The heart of the matter...

When I first decided to blog, I wasn't really sure what I would write about. I mean, I knew I'd talk about the paper projects I'd created and miscellaneous slices of my life. But that wasn't enough.

Then, about a month ago, I came across the saddest story of an abused cat. Buddy's story touched me deeply, even though I had never met this sweet little creature. I immediately sent money to help cover his medical costs and encouraged friends and family to do the same. But Buddy didn't survive. My heart was broken. You see, Buddy was a stray being cared for by a kind man who thought of him as family. And this kind man was devastated at the loss of Buddy.

I prayed -- make that cried out -- to God for answers. For understanding. For reasons why my efforts, along with so many other caring individuals, couldn't help this one cat. I thought, "how am I supposed to help homeless animals when I can't even make a difference to just one?"

A few days later, God answered me.

In my mailbox was a thank you card from the woman who was coordinating the effort to help Buddy. She thanked me for my generosity -- I had sent a donation with a note stating that if Buddy's expenses were covered by the time the money was received to please use it to help other strays. And she did. She used it to help cover the cost of spaying/neutering the other strays that kind man was taking care of, in addition to Buddy. I had helped make a difference. God reassured me of that. Then, He put it on my heart to keep doing whatever I could to continue making a difference.

Therein lies the reason -- or the heart -- behind this blog. Whatever cards and paper projects I create, I will sell for a nominal cost and donate 100 percent of those proceeds to Save A Stray's Life... because it is possible to make a difference.

More on Save a Stray's Life next time. Thank you for reading.

~Jeanie

There's a first time for everything...

Facebook. Twitter. Instagram. Pinterest. I'm on all of them. Yet I've put off creating a blog simply because the technical aspect seemed daunting. So here goes nothing... my first blog post ever.

If no one is listening at first, that's ok. But my hope is to share a little bit of me with you every day, as well as the pretty paper projects I work on, sometimes in the wee hours of the morning because my brain just can't rest until I carry out the eleventh-hour-idea that came out of nowhere.

Occasionally, I'll share the antics of Joey and Jack, my feline fur babies -- aka "the boys" -- that make me laugh, cry, smile and fill my heart with absolute joy. Anyone who's spent any time with cats will certainly enjoy those stories...

OK, well that's it for now. Sweet dreams... until next time.

~jeanie