Announcement #1:
Announcement #2: My family just found out last week that my dad's cancer is back...with a vengeance. Currently it has consumed the lower part of his body (groin and down). It is aggressive they say. The two treatment options are a stem cell transplant (which they will not consider for him since he is turning 80 and they don't do them for anyone over 65) or intense chemotherapy which they say would probably kill him. They are giving him oral chemo which is basically to maintain quality of life. There is nothing they can do to treat it. They said he has months...not years left. That pretty much means that I have to take the chance to spend as much quality time with him as I possibly can (which involves me packing up my girls to Canada for as many more times as I can). This leads to announcement #3.
Announcement #3: I had already thought of this prior to the news about my dad but that news only solidified for me the decision. Because of my first two announcements this blog will officially come to an end after my last giveaway has closed. I am averaging 2 comments a post and working my tail off to try and post helpful and noteworthy ideas (I know I am not always successful). But with the nausea of pregnancy and the exhaustion, the desire to spend more quality time with my girls and now the urgent need of being with my dad I cannot do it any more. Maybe it will be my time again down the road and I will pick it back up and maybe not. It has kept my creative juices flowing for 3 years, but it just not the right season of life right now. Thanks to everyone who has been a follower. My goal when I started was to have 1000 followers. Now I am just 8 followers away from 800 and I think that is pretty darn fabulous too. Thank you to my few loyal commenters and to everyone who has been a reader (whether you want to admit it or not). I hope you have benefited from Small Fry and Co. I know I surely have.
Hi, I have just started following your blog a couple weeks ago, so I am truly sad to read that you're shutting it down. I loved your creativity and the energy that came through here.
ReplyDeleteOf course you have much more important things to take care of now - I wish all the best for you and your family - I am thrilled to read about your baby but sorry that your father's cancer is back!
I would love if you still decide to blog again in the future!
Best regards from Austria, Europe!
Magdalena
I've been reading for at least a year and a half and I've enjoyed every one of your posts. Good luck on all that's to come.
ReplyDeleteTawnya
I have loved your blog! Congrats on the baby. I am so sorry to hear about your father. You won't regret taking the time to be with your family.
ReplyDeleteDon't feel disheartened by lack of comments. I am pretty terrible about leaving comments because I follow a number of blogs and I am sure there are many of us out here in blogland like that. I am sorry to hear about your father but thrilled for you on the announcement of your soon to be addition. You are right to discontinue your blog when there are so many other things on your plate. Your family most assuredly comes first. I have enjoyed your blog and it has sparked my creativity. All the best for the future.
ReplyDeleteI have loved your blog, and am sad to hear that you're going to stop. BUT, I completely understand why. You'll never regret the time that you spent with your family.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new addition, and my prayers are with your dad and your family.
Misty, thank you, you have been a loyal follower. I greatly appreciate it. I hope to keep checking out all the great things you are doing.
DeleteI will really miss your blog, but your family comes first and you need to take care of them. I am so sorry to hear about your Dad, and my prayers are with him and your family. I think you're right to spend as much time with him as you can. This might be a good time to capture his stories from his childhood and young adult years so that you can share them with your own kids as they grow older. If he feels well enough, you might want to video him telling some of his stories. I have tapes of my parents remembering their early years that I really cherish. (Both of them are gone now.) Congratulations on the expected new little one - a very cute way to announce it!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on Baby #3, and very sorry to hear about your dad. I hope you just take a break from the blog, and then come back. It's incredible that you have so many followers, and you would be missed if you stayed away forever.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy about your 5th team member, now you have a starting line-up! I love the cute photo shoot. I am so sorry about your dad. He is in my prayers as are you and the rest of your family. I am sorry to hear about you closing your blog! I will miss coming and reading everyday. Be blessed!
ReplyDeleteI have followed your blog for a couple of years now, and I will miss it. You are so creative! Congratulations! on the new little one, best of wishes for you and your family. I am also sorry to hear of your Dad's cancer. Cancer is an awful beast, it claimed my mother way too soon in her life. My prayers are with you and your family, for peace and comfort. You will be blessed by spending the time that you can with him. Gina Graves, Alvarado, Texas
ReplyDeleteI have been following your blog for a year or so now. Thanks for all of your creative ideas and sharing your sweet family and life with us. Congratulations on baby #3! My husband and I will be praying for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Beth Gentry
Weaverville, NC
Beth, thanks for everything. Your comments and e-mails have always brightened my day.
DeleteSo excited to hear about your new little baby on its way, and super sad to hear about your dad. I wish you the best these next few months and hope that things go as smooth as possible. I will miss checking your blog everyday.
ReplyDeleteI've probably never commented on your blog, but I have followed closely for some time now. I will miss your posts, but totally understand your priorities. I moved in with my parents for the last few months of my Dad's life when he was struggling with cancer. Savor every second you spend with him! Congrats on the baby too!
