It’s that time of year where we again take stock of the things and people of who we are thankful. It seems silly though, that we cannot make this more of a daily occurrence and have to rely on the calendar for us to remember it. At least, I have this problem more often than not.
This year hits a little different– If you follow my Instagram (@hanniejoyandco) you will know that we’ve been dealing with some health issues with my husband. (You can read up on his story at @heart_for_aaron on Instagram). The short of it is that he needs a new heart. We were prepared to start this process in August and there were setbacks and challenges and changes. And, we learned in late Sept he was able to return to Maui to be with us as we wait for a heart for him. So, I am thankful. It’s bitter sweet in some respects— the type A in me wants to hurry up and get it done so we can put it behind us. But, I also see this gift of more time simply as a gift–and for that I am extremely grateful.
Of course, I knew NONE of this when I created this November calendar (back in November of LAST year—I make these to sell in December, so, they’ve got to be completed a year ahead). But, The sentiment perfectly describes my heart at this time. I’m so grateful for my family and that we are able to stay together at the moment. I’m grateful for the incredible support we have received from the community around us– in a time when that same community is mourning the most devastating fire Maui has ever seen. These past months have been surreal.
I love the softness and non traditional look of these colors. And, the images in the Soft Seedlings stamp set brings back nostalgic memories of playing with the ‘helicopters’ or whirly-birds in the yard with the fall leaves. I’m a little sad my children don’t get this experience here on Maui (but, hey— It’s 80 degrees at the moment that I write this and my family is dealing with below freezing highs today–so I get over it pretty quickly).
I used Petal Pink and Gray Granite to color the images. Ink the stamp with pink and then sponge gray around the edges. Simple stamping at it’s finest.
Hug your family and keep them close— we don’t know what tomorrow will bring us. But, for today, we will enjoy the moment and be thankful.
hanniejoy&co 
Oh, Crystal, your post is totally from your heart and it really touched me. I can relate to the part where you just want to get it over with so you can get it behind you!! God has His own timing, which is perfect for your family. Sometimes we just need to learn the same lesson over & over. Praying for Aaron’s complete recovery and that your family will experience many close & meaningful moments.