Here I am, updating my blog for the first time in well over a month. Many of you know about my brother Matt from my scrapbook pages and his fight with leukemia. Matt passed away March 28th at the age of 20. Justin and I went down to Redding, Ca to be with my family for a few weeks, which was very refreshing. God has given my family and me this amazing "peace that passes understanding", which is evident because I can't even describe how peaceful and happy I feel despite something so tragic. I know Matt is in heaven and he is not suffering anymore (in fact, quite the opposite!), and know I will see him soon, so I find it difficult to be sad.

I think there are still a few pages about Matt to be published in upcoming issues. Scrapbooking during this whole year of his illness has given me great strength and distraction. It has caused me to remember to never give up hope- no matter what! Never, ever! In fact, I actually entered the MM Masters contest right after Matt was diagnosed, which was a very spiritual moment for me in creating my entry page. It allowed me to rise above the situation and pour myself out into my art on a very different level. I owe winning this contest to Matt, for he inspired it. I celebrate his life: past, present, and future.

August 2006- dad, mom, brothers aaron and matt, me, husband justin