch #8 from the Stars & Stamps blog.

OWH Virtual Card Making Party - #9

Today's first challenge is to create a card using designer paper, 2 stamped images and a sentiment longer than 3 words.  This challenge is from Thinking of Inking.

These stamps are from Doxiestamps at Cowtown.   If you love dachshunds, check them out for a lot of fun images and sentiments.  The paper is from my stash and was made by Provo Craft.

I got tired yesterday and didn't do challenges 5, 6, 7 & 8.  I may work on them later.

OWH Virtual Party - Freedom

This card is to represent What Freedom Means to You.  It is for a challenge at Our Little Inspirations.

This is Challenge #4 in the Operation Write Home Virtual Cardmaking Party for the Independence Day weekend.  We live in a free country because of the sacrifices of the men and women who serve in our military.  We can never thank them enough for their service to all of us.

This digi is from Stamper's Best and the sentiment is from DRS Designs.  I colored the soldier with Prismacolor pencils.

OWH Virtual Card Making Party - Tie a Yellow Ribbon

I made this card for the OWH Virtual Card Making Party - tie a yellow ribbon.  This challenge is from Tinkerin In Ink with Tanya.

This one was a challenge for me because I don't use a lot of yellow, so don't have a lot of yellow ribbon.  The paper is from a Basic Grey Porcelain paper pad.  The pink cardstock is by DCWV in their Summer Cardstock Mat Stack.  I used my new punch by Fiskars - Corner & Border punch - Lace & Lattice.

OWH Virtual Card Making Party - fishbowl

This is my second challenge of the day for the Virtual Card Making Party - fishbowl.  This challenge was made on the
2 Paw Prints blog. 

I used an old Sizzix original die, Fish & Fishbowl.  I cut the fishbowl out of acetate and the blue cardstock and put the fish between the layers.  The background is a Cuttlebug embossing folder, with Brilliance Sky Blue ink on the raised areas.   I use Viva Pearl Pen in Ice White for the bubbles.

OWH Virtual Card Making Party

The first challenge of the day was at Brenda's Stamping Corner to create a card for Operation Write Home, using camoflage.  I chose this ribbon and the Band of Brothers stamp from Stamper's Best.  Other papers are from the Army pack by Bazzil.



Virtual Cardmaking Party starts now!

Get motivated to make cards by going to the

Stars & Stamps blog.

True Friend

I cut out this sentiment frame with a new punch - Fiskars Corner & Border Punch, Lace & Lattice.  Scalloped rectangle cut with a Nestibility.

All papers are from a Basic Grey Wisteria paper pad.  Sentiment is a clear stamp, unlabeled.  Ribbon by Offray and gold pearls from Michaels.

Personal Journey:  We enter this Independence Day weekend on a positive note.  My husband is doing well and acts almost back to normal.  We know that this may change with the next dose of chemotherapy, but for now we are very happy.

OWH Beat the Heat Challenge

Operation Write Home creates challenges to keep the cards coming for our deployed heroes.  These cards give them a ready opportunity to send a personal message to their loved ones at home.  These cards are needed year round - not just at holidays.

The Second Million Card challenge ended in June, so the

Beat the heat challenge runs through July.  Click on the banner above or on the badge in the sidebar to learn how you can participate in this challenge.

I mailed my cards this week for the Second Million challenge, so I'll begin cards for this challenge today.

I have a nice group of new supplies to motivate my card making efforts.   I received a box of fun supplies yesterday from an internet friend, MA.  I divided these fun things with my stamping buddy Jodi.  You can check out her blog here: 

Fun at Stamping

This weekend, I will be trying to keep up with the

Virtual Cardmaking Party

at the Stars & Stamps blog, beginning Saturday morning,

 July 2, 2011 at 5 AM (Pacific Time). 

Look for lots of new card ideas the next 2 days.