One seed can start a garden, one candle can light a room, one step can begin a journey, one conversation can start a friendship, one smile from a handmade card can lift one's SPIRIT!

Saturday, January 12, 2019

CAS January Stencil Challenge

Hi friends, have you been over to the new CAS challenge called CAS Stencil Challenge?
This is going to be a fun one because knowing Loll, she will inspire and have lots of ideas for using those stencils we have stashed away.  I pulled out this PTI balloon stencil that was a NBUS!  It was pretty fun to stencil it and make a quick and easy birthday card!
The cue word is sponging this month, so I sponged on some  CPD inks and did darker on one side and lighter on the other side of the balloon to give it depth.
 
I know I have been missing here in blog land. But the day after Christmas we had devastating news from our older daughter...her cancer is back.  We thought she had beaten it, it will be 7 years this month that she had her last chemo and it took a few more months to clear up the last of the cancer that was in her spleen, but since then she has been great.  Until now.  It has been confirmed with a PET Scan and she had a biopsy and will get the results next Wednesday...I am praying it is a treatable and curable lymphoma.  It is hard to wrap my head around this again, and I need to be there for her especially once she starts chemo.  Her oncologist said it will be harder on her body this time around.
Fortunately her family lives right next door to me, so it is easy to just sit with her or go over any time she needs something.  She has an amazing support system with so many friends and people from our community.  I know she is strong and will pull through this again, but boy is is hard to see her in pain.
So if I don't visit as often as I should or post too many cards, this is the reason.
If you could keep her in your prayers for healing it would surely be appreciated!
Her name is Dina, here is a picture from Christmas Eve of her family at my house:
Ellie (17 the volleyball player!) Dina, Jalen (11) Jamie (husband) Lily (15 also VB player)
Thank you friends, I know I have a lot of prayer warriors already keeping her in their hearts and prayers and it is so appreciated!  And for those of you who have left comments on the Caring Bridge site, thank you, thank you, thank you, it warms her heart to read what you write and to know so many people are praying for her, even if she has never met you!  God Bless, you!
Heart Hugs, friends!



9 comments:

Marcia Hill said...

Cute, CUTE card Colleen! I have that same stencil that is also NBUS...grrrrr! Love the pic of your Dina's family...so many great smiles in that picture!! I am definitely praying for a great outcome for ALL of you!! Hang in there and take care of yourself too! Love ya!! Hugs. :0)

Christine Alexander said...

Colleen that's such a fun card with those cute stenciled baloons. I'm thinking of you and your family. It must be so hard on you all with the news of a recurrence, think positive.
Hugs Christine <3

nancy littrell said...

I am so sorry, Colleen to hear about your beautiful daughter having a recurrence of her cancer and pray that she beats it again. I will definitely keep her in my thoughts and prayers. Such a beautiful picture of Dina and her family. Wonderful to hear she has so much support from family and friends.

Thank you for sharing your CAS sponged stencil balloon card too. Cheerful card making is such good therapy for you, my friend. Take care...Hugs..Nancy

Loll said...

Your stenciled balloon card is so fun Col! Love the mix of bright colours and great design with the shading to add dimension to the balloons. So happy you played along with us at CAS Stencil!

Lovely picture of your beautiful daughter, Dina and her family. This is such devastating news to her, her family and especially for you Col! One of the hardest things for a mom is to see any of her children in pain or suffering. With you being right next door, you can pop in to see her anytime and help her out. That will be a big comfort to Dina and to the family. I will be praying for Dina. Sending love and hugs, Loll.

Julia Aston said...

Nothing screams birthday quite like pretty balloons - and yours are lovely Colleen - wonderful shading of the colors - thanks for sharing with us at CAS Stencil - so sorry to hear this news about your daughter - will definitely add her name to my prayer list - such a beautiful family there to support her! xx

Bonnie said...

Love these happy balloons, Col! Praying for Dina!

Brenda in IN said...

Festive and fun birthday card. I know this is such sad news for you and your family. She is strong and we are all in her corner with prayers and healing thoughts. Thank you for the Caring Bridge so we can send her messages and keep up with her progress.

Kara Lynne said...

So nice to see you putting ink to paper, Colleen. I love your cheerful balloons and the shading you gave them! We are continuing to pray for Dina and all of you.

Birgit said...

What a cheerful card to brighten anyone's day Colleen! Praying, praying for complete healing.