Jan 03 2011
Christmas at our House 2010
Hello everyone and Happy New Year! This is the longest blog absence I’ve ever taken and I’ve missed you all more than you know. It’s been close to a month since I’ve created anything and I have a long list of cards past due that I need to catch up on. My cards always seem to be sent late, but I’ve learned to accept that fact. A card arriving late is better than no card at all, right? Well, I hope so!
My Dad once again faced some more major health issues causing him to become hospitalized on 12/02 for the better part of the month. My sincere thanks to those of you who have been writing to ask and who have kept him on your prayer list. That means so much and I thank you as I ask you to continue to keep him on your prayer list — his name is Roy Peltoniemi and he is 79 years old. December’s issues began with a pneumonia bout and things went downhill from there. He did kick the pneumonia, however in the process a lot else went wrong. He is now back home and on dialysis 3 times weekly with home nursing and PT coming to the house. He is grateful to be home and far improved from a few weeks ago, but is still very weak and in need of prayer. If you prayer warriors out there would continue to pray for both him and my Mom I’d be forever grateful. Here’s a picture I took yesterday.
This is my Mom and Dad on 1/02/11 - he’s sitting in his favorite chair trying to stay awake for the Packer game!
December went quickly with a variety of things happening. 12/18/10 was a big day as our oldest son, Steve, proposed to his girlfriend, Marissa, and she said YES!!! We could not be more pleased to welcome Marissa into our family. They are a very well matched pair and we are all thrilled to pieces!
This photo was taken at the restaurant the evening of the proposal. A few days later Steve closed on his first home purchase, so plans now focus on the wedding. The date is still undetermined, but Mom is rooting for this summer! They were both here during the Christmas holiday and Marissa and I fiddled a bit with invitation ideas, but I still need to play with that a bit. I’ll share ideas here as I come up with them. Lots of fun stuff ahead!
Here they are again opening gifts. With all the boys and girlfriends and everyone’s schedules to consider, I think we had 4 different gift opening festivities spread out over a many day period – it was fun!
This is our youngest, Brian, with Brittany by our tree. I do have the new Graphic 45 pad, Once Upon a Springtime, in stock and I’m putting together a KIT with coordinated ribbon. Brittany will be putting these KITS together in the next day or two, so you can watch for that posting if it interests you — lovely new paper for springtime. Graphic 45 never disappoints!
Ben was snoozing on the couch and was rudely awakened for this photo shoot with Jessie – LOL!!! Gotta catch those zzzz’s whenever you can!
It was all too soon when Steve and Marissa had to head back to central Ohio. Saying goodbye is always hard. They had a kind of scarey Mackinac Bridge crossing on their way home as the winds were extremely high there on New Year’s Day as they travelled south.
I guess the Christmas holiday is about over – yesterday after church we went to Perkins for brunch and then to visit my parents. Brian and Brittany are just leaving my parents among the snowflakes. School begins today for Brittany and next Monday for Brian.
Ben and Jessie are also heading out Sunday after a visit with my parents. It’s back to work for everyone this week. Jessie will be helping me with paperwork as I try to get organized a bit earlier this year for the visit with the tax man!
And as for me, I’ve got a lot to get accomplished — things that have been put on the back burner for way too long. I have major store improvements in the works, but just haven’t had the time to see them through to completion. My first goal for January is to get my store renovations complete, so I will be keeping a lower blog profile as I work behind the scenes. My blog, which is highly dysfunctional in a lot of respects, also needs major revamping. In the next few weeks as I am trying to accomplish all this there will be no Stamp Simply Challenges, no Blog Hops, nothing special going on — just perhaps a few random posts from me as I create cards I need to send out. The Once Upon a Springtime KIT mentioned above should be popping up here in a day or two, and I do want to do a 2010 Year in Review Post — those are always fun to do! The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store remains open — I’m here, not going anywhere — just keeping a lower profile for a while still as I try to get these much needed improvements made.
THANK YOU ALL for your encouragement and support as I create the type of projects I most enjoy and try to bring to you the items needed to create in a similar fashion. Stamping simply — that’s where it’s at for me!
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
WISHING YOU ALL MANY BLESSINGS IN THE YEAR AHEAD!
24 responses so far
Glad to hear you are well Sharon!! Thanks for all the pics and Happy New Year to you and all the best in 2011!
Family makes the season so much more special and it looks like yours was no exception. Your kids all look so happy and that’s got to make you happy too!
As far as your blog, it should be something you like to do not something that just becomes another check mark on the to-do list. We all have priority lists and all too often, try to prioritize too many things at once. You have a lot of faithful blog followers and no matter what you post or how often, we will continue to stop by.
Sending well wishes to your Dad.
What a wonderful and ‘growing’ family! That is what the holidays are all about…family. I will keep your Dad in my thoughts and prayers, but am glad to see that he is home and fighting back.
What a beautiful family you have and what a blessing that is! May God give your
mother and father comfort in knowing that you are there for them!
Thank you for your continual inspiratiion to us all!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful family with us, Sharon. I’ll continue to pray for your parents and hope that 2011 is a healthier year for all of us! I appreciate all the wonderful ideas and inspiration that you’ve given me over the last year through your blog postings and I thank you for sharing your amazing artistic talent!
Hugs, Barbara
Sharon, sorry for the news about your dad but glad he is home. You have a lovely, growing family. Nice photos. Hope the New Year is good to you.
