Trying not to get discouraged

So the last 5 of my auction ended without any bids. Very discouraging after the first 4 ACEO sold with no problems. I'm trying not to let it discourage me, but I can't help but wonder if I'm doing something wrong. Its hard to keep plugging away, but I won't let myself just quit because persistent is the key to anything. So I will keep painting, and keep trying to sell.

This weekend I'm cleaning out my old bedroom at my mom's house, in anticipation of her selling her house. Its very weird to find stashes of old notes from my girl friends written in 7 grade, and broken trinkets and treasures that I used to hoard as precious objects. Now, they go into the give away box or trash with no hesitation. Funny how ten years can go by so fast.

Oh, and I turn a whole 25 years old today. :) Happpy birthday to me!

Illustration Friday: Poem

For Hannah....I can't wait to meet you in heaven little niece

So out of it

I have been so out of it this week. We got back from Arizona on Monday night. Al's funeral was on Sunday, and we buried him monday morning. I really crashed once we got home, my brain has been in hybernation mode this whole week, and so has my motivation to get things done. I have kicked myself in the butt enough to do some work on christmas presents, since we will be back in Az in a few weeks to celebrate christmas. I'm making progress, but its hard.

Today was mom's first day alone, all the family has finally left the house. And today Al's death certificate came in the mail. That was hard. Not to meantion that everyone there was deathly ill with the stomach flu all week, so much so that mom ended up in the hospital after passing out and hitting her head. Great way to start off the week, eh? I'm just glad Tara was still there to take care of everyone. But these two weeks are going to be hard for mom, being on her own for the first time. I'm glad we all will be back out for christmas soon, and then she is flying back with Christy to Michigan for the rest of the holidays. It worked out perfectly.

On a completely unrelated side note....Casino Real ROCKS. :D I have fallen in love with this new Bond, and the new style of Bond movies. Like, seriously, I may go back a second time to see it again in the theater. I didn't think that anyone other than Pierce would really work (besides Connery of course!) but he really does a great job. Go see it if you haven't yet. Serious. Stop reading and go! Okay, I think I've gotten punchy. Time for bed.

Pray for my Mom

I just talked to my mom, and Al has slipped into a nonresponsive coma. Hospice says that this is the end, maybe hours, or maybe days. I will be heading out to Az when she tells me she needs me to come. She knew this was coming, but hoped it wouldn't be this soon. So please be praying for her now, she needs all the comfort she can get.

Its not fair

Who gave my neices permission to grow up? Hmmm? Was it one of you? Its getting to the point that I almost don't recognize Danielle's pictures any more, she is turing into a little woman. =( Wish I was closer to enjoy them more.

Cabo!

We're heading off to Cabo for a few days with Clint's family on Wednesday. It will be nice to get some time away, even if its only for a few days. Mmmm. Chips n' Salsa by the pool. Yes, yes, I gladly accept all of your envy.

Al

For those of you who don't know, my step-father Al had been diagnosed with lung cancer. You can visist here for updates. Please be in prayer for my mother, and all of his family.

Resolved!

Thank you for all your prayers, they worked! Long story short: by grace of God, State Farm is going to cover us.

Really, it was only by God's grace. Friday morning, the statis was: if evidence was found that the office sent us letters of cancellation, they would not cover us. Legally, it didn't matter in the least whether or not we recieved any notification, it only mattered if they sent something. So we were pretty much looking at getting nothing. This was even after Clint had a long meeting with our agent, showing evidence (phone records, statements recieved just a month ago for my car that still had the multiple car discount on it) that we had no clue we weren't paying for insurance. Our agent faxed all that info over to the claims office (who was doing the investigation) to wonderful, wonderful Shandra. Still...it wasn't cutting it. After the meeting though, the Stringfellow's agent from Colorado Springs, who has been their (& clint's) agent since 1979 called the claim's lady (Shandra) and gave her the full family history (they've never been late on a payment, never had a lapse in coverage, so on and so forth). So after all that, plus our evidence that we in good faith never knew about the cancellation, Shandra decided to recommend to her supervisor that they cover us, irregardless of the outcome of the invesitgation. Yay!

Of course, we found this out at 2:30 on friday, as we were trying to get to LAX for a 5 pm standby flight to San Fran for a wedding. Yikes. We got the insurance back pay taken care of, got to LAX to check in as the flight was boarding, got selected for Secondary Screening (full bag search and body pat down), got to the gate as they were boarding....and still made it on First Class. =p Needless to say, both Clint and I took advantage of being in FC and ordered ourselves a couple of Bloodmarrys to finish the week off.

*Collapes*

Call for prayer

I know some of you know this, but many of you don't: Tuesday Clint was in a car accident (he's fine!) and totaled the Audi. =( That is sucky enough, but in the process of filing a claim, we discovered (to our complete shock) that the insurance for his car was cancelled by State Farm FIVE MONTHS AGO!!! =0 Now we are battling with the insurance company to try to get it re-instated, and get the accident covered. Its turning out to be a real battle, so we would really appreciate all the prayers as we work out this situation.

Going Home!

Great news! My neice Alexa went home from the hospital today. They are sleeping in their own beds at home as I type this. Thank you all for your prayers. She still has a rough road to full recovery, but after six weeks, its good to be home.

Alexa

My niece is very sick, and is in the hospital with a very serious and dangerous case of pnemonia. With her on my mind, I painted this.

Update:
Alexa is in ICU. They were unable to do surgery because her breathing got very bad. Instead, they've put her on a resperater, and put a draining tub into her chest to drain the fluid from her lungs. Now, they are in running test, test, and more test. Bleh.