Challenge YOUrself #109 - 2022 Wonderful Memory

Here's Challenge YOUrself #109, the first challenge of the 2023!

Can you believe it is 2023 already???!!!

This month we'd like you to create a layout about "2022 - the year in review." You can interpret it any way you like, for example, you can scrap about how one experience changed the year for you. Or you can scrap about different experiences you had and even put them in chronological order if you like, etc. 

Thankfully, 2022 was a year of more ups - than the downs that 2021 brought us!

I decided to scrap one of the very best "ups" for 2022.

I selected this photo to capture a memory of my Aunt and Uncle's 50th Anniversary. My little brother Jack was a junior usher and and I was a junior bridesmaid in their wedding.  I am so thankful and grateful we were all able to celebrate together as a family again.  This was our first time since Covid and after our vaccinations, that we were all together again!  Due to my husband's health, we had been extra careful and did not attend any for over 2 years!  It was great to be together with our family again!

This is a photo of my brother Jack, my mom, my husband Phil, me and my Dad in my cousin's back yard at the party. It rained for a bit, but it didn't ruin the fun time we all had together!
I used the beautiful 49 and Market ARToptions Alena Collection!! from My Little Scrapbook Store -
 Oh MY! Isn't it BEAUTIFUL!  I also added some acetate leaves from their Spectrum Sherbet Collection, some flowers from Little Birdie, some paper twine and charms from my stash too!

Here are some close-ups for you:

Thanks for stopping by! I hope I've inspired you to play along with us at the Challenge YOUrself Blog! I'd love it if you left a comment and the headed on over there for Challenge Rules and info, along with some more great inspiration from the rest of the Design Team! We can't wait to see what you create!!

Be Well and Stay Safe (((HUGS))) ~ Sherri

** I am also on the Design Team for the My Little Scrapbook Store.  It is an online family run store, and we have a Facebook Page called My Little Scrapbook Store - Scrapbook Layouts and More! We'd love for you to join the page and the FUN we have over there with monthly challenges as well.

IF you make a FIRST TIME purchase at the STORE - and use the the code

SHERRIREF you will recieve 10% off your entire purchase! 

Check it out! :-)

My Hero - Challenge YOUrself Blog's Challenge #104 -Tough Times

Hello Scrappy Friends! It's time for the next challenge from the Challenge YOUrself Blog!  

Challenge #104 asks you to document a Tough Time in your life, and to be sure to include YOU in a photo on your layout.

I am documenting a very tough time in our life.  My husband Phil had a Widow Maker heart attack on August 13, 2021.  It is a true MIRACLE that he is still with us, and we are blessed that he has a great team of Doctors caring for him. His heart was severely damaged and he was put on the heart transplant list as a "6."  A person with a 1-4 status is someone who is in urgent need of a new heart.

At the end of November, Phil's condition had seemed to worsen, so his Doctors had him go back into New York Presbyterian hospital for a right heart catheterization on December 1st, 2021.  They had anticipated that he would be bumped up on the list to at least a 4, and told us it was very possible that he would need to remain in the hospital and await a new heart.

We still put up our Christmas Tree at home before on Thanksgiving weekend. The BIGGEST one we have every had, and prayed that God would get him and our family through this very scary time.

The GOOD NEWS was that his heart function was not as bad as the Doctors had thought!!  They were also able to clearly see an old blockage on the right side of his heart, ( he had a silent heart attack years ago they said, and we never knew about it!) and come up with a plan to have one of the best Doctors in the world go in and try to clear that blockage. *That 4.5 hour SUCCESSFUL procedure took place on December 27th, 2021!

So here is my Design Team Inspiration layout with a photo of the 2 of us in his Cardiac Intensive Care Hospital room at NYP during his early December 2021 stay. 

49 and Market's Spectrum Sherbet Tidal Pool Collection was the PERFECT choice for making a layout with this photo. 

This man is my HERO , My HEART, My ALWAYS and FOREVER- he is certainly very BRAVE and STRONG, and UNSTOPPABLE, LIKE NO OTHER! These days, with the help of medication, diet, exercise, (and me hovering over his every move! poor guy!) he is back to cutting the grass, tending the plants and flowers around the yard, even doing laundry!!  He had a pacemaker/defibrillator "installed" in  April and has even been moved to a "7" on the heart transplant list - which is an "on hold" status!!!  He is certainly my Miracle Man for sure!!

We have a follow up appointment in Mid-August and are praying that his heart function has improved, and for continued good news! Please keep Phil in your prayers - we truly believe that the Power of Prayer got him where he is today!

Here are some close ups for you:

Thanks so much for stopping by and reading my story.  It is fun to document the FUN times, and can be tough to document the TOUGH times - but they are BOTH part of our lives, and saving those tough ones, is just as is important, so that we don't forget how strong we can be, when we have to be!

Stop by the Challenge YOUrself Blog for all the Challenge, Entry and Prize info and I hope you play along with us this month!

Sending LOVE and ((HUGS)) to you and your family!

Take care, be well and stay safe,

~Sherri

What are YOU Thankful for? Challenge YOUrself #81

 There is so much to be THANKFUL for these days!  This month's Challenge YOUrself Blog's challenge gives you the Thankful prompt below - and be sure to include a photo of YOU when you play along!

I am more and more THANKFUL for the little things these days. 

One of them is taking an occasional road trip with my husband and inviting my parents to join us.  We live in New Jersey, where a favorite "breakfast meat treat" is Taylor Ham - as it is known here in North Jersey - those that live in South Jersey call it Pork Roll - and they are just wrong! LOL! I used photos from that day to create my layout - we are always THANKFUL for Good Times Together!

Anyway, I saw a post on Facebook of a Farm about 1.5 hrs away, so we decided to take a drive and give it a try!!  I was the only daring one - and it was DELICIOUS!  I love that sweet / salty combo!  We also bought some of the wonderful breads that they make on premises too!  It was a wonderful day spent together!

Here are some close ups for you:

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you find some time to play along with us this month and showing us what YOU are THANKFUL for!  Hop over to the Challenge YOUrself Blog for lots more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team, along with challenge and prize info!

Stay Safe / Be Well / Wear Your Mask!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items used:

Teresa Collins "Far & Away Memories" Collection:

Doily, Subway Calendar Paper, Ledger Cards Paper, Film Strip Paper, Sticker and Die Cut Accessories

49 & Market Wishing Bubbles -Crush

Nuvo Glitter Marker - Urban Graphite

Washi Tape

Ranger Distress Stains - Barn Door, Black Soot, Peacock Feather

Glimmer Mist for splatters