First off, happy birthday to my WONDERFUL MOM! She is the big 60 today and We love her and miss her so much! She is serving a mission in Germany with my step-dad.. she is amazing.. she is kind, loving, considerate and of the most charitable people I know. She has taught me so many things.. just so lucky to have her in my life! We hoping ((ben and I) to go see them next spring in Germany.. we hope it can all work out.. can not wait!
Oh SO this weekend is going to be JAMMED packed with family fun and celebration. Almost a year ago (Aug 1st), my dad passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack... What was supposed to be a day of celebration.. (celebrating the birth and blessing of my younger brothers new baby).. turned into a very sad and life changing day. My dad was young, only 61 and it was a very hard and traumatic experience for all us (my brothers and sister, his grandchildren, etc). He died in church, surround by most of his children and grandchildren only moments after my brothers baby blessing. I share my story about this experience and how his absence from my life has changed me in so many ways HERE in this post.
This past year has been a really tough one for sure for all of my siblings and even our kids. My dad was so present in all of our lives and always had been.. even from the time I was young. As many of you know, my parents divorced when I was 7, and when I turned 13, I went to live with him. So I was very close with my dad not just growing up, but also in later years. Living most of my married life withing a few miles of him. My dad LOVED not only his kids, but all of his grandchildren too.. all twenty something of them! He made an effort to see all of them, as much as he could, taking them to movies, out on lunch dates, play dates.. he was just PRESENT. He was also extremely close to his OWN brothers and sisters.. he had like 11! They have always been close and we have always been close to our aunts and uncles as well. We are just a tight knit family.
( i know I have shown this picture before of my dad.. but seriously.. this just captures HIM. ALL ABOUT FAMILY and fun)
So this weekend, will mark the one year anniversary of his death and we have decided as a family to take the opportunity to celebrate "HIS" way.. by a big canasta tournament in his name. We actually had the first annual one, last year.. the saturday after his funeral.. all of his brothers and sisters will still in town and all of my siblings. They are HUGE Canasta players and it's been a big family "thing" since I can remember. Infact we spent many sunday nights having dinner at my dads playing Canasta... it was one of his favorite things to do.
So in honor of him, last year we held a tournament. There were team of twos.. I think we started out with over 20 teams.. made up of brothers and sister, aunts, uncles, cousins. and after hours of "mini games.. it was down to two teams. The winner had their names engraved on a trophy (a giant trophy) that my brother in law had made with my dad's name on it"van campbell canasta tournement"and while the trophy stays at my dad's house.. the winners each year have the privilege of having their names engraved on it.
(this is a photo of the tournament last year.. this was the "finals" ...down to the last two teams. my brother cody and my husband, Ben, ended up being the "champions.. "the boy" in our family are famous for cheating.. although my dad hated it and always chastised them for it.. I admit.. I cheated sometimes too.. lol.. it's part of the fun! :))
We had so much fun. It was great to laugh and play and remember him. The tournament lasted all night and ended with so many wonderful memories.. not just of that night, but of my dad's life. So we decided to make it a yearly event.. on the weekend of his death each year.. to get together as family and celebrate and enjoy each other.. and have a Canasta tournament.. just as he would have wanted. This year my goal is to get my name on that trophy..one way or another! Lol..
My dad was also a very religious man.. loved the Gospel and believed in the importance of temple work. So my sister planned a day for us to do temple work for some of our ancestors, a family from generations past doing their baptisms, inititories, endowments, and sealing them together as a family... a full day of service.. remembering my dad. My sister just rocks.
SO I am SUPER excited for this weekend.. and to see my siblings, my niece and nephews, my aunts and uncles and cousins... who are making the trip. We sure have a lot of fun together!
I just had to share.. because I am really excited to see all of them.
BUT I also wanted to remind you all that the
NEW Creative Color Mini workshop STARTS MONDAY!
I am so excited!!
If you haven't heard about this workshop yet.. you can find all about it here.. I would love to have you join me!
NOt only do we making a new project each day, (it's a 5 day course).. that is inspired by color.. I also show you how to create color inspiration journals,
I show you ways to organize your color mediums including offering PDF"s to help!
I also show you how to create a colo-sketch chart...
and more!
This is really going to be a fun mini workshop
Lots of fun videos, PDF's and COLOR inspiration!
Come join me!
just follow THIS LINK Here to sign up!
Hope to see you in class monday.. and thanks for letting me share about my weekend.. love my family. They are the most important thing to me..
Again.. huge shout out to my mom.. Happy Birthday!
Happy Friday!
Love your story...love the sharing and can't wait for the mini-class!
Posted by: Dira Reeves | July 29, 2011 at 02:54 PM
What a great story, sounds like so much fun, large families are awesome! Enjoy your weekend, hope you win. Can't wait to start the workshop on Monday.
Posted by: Donna L. | July 29, 2011 at 03:09 PM
Gee, Christy. You cheat at canasta too? How am I ever going to make it in the tourney surrounded by cheaters? lol!
Posted by: Mary Campbell | July 29, 2011 at 03:17 PM
Happy birthday to your mom! It's my birthday today too! So i have decided to offer a gift to myself by taking your workshops!!!! Thanks for the great techniques and all the inspiration! :)
Posted by: Isabelle Naud | July 29, 2011 at 03:18 PM
I love that pic of your dad!! And Temple work is the best!!
I want to take this class!!
Posted by: Leslie | July 29, 2011 at 04:22 PM
I am so excited for your new color class! I loved the last color class you did a couple years back. Looking forward to all the new inspiration.
