Crop Pink

Hello Bloggers,

This was a very quick week. We celebrated Customer Service Appreciation Week at work and my team voted me to have a Best Customer Service. I was very surprised, but it really does feel good to be recognized for all my hard work.

So, this weekend The girls at Scrap-Diner are scrapping pink and raising money for Breast Cancer Awareness. Check it out. Sherine has really out done herself with prizes too. If you've never been to the Diner go check them out. It is such a fabulous place and her store is to die for. I heart Scrap-Diner.

Ok, so no pics right now, but maybe tomorrow after I've done some scrappin.
Much Love!
Jessi

Moving Forward

So, Friday was the memorial service for my sweet dear friend. In the viewing room all of her beautiful scrapbook pages and mini books were displayed for all her friends and family to see. She expressed her love for her family and friends, and her passion to make the world a better place through her art....her creations truly are works of art. Afterwards David took me to dinner and insisted I indulge in dessert and scrappiness. I am so lucky!
Sitting in my scrap room today I look around, I am reminded of her so much, and I realise that she would want us to keep scrapping...to let life continue and remember her in our art...in our lives...Aleida would want us to learn from her. To live life to it's fullest....experience everything and regret nothing. Today is my day to move forward. A huge thank you goes out to all who have been here for me through this. Your friendship means so much to me. Now, let's not remain sad but rejoice in the beauty and love that IS Aleida Franklin. She will always be with us, every where we go, and in everything we do. The world is a better place because she was a part of it.

So, moving forward - I have been working on Christmas cards. I know, a little early, but Christmas always makes me happy. Here they are!

I am missing my friend....

It's been 4 days and I think I am finally ready to write this. For those of you who haven't heard the news by now, the world lost a beautiful woman and amazing mother Friday morning. Aleida Franklin was driving to work when someone ran the red light and hit her. She died very shortly at the hospital. 10 hours after her death I came home from work, logged into my email, getting ready to send her an email about a movie this weekend when I saw an email from April at Studio Calico. I didn't understand her email. All it said was

"Just wanted to contact you regarding Aleida and the news I heard this morning. Is everything alright?"


I had no idea what she was talking about. I grabbed my phone and called her cell...no answer. Then I jumped on the boards at SC and read the news. My amazingly talented, beautiful friend was dead. My heart stopped, and for a moment I stopped breathing. It was like some one had punched me in the stomach. Was this real? Then I saw a post from one of our mutual friends, and I sent her a PM with my cell asking for confirmation and Brandon's number. I had to hear the truth from "real" sources. I didn't doubt my eyes...I just didn't want to believe what I was reading.

4 days later I am still very sad, but at the same time I am amazed. The response from the scrapbook community has been so overwhelming! So many people have visited Aleida's blog, sharing their sadness and offering condolences and prayers for her family. If she ever had any doubts about being loved, they were all blown away. So many people read her blogs or knew her from online scrapbook message boards.

Aleida came into my life mid summer last year while I was working at Recollections. She was a spunky, feisty and sarcastic scrapper that spoke her mind and had a style all her own. Admittedly I was intimidated by her when we first met. Over the next couple of months we got used to each other and started talking about our lives outside of the store. By September I was happy to call her my friend. We started sharing our goals and dreams of what we wanted, both in our scrapbooking and in our lives. Then Dave proposed. Naturally Aleida was one of the first girls I thought of when I started thinking about Brides Maids. The look on her face when I asked her...it was brilliant. That was the day our friendship, in my mind, changed forever. That was the day I started to consider her as one of my best friends. I was so inspired by her work, her zest for life, the love she had for her family, but most of all I was inspired by her spirit. She spoke her mind and never thought twice about it, nor did she regret it. She gave encouragement to all who entered our store and all who encountered her online. She was fun to be around and she made sure you know how she felt about you.

Tonight I sit in my office, looking through my albums...thumbing through memories, remembering my friend. I created this LO after she made the Scrap the Music DT. It was perfect. Looking at it now, it is even more perfect. Her friendship was a true gift and I will treasure it always. I love you Aleida. I will miss you, but I will take what you taught me about life and use it every day. Thank you for living your life and loving those around you. I'll see you again someday.

Quick Post - FYI

My cathartech email is down due to the weather. If you want to reach me you can find me at jessig99@tx.rr.com. I will keep you guys updated with any news I hear about arrangements. I hope you are all doing well in this sad time. I love you guys so much!

Sad News

I am not prepared to write the blog I want to write about this....I'm still in shock. Today a truly special woman was taken from this world. Her name, Aleida Franklin. I considered her to be one of my best friends. To say I love her is understated. To say she will be missed is not even scratching the surface. Tonight my prayers go out to her sweet beautiful family and friends. I pray that God provides peace and comfort to them in this terrible time in their lives.

Now I'm going to be with Dave and grieve the loss of my sweet scrap sister and dear friend.
Good night blogers, and be safe, and hold those you love close to you.

I am way late, but WOWZA!

I am so honored to even be mentioned on her blog, much less receive an award! Thank you Aleida! I am honored!

Here are the rules:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.
   
2. Link to the person you received your award from.
   
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
   
4. Put links to those blogs on yours.
   
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you have nominated.

Here are my 7.....so here they are!

Sherine

Liz

Tanisha

Kim

Amanda

Wendy Jo

Lauren

Go check them out and show some love. They are all fabulous!!
I am mostly a lurker, but I lvoe them all! Congrats lady and continue to be fabulous!!
Sorry no pics again, Hoping to get my album finished before I post the pics. :)
Have a great night everyone!!

Sunday Morning Quickie

Hey Bloggers!
I'm off to Mom's today to help her work on a project but I wanted to stop in and say Hello.

I have some sad news. My little brother and his new wife aren't doing so well. I don't have any details, but there is already trouble in paradise. He's on his way to Iraq right now so that doesn't really help. I don't usually do this in a public forum, but I am a firm beleiver in the power of prayer and they really need it. Please, anyone reading this....pray that they can work through this. I hate seeing either of them in pain, and I just don't know what to do other than be for them to talk and to pray.

Ok, enough of that....I have a minibook to post later on today. I'm going to gry to finish it while I'm at Moms so I'll be posting pictures tonight. :) I am also working on a challenge for Studio Calico. We've been challenged to create something with the Bind it All. I'm hoping to work on that a little bit today too.

Y'all have a great Sunday and I'll be back tonight with pictures.
Hugs and Love and Happy Scrapping!!
Jessi

What's this? Twice in 3 days??

Hee hee...so that was for Aleida who always fusses at me for not keeping up with my blog. You know I love you girly!!

So...It's Labor Day and I spent the afternoon at Movie Trading Company with David. We, and by we I mean I got Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, The Devil Wears Prada, and Hairspray (the new remake). We also picked up an original NES and the Gold edition of Zelda 2, The Adventures of Link. I know, it sounds uber nerdy, and maybe it is, but it still kicks ass! :)

I also spent all day yesterday playing at Mom's. I made about 50 Heidi Swapp inspired cards. Hey..I had all the pieces cut for me, why not? I also made some photo wallets for Etsy and I played with some other fun techniques from Splitcoast Stampers. Wanna see my favorite? I know you do...and I wanna show it off, so there!

I also finished my Circle Journal from Studio Calico. Wanna see it? Well, I'll give you a sneak peak. I think Heather is going to need bigger rings. I'll send some along with the album...you never know. :)