Memories of Uncle Walter

This is my Uncle Walter.  He wore this sweater every year for Christmas since my mom made it for him, some time in the 1960's.  Apparently she made a matching one for my aunt, who didn't think it necessary to continue the tradition :)  Yes, it really is that bright! 


My uncle passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer.  It is amazing to me that at this time last year, he was making arrangements in case he didn't make it until last Christmas.  He refused chemotherapy, and lived much longer than the doctors had given him even if he had taken the drugs.  This is a testimony to his faith in God, and his will to live.  He knew he didn't have long, and he wanted to have the best quality of life he could have, rather than spending it feeling sick from the chemo drugs.


Uncle Walter had strong opinions (probably a family trait :)) and always let you know what he thought.  He also had a great sense of humor.  I remember as a child being surprised by a "quack-quack" while shopping in a store.  Yep, around the corner came Uncle Walter.  Some of his favorite jokes - and gags - involved ducks, and most of the others involved noses!


When I was young, my grandmother would sometimes mix up people's names, which I've unfortunately found myself doing at times ( I have sadly been known to call the kids by the dog's name, and vice-versa).  Her favorite "oops" name for me was Walter.  She explained that I did things that reminded her of my uncle as a child.  I only hope that I would still remind her of him as an adult.

Pulling and Leaning

I received some bad news this morning.  A dear friend has passed away.  She was one of my best friends in college, and has really been the one to keep the rest of us in touch over the years.  The doctors had given her 2-3 days to live two weeks ago, and she finally succumbed this morning.  So, even though I've been expecting the news, each day also brought hope that she would somehow pull through.  She leaves behind her husband and two teenaged children.

I cried a lot when I first heard she was in the hospital, and the tears have been threatening to escape their bonds again today.  But I don't think she would have wanted the tears.

It's hard to understand why God would allow someone to die so young.  But then, is there ever a good time for someone to die?

It would be easy to pull away from God right now.  All of my prayers unanswered, or worse yet, answered with a resounding "no."  But I don't think she would have wanted that, either.

When she was battling cancer a while ago, all she asked for was prayers.  This illness left her unable to ask for anything at all, so I prayed some more.

People are born, and people die, and both occasions are much more emotional for those around them.  A baby only knows it has gone into a different existence, not understanding yet what that will be.  Death must be a similar experience, a kind of birth in a way.

So I will lean on God.  Pull close instead of pulling away.  For I know that Dianne is with Him now.  And some day we will be together again.

Personal Beliefs

An interesting thing happened at our local library today.  Rory asked the librarian why there were "scary" things up on the walls.  I didn't hear her response, but I think it had something to do with Halloween coming up, because Rory then went on to tell her that he didn't believe in Halloween.  He thinks God is against it.  Just for a little background, this conviction of his came about a year or two ago, when he came out of the bathroom and informed me that he had been speaking with God, and God said He didn't like Halloween.  How can you argue with that?  Anyway, back to the library.  A while later, the other librarian came to me and asked me to have Rory not discuss Halloween with the other children, because those were his "personal beliefs."  This was after she had acknowledged a little girl informing her she would be dressing as a princess for Halloween with a "Won't that be nice?" or some such comment.

Okay, so here is my question.  I agree.  Personal beliefs are supposed to be personal.  But why in the world are my son's beliefs in God censored, when other children's beliefs in Halloween are encouraged?  The librarian was also nice enough to inform me that they would be doing pumpkins the next week for storytime, and something else related to Halloween the following week, in case I wanted to stay away.  Does everyone believe in Halloween?  I don't think so.  However, there were children's books featuring witches and skeletons and things prominently displayed for the season.

My other question is, how do I tell my eight-year-old that he is not allowed to talk about God?  He hears in church and in our home how we are supposed to tell others about our faith.  After all, Jesus told us to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every nation.  I don't think he meant every nation except the United States of America.  To Rory, God is as real as you or I.  I'm having some trouble in this day and age convincing him that vampires are not.  Now, I'm supposed to tell him that God is only his "personal belief," and not real either?

I love taking the kids to the library, and to the activities there.  As a homeschooler, it is sometimes necessary for finding information.  And, the librarians are all very nice.  Please understand that this was not a disrespectful conversation in any way, but it put a piece of lead in my stomach and a pain in my heart just as if it was.  I'm not sure I'll be able go back to the library with the same attitude again.

Da-Ta-Daa!!! The Winner!!!

Okay, everyone, it is official.  The My Memories Suite Contest is officially closed.  Thank you to all who entered, and all who took the time to go to the website and learn about the software!  Rory just pulled a name out of the hat (actually my husband's grandpa's gray dress hat), and the winner is...Joel!  I will e-mail you with the instructions to download the software!  