Posted by: Dawn Tavela | July 29, 2011 at 05:48 PM
Christy, I need to be in your family! I LUV canasta and I grew up playing it with my family.
Posted by: Lori | July 29, 2011 at 11:04 PM
What AN AWESOME photo for your KIDS to have and to REMEMBER the LOVING G-PA that they had, even if they were too small to TOTALLY remember him!! =) THANKS for sharing with us!!
I am SO EXCITED about the class and I can't wait to CREATE!! =)
P.S the email I sent with the canvas piece I had made that was inspired by you and Janelle's art was posted on the PRIMA BLOG for the June Prima Product Picks Challenge!! =) Just wanted to share!!
HAVE A FABULOUS WEEKEND!! =)
Posted by: Larissa Heskett | July 29, 2011 at 11:55 PM
How wonderful that your MOM is serving a mission!! Wow, I think I'm gonna cry...really, what a blessing for your entire family!
Christy...I adore that picture of your dad with all his grandkidlets. I'm a grandparent too and you can bet I'm going to have a photo taken of me just like that one. It will be hard because I have grand kids in Montana and Tennessee, we live in Utah and are blessed to have 4 of our 13 actually living with us so that photo will be easy!
Looking forward to Monday's class!
Posted by: Dottee O. | July 30, 2011 at 02:23 AM
I wish you and your family and very happy time together remembering you dear Dad. isn't it strange that as I child arrives an adult leaves this life.
We had the christening of my grandchild two weeks ago and my Sons' Nana passed on the same day....
My own grandmother taught me canasta when I was quite young but I have forgotten how to play - I need to relearn so that I can teach my own grandchildren.
x
Posted by: Lesley | July 30, 2011 at 03:03 AM
Happy "celebrating" weekend, Christy! I can't wait for the workshop on Monday!! Also, enjoyed seeing the Artful Blogging magazine with your name and work on the cover last night at B&N~way to go!
Posted by: Kim | July 30, 2011 at 09:20 AM
Thanks for sharing your beautiful family stories with us, Christy...you are SO SO blessed to be part of such a huge, wonderful family! I know the loss of your dad has been such a hard thing for you, but man, you have grown SO MUCH through the grief process and the work you've done in the year since his death. God brings such beauty from our pain. He never lets our pain go to waste. I wish you a wonderful weekend filled with love and new memory-making with your family.
Posted by: Jen Clark | July 30, 2011 at 04:06 PM
Thanks for sharing about your fabulous family. It's nice to see families that like each other. Hey, I wanted to say THANK YOU for your SHE HAS THREE HEARTS class. I'm taking it and LOVE it!!!! It's hard to find art classes anymore that aren't soo expensive. Your class is wonderful. I'm a quilter by trade. ( my first love) but I love art journaling because it allows me to just be free. (and messy) I put you on my blog roll in my art section. Just love ya. ----hugs ---- Sandie
Posted by: Sandie | July 31, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Sorry to hear about your dad. Having lost my own father I know how difficult that can be. Congratulations on your feature in Artful Blogging, great article.
Posted by: Kathryn Dyche Dechairo | July 31, 2011 at 03:32 PM
looking forward to the class today!
And many happy congrats on the artful blogging article! that is fantastic!!!
Posted by: Stephanie | August 01, 2011 at 07:21 AM
Christy, Canasta? I havent heard that game mentioned in a million years. Our family played Canasta with tournaments and get-to-gethers all the time! I would love to play again but my mom (who played with girlfriends for years) has passed and the family has just gone their separate ways with grandchildren etc. Maybe one day we will play again. Thanks for the reminder. Think I will have to do an Art Journal (She Had 3 Hearts) page.
Posted by: Susan Schultheis | August 01, 2011 at 10:03 AM
So glad to see you celebrating your Dad, I know it is hard to be without them my Dad passed 3 years ago. Your Dad was a very special man.
Good luck with the work shop, looks like it will be fun.
Posted by: Gail | August 01, 2011 at 11:32 AM
What a loving post about both of your parents. The photo of your Dad with lots of grandkids, who obviously adored him, is such a special photo. I was just missing my Dad and your post made me happy, knowing that you (and I and many others) were lucky enough to have wonderful fathers. Then, CANASTA. My dad and uncles played and would let me play too. I'll have to re-learn it. I love how your entire family quickly decided how to honor your Dad in a way that will bring you all together every year. Awesome. Loved your whole post. Now, I'm going to check out your class. Thanks again.
Vickie
Posted by: Vickie Myers | August 01, 2011 at 01:17 PM
Hey Christy! I hope your weekeend was fun! My husband of 35 yrs. died last August, also. He was 57. Coincidentally, my daughter's best friend had her first child 2 days later. That is crazy that your Dad died in church! Crazy cool that it was at church. My grandparents played Canasta and I don't know anyone to play with. With you and the Brave Girls living in Utah, and with my weird, unexpected single life, I dream of visiting you girls and maybe we can fit in a Canasta game! I am in your current journal class - just loving it! I love to watch your videos. You are the best teacher I know!
Posted by: Dana Loffland | August 01, 2011 at 04:57 PM
The photo of your dad and the grandkids is so sweet. I know from what you have written that you cherish it and I hope you always will. My father had a lung transplant. After that he was such a germaphob that he wouldn't even touch the grandkids. I have pics with my oldest and him playing or snuggling, but my youngest…. 2 pictures. That is kit. It really truly broke my heart after he died and I found only 2 photos. I think he only held Chase a total of 3 times.
Posted by: Danee Kaplan | August 01, 2011 at 05:27 PM