~Many Communities...One Heartbeat~

I cannot explain to any of you how this tragedy has permeated the soul of our communities. There's a sadness in the air like none I have ever felt in the 30 years we have lived here. All the NE Ohio schools are wearing red & black (Chardon's school colors) to show their support. Please say prayers for the vicitims, the school children, and their families. This morning the students and their families are lining up at the Chardon Square, marching back to the high school for the first time since the shootings , to meet with counselors. There are no words.

~Prayers for Chardon, Ohio~

I've had a very difficult time trying to post anything this week. The senseless shootings at Chardon High School, which is our neighboring school district, has permeated all my thoughts and prayers. You cannot go anywhere around here without finding that every set of eyes that meet yours have the same, sad look about them. You each know what the other is thinking.

So far, three young men have lost their lives, one is still critical, and one very lucky young lady was discharged yesterday to her family.

Kudos go out to the teachers and faculty, the fire and police departments, the FBI, and the students for following directions at a time of fear. Praise to the teacher who chased the shooter out of the building, possibly saving more lives.

Please keep the families of the victims, as well as the tortured young man and his grandparents, in your prayers. There will need to be a great deal of healing here in NE Ohio.

~Monday Blessings and Prayers~

Those of you who regularly read my blog, know how important I feel prayer is. I know I couldn't get through life without it. I don't know how anyone can. If I can get even one person to realize the power of prayer....this blog has been a success.

That being said, since the pieces in my jewelry designs are so very sentimental, it comes with many happy stories shared by my customers....and many sad ones. Although the happy seem to outweigh the sad, life is such a mixture of both. I believe God meant us to have the sad times so that we would have a greater appreciation of the happy ones.

Last week was a real rollercoaster of those times. One of the happy ones was from a customer who had lost her cat, Margotte. She had a special Pet Remembrance necklace made. She emailed me that she loved the necklace....but will put it aside, as Margotte miraculously showed up at her door. She had been gone for so long, that she had given her up as being dead...or frozen in the winter tundra around her home!

The sad ones included people losing one or both of their parents, a sweet mother who lost newborn twins a day apart in mid-February, and ended with a mother who lost a 4-year-old to brain cancer. These are the ones that stay in my mind and heart for a very long time. I always add them to my prayer list.


Visiting mom in the alzeimer's unit is what keeps the things in my everyday life in perspective. The people there are all like you and me. They're all different ages....sexes, nationalities. All living in their own state of heaven or hell...depending on the severity of the disease. It's impossible to leave there knowing that for today, I am very blessed. I can walk on my own, take care of my own necessities, chew and swallow food...and I can remember to thank the Lord each and every day for the trials and tribulations He has put in my life. I hope each of you do, too~



Rosie and I are off to the studio. We have a whole new stack of orders, many that need to hit the PO early tomorrow morning to make it to their destinations on time. Have a Blessed Day, wherever you are in the world~

~Happy Valentine's Day....Tickled Pink ~

Happy Happy Valentine's Day! This is the happiest news I can think of to report: Neuroscientists at Case Western Reserve University here in Cleveland, have found a breakthrough in their research in an attempt to find a cure for alzheimer's disease. You can read the article HERE.

For those of you who read my blog, you know that my dear mother, now almost 92 years-of-age, has suffered from this dreadful disease for years now. She presently resides in a special assisted living facility in a dementia unit. The facility, the director, and the 'angels' who care for her daily are true blessings in our family's lives. Without them, her care would be impossible. She is no longer able to walk or care for any of her needs. She has even forgotten how to chew food. I know many of you are dealing with similar situations with your loved ones. My Valentine Prayer is that the discovery of these dedicated scientists ends in their finding that this will be an answer to this horrific disease.

~Monday Blessings & A Recipe~

It looks like Cupid has been busy here at RoseCreekCottage Studios! The studio is overflowing with Valentine's Day orders. It's not too late to get your order in, and use code FS1210 at Checkout for 10% off. This coupon is not good for Etsy orders....only on our website!

Lots of blessings are exploding here:

~the grandbabies are coming this weekend!! I CANNOT wait!!

~granite countertops are being installed in the kitchen today. Tomorrow: new fixtures and my beloved beadboard!! God is good!

~baking Valentine Cookies for Ella, Jackson and Emilia. The 'easy-peasy' recipe is below!! Happy Monday~

~Rosie and Carol~

Valentine's Day Cake Mix Cookies

• 1 box of chocolate cake mix
  
• 1 stick butter
  
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 to 2 tbsp. flour
• 2 tsp. vanilla
  
• heart sprinkles (by Wilton....from Michael's or wherever they sell Wilton products!)
  

Mix ingredients. Scoop tablespoons of dough into heart sprinkles, then place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10-12 min. Cool a bit before removing. Yield: 2-3 dozen depending on size

~Valentine's Day Shopping~

RoseCreekCottage is humming away filling Valentine's Day orders. Don't wait too long to get yours in. To help, we have a special 10% off now through the end of February. Use Coupon Code FB1210 at checkout to save on your order!!

~Gratitude~

On Christmas Day I found myself sitting on the floor with my 7-year-old grand-daughter, Ella, coloring huge pictures of Disney princesses. Tears came to my eyes when I realized that 40-some years ago, I couldn’t have imagined doing something so beautifully simple on a Christmas Day, that brought me SO much joy. It made me remember that in the coming years, I want to take time to savor the moments. The blessings. The good times.

We live in such a ‘hurried’ world, that it’s easy to be swept-away into the mad frenzy of everyday life. Everyone’s so busy….caught up in their own world. We often overlook the treasured ‘kodak’ moments in our lives... concentrating instead on just getting through to the next day.

So for this coming year, I promise myself I’ll savor the blessings. I’ll take the time to spend ‘in the moment’ when I talk with my children, visit with friends, chat with my husband. It’s these moments today that will become those times in the future that we will look back on, and cherish.

For today:

~I’ll be grateful for the stack of orders on my studio workbench…instead of feeling overwhelmed and over-worked.

~I’ll be grateful that as difficult as it is to visit Mom in the nursing home, at least I still have her here on earth.

~I’ll be grateful for the fatigue that comes at the end of a work-filled day…. so much better than the end-of-the-day feeling that would come after one of boredom.

~I’ll remember that each second of each day is a gift. I can choose to squander it…or spend it wisely.

Rosie and I are 'gratefully' off to the studio…..along with a delicious cup of Pumpkin Spice coffee. May your day be one of gratitude…..of treasured moments….and may you have the feeling of joyous fatigue as it comes to an end~