2Sketches4You Laura#44 + A Loving Memory

OK...yes it is still pink and red, but there are a few other colors this time, too. lol! I just can't get enough of Valentines. There is just something about being able to express your love for someone combined with doing something you love to do that makes me oh so happy! Now add in one of Laura's fabulous sketches and a great sponsor in JustRite Stamps and that makes me one VERY happy camper. Now I am going to indulge myself a little and take time to express a little love and tribute to my brother. He passed away a week ago today. Through a series of everyone thinking everyone else had told me about it...I managed not to find out about his passing until Friday afternoon. Since my dad is 90 I'm giving him a pass about not letting me know. (We'll overlook the fact that even at 80 or 70 or 60 this might still have occured) At any rate, I'm so very thankful I was able to make the funeral that was at 10:00 am on Saturday. We literally just threw some things and a suitcase and headed off for California Friday afternoon and spent the night there so we could be ready for the funeral on Saturday morning. It was great to see my family again and a little sad to think that the last time I had seen some of them was at the last funeral. This is too often the case. I want to make it a priority to keep in better touch with everyone. Now I would like to share my favorite memory of my brother. He was 21 years older than I am, so we did not grow up in the same household. He was married by the time I came along. In some respects he was more like an uncle to me than a brother. My favorite memory is of him playing the piano. He was genius at it. Our mom was happiest when he was sitting down playing the piano for her. My mom's favorite song was the theme song from Dr. Zhivago (Lara's theme). For my mom's birthday one year he taught his daughter to play this song for her. I remember going to my brother's house and my neice sitting down at the piano and playing and tears streaming down my mom's face. Well, enough of that...but do me a favor and go hug a loved one today...make a Valentine or in some way express your love to someone you are close to. Speaking of which, I am soooooooooo excited for Karen Pedersen who has her son coming home from his two year mission tomorrow!!! She hasn't seen him for two years and I can bet there will be some hugging and expressing of love going on in that household!! I'm so excited for you and your family Karen!!!