The first in our family.......

My sweet daughter is leaving the nest and going off to college this fall and she is the first in our family so we are sooooo proud of her. It is a loss of sorts to me as she will be on her own to make life decisions without me but I know I gave her a good foundation in God and good values to help map the straight and narrow road on which to travel.

After the life celebration for my brother-in-law we are off to Arizona to visit the campus and attend orientation, so I will be away from posting for a couple of days. I will have lots to share when I return. Thank you again my blog friends and family for all of your love for me during the past few months, weeks and days as I have been going through grief upon grief. I know that without God and the prayers you offered, I would never make it.....

Lots of love,

Debbie Kay

Life without daddy will never be the same......

Gerald E. Ross March 17, 1936 - June 26, 2008

This morning at 9:37 my hero went to heaven. It was peaceful and calm and he was set free from the pain that this world put his old body through and now he is with Jesus and his family that went before him. I am mostly numb in my soul right now and I have cried more tears than my eyes can afford but I am comforted by the knowledge that my dad lives forever with Jesus and is in pain no more. Thank you for all of the prayers and support that my blog family sent out for me, I felt them all and was comforted by your love. Death is as much a part of life as living but it sure doesn't come easy for those who are left behind. Rest in the arms of Jesus daddy.....now you are home at last......

Some birthday's never end......

My very dear friends Jennifer and Teresa took me out for dinner tonight for my (belated) birthday and bestowed upon me the most thoughtful gifts.....I love getting presents......

This adorable tea pot and kitchen towel set is "totally me"!

This very vintage (looking) cherub "door hanger" is definitely screamin for an overhaul in the color department. I just so happen to have one of these that I won at a Southern Living party and it hangs in my bathroom in its present gold/mustard tone. I am happy to take this little guy and rock his world with a shabby chic shower of white paint.....

And if the cherub wasn't enough, she tucked this beautiful "Rachell Ashwell, The Shabby Home" book inside. Oh wow, do my friends know me or what? Jenn could not have picked out a better gift if she tried.....

Such sweet and thoughtful friends make my world a beautiful place.

Please keep my dad in your prayers dear blog friends, he has suffered a stroke after surgery and needs lots of prayer....

Affectionately,

Debbie

Where have I been you ask?

Sorry for the big gap in posting but my father underwent quadruple by-pass surgery on Thursday and I had to fly out to Sacramento rather quickly to be there for my mom. I just wanted to ask for continued prayer for my family as we just lost our brother-in-law and now my dad had this major surgery. Sure does give you a renewed perspective on life......thank you in advance for your prayers and support.

Love,

Debbie

Spray paintin a Saturday afternoon away......

Well now that things are getting back to normal in my home, I found some time to sneak away and finish a couple of frames I picked up recently. This uniquely shaped frame was found in the clearance isle at Marshall's and I was happy to give it a nice coat of white paint to bring it back to life.....

Found a cute little piece of fabric to totally "shabby chic" it out.....

Remeber this sweet frame I bought at La Maison Rustique? Well I used the same fabric to make it my own and it compliments the Marshall's frame on my mantle very nicely.....

Such a little project but it put a big smile on my face......

Time heals all wounds........

Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.

I would like to say thank you to all of my precious blog friends for leaving such beautiful comments for me and my sister, I have shared each of them with her and although we have never met any of you, the words you conveyed touched both of our hearts beyond measure. It is such a blessing to feel such warmth and love from friends both near and far. I am back at work now and trying to help her tie up the loose ends as we plan a celebration of his life at the end of this month. We feel that celebrating his passing is so much more uplifting than a funeral. It is a personal decision and I don't mean to step on anyone's toes, we just find that celebrating his life and how he touched ours is the easiest way to say goodbye......

On a lighter note, I look forward to sharing some of my latest projects with you this weekend. I have had to put them on the back burner but found some time to squeeze in a spray painting session. Will share later....lot's of love to you all.....

Debbie Kay