Swaps, On the Recieving End

Well, another busy week has gone by. My internet service was down most of the week. I would have a signal for about 30 seconds and then lose it. But, thankfully, it is fixed now and I can sit down and write some hearty Thank You notes to my two most AWESOME swap partners !!!! The first is to Tamy, from Simplymein and her other blog Ga Ga for garlands. She hosted a "Celebrate" swap !! Hers was mailed yesterday, a wee bit late along with Lori's. Isn't this banner sweet !!!! I love it Tamy, and the colors are so perfect. :) She is an amazing artist, everything was so perfectly executed and put together. It is just beautiful and is hanging on my hutch in the dining room. She also sent me a bunch of the prettiest vintage pink lace and a beautiful satin award. I will have fun with that !! The theme was Celebrate, and that is the theme for my week for sure !! Thank you Tamy, You Rock !!!


Next is from my swap partner The ever talented and sweet, Lori, of Faerie Window. Ok, she SPOILED me unreal !!!! First , look at this awesome vintage wallpaper box. Picture me squealing with delight when I opened this !!! And it was STUFFED, let me tell you. She had all of my favorite things in there. Everything more special than the last.




Look at this SWEET baby card, i love, love love this !! my hubby is The Train Man, and trains are his hobby, so this sweet little card, with its baby train shouts Rhea and Ed !!! To CUTE !!!! I love it All Lori !!
Look at the gorgeous China !!! Wow !!! And the pretty millinery. Love the aqua button card !! And some super old aqua ribbon.
Wow, Thank You, Thank You Both, You are such Amazingly Sweet ladies and I was honored to have you both as Partners. I will show you all what I sent them in a few days, as I want it to be a surprise. I can show Lori's Box however as I already gave a sneak peek on my Flikr. I painted this old wooden box a soft aqua blue as that is her color, added vintage matching wallpaper to the top, and old sweet religious motto cards to the sides. The center has a clock in it, but the plastic cover was all scratched, so i removed it and added this sweet cottage from a 1940's greeting card. I painted the frame a dark brown and dry brushed gold onto it to make it look like an old wooden frame. I completed it with a vintage rhinestone earring. I hope she likes it !!! :)

Finally, The week ended on good news. I have a diagnosis after one full year, 15-20 different tests and xrays, lots of bloodwork and lots of prayer. I have Chronic Costrochonditis. Which is an inflammation in the cartilage between my ribs. It gets inflamed and swells causing sharp pains in my chest that mimics a heart attack. It usually goes away for most people, but for some it doesn't. My Dr, thinks I might have to live with this, as I have had it so long now and it hasn't gone away, but I am going now to see a Rheumatologist who will reevaluate me and take it from there. I also have arthritis in my spine , so we have to find out what type it is, and how to manage it all. The funny thing is I probably got it when I was serving in the Nursery at Church, you get it from chest trauma, like an accident, or through upper respiratory infections. I got 5 different virus's that winter from my sweet babies and was sick off and on for 5 months.I will say though that my time in the Nursery was one of the happiest times in my life and this is a small price to pay for that. I cant Tell you what a RELIEF and a BLESSING this news is, as this thing is not fatal. Yep, it is unpleasant, but It isn't dangerous. Yay !!!! I have a diagnosis, I have my computer up and running, I have beautiful new stuff from Awesome new friends, So, this WAS a week to Celebrate !!!

Hugs,

Rhea