Life without dad and MOM

 My dad was my inspiration for this blog. His love of photography, memories and family are my daily inspiration. Loosing my dad in 2006, at age 63, was heartbreaking. I knew his love, his passion would live in me and I could carry it forward, for both of us. I try, daily, to carry it for us. When my camera is in my hand, whether I am photographing vacations, grandchildren, family gatherings, I take pictures. Many, many pictures. I thrive on capturing and savoring those special moments. I guess you could say, I am obsessed with capturing those moments to a tee. Maybe, some would say, I take about 4-5 pictures to every 1 picture others take. I am okay with that. I know that would be dad too!  Since this blog started, with my dad’s legacy in mind, I have lost the 2 aunts who helped me stay connected to genealogy and my family heritage, on both sides. And worst of all, I lost my mom. Just this past April, almost 15 years after losing my dad. I am grasping for my meaning, my purpose, my moving forward, my future-without both of them. I know they would want me to be happy, to thrive, to live. I know they are with me. I know they loved me. I know this and yet…. I miss them. I miss what I took for granted. That they were there. Whether good times, or times I just did what my mom wanted to please her, I took for granted that tomorrow would be there. At least for longer than it was. While I try not to have regrets, I have moments of missing them and wondering what life would be if I could have had both of them longer than I did. I will try my best, to live, love, remember and make sure Norah, Ben, Claire and Addy, and our not yet born grandchildren, know who my mom and dad were. Their love for family, their dedication to their life, passion, children, grandchildren….. will be remembered. This is how I can make they and I will never forget! Love you dad and mom!

This is a memories and more post

It’s been 5 years since I have posted! So much has happened in 5 years! I won’t go into detail but I now have 4 grandchildren! The loves of my life! Can’t even explain! My new normal is trying to live the best life I can live. Trying to be the best version of me! I am focused on clean eating, workouts and mindset meditations! Danette May came into my life in July 2017. Some family members I thought were family members are no longer family members. It has been a sad change, but a change I have no control over.  I am focusing on me and what I can focus on. I am meeting new, energized, wonderful women along the way.  While I still love photography, think about my dad, daily, and try to focus on what feeds my soul, I am all in on my journey of love, life, and self discovery ❤️❤️❤️. I have released 65 pounds since I have been here last. I am just starting to truly find me and I’m not going to lie, I am a little scared. I only know that so far I am feeling better than I have (since I don’t know when). I am blessed! To be continued...

Every Fleeting Thing

My dear friend Sandy Tully (Sandra Miranda Tully) wrote a beautiful book of poetry. When her book was published everyone was so excited for her. The book, "Every Fleeting Thing" is amazing! Many of the poems reflect Sandy's struggles and experiences of overcoming several life threatening cancers. Our church held a special summer evening of poetry, where we heard Sandy and her son Michael. Michael played piano, sang, and accompanied many of Sandy's poems. Sandy read poems. What a beautiful evening and treat! Many of my photo note cards were used for participants to comment to Sandy about the evening. I was honored when asked if the evening could end with the audience using my photo note cards for comments rather than just filling out another evaluation of a program. Sandy got to read comments about the amazing evening and her poems on my photo note cards. For more information on Sandy and her book go to www.everyfleetingthing.com    For more information about my photo note cards email me at debbiekusch@yahoo.com or leave a comment here. Thanks for your visit, I appreciate it!
Debbie

Hard to say Goodbye

 It was 7 years ago June 30 that my dad passed and this year on July 13 we lost my father-in-law, Jack. My in-laws live on a beautiful lake in Northern Wisconsin. Sunsets every night, boat rides around the lake and watching the Eagles overhead were just a few highlights of each visit. Spending time up north with family was always fun and many of the photos I took were used in some photo note cards I had made. When my father-in-law passed, my mother-in-law asked me if I would make photo note cards for her to use as her thank yous after his funeral. I was truly honored and knew every photo would remind each recipient of Jack and their lake home. I made just over 100 cards for her, praying with each one, for Jack, the recipient, and my mother-in law, Judy. These photos are just a few samples. We have so many great memories of Pine Lake visits; 32 years worth for me and more for my husband, Mark, and his family.  Life is precious and we don't know when our time here on earth will end. It makes me truly cherish my family and friends even more. I know Jack is smiling down on us all and we have another guardian watching over us. We love you and miss you dad!

Creative renewal!

It's been a long time since I felt like blogging much less creating anything; too long! I just spent an amazing 24 hours with Teresa, one of my biggest cheerleaders, at part of an artists retreat in Lake Geneva. We laughed, chatted and shared where we each are on our journey. I truly cherish that I have someone I can really talk with who I feel "gets me". Thanks Teresa for your listening and encouraging words. I got back a little spark or nudge to do more with my photo note cards. I will share when I get the creative ideas out of my head and onto the paper!

Life is what happens when you are too busy to blog!

Wow I can't believe I haven't blogged since November! I knew it's been awhile but I thought maybe a month or two.  Where does the time go? I have not had a chance to work on any photo note cards since before Thanksgiving. I have taken a lot of snow pictures and thought about making some cards but haven't. In the past month our middle daughter got engaged and our oldest daughter found out she is pregnant and making me a grandma! I somehow think I might become more preoccupied than I have been. I look forward to creating baby scrapbooks and an engagement scrapbook. I am looking forward to spring, warmer weather and an overnight with other artists at an artists retreat in April. Maybe that will help me get re-inspired to create! Hoping to blog sooner than last time!

Widgets, Gadgets, and Buttons, Oh My!

I have spent the last day and a half trying to figure out and add buttons and gadgets! I am still trying. Thanks to Teresa who came up for a day long visit to show me some how to's and new tricks. Our visit went so fast but was so much fun. Two of the new buttons I did manage to add are her blog sites. Try them and let me know if they worked for you and learn more about her! I am still trying to add a button for my blog for you to grab. I haven't exactly figured it out but am determined to keep trying. This stuff takes hours. I think I managed to add a favicon but it's pretty small so I may change it. I have a 225 page PDF from the Flying Lessons e-course with Kelly Rae Roberts that has many tips, I just need to spend the time learning it. If I realize the baby steps I've taken a long the way and would have more confidence in my learning, I think I am doing okay, I just want to know more now. Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.
Debbie :)