My Sweet Family & Mother's Day Subway Art...


Meet my sweet family.

Eric and I will be celebrating our 16th anniversary this month.  He's my best friend.  He's my rock.  He inspires me.  He supports me.  And... not only does he put up with this silly little hobby of mine, he encourages me to be creative and is proud of my accomplishments with my blog and shop.  If you've ever enjoyed a printable from me, freebie or purchased - you can thank him.  He folds laundry while I design and he happily cleans up dinner or puts the kids to bed while I blog or fill orders.  I'm lucky.  I married a gem who lets me be who I am and who lets me chase my dreams.

This year, however, our anniversary will be quite different.  In a way, it may be our hardest one to date - and in other ways, it may be the sweetest yet.  This year, instead of a hot date and roses... it'll be IV's, hospitals and chemo.  I know.  Not what I expected either.  I'd have gladly taken a night at the Marriot instead.  In fact, I'd have taken a weekend at a local Super 8 and been thrilled.  However, for as bad as chemo sounds, it is a gift I am grateful for.  I'm glad that modern medicine saves lives.  I know it will save his. 

He has been ill for several weeks and after lots of tests and eventually surgery, we learned earlier this week that we have a cancer battle to fight.  It's been a week of tears and despair, but also a week of love and hope.  Angels are here.  We feel them.  We feel their strength.  We feel the love and prayers of our family and friends from around the globe.  We believe in miracles.  We believe God blesses us and we are anxious to receive the blessings of peace and health.

Among many other decisions we've made this week... I've struggled with what to do with my shop and blog.  Do I drop it?  Do I keep going?  Will it stress me out?  Do we need the money I make from my shop?  How long will he be able to keep working?  How long will our savings last? 

My answer came this morning (with the kind help of a friend) - and I've decided to keep going.  I will probably slow down, I may disappear from time to time, but you all are my friends and I need you.  I know I will draw strength from your comments and concern - and no matter the faith, I know we can feel your prayers too.  Your continued patronage to my shop will also prove to be an amazing blessing financially to my family, so although I may not be able to churn out your order within hours of you placing it, I plan to keep it open as long as it remains beneficial to do so.




 I woke up this morning with a sense of peace and was encouraged by my hubby to finish something I had started before our world changed.  The hours I spent choosing the wording, playing with fonts and changing colors around were more therapeutic than you could imagine. So, I'm dedicating this one to my hubby - since he's the one that helped make me a mommy - and I want to thank him for helping me see that I do need this blog.  I do need my shop and designing might just be the right kind of distraction that I'll need in the rough days, weeks and months ahead. 

Now available in my shop HERE.

Thank you in advance for any purchase you make, each one makes a difference.

If you have any encouragement or words of wisdom, please feel free to leave a comment.  I'd love to come back on days that are rough and read through them to be reminded that I CAN DO THIS!

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Happy Mother's Day!


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33 comments

  1. Hugs and prayers for you and your family! It will be hard, but I know you will feel the love of friends and family. You have a beautiful family. You will make it through this!

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  2. Lots of hugs and prayers coming your way today and as you go thru this battle. I'm glad you have angels around you. They often are what helps us through the toughest of times.

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  3. You have all the support in the world at your fingertips, just let us know when you need a little extra love.

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  4. Knowing you and your family personally brought tears to my eyes as I read your post. My heartfelt prayers go to you and Eric at this time. You are such a strong woman Colette with an amazing Spirit! Stay true to your faith and He will guide you during this difficult trial. Sending hugs your way Colette!

    Jana

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  5. thoughts and prayers are with you and yours...

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  6. Colette, I'm so sorry to hear this. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

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  7. Your Eric sounds so much like my hubby. What a gift! My little boy went through three and half years of chemo/hospital visits several years ago. He's a strapping thirteen year old now. I'll looking forward to hearing the same prognosis for your husband.

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  8. Prayers for your hubby, you and your family. These are defining times - rely on the power of fasting and prayer. Our Heavenly Father will not leave you to fight this on your own. I only know you through your blog - but I feel that I know you.

    Hugs.

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  9. So sorry. It's funny how you "meet" someone over the internet and they become part of your life. You feel their joy and their heartache. I will keep your family in my prayers.

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  10. I'm so to hear about your news. love and prayers are heading your way. Our husbands sound so similar and I can not imagine how hard it must be to go through this but Heavenly Father will be there with you and lift you up in your time of need.

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  11. Colette, I'm so sorry to hear about about your husband. You are in the thoughts and prayers of Andee and I.

