LIFE IS NOT MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF BREATHS WE TAKE, BUT BY THE MOMENTS THAT TAKE OUR BREATH AWAY.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

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

17 comments:

Connie said...

What a HAUL!!!! How beautiful! You are truly blessed, sweetpea. Yep, truly. I love everything you got and the little box you made yourself. Sigh...........maybe I'll find a little box somewhere in this house...... I sure hope so.
Smoochies,
Connie

Secondhandrose said...

Rhea, what a celebration! Everything is gorgeous . I especially like the wallpaper Lori used on your box. Yep, life is a celebration.
Karen

Alison Gibbs said...

Rhea what beautiful swap goodies yoou have received. Love the box you did for Lori.
Great news with your health issues - all manageable
Alison

Jessi Nagy said...

im so glad your back!! so many awesome things today!
oxoox,
jessi

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Rhea, all your new swap treasures are gorgeous and yes, you sure have reason to celebrate. What great news about you finally learning about your pains. God bless you with better days ahead!
hugs,
Celestina,
La Rea Rose

Lori said...

Rhea, i am so glad that you have a diagnosis at long last...14 years ago i was very sick and it took about 10 months for me to get a diagnosis about what was wrong with me, so much easier to deal with something when it has a name and you know what to expect!
YAY!!! you got your package:) i was worried...i hope you like everything in your junque trunk!!! mine looks just gorgeous!!! the box you did is just TDF wonderful! i love all the candy colored goodies you got from Tamy too!!!

Charmingdesigns said...

I am sooo glad you hear the goodnews! Your goodies are just beuatiful!! Laurie

Anonymous said...

WoW! WoW! WoW! i love the wallpaper box of goodies you received and that box you created is GORGEOUS!!!!! i LOVE it =) great job! debbie

Sharon said...

I love the box Lori sent you, it's so elegant and filled with so many treasures. Lucky girl, at least some of your swap partners keep their commitments unlike another one you know. I'll get it finished at least by Christmas - maybe. LOL

Bertie said...

Love the box Lori sent and its contents. How does she get so much stuff in there?? It must have been really packed!! Wonderful swap. You know how much I love the box you made for her!!

Bertie
Aunt May's Cottage

Mary said...

Hello Rhea, Oh my, what lovely goodies you got !!! And of course your box is precious :) I am glad they found out what was wrong, maybe there will be something you can take to help with the pain. Have a good weekend. Hugs Mary:)

Pearl Maple said...

Rhea, you posts are a celebration of creativity. Swaps are the best fun, you get to meet all kinds of wonderful new people who bring their own ideas and creations.

Your velvet post was darling. Such a sumptuous fabric to work with.

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Hi Rhea!
Such fabulous beautiful treasures! I love everything you received and the chest you made was sooo wonderful!
The goodies you put in side were so sweet!
Hugs, Sherry

Rose Garden Romantic said...

OH Wow!! Lori sent you so many wonderful treasures!! What a fun swap! I saw all the amazing things you sent her on her blog, too! It's all so beautiful!! I love the box you made for it all, too! Just so sweet and pretty!
Michelle

Natasha Burns said...

Yay some good news for you, what a relief you now know what it is after all those tests!

Loving the incredible swap eye candy you've given and received, it's all too beautiful to see at once!!!

Adla said...

what lovelies you received, Glad to have stumbled across your lovely blog through Lori. Loving the trunk you created for her :)

cheers,Adla
www.vintagedelights.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Sorry to hear you haven't been well. I do hope relief comes your way soon! I haven't been here in awhile, but everything is utterly adorable as always. Love the train card. Vintage graphics are just the sweetest things.

Charity