We need your help!

A week or so ago, I shared the following link with you, for a social media position our daughter is trying to attain. 

We have all been posting on FaceBook (which is 'THE' social media, right?),

and Melissa is currently in 1st place.  

However, yesterday, when we all got to our FB pages to vote,

the posts had all been removed by their administration, and marked as offensive content. 

We don't know if this was a FB 'friend', or one of the other competitors, but

we need to get the word out and get some votes coming in!

I'm hoping that you will all take the time to send up a vote or 10!

You can vote one time each day from now until August 22nd, and we

would appreciate any votes you have time to cast.

Thanks in advance!

If this post offends you, PLEASE tell me. 

Please don't report it as offensive content. 

I will gladly come back in and remove it.

Don't you think it's pretty ironic that using social media to win a social media contest is offensive?

Here is the post again:

We would love YOUR vote!!!

Hi peeps!

Today is a personal post.  Our daughter Melissa, who lives in Germany, is in the running to be one of two members chosen to be social media ambassadors for the German Tourism Office.

The contest runs through Aug. 22nd, and you can vote one time each day between now and then.

Whether you vote once, or every day, we appreciated whatever you have time to do!

No personal information is asked for. You will simply go to the link shown, click on it, and then click VOTE when their photo comes up. That's it. Easy peasy!

Here's the link:

http://woobox.com/7gqsr4/vote/for/8980284

Thanks so much for stopping by today,

and thanks again, in advance for your vote(s)!!!

Feel free to share the link with your family and friends!!!

Hugs and smiles,

Patti J.

Would love YOUR vote!!!

Hi peeps!

Today is a personal post.  Our daughter Melissa, who lives in Germany, is in the running to be one of two members chosen to be social media ambassadors for the German Tourism Office.

The contest runs through Aug. 22nd, and you can vote one time each day between now and then.

Whether you vote once, or every day, we appreciated whatever you have time to do!

No personal information is asked for. You will simply go to the link shown, click on it, and then click VOTE when their photo comes up. That's it. Easy peasy!

Here's the link:

http://woobox.com/7gqsr4/vote/for/8980284

Thanks so much for stopping by today,

and thanks in advance for your vote(s)!!!

Hugs and smiles,

Patti J.

Where have I been, you ask?

Well, you're right, I haven't posted in a couple of days!

You know it's bad when your email is dinging like crazy with friends checking

to be sure you're okay!  

Thank you all for checking on me!

Here's what I've been up to!

Our daughter's in-laws are hosting a party for our dear daughter, and son-in-law this weekend.

As you may recall, they were married the first weekend in Feb. of 2012, and he deployed the last weekend for 9 months.  He's back safe and sound (yippee!), and this is a reception for them.

On the menu are various wonderful sandwiches, side dishes, and of course, cupcakes!

Yum...did I mention cupcakes?

I've been making some little cupcake flags, and food placecards, and thought that I'd share them with you!

These are what the placecards look like...

Here are the flags - front says something 'sweet', and back has the couple's name.

Thanks to my great friend, Shirley for coming over this morning to help me finish these up! The 'sticking' goes so much faster when I have someone to jabber with!

Here are all 108 Flags, and 10 Place Cards.

I have to give a huge shout-out to Laurie Wilson, at Doodle Pantry, who helped me so much, but taking my 'random thoughts', and translating them to the beautiful computer files that you see here! Even the dotted cardstock is printed from files that she designed.  If ever you need something like this, Laurie is your go-to gal!  She's talented, quick, and patient!  Thanks, Laurie!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Patti J.

OOPS!  Nearly forgot!

Don't forget - you still have 15 days to take part in the Great Impressions Stamps Sketch Challenge!  As of earlier today, there are only SIX entries!  Now, I'm not a math major, but that sounds like pretty dandy odds!  

You need not use GI stamps, but if you have them and use them, you are entered twice in the drawing!  A randomly drawn winner will get to shop at the Great Impressions Stamps Store for $20 worth of yumminess!!!  AND....you can apply to be a Guest Designer!  Check out the blog for details...

Goin' to the Chapel...

So...by now, you are probably wondering what our little family has been up to....

We actually left early Thursday morning to attend our beautiful daughter's wedding!  Here is a photo of the happy couple.


Photo by Jon Collins

Our new son-in-law is wonderful, handsome, and very much loves our daughter.  We met his parents this weekend, and they are warm, loving, thoughtful people - exactly the kind of in-laws one hopes that their son or daughter is blessed with.  Jan, if you are reading this - thank you for your friendship.  I look forward to spending more time together!

