Reflections....

I hope you guys don't mind a post without pictures?   As I woke up at 3:30am today and sat in the quiet calm of the house, I took a bit of time to reflect over this past week and over the past few years as well.    I think many of you know my story, but for those who don't I thought I'd share part of it again.  

Before we go too far back, this past week has just been an amazing experience and really highlighted what Stampin' Up! means for me.   I had a nice week as far as creativity goes; it has been a while since I could say that!    It started last Sunday with a pick at the Paper Players, continued on to a top pick at Dynamic Duos, a card featured on the Splitcoast Stampers Facebook page, another pick yesterday at the Paper Players, and then the Featured Stamper spot in the Splitcoast challenge this week.    That's not too shabby and made me feel better about my work.   I don't always have a lot of self-confidence so those type of things help keep me going and trying harder.    More importantly though, some of my wonderful friends that I've made through my demonstratorship surprised me with the most amazing blog hop that still makes me tear up even now.  I admit that making friends doesn't come easy for me, but I love these ladies and all that they have brought to my life.  Finally, two of my very dear customers/friends tracked me down and took me to lunch this week just because.   To have local friends is a real blessing for me and without SU, I'm not sure that would be happening in my life!

When I signed up as a demo almost 2 years ago, I didn't have hopes of it being very much.   I was just lost and needed something.   It had been almost a year and a half since we'd lost our five month old son, Eli, to spinal muscular atrophy and  I was just drifting along.   I was existing, but not really living.   Starting a little business gave me something to focus on, something to take my mind off the grief and hurt that still hung over me like a dark cloud.   I slowly started meeting customers along with some other demos online.  I enjoyed creating with the great products I was selling and I think that started to show through in my work and interactions with customers.   Slowly that creativity and those relationships helped me begin to heal.   I now have a small club and a few other customers that I cherish and enjoy spending time with.   I have fellow demonstrators all around the world who are treasured friends and sisters.  I have a supportive, loving husband who never says a word about how many stamps I have and is always up for offering advice on each and every card I work on.   Finally, I have my little girl who will be here in 4 weeks to bring sunshine back into our lives and our home.    I feel like a very lucky woman right now to say the least.  

I'm really not sure I'd be here today without all that Stampin' Up! has brought into my life.   Those dark days were bad, but stamping was the light that kept them from taking over.   To each person who has brought a little ray of sunshine to my life over the past 2 years, I say thank you.