Debbie's Creation Story

and then God said, "I am going to send you cheerleaders along your path and I hope you stay awake enough to notice".

I am noticing and am so grateful for the awareness of the blessings of all my cheerleaders!  Each day since my Sedona vacation I have been encouraged and supported to explore, share and live my dream to do something with my passion of photography, card making and scrapbooking. Thank you Teresa for being my #1 cheerleader to give me the boost I was waiting for.

In the past 2 weeks I have created over 200 photo cards, purchased domain names for logos and internet browsing, and am looking into copyrights and trademarks; which has been confusing.  In "showing" my cards to my co-workers I sold $150.00 worth  for their Christmas gifts to others. The feedback has been tremendous. I  really didn't expect such a response.  My brother Rick especially commented how he liked the Sedona cards and the composition. It's only the beginning and I am feeling such a "the possibilities are endless" excitement.  Life is good and I thank God for all you cheerleaders!

Cancer

In January of 2001 I was diagnosed with breast cancer; I had just celebrated my 40th birthday. It was caught early and I went through all the recommended treatments; lumpectomy, chemo, radiation, tamoxifen. On January 11, 2012 it will be 11 years that I am cancer free!  In August of 2005 my older brother Rick was diagnosed with tongue and neck cancer; he had just turned 46. He wasn't a smoker nor had ever chewed tobacco. He went through surgeries (they had to remove part of his tongue), chemo, and radiation. Though his treatment was "successful", it has truly affected his quality of life.  He has not been able to return back to work. When our dad died in 2006 at age 63, the autopsy report showed he had lung cancer that had metastasized to his brain.  Then in August of 2008 Rick was diagnosed with lung cancer. He had surgery to remove part of his lung. He is now a stay at home caregiver to his 2 new grandchildren and has good days and bad days. In my family, 3 out of 5 of us had different cancers in less than 5 years and at young ages! 

In the past 5 years I have had a lot of time to reflect on life. The importance of health, family, relationships and happiness is something many people don't have or take for granted (I know I did). I have become stronger, am more committed to relationships and communication and try to live with awareness and being intentional about life.  One reason I started this blog was to share my story. I have felt such a strong pull to really do what I have been dreaming of doing. That, from my previous blogs, you know is something with photography, card making and scrapbooking.  I think about it all the time. And as my friend Teresa says , "if not now, then when"?

Cancer has affected so many people in so many ways.  I want to end with this famous saying about what Cancer can not do- the author is unknown. 
Peace,
Debbie

What Cancer Cannot Do
Cancer is so limited....
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the Spirit.
Author Unknown

Feeling better already

24 hours later and I feel so much better. I have had a lot of response and encouragement with this blog and my "new" facebook page. I appreciate all the love and support from SO many, I feel truly blessed. I was surprised to learn my daughter's boyfriend, Jon, typed in my blog name and found it right away!  I couldn't even find it. I kept thinking no one will really see this, but I shouldn't be typing this if I don't want any one to see it. It's just scary to put yourself out there.  I am feeling better each day though. I am looking into adding a watermark to my photos so I can protect them from being copied, especially if I want to start posting some I feel are really good.
Thanks to all who have held my hand so far... I am blessed.
Debbie

So many things to learn

I am feeling really overwhelmed with all the technology stuff. I can't figure out if I'm doing this blog right. I'd like to change some things but get lost in all the links. I will keep reading and learning. It really takes a lot of time!  I also "think" I just created a facebook page, but that too seems so foreign I am not sure if I really did. And ALL the "friends" they list!!! If I click send friend request does it do it automatically?  Maybe I am trying to do too much all at once. Someday I will look back on all this and think "it was really all so easy"- I hope.  I don't even know how to really share this sight with anyone. Step by step-

DAD

My dad owned a camera store for 43 years. It was the love of his life. He died at an all too young age of 63 in 2006.  My dad sold cameras, taught his customers how to use their cameras and then printed their pictures right in his store. He had a passion for his work, he loved to chat with his repeat customers and always felt like he had been on their many vacations and saw more places than he could possibly see without leaving his store.  I have spent most of my life taking more pictures than most people, worked with my dad at his camera store, along with my older brother, scrapbooked many memories and have told people "I was born with a camera in my hand".  I miss my dad and I can't stop feeling I want to continue his legacy in some small way. Now with the advanced technologies of digital photography I have been doing my own printing from home and always feel his presence when I am at my computer. It's only recently that I have been encouraged to share my story and begin to explore my options. Dad, I wish you were here (though I know you are spiritually) to watch the possibilities unfold. I long for your love of photography to live through me. I love you dad!

Day One

I did it! I just created a domain and blog. I really am not quite sure exactly what I am doing yet but I have to start somewhere.  While in Sedona on a 30th anniversary vacation with Mark I met an amazing person who has encouraged me to move out of my fear of trying to do something new; something I "want" to do.  I took over 1500 pictures in Sedona which also inspired me to try something new. I am passionate about photography, scrapbooking, card making and crafty things in general, beading, stamping, etc.  I want to try to do something with this passion.  The excitement and energy I feel when sharing my new dream, showing my work, talking about my dad and his love of photography keeps telling me I have to try something.  I feel this is a good start- telling my story and searching for the strength to follow my dreams.