Melissa and Nick found a special little chapel at Garden of the Gods for their ceremony.  This was actually an 'elopement', that the parents and siblings were invited to share with them - what a blessing for us.  Nick will be deployed (his 3rd) sometime in the near future, and it was important to them both to be married prior to his deployment.  The beautiful country style chapel seated about 12, with room for a few to sit in the back.  Melissa made all of the flowers and decorations, and her veil, which turned out so beautifully.  We ladies all went for manicures on Friday morning, and Melissa and I shared Saturday morning at the salon, getting her hair and make up done.  We had wonderful family meals on all three nights.  Of course, we had SNOW!!!  It was beautiful.

Okay, thanks for letting me brag and boast a bit!  We are very happy for them, and wish them all of God's blessings.

Hope that you are all enjoying the Super Bowl - the commercials have been pretty good, and half time was even fun.

Take care, and I'll be by to see what you are up to as soon as I can get there!

Hugs,
Patti J.

Let the move begin!

Let the move begin!

So, after a whole lot of packing and re-packing, loading, and unloading, here is the final shot of the truck and trailer. All that was left to do was to put the ramps up, tie down the wheels, and wait until O-Dark Thirty this morning to leave.

Nothing to it, right???

Tee hee...WRONG!
Now, I'm sure that you are all wondering why DD is in the trunk of her car on her belly...
lol... you will have to go to DD's blog and read the story in her words.
She is an excellent writer, and I guarantee you that you will laugh out loud!
Hopefully, you can read her story, and leave her a cyber hug!

Here she is, with her beautiful smile, ready to begin this journey!

Thanks for stopping by - hope your day has been full of blessings.
DD, if you are reading, we are so proud of you and for you. Good luck! We love you!!!


Hugs and blessings to you all,
Patti J.

Checking In

Hi there! Just thought I'd check in and let you know why I've been MIA.

Took DD for the removal of a pretty good sized cyst from inside her foot on Tuesday. She's doing well, and it seems that the foot has a bit more range of motion each day.

On a sad note, many of you remember that she moved back to our area from New York, to a town about 45 minutes from here, about two and a half years ago. She has accepted a job offer in Colorado Springs, and is driving her U-Haul and towing her car out on Sunday. So....needless to say, mom has been spending every available moment with her. It's a very mixed bag of emotions. The job is an excellent career move for her, and she has a wonderful man in her life that is in C. Springs, so we are so very happy for her. Ahhh....but of course, we are sad for us, as we'll miss her and our granddaugherdoggie, Rosie, sniff sniff.....tissues, please! What's silly, is that she has lived in Louisiana (11 hour drive), Pittsburgh (10 hour drive), New York (18 hour drive), Taipei Taiwan (14 hour flight) until the last 2.5 years! It's not like I'm not used to her living far far away...I'm such a wimp!

Send up a few prayers for safe travels for her if you don't mind :)

Thanks for being so understaning about my absence - I'll try to get back to 'normal' on Monday. In the meantime, I'm off to grab some more tissues and watch a girlie flick with DD.

Hugs and blessings,
Patti J.

Warning! Contains Icky Photo....

Hi ya'll...


Hope you are all having a wonderful week. Ours is going by so quickly. I can recall my mother telling me that the older I got, the faster time would go by. Mom - you were right!!!


So...as we are traveling, trying to get home before dark tonight, I don't have any cards to post. I do, however have an Icky photo.


I don't know if you recall my post in October, telling about the hay wagon running over our DD's foot. Well, she's been to several PT sessions, several doctor appointments, and the pain still is quite intolerable at times. (like at or about mid-way through her half-marathons :) So, this week, she was set up with an Orthopedic Specialist that deals with sports injuries. She saw him yesterday. They did extensive ex-rays, a lot of rubbing, feeling, probing, etc., and he's thinking there are no broken bones or dislocations, but that what she has is some sort of nerve damage. It was decided to try a cortisone injection to see if she could get relief. He can give her up to three injections, and if they don't help, she will need surgery.


Poor thing.....she has the teensiest, most fragile and pretty feet - normally! This is what she looks like today after the injection. I talked to her last night at 10 and she was in incredible pain, feeling pretty shaky, hot flash feelings in her face, etc. This morning, she felt a bit better - the pain was not as bad as last night, but here is the photo she sent this morning.

Anyway, that's all I have for you today! Tomorrow is another day, and one that I hope to find a crafting window in. I have 200 wedding favors that I must get started on, as the wedding is June 11th! Hope your day's going perfectly! Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to send all of your friends over for a chance to win my blog candy!

Hugs and smiles,
Patti J.
Food for thought: Never, ever get a cortisone injection in your foot! lol...

Your Vote is Needed!

Hello! The Riverfront Times, a popular St. Louis Magazine, is doing a best of the web kind of thing for 2010. Users can vote as many times as they would like. Can I possbily get you to rally and put some votes in for DD for Best Personal Blog today? Voting closes today, and again, you can vote as many times as you would like to!!!



