graduation weekend

This past weekend was my son Sam's college graduation. Here is a photo of Jason, me, and Sam, relaxed after the big event. My mother and her husband were here to help us celebrate and we all had a great time. I am so happy and proud of Sam. Then at midnight last night Jason calls and says he doesn't feel well, and calls again at 7 am, so off I went to MSU to bring him back to Ann Arbor and the hospital. He thought it was a recurrence of an abscess he had a few weeks ago, and so did the drs, so out came his tonsils in a matter of hours. Meanwhile, this is his final week of classes and he has 3 finals he will not be able to take. I am just happy that Sam got to enjoy his special time before this happened with Jason. They are both going to visit my mother in a few weeks, and that will give Jason enough time to heal.

Here's a life lesson I learned from this experience. Last night, after dropping my mother and Irving off at the hotel after dinner, I just said goodbye casually from the car. I assumed I would be picking them up in the morning to go to the airport. But because I had to get Jason, I wasn't able to do that, and so I missed giving them big hugs and saying I love you. For me, the lesson is always give a hug and an I love you regardless. Because my mother lives so far away, I only see her a few times a year, and those hugs really matter.

April Mandala

My April mandala is done, and it is called "My Rock Garden." This garden takes up most of our front lawn and is kidney shaped. A few weeks ago it was totally barren, except for some red ground cover. I wanted to capture the garden just before it started blooming, because I never cease to be amazed that plants can actually just push themselves out of the earth and give us so much hope and beauty.

This is my garden today.
This is the garden a week ago.

The Sun is Out

The sun is out! The temperature is a little warmer than it's been. I went shopping for Passover food today. This week I will spend time cleaning, eating up the non-passover food, and beading. I'm finishing up April's BJP page. Then I want to make a butterfly for a holocaust project I read about. Then I have a piece to make for Food Gatherer's Grillin, a fund raiser for collecting and distributing food in the community. I have made beaded necklaces for the last two years, and I'm still trying to decide what to make this year. The piece should have something to do with food. Last year I used autumn colors and found some pumpkin looking beads. And, finally, when those things are done, I have the piece to make for next year's Beading for a Cure.

In between these beading projects, my son is graduating from college on April 27th!!! We are so happy for him. Growing up was very challenging for my son, lots of speed bumps and detours through those adolescent, teenage, and young adulthood years. However, he has found his path, and will be going to law school in the fall.

Now I'm off to take a walk in the sun.

bead embroidered necklace

I have been working on this necklace since last summer. It began in a class with Sherry Serafini. The necklace is distinct for me because I used a different pallette than usual and because I made it symmetrical.

Tips wanted for 2008 website

I am excited to be part of the 2008 Bead Journal Project. Of course, I still have 2 months to finish for the 2007 year. And while I work on them, I'm going to think if there are any tips I can contribute to the website. For instance, I started with a big size 10 needle and then tried a sharp, which I now love, and even use on regular bead work. I use an arm's length of Power Pro, my favorite "thread." Even though I won't be wearing the bead pages, I go through bugles and crystals twice.

If you have any suggestions for tips, please leave them in the comment section so I can add them to the website. Thanks!