House Of Scrap: Weekend is over already?!

Yesterday was difficult (Pat's funeral), but it was nice to see all the other "kids" there. I had a lovely drive down, despite missing my turn for the "back" way to Silverton. I have never been to a Catholic funeral (nor have I been to the graveside ceremony) and I actually had no idea that Pat was religious, so it was interesting to hear Marta and Earl talk about that in their eulogy of their mother. I like that she kept it her personal thing. People spend too much time shouting about their faith from the rooftops and spirituality is a personal thing, each of us will digest and feel and experience in our own way.

Funny how much time passes and how weird it is to see us older. The weirdest thing to me was seeing Abe. He's looking older, the same as I remember, a bit rounder, and just a little white in his beard. Today I reflected on the young years we spent together. I wish I made more of those years. I wish I fought less and loved more, stressed less and had more fun. That isn't to say we didn't have fun, but we could have had more. We could have made "us" work.

What I took from the funeral was "I wish I would have talked to Pat about Abe and I when we were having troubles. Shame on me." Listening to Earl and Marta talk about how awesome their mom was (rightfully so) and cite examples from their life experiences with her, made me regret not tapping into what was surely a fountain of wisdom and guidance. She accepted me into her life (as all the Hazekamps have) unconditionally. It is a remarkable thing to experience and something I don't see in my own family and surely never seen replicated by anyone else in my life. This world needs more Pat Hazekamps in it... We need more unconditional love. More acceptance and more politeness and more moms who stand up for their kids when they are being bullied. More FIERCE people... that was how both of her kids described her and it was an accurate description of how she lived her life!

As I drove home, it dawned on me that Mr. & Mrs. H. were a year from celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. That thought brought tears to my eyes.

I made cards for Earl and Marta. I gave Mr. H. a pretty photo card that I purchased from a woman at work's husband (who takes phenomenal photos). I wasn't sure what kind of card to make him.
Just like I wasn't sure what to write as there are no real words that will accurately express my sorrow for their loss.

I had fun making this one for Kristina at the office. I loved the colors and playing with the cute baby stamps and tiny details. How cute is that bear?!?!

This is for the guy who sits across the cube from me. His cousin is having a baby girl. This was so fun to make, again with the baby stamps. I am not sure if it picks it up in the scan, but I sprayed some sparkly mist we got at convention over the entire thing, such a subtle, but cool effect.

Boss lady's (aka customer numero uno) parents are going to Spain to celebrate their anniversary, so I made them a Spain-inspired card, complete with an envelope I made from an old National Geographic map. Kind of simple and basic, but I love the finished product.