Fighter

Today is April 25th. A great day but a sad day all at once. Today is one year since I lost my sister Karrie to that ugly "C'' word. Yes, cancer. She fought brain cancer for nine years! She never let cancer control her life. She was a daughter, she was a wife and a mother of two sons, she was a sister and a friend. So many things have changed in the year that she has been gone. Some she would like and others she wouldn't.





The word fighter is the word used most in her funeral service. A fighter she was. She was outspoken and stubborn and did things HER way. She let you know if she didn't like what you were doing, wearing, etc. She turned her life from a high school drop out to a successful business woman.








The sisters. From right to left in age is Kathie, Karrie and myself. We all look alike with the exception of hair/eye colors. We may look alike but are nothing alike other then that. Kathie is the hardest worker I know and is always giving to others. Karrie was Kathies very best friend and sister. They were so much closer then we were. Today my heart breaks more for Kathie and my Dad then most in my family. Kathie hasn't been the same since we lost Karrie. Dad, losing a child, has changed him as well.

The good things that came from the death of my sister Karrie. I was able to care for her in her last 6wks of life which made me feel so good. We werent as close as her and Kathie but her needing me the last few days helped me heal from our loss. So today, is bittersweet. I am sad for our loss and remember the last days when Karrie and I were the closest we ever were.

Roots

How do you describe "roots". There are several different ways one can use the word "roots". First thing that comes to some peoples mind is the epic classic best selling novel and the movie made from that book. Next you might think of that dark, skunk type stripe in the middle of your hair when your hair grows out and needs to cover the gray again! Then you can think of the long, stringy things that hold plants in the soil. Maybe you might even think of a carrot, etc. Roots.. what do you think of ? Below you will find a collage of pictures that show my definition of "roots".

The roots of this family go clear back to Ellis Island and deep into the history of the state of Colorado. The Wedow family had the first boot makers in Colorado, and the first midwife. Our family homesteaded here long before Colorado was a state. The above pics are of Frank Wedow, he was the Under-Sheriff of Arapahoe County CO in 1907. There is a picture of the star from when he retired.

How deep is your roots? Do you take the roots of your family seriously? We do! I hope during raising your family you remember to set down the roots! Create memories and create family traditions and remember that time is what matters.

Hats!

How many of us wear several hats in our lives? I can go through my mind and come up with so many of the hats I wear on a daily basis. Do these hats identify the person I am, my soul? I wear a halo (thats a type of hat, right?) because I am a child of God. I wear a beautiful bonnet because I am a wife. I wear a witches hat because I am a parent of 3 kids! I wear a dunce cap sometimes when I make poor decisions or choose the wrong direction. I wear a checkered hat as a taxi driver to my kids and a cap of knowledge as my children's teacher. I also wear a chef's hat because I am a good cook/baker! A beret because I am an artist! A police hat because I enforce the law of the house! A firemans hat because I keep the fire going to heat the house.

As I sit here and ramble about the labors of my life and the hats that go with them I stop to ponder....... Which one of those hats describe me best.

The hat is my cowboy hat. I am a country girl to my soul. I wear jeans and boots and love the cowboy way of life. So .. as you go through your lives exchanging hats for each situation, never lose the hat that fits you best, the one that brings you home.

**~**Paint**~**

When I say the word paint. What do you think of? A color splashed on a wall in your house? The color of your car? I believe this is the average answer when asked that question.

When I think of paint I think of some of my favorite things. I love working with acrylic paints when I am painting my little dolls for Fancie Fannies and Fancie Fannies Bridal. These acrylics represent a business, a passion and an income for my family.

When I think of paint, I think of watercolors in little tubes lined neatly in my wooden paint box. These little tubes can take me to places I have never been and make animals I have only seen in pictures. They represent patience and vision to me. Working with watercolor is one of my favorite things to do.

When I think of paint... I think of horses. They are my favorite horses in the world. There are never two alike. Each is an individual. It also represents one of my most favorite artists in the world, Bev Doolittle. Her talent amazes me!

Now.. what do you think of when you hear the word paint?

My Constant Companions

I don't know about you, but I spend more time with my critters then I do with humans. I spent hours in my art studio painting and drawing and they are always by my side. If I get up, they get up, if I go outside, they follow me. They each hold a piece of me and my soul. Each one of them help me through this life in one way or another. They make me crazy and make me smile all at once. If you haven't shared your life with an animal, you are missing out on such a wonderful experience. They never judge, they love unconditionally and they are always faithful.

Meet Miss Paige. She is the newest addition to my pack. She is a blue merle Australian Shepherd and has one completely blue eye. She is snuggly and loving and never away from my side.

This is Pixie. A Jack Russell Terror, oops I mean Terrier. She is so naughty! She is my lap dog and is constantly with me when I am painting or drawing. She has such a unique personality and isn't anything like most JRTs. She was a gift from a wonderful couple to replace the broken pieces of my heart when I had to put my other JRT down due to blindness. Pixie didnt take KC's place but was the bandaid and glue to put me back together on the inside. I never knew how much the loss of a dog could affect you.

Little Duece. He is my miniature Australian Shepherd. He is 4yrs old and talks to me everyday. He smiles, and wiggles all the time. He just LOVES people. Hes a funny looking little goober, but again, he is always with me. He loves to herd the other dogs and bark when we play ball.

Meet Hayden, my guard dog. She is 9mo old and would lick an intruder to death. I almost lost her to Parvo as a puppy and spent day after day administering liquids and meds to save her life. It formed a bond that can't be broken. I bought her for my husband Kraig for our 21st Anniversary and I inherited her. She loves to ride in my car and bark at kids on bikes. Shes such a toughy :o)

This is my heart and soul. This is Magnum. He has epilepsy and has several seizures a month. He is so in love with me. He gazes at me all the time and he would lay his life down for me. Everyone should have a dog like Mag. My life will forever change when he leaves me .

Easter Sunday Traditions

Easter Sundays have always been dedicated to church, eggs, chocolate and ham. This year was different. Yes, we went to church, that part didn't change. But after church was totally different then it has been in over 20yrs. There was no ham.. there was no bunnies... there were no eggs.. there will always be chocolate though! Kids have moved out, gotten married and started their own traditionsn. Having one left living at home it was weird. We had burgers and guac/chips for lunch and then Keenan went his way with his buddies and Kraig and I worked outside.

I am hoping what I did doesn't become a tradition on Easter every year. I cleaned up dog poop, raked yucky parts of the yard and rolled up cords, and threw away alot of yucky stuff that accumulated throughout the winter! The trash man Timmy will love me on Tuesday morning! ;o) But while I was picking up poo I was thinking of how things will be so different when all my kids decided to leave my nest. Will it always be dog poop and yard work or will it be family dinners and such again? A sad day, but a good day. I miss my kids being little and dying eggs, hiding them over and over again until the shells were mushy. The giggles of what they found in their baskets and eating candy ALL day! God will show me a new tradition I am sure.