A special gift indeed

Sometimes you just meet someone and you seem to "click".  That is how I feel about Jo.
I met Jo on line when I first started my blog.  I originally started my blog as a sort of homework in my concussion recovery (after we hit that blasted deer that injured my back).  I had a great rehab therapist and she worked with me to help me regain some of the skills I had lost. She encouraged me to start the blog and we met off and on over the course of a couple of years with her teaching me the skills to concentrate on tasks and to reach my  final goal to be able to start and finish reading a book.

I had just started the blog as a way to jog my brain to remember all the funny things my grandkids say and do,  and then I started posting my cards.

Jo commented on some posts and then encouraged me to enter some card challenges. I was uncertain if I could accomplish that due to the effects of the concussion.  At the time I was troubled with horrible headaches and had difficulties with my memory and with executing complex tasks.  Jo wrote back that she has experience helping and guiding someone with a brain injury and completely understood what I meant about being not sure if I was able to try the challenges. I didn't see how I could keep track of  everything involved.  She took the time to write back and forth explaining ways to organize the entering and tracking of challenges and just generally encouraged me at a time when I  was struggling to feel competent.
Jo is a busy Mum with 6 children so it was especially kind of her to take the time to explain how to do it.

After sending over a small package of some scrappy things to Jo and her daughter Rebecca to thank them, they have surprised me with the most wonderful parcel this Christmas. It is just full of the most wonderful things, not just for me but also for Little Miss C and Little Mr P.

Here are photos of our amazing gifts  This lovely collection of papers and stamps carry a decided garden/floral theme. I love creating cards with flowers and plan to create many more with these stamps!

Here is a close up of my lovely stamps.

Little Miss C and Littel Mr P were not forgotten. Jo remembered that Mr P loves building complex railroad track and plays with his trains for hours on end. There is a hugepacket of these die cuts in all different train colours.

Little Miss C's love of ponies was remembered and this adorable stamp will soon be creating many new cards.

Both children were remembered with these lovely card toppers...this will make their card making much faster...Oh they will be delighted to finish a card so quickly.  Card time at their house only occurs when Daddy has a long day and so DH and I are still there to walk Miss C home from school. Her eyes light up at the thought of card time and we rush home for a quick snack and a card session before the garage door starts to rise and Daddy's home! Usually we have to set the semi finished card aside until the next time Daddy works late...or plan a visit to Grandma's to finish it up!

Little Miss C loves those equestrian toppers so much she doesn't want to take the plastic wrapping off until we make them up, so sorry for the glare!
Lastly there were some Wobblers...now when Jo emailed that she had tucked in wobblers, I did not know what they were...ohhhhh, they are so cute. The kids loved them.

The crowning touch was this gorgeous Christmas card. I have never received a card like this before. If has so many layers and and so much depth to it, glimmer mist has been added to all the right places to accent the beautiful details, and it is just the most special card I have ever received. I save all the special hand made cards I receive...This one is going to be hung up in my craft room all year!

Here's a little close up so you can see all the gorgeous glimmer and shimmer. 

To check out Jo's blog and see more lovely creations, click here,  A little Piece of Me and don't forget to check out Rebecca's wonderful talent at  Rebecca's Craft Corner