Back to work today

Today was my first day back to the health care campus where my dad was a resident. Dad passed away May 1st, he was 81 and had Alzheimer's. When I say "back to work", I actually mean back to volunteering. I am currently unemployed (except for selling Stampin' Up!) and looking for work.

I volunteer two days a week at the health care campus and it is a great place. My daughter also works there (she is actually employed there). I enjoy my time there and I get to do various tasks. I have made phone calls to obtain information, visited with the residents doing one on one visits, helped with various activities, helped in the dining room at lunch and even conducted scrap booking activities.

The scrap booking activities started in April for National Craft month. The first time I took in various scrapbooks I had made and some my daughter had made. From there scrapbook sessions were scheduled and we made paper bag scrapbooks and completed a squash book. We had a great time and some residents even put pictures in their scrapbooks.

This week we are going to decorate a paper bag with fabric shapes that can be used as gift bags, hung up for decoration or used to hold special items.

Today when I returned I took the Thank you cards that I made along with donuts to say Thanks to the nurses and aides who lovingly cared for Dad. They took excellent care of him and showed such compassion. They treat all residents with compassion, kindness, love and dignity. I just wanted to give them a small token of our (my 1 sisters and I) appreciation for their care.

The greatest thing for me today was to hear that I was missed, not just the assistance I provide, but me. How great is that! How uplifting.

Please let someone you know how much they mean to you today. You will certainly make their day.

Thank You Card

Today I created Thank You cards for the various expressions of sympathy I received on the passing of my Dad. The card was created using Stampin' Up! paper (Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa and Apricot Appeal), stamps (Embrace Life and Much Appreciated), Watercolor Pencils and ink, Spellbinders Nesties and organza ribbon from my "stash"

I stamped the flower from Embrace Life using StazOn and colored with the pencils. I stamped the thanks from Much Appreciated and trimmed the ends with decorative scissors.

The scalloped circle was cut from Close to Cocoa on my Big Shot and the flower was cut with a circle die using the Big Shot. Both circles are the Spellbinders Nesties.

I love the Embrace Life stamp set and have used it many times in various projects. It is such a simple yet elegant flower set and works well for thank you cards, birthday cards, maybe even a Mother's day card. It can also be used on scrapbook pages and in journals. I am sure I will pull this set out again in the very near future. I also like to use Versamark ink with this set to create elegant backgrounds which I will most likely use in a workshop later this month when I create a calendar.

I hope you enjoy this card.

I now need to create my Mom's Mother's day card, I already have her gift (Bare Escentuals products which she loves). Sunday my daughter, Mom and sisters will be going to Olive Garden for lunch to celebrate Mother's Day.

My Dad

My posts have been a long time in between. It has been busy here. My Dad was in the final stages of Alzheimers and at age 81, passed away last Friday.

Dad is saved so I know today he is in Heaven and that makes things easier. As we sat with him last week, we were remembering special times and fun things we had done.

Dad was in a great healthcare facility when he passed and for the last 2 years they took excellent care of him. They not only cared for medical needs, but cared about him as a person.

Today I am trying to get things together for the viewing tonight and the funeral tomorrow. My Dad and younger sister had already pre-planned the funeral and Chris confirmed the final arrangements Saturday.

As I get things done, I think of Dad more and more and remember little things that I had not thought of in quite some time.

I am also reminded of the many things I need to do and how I should be more prepared for life events than I am.