Now, for everyone who didn't win (sniff!)  I can still offer you $10 off the software.  Just copy and paste my code, STMMMS61757, and use it at the checkout when you buy My Memories Suite Version 2.  The software only costs $39.97 USD, so you will be getting about 25% off!  Happy Digital Scrapbooking, everyone! 

Last Chance for the Giveaway!

Hello, everyone - I wanted to remind you that tomorrow, October 10, 2011 is the final day for the My Memories Suite giveaway!  I will be drawing the winner tomorrow night, so that gives you a few more hours to get in on it.  I have to tell you, I have really been enjoying this software.  My latest project is a new homeschool schedule!  I've been tweaking the schedule, well, as long as I've been homeschooling, and usually my schedules look like a list, sometimes with grids and different color ink for the words.  Well, this one is different, and since the schedules are usually posted on a wall somewhere in the house where everyone sees them, I'm happy that this one is a little more, well, decorative!  What do you think? (Yes, Lily is focusing on coloring her hand with a marker, but who's looking?)

Hubby was a little perturbed that I put "tacks" in the wall - just kidding!  But it does look pretty realistic!  This was done totally from scratch, adding things one at a time, from the background to the picture, shapes, words, "staples", and "tacks."  And it didn't take much longer than my former method of using tables and colored type!  At least school LOOKS more fun now!

So, go to this post and enter today!  I'll let you know Tuesday who won, and give that person the directions to download the software for FREE!  Good luck!

My Memories Giveaway - 5 days left!

Good morning, all!  It is Wednesday, and I am sad to say I have had no responses for the giveaway for My Memories Digital Scrapbook Software.  I know it can be a busy time of year, but I would really urge you to look at it.  The product you will receive is worth $40, and it really is good!  I am including a video here so that you can see how easy it is, and how much you can do with the program.

  You can also buy more themes and backgrounds, but the great thing is, they are reusable over and over!  If you buy scrapbook paper at the craft store, you will always have to get more when you run out.  I think this is much more cost-effective.  I've also received e-mails already offering free and discounted paper collections, just in a couple weeks from signing up.  So, please visit my full review, and leave a comment to enter the contest!  After all, someone has to win - it might just be you!

Review and Giveaway - My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbook Software

I am so excited to be able to offer my first giveaway on Music of the Heart!  My Memories Suite is a digital scrapbook software.  Now, I have to admit that I had never heard of digital scrapbooking before I saw this software.  In fact, my scrapbooking efforts mostly consist of pictures stuck in photo albums, or boxes, or sitting in computer files categorized by upload date.  But I think that's about to change.  Using this software, I was able to use the pictures stored on my computer to create a beautiful Fall album!  For this project, I started with one of the provided templates.  I added the pictures, text, music and embellishments (like the flowers).  It was very easy to remove or add page elements, and to re-size or move around the things that were already there.  Here are the pages:

For this one, I just added the pictures.  Everything else was already there.

I added the picture text, and flower, made the picture larger, and put it behind the squares.

I added the text, picture, and flower.

Text, picture and flower again.

Added text, pictures and flower, plus changed out a square for the apple, and another one for the chicken picture.

This one I really rearranged.  I added the pictures, text, and leaves, and moved things around because I wanted  it to be  less structured-looking.

My next project was a baby shower invitation - I started with a blank page, and added things layer by layer.  Everything for this invitation was found on the original website.  I have previously used Microsoft Word to create things like flyers and invitations, but this came out so pretty, I think I'll be using it much more often!

I've had this software almost two weeks, and have already received several e-mails with more things to try.  Last weekend, I was even able to download more background papers for free!  The website includes a store, where you can buy kits of papers and templates.  They are constantly adding new products, including seasonal items.  

There are several options to share your creations.  You can print your pages at home, or arrange them as a movie or interactive scrapbook on a DVD.  You can also have your album professionally printed, or made into a calendar.  I arranged the pages I posted here as a video, with music by my college piano teacher, Nanette Kaplan Solomon, playing a piece called "Sunburst," written by Stepfania De Kenessey.  It came out very pretty.

So, here's the great news - One of you can actually win this software for free!  My Memories was generous enough to provide me with a copy to review and a second copy to give away.  So, here are the rules.

• Go to the website store, then come back here and leave a comment including the name of a kit or template that you like.  

That will get you one chance.  If you would like more chances, you can:  

• Follow the My Memories Suite Blog,  or Like them on Facebook

• Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post

• Share this post on Facebook or Twitter

Then come back and leave a comment!  
Please leave your name on your comment, if you are commenting as "anonymous," so that I can put your name in the drawing.

If you have a blog and would like a visit, please leave your link in your comment, also.

The winner will be drawn on Monday, October 10, 2011.

Now, for everyone who doesn't win, I have one more treat for you. If you copy this code - STMMMS61757 you can use it at http://www.mymemories.com/digital_scrapbooking_software to receive $10 off My Memories Suite software.  So, have fun, and good luck!