Ah, my friend. Good to hear from you. Prayers are continuous for your dad and the rest of your family. I see that like me, you are extremely blessed even amongst the chaos. Wish I were closer to help out. If there’s anything I can do from here, just holler! HUGS!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Sharon!
Thanks for sharing your pictures with us. Glad things are improving for you dad. We will continue to keep him in our prayers. Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!!
Happy New Year Sharon sounds like it’s going to be a busy one . You have a lovely family thanks for sharing your photos of them .
Marilyn
Hello and thanks for sharing all your family with us. We will add your dad & mom to the prayer chain and will uplift them into God’s holy spirit and continue to pray for them.
Thanks for sharing with all of us and may God continue to bless you in this year of our Lord, 2011.
Sherry
Hello Sharon, ’twas so kind of you to share your December tale with us, as well as all the accompanying photos of your beautiful family. Count yourself blessed, and enjoy the gratitude and appreciation that’s coming your way from all your readers and admirers. May your Dad continue to show progress and improvement, and may the Packers continue to help along with the path of healing!
Sharon, I have always admired your designs, your creativity and your good taste (exactly like mine :)), and I have followed your directions and ideas so many times over the years that I sometimes feel that I should put YOUR name on the cards instead of mine. Thank you for all the inspiration you have given me!
One thing I want to ask: you mentioned crossing the Mackinac Bridge — and I was wondering where exactly you live and work. See, we were there this past fall, and crossed the bridge and drove up as far as Whitefish Bay and a little west from there to those waterfalls that rhyme with “phenomenon” something like Tamananaw??? It was the most wonderful trip, and we were talking about going back this year and driving a bit further west on the Upper Peninsula. We live in Pittsburgh, and we spent two weeks traveling in Michigan and had the best time and fell in love with your state. Finding out that you live somewhere thereabouts, and have a shop there as well, is an added incentive to make this trip a reality.
Is this getting too long???
Well then, finally, let me wish you and your family a blessed New Year, good health and good friends, and continued success with your wonderful business. And thank you again for being an inspiration to all of us!!!
Angela
Wow! What an amazing family you have Sharon. I so enjoy seeing those lovely pictures. Where were the pictures of YOU! lol! Anyway, sending you and your dad hugs and prayers!
We’ve missed you Sharon, but I’m thrilled to see you’ve enjoyed the holidays with your family! Continued prayers are being sent up for your parents, as well as you and your sister.
I’m tickled pink to see Steve popped the question . . . what a beautiful couple! Marisa will be a radiant bride and Steve a handsome groom . . . . . you’re going to have so much fun with the wedding decorations . . . I can’t wait to see everything play out over the coming months . . . so exciting! The pictures of Brian and Britt and Ben and Jessie are wonderful! How much fun your holidays must have been to have all these young couples around.
I can’t wait to see the new changes you have planned with your store and your blog . . . I’m sure, like everything you do, it’s going to be incredibly spectacular! {{{hugs}}} Jerri
Huge hugs to you, Sharon. So sorry to hear about your dad’s return to the hospital, but glad to hear he is back in the comfort of his own home. LOVED the pictures. You have a good looking crew of kids and adherant kids 🙂 Congrats to Steve on his engagement – you go pushing for a summer wedding LOL! Blessings for a fabulous 2011.
Great pics Sharon, though I did’t see you and Steve in any of them~~~!
What a lovely post with family!! Prayers.
Hi Sharon
what lovely pictures of your family – you are very blessed, ihope you all had a great holiday.
Thinking of you and your family as your Dad deals with his health issues. I wish him well.
regards,
Paula, Derbyshire, UK. x x x
Hi Sharon:
I wondered where you’ve been, but now I see you had good reason to not be posting new items on your blog. Hey, family comes first above all else. All of your followers will wait for you until you get things under control at home. I will certainly keep your Dad and your Mom in my prayers. Your sons and their girlfriends are adorable. Oh, to be young again!!
Thanks for sharing the pictures with us…where is yours!! C’mon Sharon…don’t be camera shy.
Hoping this year brings a bounty of blessings to you and yours.
PS Saving my pennies for more silk ribbon!!
Good afternoon Sharon and Happy New Year Blessings to you and your family! I always appreciate your posts and information and we all miss you when you are not around, but there are things more important than blogging and that is indeed your family. Even though blogging can help get more prayers from more warriors for your beloved family. We are a patient lot out here and when time allows, we know we will hear from you again, but please do not feel rushed. God will afford us plenty of time to do those things which are important to Him and us. You and your family will be in our prayers both for the good, bad and stressful 😉 We love you dear one and we will wait. Blessings
Sharon…I’m so happy to “hear from you” again. I admire you for putting your priorities in order with loving and caring for your family first. So happy that you got to enjoy your kids this Christmas and that your Dad could be part of the fun. We’ll keep your family in our prayers. Blessed New year to you.
So pleased your Dad is home Sharon. Have been quite concerned. Your photos look fantastic and wow, a wedding to look forward too.
That Sprintime paper is gorgeous.
Hope this new year is very happy and prosperous for you and your family.
What a wonderful look back at your beautiful creations and you have inspired me to use the Justrite stamps on my cards and too, your silk ribbons and the bow easy which I love. It’s lovely to see your very happy family and so good to see your dad back amongst his family.
Thank you, Sharon.
Thanks for all your efforts that you have put in this. Very interesting info. “Anything I’ve ever done that ultimately was worthwhile… initially scared me to death.” by Betty Bender.