Happy Mother's Day and an Update

 Hi everyone!  Wow, it's been a while since I posted. So much has happened this year and I can barely recall what life was like in 2019.  I don't usually have long blog posts and I'm sure I'm not the only one having a difficult time with all that's happening around the world but I thought I'd share with you what's been going on. 

This year started out a little hectic. I accepted a new class that was a whirlwind Intersession class (16 weeks crammed into 4) for a musical production of American Idiot at the college I teach at. Knowing that I was going to be short on time I left my beloved Stamp Anniething design team. It was such a difficult decision and still makes me sad when I think about it. Once I started working with the cast I knew I made the right choice. There were plenty of beginners that needed much of my time. It was quite exciting and I had a blast working with these great kids. I was going to work almost everyday in January and in February I moved to 10 hour days, 3 days back to back. It was exhausting but I got to meet some incredibly wonderful and talented students as well as a fantastic production team. This rock musical was to be the first of it's kind on campus bringing together a collaboration of 4 departments Music, Commercial Music, Dance and Theater.  For some time Jaded Blossom was having issues with their manufacturers sending out the stamps and dies on time and I just couldn't keep up with my projects given my schedule and the short amount of time we had to complete them. It stressed me out to the point I needed to just take a break from design team obligations. Again, it was an extremely difficult choice but I was exhausted and could no longer craft through the night with the extra work hours. Then mid-March caught us all by surprise.... 

We completed 2 weeks of amazing rehearsals. I then got to go on a much needed trip/getaway to Yosemite with my hubby and the day after we came back our state went into lock down due to the quarantine for Covid-19.... just like that everything changed. I had to convert my voice and history classes to online and the musical was put on hold. It was chaotic. My son's High School performances were all cancelled and everything went online.  My daughter was having to do a chemistry and biology class with labs online with teachers that had no clue how to provide distance education. Luckily I had been using an online program for my classes to post notes, assignments etc but it was still plenty of work making the complete transition. 

As I continued to work so many of the crafty people I know seemed to adjust to the shut down easily and got extra creative putting out projects left and right. For me, it has been a stressful time of anxiety, depression and worry for my parents and in-laws. Luckily hubby and I are considered "essential" (whatever the hell that means...I mean we are ALL essential and our jobs are essential to each of us!!!) The month of April was especially difficult as the realization that my son's High School Senior year had literally ended before our eyes... Everything that makes a senior year special: his first and only prom, his band performances, the band banquet and awards ceremony, his band trip to San Diego, senior grad night to Universal Studios, and GRADUATION all CANCELLED. To top it off not getting to spend this time with his best friends who are all moving away to go to college in the Fall. Just a sidenote: my son attends Saugus High School which is the school that had the shooting in November. The school was closed for a month and they were unable to compete at the marching band competition and their Jazz Band performances were all cancelled. So yeah, on top of Covid-19 they had to deal with that too. Then moving on to my production of American Idiot; CANCELLED! ALL that time, love and energy that we put into the rehearsals, not even getting to say goodbye to one another. It all ended over night with no closure.

 I then learned that a family member was hospitalized, had emergency surgery and was diagnosed with cancer. This was so troubling and especially worrisome because it had been quite some time since we had seen this part of my family. With the social distancing, hospitalization and treatments are extra difficult for them because no one can physically be there due to the no visiting rules. Thankfully the surgery went well and I am continuing to pray each day remaining hopeful that with chemo he will reach a full recovery. To say that I have been depressed is an understatement. I consider myself quite resilient. I've had my share of challenges compared to many but I am normally one to count my blessings and stay positive. Well, Covid-19  nearly pushed me over the edge. Not being able to hug my mother and spend time with her is especially difficult but I will not risk her safety. 

Like I said, I know we all have our stories. This past week things have finally turned around for me. I heard my Aunt Lisa's voice in my head (clearly) telling me, "Tina, put your big girl panties on and stop this pity party!" And this time I decided to listen. 

For the first time in 2 months I made it into my craft room to make a card. I was inspired to create this card for my Mom. I hope you like it. 

I created a 5"x7" card. The stamp I used is from Stampendous and is called Hydrangea Garden. I stamped and embossed it onto watercolor cardstock. I painted the flowers and leaves using my Zig markers and water. I fussy cut the individual flowers and popped them up creating a dimensional lookI diecut the panels using the Waffle Flower A7 Lacy Layer Dies and A7 Layers Dies. 

I stamped and silver embossed the sentiment from the Jaded Blossom World's Greatest Parents stamp set. I added some bling from the Pinkfresh Studios Jewel Essentials. 

I do plan on continuing to craft and enjoy my love for coloring. I will also be making videos again. This Stay At Home order is ongoing in California and I hope that it ends soon. With the future so uncertain I hope to continue to learn how to balance everything while staying positive and focusing on what is important. 

I do hope that all the Moms had a fantastic Mother's Day. I thank you for stopping by. Take care, and stay safe! Big Hugs :)