Fe-Fe's World Of Craft, Creations and Kids.

This blog was started mainly for my crafting, however I also find myself writing about my family life too and in particular about my son Josh. Josh is just Josh to us and we're used to his quirky behaviour. As I don't want to have to mention Josh's autism every time I post about him, I thought I'd mention it here. Hopefully you will bear this in mind as you read and it may give you a little insight into the wonderful world of the autisic child in a very gentle way!

Tuesday, 23 February 2010

Mum's Birthday Card

It was my Mum's Birthday on Thursday 18th. Luckily for us it usually falls during half term week so we take the opportunity to go and stay for a few days so that we can be there for her birthday and also my mum's house makes a good base camp for then going off to visit other family and friends that live over that way and further afield.

We went over on Wednesday and after dropping most of our stuff of at Mums', the kids and I went through to my friend Shaeron's who's just moved from Bradford to Knaresborough. It was a very foggy drive but it was worth it to catch up as we haven't seen each other in an age. We had a lovely lunch and then a walk to the ruined castle before setting off back to Bradford.

Thursday was of course my Mums' birthday. This is the card I made for her. I used my favourite papers by My Minds Eye and my favourite stamp which is a Stampavie Sarah Kay stamp. I used paper punches to make the flowers and the leaves and wording at the bottom are My Minds Eye rub ons.

For the inside I used the Birthday Cake stamp that Josh bought me for my birthday.

To celebrate my Mums' birthday we went out for lunch, there was seven of us all together, my Uncle Don, Auntie Ann, my Gran, Mum, Ellie, Josh and little me. It was a lovely meal and Josh coped really well with it all which is always a bonus.

In the evening Mum, Auntie Ann and I went to watch an all male pantomime in Marsden called the Wizard of Ossett. It was so funny and very well done. I was suitably impressed and we all had a great evening.

On Friday it was back over to Harrogate to visit my Dad and his wife. Another lovely lunch and a walk followed by a play in the local park.

Saturday morning we headed back home in time for Ellie to go to her swimming lesson in the afternoon. So a very busy week lots of fun.

7 comments:

Lisa Jane said...: Are you a yorkshire lass by any chance? The mention of Marsden and Ossett got me thinking.
LOvely card . The image is really nice and the background papers suit it perfectly
Lisa ;); 23 February 2010 at 23:11
Anonymous said...: Decided to stop by and pay a visit at FeFe's World--haven't done so in quite a while. Lovely! You are definitely the best card maker EVER!; 25 February 2010 at 12:24
Anonymous said...: Decided to stop by and pay a visit at FeFe's World--haven't done so in quite a while. Lovely! You are definitely the best card maker EVER!; 25 February 2010 at 12:24
Bee's Zen Garden said...: Very nice! The Sara kay so reminds me of my young years!! My b-day is the day right after your Mom's! However I didn't receive the sara kay card you made for ME! LOL ;-); 25 February 2010 at 21:13
Corie said...: Oh my this is so beautiful!!; 28 February 2010 at 00:07
Neenie said...: Stunning card, Fe! Just love the colours and your colouring of the fabby SK image. Sure your mum will treasure it.x; 2 March 2010 at 23:16
Cazzy said...: That is gorgeous Fe, I am sure Dee loved it.

Cazzy x; 4 April 2010 at 19:01

Ode to Special Mums

Ode to Special Moms(by Erma Bombeck)

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit. This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint, Matthew.
Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint, Cecilia.
"Rudledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint, give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."

The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," says God. "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But has she patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it.
"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."

God smiles. "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."

The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word.' She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations."I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."

"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, pen poised midair.

God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

"Welcome to Holland"

"Welcome to Holland" By Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away...because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss. But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.