Can you picture this?
I have been working extremely hard this week trying to put the finishing touches on a web site I have been creating for our local school district. I have a deadline of August 1 and am hoping all well go well. I started this on June 14 – and it has taken the majority of the summer to get this far.
In the midst of this, my daughter Alli’s room is completely ripped apart and all her furniture is in my living room. The room has a curtain over the doorway and drywall dust is everywhere within it. She is in my scrapbook room (the spare bedroom) and since she is 17 needs her privacy. She also needs it because she is engrossed in the latest Harry Potter book – which she just finished tonight! :)
My dining room table is covered with supplies, justjohanna images and various projects I am trying to finish up. Let’s just say life is completely overwhelming right now – and if I add one more thing to my plate – well it’s OVER! :)
My husband Steve walks in with the mail today and the August/September issue of Somerset Studios is in his hands.
I knew there were two pieces in it because they had recently been returned.
I find my grandfather’s piece – a whimsical “Think Pink” on Page 62 that I had made using an old school photo – and I am delighted!
I then flip through to the back of the magazine to page 112 the “Rememberances” section and see my Dad in all his glory. I begin reading the article and start sobbing, barely able to see the text. Tears of joy, sorrow, everything you can imagine.
I emailed Jana Holstein to thank her for making such a beautiful tribute in their magazine and for my family. I know this will be hard for my Mom to see, but she will be pleased. Jana replied that there was also a blurb about it in the Letter from the Editor….which made me cry again. Jana went through something almost identical with her own Dad’s passing. It is hard to put into words unless you have experienced your loved ones last days, hours, minutes, and seconds.
We all have the loss when we lose a loved one, but there is a special bond among those that are actually are present when they leave our world. It is something I have processed for months. It gives me peace but sometimes makes me frightened at ever facing it again. My cousin who works in hospice told me -when you see this, you are a firm believer that there is a God and afterlife in heaven.
I feel so blessed to have my Dad on such a special tribute page. Thank you Somerset Memories!
Nancy, what a fantastic remembrance of your Dad. I can tell from your posting it is an emotional moment for you and your family. How wonderful you took the time and energy to remember him in the way you did through your art.
Oh my dear, this is a BEAUTIFUL piece of heartfelt work, and I'm so happy for you that it was honoured (deservedly so) with such a special place in this great magazine.
You are a very special, gifted woman. Your father would be so proud.
Congratulations and hugs galore,
Deborah.
Congratulations, Nancy! I can't wait to see it!!
This is so special!!
What a beautiful tribute to your father.
This is fantastic Nancy !!!
Oh , I have tears in my eyes just reading this. What a wonderful, special tribute to your Father to have published!
I will be buying a copy when it comes over here.
Nancy, It is such a lovely tribute to your Dad. The piece is very special. I love all the symbolism.
Congratulations Nancy!! This publishing must be very special.
Nancy, Congratulations on the publishing of such a special piece. Thank you for continuing to share your family and yourself with us. You are a very special soul!
((((HUGS))))
Nancy, this just moved me to tears. Absolutely beautiful tribute to your father. Your emotion shines through your art as it is filled with love and memories. Thank you for sharing your art. This is so special!
Congratulations on this wonderful accomplishment. It is a tribute to not only your talent, but such a terrific way to honor your Dad. I know how hard it can be, but you have been blessed with the gift of such wonderful memories, and those you can cherish forever. I look forward even more now to reading this issue!!!!
I'm going to look forward to this one…
your story looks great!
Congrats!!
~Connie Govea Stuart
Nancy, I don't know what to say about this piece, the artwork itself is beautiful, but the feelings behind it make it even more so. This is a very well deserved accolade for this lovely work.
Congratulations Nancy, what a beautiful tribute to your Dad. My parents are still with me but getting older and I fear their passing so much… The inevitable day will come and I just can't imagine them not being with us so I send you and your mum huge (((hugs))) I know you are feeling very emotional but your Dad would've been sooo proud of you I'm sure. x
All I can say is that I can't imagine a more moving memorial to your Dad. Congratulations. I can't wait to see the magazine.
This is just wonderful Nancy! A wonderful tribute to your father. Such a lovely way to honor him. Thank you for sharing that precious time with us. I know your mother will be so touched. I am so proud to see you in Somerset, yet again. I have linked you and congratulated you on my blog today. Love, Jamie
Oh Nancy, my heart. We've never "met", not even on line until now. The story about your sweet Dad touched me more than you will ever know. I lost my dad 2 years ago and their lives were oh so similar. I was also with my dad when he left us. What a gift but the toughest thing… ever. What a lucky woman you are to have had him. I'm sure he would be SO proud of you. Thank you for sharing your special story.
Donna
Congratulations, Nancy!
What a wonderful tribute to your Dad to have published.
It`s really a special piece!
How wonderful for you.
Congratulations!! That is so great. You should be proud you do wonderful work!!
Congratulations, what a beautiful tribute to your father!!!
Oh Nancy how wonderful for you and your dad! The "pink" collage is pure genius! Nobody could even ask for a better tribute. You've been give the gift of artistic talent and of devoted daughter.
Smiles-
Tootie
Nancy…big congrats. I got the issue last week and finally got a chance to sit down with it and really look through it and saw your pieces. The back page one is beautiful and so touching. Loved seeing it in the mag and reading the story.
p.s. thanks for nominating me for the rockin blogging award :o) i hope it's okay if I say that there are just too many awesome blogs(yours is one of them) out there and I just couldn't name 5 so I won't name any. Hope that isn't bad of me :o(
What a fitting a beautiful tribute to your Dad. Congats on being published in such a meaningful way. Your works are both amazing.
Congratulations on having your work published!
Good luck with the remolding project too!
This is so moving (hugs) you are a wonderful writer.
Nancy, I'm so very happy for you to have this wonderful memorial to your father published!! Your work is beautiful. How precious to have this issue as a keepsake, too. I know that I will going down that pathway one day with my parents and can only imagine how you must miss him. Your children are precious and I'm so glad you were able to get a recent photo of them. Can you believe how the time flies? Seems as though it was just yesterday mine were small…thank you so much for your sweet comments about my hutch. I'd love to see photos when you paint yours! xxoo, Dawn
oh, man…
how did I miss this post?
Congrats!! You are fantastic
nancy , I'm welling up just reading all this, what a fantastic tribute to your dad. Thank you for sharing this moving piece, I will defitnitley watch out for this edition. :)
awwww… Bless you Nancy,
Your ART touches so many, you have a special gift in showing and expressing your love in your art!
Congratuations on more beautiful work being published :O)
oh and I hope the reno is soon complete for you
Congratulations on being published, and what a lovely rememberance for your dad, what a special thing to have done.
Nancy!
What a beautiful tribute to your father and family!!! I also loved seeing the photos of your kids and reading about the 'hectic life' you are in right now… How appropriate that the magazine arrived to ground you back on earth….Hang in there!
Congratulatons on both being published and for the wonderful, heart-warming story that you had featured. I'm sure that your father is looking down and embracing you with his tenderness and love. In fact, he's probably showing the article to all of the other angels including my dad) and saying "That's my daughter!!"