Well, That Was an Unexpectedly Long Break

Wow. I think that's the longest break I've taken from blogging Simplicity since it began back in 2009.

Let's start this post with a card...for those of you who aren't interested in my personal life. If you are interested, keep scrolling. So much going on. So much pleasantness. So much unpleasantness.

Oy vey.

The BIG EVENT in the past two weeks has been my son Nicholas's graduation from high school last Saturday and the attendant festivities, so let's honor that milestone with a graduation card I made for one of his friends.

Y'all know I love words, the alphabet, typewriters, books...basically anything having to do with language. But sometimes using cool stamps like this alphabet border stamp from Papertrey's Ombre Builders is a challenge. Teacher card? Quit making those years ago. Where else might a stamp like this be appropriate?

Well, I decided that it might work for a graduation card. After all, high school graduation is the culmination of a journey that began in kindergarten with the alphabet lined up and displayed prominently in the classroom. I like the results!

The sentiment comes from Clearly Besotted's Happy Days set. It's positioned in the upper right sweet spot, with the emphasis on HAPPY. Because graduation day is happy. And Springboro's colors are blue, black, and white. Hence, the blue focal point.

Now, let's get personal. The past two-and-a-half weeks have been, well, a bit insane. They've included raw sewage in my basement (the day after my mother arrived, two plumbers and three days needed to fix), a dead washing machine (and six-day wait for a new one), finding out we need new tires for my car (can wait a bit but will need to happen soon), and Cooper's massive allergic reaction that left his whole head swollen (cause: unknown). Plus, there were countless small crises and problems that left me on the verge of tears most of the time.

On the happy side, we had many visitors from out of town to celebrate Nick's graduation, and all of them extended mercy, grace, peace, and love in the midst of the craziness.

George's mom and dad. This is the best picture of Barbara taken in
years. She has the uncanny ability to have eyes closed in
virtually every picture she's ever had taken. 

My mom, who spent a morning with me at
the laundromat. We made the best of it with
Bill's doughnuts. She never once complained
about the smell of the sewage, either.

George's sister Angela and her husband Mike, who
fight for the pups' favor. Mike usually wins favorite
status, and this angers Angela. Understandably.

After the graduation ceremony with all George's family.
Our son Jack played trumpet in the band
for his brother's graduation. So proud of him!

Family picture with my mom.

The proud graduate

Nick and his friend Owen, the bow-tie buddies. Owen will
attend the University of Oklahoma to study ballet and graphic design.
The kid's got some awesome talent on stage and in the art room.

Nick and his girlfriend, Keara. She will attend
University of Cincinnati in the fall with Nick. 

Nick with Angela and Mike. Angela's graduation gift to Nick
is a trip to New York City in a few weeks.

The grad and his dad.

Selfie with mom. Oh how I love  this kid!

The two days of graduation weekend (the graduation on Saturday and the party on Sunday) went off without a hitch. I was so very grateful for that, given how those two days were preceded by chaos and followed by it.

This week, I've applied to teach as an adjunct instructor at three different universities and dealt with Cooper's allergic reaction. I didn't get a good picture of the full puffy horror, but here's a close-up of his eye after we got him home from the vet. It's still somewhat swollen, but nothing like it had been.

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Here's the same eye this afternoon. It's MUCH improved, as is the swelling all over his face and neck.

Just before the break, I received my Mother's Day shipment from Simon Says Stamp. I've not had a chance to even open the packaging. Hopefully tomorrow, I can hit my craft room and make something lovely. Or pretty trash. Doesn't matter. I just want to get back to normal and stop waiting for the next disaster.

Thanks for your patience. I'm so happy to be back!

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,
Susan

Supplies
stamps: Clearly Besotted Happy Days, Papertrey Ombre Builders
ink: Ranger, Archival
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: not a one