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  12. Colette- I have been wondering what's going on and how you've been doing when I read your status in etsy a little while ago.

    I am SO SAD to read what's going on. I will be praying for him, you, and your family.

    My personal opinion is to let the blog and shop go on break right now. If you feel like adding something, maybe it will be therapeutic. If not, we totally understand.

    I'll be checking back to see your updates and how he's doing anyway.

    Take care and best wishes!

    Nikki

    P.S. Beautiful work with this Mother's Day subway art-- as usual. :)

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  13. Colette,

    It has been years since I have seen you but I have so many memories of you. You are such a strong and amazing woman. I cannot imagine what your sweet family is going through right now. I will keep your family in my prayers. I hope every blessing comes to you and that the Lord blesses you in every way possible. Your blog is amazing and I think it could be a great release for you during these stressful times but don't let it become too much. Your family is first! Love you :)

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  14. So sorry to hear of your husband's health issues. We will be praying for you as well! Trust in the Lord and He will sustain you through each day! God is good- all the time- no matter what our circumstances!!
    Marilyn

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  15. Hope he gets well soon. My prayers for the soonest recovery.

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  16. Colette- You can do it! God's hand is in this. He will carry you through. I will remember you and your family in my prayers. Xoxo

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  17. Colette,
    So many people are praying for you and your family. Thank you for letting us know so we can combine our faith with yours. May you find the strength and comfort you need at this time!

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  18. I will be praying for you. Happy anniversary!!!!

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  19. Huge hugs and prayers to you and your family! Our family will keep your family in our prayers!!!

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  20. Sending prayers and good wishes to you and your sweet family. This post brought tears to my eyes as I could see how much you and your husband love each other. That love will continue to carry you through.

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  21. Oh, Colette I don't know how I missed this post. My prayers too will be with your family. I wish you a special day anyway; it will be because you need it.

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  22. Colette,
    Thank you for reminding me of how sacred life is. I couldn't even imagine what you are going through, but "Take heart! my sister, Jesus has overcome the world." Please know you and your family are in our prayers...Thanks again for sharing your creativity as well as your life with us.
    Blessings from the TenHaken family,

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  23. You don't know me but I have cried after reading your post. I lost my father last week, not to cancer but was still sudden and heartbreaking. Thanks for sharing and reminding us how precious life is. Your family will be in my prayers.

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  24. Trust Him who made the heavens and the earth and us! He always has a plan although it's not the path we might choose to walk. Prayers for your sweet husband and your family.

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  25. Praying for peace and comfort for you and your family during this trial! I know He hears and answers our prayers! Thank you for sharing your testimony, faith and talents with us. It is great that you love what you do and it is therapeutic for you as well. I say do what you feel you can do and take it a day at a time.

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  26. Read D & C 6 all of it but particularly verse 15-20 and 33-37 take 36 as a mantra you are never alone accept all help and include the children - do regular updates on facebook/blog it takes some of the pressure off you by not having to tell your story time and again. as you can tell we are going through a very similar story. Talk the hard talks! don't avoid it and get it over put it behind you and LIVE you are all in my thoughts and prayers

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  27. I'm so sorry to hear about husband's illness. I will pray for him, you and your family!!

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  28. You and your family are in my prayers. Life isn't easy and you never know when you will hit a road block. Trials are such a test of faith. I know you are strong and this will make you stronger.
    Keep us updated. As far as keeping your shop open, it's never set in stone. You may want to do it for a distraction and if at any time you decide it's not where you want to be, the choice is always yours.
    My best to you always. May you find peace and comfort in the days ahead.

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  29. Thank you for your beautiful printable. Will be printing out for the two moms in my life.

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  30. I just want you to know that your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. I know firsthand what you are going through. Five years ago I was pregnant with my 7th child. I was sick the whole time and we couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. The day he was born (very healthy even though I was in bed for the last couple of months) I started running a high fever. Two weeks later I was diagnosed with stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. It was much harder on my husband than me. I never realized what the support person has to go through. If you ever need to talk, I will be glad to be here for you!
    Brenda

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  31. I live in Perry Hall Maryland and stumbled upon your blog from a Pinterest photo. I will be praying for your husband's health and for all of you to be uplifted. Keep your faith because you know that God is good.

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  32. Like the previous poster, I ran across your blog through a pinterest photo. My heart goes out to your family as you navigate through the next months. I know first hand what you'll be going through - I'm a fifteen year survivor of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma (I was diagnosed in college). Hang in there - it's a tough road, but I know you guys can do it! You'll be in my prayers.

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