Tears of Joy

You know about those times, when your eyes brim over because you cannot contain your joy? One of those occasions I remember with such fondness occurred about 10 years ago. My cousin from Brazil came for a visit. We had not seen her for 30 years, and my Dad was beside himself, he was so happy. Paula was the only daughter of his second brother (who had married a very special Brazilian native), and because he had lost all three of his brothers, any contact he had with their children was extremely special.

The last time we saw Paula was the night before she left for Houston, Texas, to have open heart surgery to repair a hole in her heart. She was one of the first heart surgery patients to benefit from the skills of the renowned Dr. Michael DeBakey, and what a success story she became! After her father died at an early age, Paula and her mother moved back to Rio de Janeiro to be with her mother's family.

Paula stayed with my parents for two weeks, and we had such a joyous time. It was hard to see her go.

One year later, my father passed away suddenly. It is wonderful to have such terrific memories of the times we had with our own father, and with the times we shared him with our cousins. I'm smiling through the tears today, reminiscing.

Another happy-through-tears moment came when we celebrated my sister's 50th birthday earlier this year. She has been plagued by a series of critical illnesses over the past four years, and we almost lost her twice. We greeted her 50th with a girls' weekend at my house. She has not only survived her ordeal, she is now thriving, enjoying her younger son's senior year in high school. And she is singing again.

I used various works of art* from Kim B to make this layout, celebrating the joy that is Melissa. I pulled them together in a different sort of way to add life to the layout, because that's what Melissa does with everyone who knows her. Brava, Melissa!

As for Miss Kim? That cutie-patootie shocked me speechless today when she gave me this distinctive award:

Thank you, Kim, for such an honor. I appreciate, always, your kind words and encouragement.

Hope you all have a day full of wonderful memories-in-the-making. Hope you can use this gift. DOWNLOAD

Blessings,

Melanie

*Credits: Kim B's Designs -- Starry-Edge1 overlay, Faded Flutters Purple, African Sunsets, Bowed Blooms, Odds & Sods, So Who,
Denim Flair; Fonts: Liorah, Lightfoot shadowed