"I’ve already stated that I scrap for me.  Well, that’s partially true.  I scrap for me out of my own selfish desires not to leave my descendants hanging.  I want to solve all the mysteries, answer all the questions, anticipate the needs that they will have once I have moved on to the next level of my journey.  It is that passion, that drive, that inherent need that compels me to sit at my computer day after day and immortalize my world (or at least my view of it) so that my children and grandchildren can know me."

This quote came from a scrap page by Cherrie Webb.  I saw it yesterday on a yahoo group called, Computer Scrapping and asked her permission to quote it.

It made me think…   What passions, what lessons learned, what life experiences are worthy of passing on as a legacy to my grandchildren, yet to be born?  If I want to leave a legacy, I have to LIVE a legacy.  How do I do that?  How then can I pass that legacy on to my generations?  This will take a lot more than a single post to process…

My dear friend, Kathy Cornford, who passed away in June after a 10 year battle with breast cancer lived a legacy.  Her character was so beautiful that she imprinted it upon the hearts of her children and grandchildren in a thousand different ways.  She loved deeply, selflessly, she fought her cancer hard, but with a great realism that prepared each family member to face what none hoped would ever come, but did. 

But Kathy did something else… she wrote.  She kept a daily bible study and prayer journal that she left behind her.  Her husband is treasuring reading it and is actually coming to know more about his wife of 40 years, than he did before.  Her love was evidenced more powerfully in the hidden places of her private life than even those who knew her best could have imagined.  She has left a piece of the depths of her soul to be treasured by generations yet to be born.

Live a legacy.. Leave a legacy… write your inmost thoughts about everyday affairs (don't worry if you're not a "great" writer) your family wants to know you — the real you!  For it's you that they treasure…  

Audrey Jeanne Roberts

(UPDATE: freebies are for a limited time only.  This link no longer functions.  Check back later for other special gifts). Rather than save all your special goodies for one day, why not spread them out over the entire week, both before and after Valentine’s Day?   I wanted to share an idea I had.  It started a couple of years ago…

I wanted to do something really special for my husband (who is a dream boat!!!)  He buys me 2 or 3 cards at a time and hides them in places where I will randomly find them for no occasion at all… I’m hopelessly behind, how can you compete with that?  So, I got on my little computer and designed an "I love you because…." layout.  Then I took the time to think about every single thing I loved about him and hid these little notes all over the house, his office, his truck, in his toolbox, and anywhere he could stumble onto them.  I even hid a few "spicey" ones where he was the only one who could come across them   (She blushes profusely !)

Just yesterday I had to go into his bible case to find something and guess what I found hidden there?!  He’s still carrying them all these years later. 

You can make a different color design for every member of your family and write all the special things that you can think of about each one… a compliment based on the truth of one’s character can encourage someone FOR A LIFETIME!  Take the time to share them today!

Click on the image, then right click on the image that comes up and choose where you want to save it to.  Then choose go back to come back here!  Freebies come under Daisie Company’s angel policy.  See link to Daisie if you need to know what those terms are.  Enjoy!

Audrey Jeanne Roberts

Someone at a company I design product for, once asked me what motivated me to work such long hours to create my art.  I answered him, "I create refrigerator art for my Heavenly Father!"  He looked at me a little strangely, laughed and said, "You're going to have to explain that one to me."

"Well," I said, "If I worked for the praise and adulation of the manufacturers I design for or the store owners that buy the product or even the retail customers that are going to buy it for their homes or to give as gifts, I'm going to be totally disappointed.  Not because they don't appreciate it, but because I rarely ever hear from them."

"If I work to reach some pinnacle of glory and honor that's hard to define and even harder to reach, I'm going to become one sick puppy!  When I reach the mountain top I'm aiming for, I'll just look beyond and see a dozen peaks that are higher yet.  I've been blessed to design for many of the companies that have been on my wish list for years and have enjoyed each opportunity, yet it's hard to remember today what I did last month, last year or the last decade.  It's fun for the moment but it doesn't satisfy for a lifetime and beyond."

"So," I told him, "When I sit down in my art studio and begin to paint, I create art that my 'Daddy' will hang proudly on His refrigerator and point out to anyone who drops by saying, 'That's my kid, isn't she great?  Look what she made for me today!'  I find the greatest satisfaction when I create for an audience of one. "

"At the end of the day I hear Him whispering to my heart, 'Did you do your best?  If you did and you did it for me and not for the praise of man, then it's good enough to hang in my throne room!  Come curl up in my lap and tell me about your day." 

That word picture can apply to your life as well.  Do you work for the praise of your spouse or your boss?  For a raise or a promotion?  Do you work hard and no one seems to notice or tell you, "Thank you."  Do you work hard to make your family a success and all you get are the ungrateful whines of your children?  If you're discouraged, think of my little word picture and do your work as a gift to God that you will hand Him at the end of the day and see how it changes your motivation and satisfaction.

It takes thoughtful planning to make the day special for the ones you love.  Whether you buy or make a card, plan a special dinner or whisk someone away for a special evening.  It's not hard to think of fun things to do when you have someone who is dear to you to share the day with… but what about those around us who don't?

We have very special plans for our Valentine's Day this year.  I'm "whisking" Steve away to take him up the mountain to Hume Lake Christian Conference Center for a quick 2 day, 1 night get away.  Sounds romantic (and it will be), but we have a greater purpose in mind.  We're sharing our Valentine's Day with a dear friend who lost his wife of 40 years (and the love of his life) to Breast Cancer last June.  We don't want him to be alone this Valentine's Day, so we will spend the evening with him sharing memories of Kath and how special a woman she was. 

We love Floyd very much and Kathy was one of the most special people I've ever had the privilege to know in my lifetime… all of us grieve her loss almost daily.  We're looking forward to hugging Floyd, praying with him and encouraging him to continue on in this adventure of life.  We can feel Kathy looking down and cheering us on.

Who is there in your life that will be alone and perhaps feeling unloved this Valentine's Day?  Is there a 20 something that has never had a relationship and fears she never will?  Is there a woman who was widowed some years ago?  Is there someone who is in the throes of a painful divorce?  Look around and ask the Lord to show you one person who really needs to know that they are loved and that they are special to someone.  Perhaps in doing so it will be one of your best Valentine's Days ever.

"Keep on loving each other as brothers (and sisters ).  Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels withoug knowing it.  Hebrews 13:1-2 

Have a great one!

Audrey Jeanne Roberts