DD's blog is: http://www.smalltowngirlsguide.com/



Please vote here for Melissa! http://polls.riverfronttimes.com/polls/stl/webawards2010/


She fits in category #3 and #6!
Thank you so much!!!



Patti J. (for Melissa a.k.a. Small Town Girl)

Meet DD Melissa!

In addition to her writing for several publications, public speaking, and published photography, Melissa is an avid blogger.

Her blog has recently been twice syndicated.

Melissa is working on expanding her blog audience, and developing good relationships with potential product sponsors. She is wanting very much to take her blog from where it is today, to where she knows it can be. This is why she is wanting to attend BlissDom, "the premiere conference for women who find and express their bliss by publishing online". BlissDom will be held in Nashville, Tn., January 26-28, 2011. Her conference fees will be approximately $450. Add to that travel, food, and hotel costs, and it will become quickly more expensive than her non-profit salary can support.

She has posted on her blog, and I thought I'd post here for her today, a call for sponsors to help her attend BlissDom.

Would your company like to help Melissa attend BlissDom so that she can strengthen her blog, while you receive advertising, and get some blog and tweet credit for your support? If so, she would love to hear from you! You can e-mail

me, and I'll be happy to hook you up with her!

Have a great Thursday!

Hugs, and many blessings!

Patti J.

I Miss You...

I have a 'repeat' card for you today. This was for a challenge a while back that called for a photo to be used. I used a photo that our dear daughter took while looking up at the Gateway Arch, in St. Louis, Mo., one cloudy day. It seemed perfect for the "I miss you" sentiment.

DD, Melissa, is a wonderful photographer. In my humble opinion, she can take a photo of the head of a pin, and make it look like art. I thought this photo only fitting for today's post.

December 8, 1999, was one of the roughest days that I can ever remember. After a very terrible and lengthy battle with cancer, my sister and I lost our dear mother, and our children lost a very special grandmother. I think that we all knew on Thanksgiving that year, that our time with her was very limited, and I also think that was when our prayers began to change. I think, as with any horrible illness, one's prayers change from hoping this treatment, or that treatment will work to add quality and quantity of life, to knowing that they won't, and praying that your loved one's suffering will soon end, and they will be called home. In our case, our latter prayers were answered at 8:30 a.m., on this day 11 years ago. We miss you, mom!

I am not posting this story to bring anyone down today, but to share with you all something that I received in the mail at Christmas in 1999. Although it brought a tear or two, it was such a bright spot in my day that I wanted to share it with you. Perhaps it will help one of you that may be going through a tough time this Christmas.

I'm Spending Christmas with Jesus This Year

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below,

with tiny lights, like Heaven's stars reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away your tear.

For I am spending Christmas, with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,

but the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy those voices bring,

for it is beyond description, to hear an angel sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart,

but I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year, not apart.

I can't tell you of the splendor, or the peace here in this place.

Can you just imagine Christmas with our Savior, face to face?

I'll ask Him to light your spirit as I tell Him of your love,

so pray one for another, as you lift your eyes up above.

So please let your hearts be joyful, and let your spirits sing,

for I'm spending Christmas in Heaven, and I'm walking with the King.

~Author Unknown

I hope your day is delightful! It's still very cold here, but thankfully, no snow or ice yet!

Hugs and blessings to all...Patti J.

Flutter By...

Happy Wednesday!


I hope that you have all recovered from your long weekend, and have the kids back to school, hubbies back to work, and finally have some time in your paper caves! I'm actually at work with DH this week, so won't have a card to post until Friday. However....I do have a fun photo to share with you!


This photo is of our DD, while enjoying her day Labor Day! A group of folks, including DD, went on a float trip Monday. At some point during the day, a butterfly actually landed on her, and stayed on her for several minutes. A friend made a sudden movement, scared it away, and she thought it was gone. After a very short time, it came back and stayed on her hand again for several minutes. I'd love for you to read her "newly syndicated" (YAY!!!) blog entry, to get the story first hand, as she tells it much better than I do! Be sure to say hello while you are there!



Have a great Weds. and Thurs., and I'll see you again on Friday!

Hugs,
Patti J.

Dazzle on...

Our daughter's blog, Small Town Girl's Guide, is just what the title depicts. She loves to travel to towns and places that she's never been to, and blog about them. There are so many wonderful small towns just in our area alone that I've never heard of. It's fun to see her discover and write about them. Two towns, Cuba, Mo., and St. Charles, Mo., (here are the links to the articles) have both featured articles that she posted on her blog on THEIR city blogs today. Wow! With that being said - this card is an on-line greeting for her! Melissa, we are so proud of you - you rock!

I used the sketch from For Fun Challenges for this card, taking the liberty of flipping it, putting the sentiment on the bottom. I had this amazing ribbon that was so perfect, and this stamp says it all!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by today!

Patti J.