Bittersweet

I recently had the opportunity to make an adorable album for a little boy. The theme was all about transportation...trains, trucks, cars, planes...which I just love. But this was also a very hard album for me to make. The little boy's name was Jimmy.

As many of my readers know, my brother, Jim, passed away in April. His childhood nickname was Jimmy. Every time I worked on this album I thought of my brother. I thought of the car-shaped bed he had and that I just had to have when he out grew it. I thought of the photo of him and our grandpa in grandpa's ultralight. I thought of all the tonka trucks he had when he was little.

 

It is still very hard to think of my brother, but it was great to remember all those wonderful memories while working on this book. I hope little Jimmy loves his album :)

Friday Features - Memorial Day

This last month has been pretty difficult with the loss of my brother. But with Memorial Day just around the corner, I am taking this opportunity to remember the good things about my brother and sharing a few of those here with you today :)

My brother was a big outdoors man. He loved hunting and fishing any time he could. He was also a welder and loved working with metal. So this sign reminded me of him right away :)

Deer Hunting Buck Sawblade Hunting Scene Wildlife Wall Art 20" Gift for Hunters

by PoplinFabrication 

And I remember the first time I ever caught a bass. I always caught crappie and blue gill, but never bass. I was so excited and my brother thought it was hilarious because it was the smallest bass ever. I made him take my picture and I'm pretty sure it turned out blurry because he was laughing so hard :)

Gone Fishing License Plate Wood Fence Pane Sign Lakehouse Sign

 by dables

My brother also enjoyed camping and building huge fires. He loved to see how big and how hot he could get them :)

Decorative Portable Metal Fire Pit - Flame

 by CopperTreeDesign 

My brother had recently gotten into gardening. He could grow the biggest tomatoes I've ever seen! He didn't want gardening season to end last year, so he started growing them in his basement during the winter. He had a lot of naysayers, but he made them grow and he had fresh tomatoes all winter long :)

We've recently found out what a hoarder he was! He believed every piece of "junk" could be made into something new. The minute I found this speaker planter it reminded me of my brother :)

 12" Recycled Speaker Hanging Planter

by  PlantItLOUD 

I can't wait to show you the tree we just had planted in my brother's memory and the cool metal signs I designed! Hopefully I'll have those all for you Monday!

The Past Two Weeks

I can't believe it's been over two weeks since I blogged last. It was the longest two weeks of my life, but at the same time, it flew by. Two weeks ago my brother passed away and my entire world turned upside down! He was only 34 years old and my only sibling. Losing him has been one of the hardest things I've ever had to go through. Luckily I had my parents, Jesse and my entire family for support.

Thank you to everyone who has sent their thoughts and prayers to me and my family. It has definitely been a rough couple of weeks, but we will make it through. Photos like the one above and great memories will keep him alive in our hearts!

I hope to be back to blogging regularly this week.

Wordless Wednesday - First Fish

My "Big" Brother :)

Happy Birthday to my Brother

I want to wish my brother a Happy 33rd Birthday today!

We went to lunch together on Friday and it was so nice to spend time together just the two of us :) My brother and I work different shifts and always seem to be busy on the weekends, so we don't get to see each other as much as I'd like. Our time together is always special :)

Here is the birthday card I made him:

I've made several of these lasered wood cards lately and I have SO many ideas for premade and custom cards to add to my shop! I have even thought a lot about trying to get them in local shops if I can find a pen or marker that will work well so people can sign their names. When ordered from my Etsy Shop, they will be able to have me engrave their special message or have the option of adding a photo like this one I made for my brother.

I really think I'm on to something here...what do you think? Would you send one of these or enjoy receiving one in the mail? I would really love to hear your thoughts :)

Sisters

Growing up, it was just me and my brother. We fought like cats and dogs, but in the end, we always made up :) We are almost 5 years apart in age but we've grown really close over the years. We've been through a lot together and have come out a stronger family for it :)

Even though having a brother is great...I've recently started yearning for a sister! When I made Jesse's cousin's scrapbook last year for her graduation, I was envious looking at all of the childhood photos of her and her sister who are only 2 years apart.

Then at my cousin's wedding last weekend, the bride's sister gave such a touching speech about sisterhood it almost made me cry!

Sisters just seem to have such a strong bond! All of the sisters I know are all very close and such great friends! I asked my parents at my cousin's wedding if I could have a sister...LOL! I'm not sure I'll be getting one anytime soon!

But I'm glad to be able to use my scrapbooking to display the love sisters have for one another :) I get to document those special relationships for them and share a little piece of that bond :)

Spending Time :)

Aren't we just cute :) That's me and my brother. He's been in town the last few days and I've been spending as much time with him as I can. He actually lives in the same town I do, but has been away for work. He was stationed in a town about 4 hours from home and I hadn't seen him since Christmas. Now he is leaving for Texas (about 10-12 hrs. away) today and doesn't know when he'll be home next!

It's hard having family so far from home. My parents are 10 hours north in Michigan and now my brother will be 10 hours south in Texas. My whole life I grew up with my entire family close by...with in 10 miles of each other! It sure is different being so far apart. Not getting to see one another more than a handful of times each year. I may not get to see my parents until Christmas this year...a whole year without seeing them...so not fair!!!

But this is why I cherish the time I do have with my family. When my parents come back I spend every single day with them. Where they go...I go. What they do...I do. When you don't know when you'll see them next, you savor every minute you have. It will be hard to say goodbye to my brother today! I just wish I knew when I'd see him again next! But we'll spend today together and I'll give him a hug and send him on his way :)