ReplyDelete1. Freak'n adorable announcement pictures!!! LOVE them! So cute.
ReplyDelete2. Re announcement #1- Congratulations! Couldn't happen to nicer people.
3. Re announcement #2- I am so sorry for your family's suffering right now. I hope your dad has the best quality of life to enjoy his beautiful family for as long as possible. You will all be in my prayers.
4. Re the blog- :( I am going to miss it. Loved your projects and your your letters to Walmart-lol! Those always cracked me up. It's totally understandable. I can barely post with only one baby.
Maybe you can pop on from time to time with just an update? No pressure. Blogs closing feel like neighbors moving away.
Thanks Jane, you have been a loyal commenter. So grateful for that.
DeleteThank you for all that you have done. I will miss all your mommy wisdom. I found your blog after my little girl was born a short time after small fry. I always felt a special connection with your blog maybe because I'm a canadian girl too, but mostly because you've always posted things that have inspired me and related to my life. So happy on the new addition (the photos are sweet). Your dad and family will be in my prayers. I wish nothing but the best for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteApril Maxwell
Nova Scotia, Canada
I was so concerned for your family I neglected to mention how very much I've enjoyed your projects! You've had some really wonderful ideas that you've always generously shared. I wish the very best for you and all of your family.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your family in the future. I've always enjoyed reading your blog.
ReplyDelete- Karry
I'm a new follower... sorry if I haven't commented yet (can't remember), but I totally understand the toll pregnancy and nausea take on the body! It's horrible. I can't do anything when I'm pregnant. :( And to have your dad's illness on top of everything must be so difficult.
ReplyDeleteThanks for inspiring me with your blog, and I pray this time away recharges you as you build strong, loving memories with your family.
Congratulations on your news, and I'm so sorry about your father. I have loved reading your posts, and though I've never officially followed you or left a comment, you're one of the first blogs I stumbled upon when I began sewing almost 2 years ago. I've checked it very regularly since. In fact, you inspired some of my very first sewing projects. Will the previous posts that you have still be available to view, or should I quickly print any projects I want to reference in the future? I'm always amazed by SAHM that find the time to not only make various projects with kids around, but also blog about them and post tutorials. Thank you so much for what you've done, know that you are appreciated, and I wish you all the best. Lisa
ReplyDeleteLisa, it should all still be here for a long time. I may even add something new randomly just for fun. Who knows. So glad it has been helpful to you.
DeleteHeather
You have so much talent and creativity! Hopefully there will come a time when you can come back and do this because I know so many people (including me!) love what you do and appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteMy heart aches for you about your dad. I hope you get to go spend some time at home.
xoxo
I have loved your blog and will greatly miss all your ideas! :( As a mom of two girls I have found so many great ideas. Good luck with your family!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your dad. I hope you get to spend as much time with him as possible! I love your blog and read it often, you are such a creative person. Enjoy the time you have with your family! We'd love a baby update every once and a while =) Especially once you find out the gender!!
ReplyDeleteSheena
I just found our blog. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and if you ever start again, I hope I am here to see your wonderful ideas.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
I actually just found your blog tonight through pinterest. I was loving the pictures then as I got down further, I thought, how cute to announce your baby through those pictures... Then I read about your Dad and it hit home... My mother just passed away from pancreatic cancer a little over a year ago. we had months with her after we found out, she was 81. Never is it easy to lose a parent, and cancer has a mind of its own. I will always cherish those last months we had with her, loving on her. I know you will make great memories with your Dad on your visits with him. Take lots of pictures, especially now, while he is feeling good. They will be the memories that you cherish.
ReplyDeleteSorry to have just found you and to have misssed all your creations.... but I know you have your hands full, and your priorities are right on track. I just prayed for you tonight, for your Dad, for your new little one on the way, that He will give you the strength you need, at just when you need it, and He will lead your Dad down this path, this journey, and manage his days, so your Dad is comfortable. Another thing I would recomment to you to check out is www.caringbridge.com. You can make an online journal for your Dad. It doesn`t have to be long, just when you want to add an entry for others to check in to see how he is doing, I will be glad to answer any questions you might have... I did this for my mother and it was such a good vessel to have to journal and others could comment. She loved checking it each day to see other who would write her! It was a great source of encouragement... my journal was www.caringbridge.com/visit/louiselazenby
Come visit me if you get a chance. I would love hear how you are doing.
Blessings to you,
Jane L
www.gracieandco.blogspot.com
Oh dear, I totally thought I had commented on this! Congratulations on the bun in the oven! I've found myself thinking about you and your baby to be while you've been on a break. I hope you've been enjoying yourself! Family comes first. Always. You won't look back and think, "I wish I'd blogged more." You'll be happy that you took the time to cuddle your babies. Thanks for all your inspiration!
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