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Sketch time! Challenge yourself to layering a little more! Patterned paper comes in handy for this layout.

This little card is to cute and so boy to me! The stamps are from Lizzie Anne Designs. I used Loads of Fun from the Simply Bits collection. Just colored with my markers. The x border is fron the Shapes and Stitches set.

I think its a fun layout for those tags you may have been neglecting. I recently got the Making Memories tag maker and dont want it to be a wasted purchase! LOL! I seriously do love it!

I bought these screw type brads at Oriental Trading YEARS ago.

The patterned paper is by Imaginesce. Its originally black and white. I have used it on some other cards here. I brayered summer sun onto it! I think it now looks like CAUTION stripes! LOL!

I love the stitched ribbon as well.

So I hope you find the time to play along and link it here.

Link you scs gallery here too so I know you played along! Id love to see YOUR take!

This was a new sketch this week, so I hope you enjoy it!

 Here is MY reason!

My reason to fight, have faith, and hope. My reason to help make a difference, no matter how small.

This child/person could be ANYONE. It could suddenly be YOUR child, husband, best friend, mother, father, or other family member. This is Cancer. It doesnt discriminate. It doesnt care how old or young.

This is Alexa. She is my 7 year old daughter. If you read this blog you know already that Alexa was diagnoised with Leukemia February 2006. A day I will NEVER forget.

Today I am volunteering my time to do a project, with anyone who is there to particiapte in THE RELAY FOR LIFE. This is a benefit that raises money for Cancer Research. A cause that directly affects my family.

Alexa has about 1 year and 8 months left of treatment to keep her Cancer in remission.

Treatments range 2 1/2 to 3 years long.

My point of this photo is- THIS is someone who this research is currently helping. Just 10 years ago Alexa would have gotten NO chance to beat this. Now there is hope, now there is a possibility of a cure. Now my daughter is winning the long battle. While that could change we pray for the best. We believe in the best. Her prognosis is very good. 96% chance she will be CURED! 10 years ago we would have been handed a death sentence. Today there is HOPE.

Some people with different types of Cancer still do not have a chance. So we keep fighting! We keep pushing for a CURE, for ALL Cancer!

Alexa since birth has been my reason for alot of things in my life. I just wanted to share this photo of her. It was taken Wednesday during our trip to the park. Given all she has gone through she is still so wonderful, full of life and HAPPY! Look at that face? So oblivious to it all. As she slides down the slide, I internally freak out that she will pick up some awful germ that she may not have the immunity to fight. But I struggle with letting her have a qualtiy of life, and childhood. I take the small risk for this smile.

Reminds me of this poem

What Cancer Cannot do

Cancer is so limited

It cannot cripple love

It cannot shatter hope

It cannot corrode faith

It cannot destroy peace

It cannot kill friendship

It cannot supress memories

It cannot silence courage

It cannot invade the soul

It cannot steal eternal life

It cannot conquer the spirit.

I know I probally go on and on about Alexa and what this has taught me but its hard not to. I truly believe God has done so much through Alexa to get to me. To touch my life. To make me strong, and work hard to make a difference.

So tomorrow I hope my particiapation in our town’s Relay For LIFE will put a smile on ONE persons face. I hope that I will live to see Cancer become 100% curable. I hope a small gesture can make a small difference.

Small note:

Missy B Designs created a stamp set for my daughter Alexa (scroll down to see the set/description on her website) to raise money for Pediatric Leukemia/Lymphoma Research. That is a small way YOU can help. ALL procedes go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma society! We all love stamps right? Well her set is adorable. Check it out.

You can read Alexa’s Story here, and how her stamp set came to be, and a community now known as the PSF’s came together to get me through a difficult time.

People are AMAZING! Thanks for reading.

If you read this to the end, let me know who YOU will give an extra hug or kiss to. Or someone you know who is like Alexa.

All the best!