Okay....this is very hard for me as I look at Ginger's photo and know she is no longer here on earth. Yes I know that she is in a better place with family that have gone on before, but we still miss her and mourn her tragedy. In June her ex husband brutally murdered her and then shot himself. He is still alive........
Why am I sharing this you wonder. Well, I've neglected my blog because of her death because I haven't been able to wrap my mind around a way to honor her memory. Ginger was a very interesting woman, not afraid to try new things. She worked on the Alaska pipeline driving truck, she and her first husband built a gorgeous log home, with stained glass windows that she created at a shop she owned in Fairbanks. She adopted 3 children from Columbia and did her best to raise them. She became a well known real estate agent when she moved to California after her divorce. Everything she tried she made good money at. But unfortunately, like so many women, she fell for a man who was not only abusive, he cheated on her, solicited prostitutes and then threatened to kill her when she had had enough. Well he followed through on his threat and so we are without Ginger here.
Domestic violence is an ugly part of many peoples lives we need to put a stop to it once and for all. Don't take it for granted that an abuse victim has the strength to get out. Having lived through listening to mom get beaten night after night I wondered why she put up with it, until I was married and my ex hit me. There is a devastating feeling when the one person who is supposed to love and protect you, hits you and blames you for their anger. It can totally strip you of your ability to think and act rationally. So if you know someone who is in an abusive situation, contact the authorities and the local women's shelter and get educated on how to help. This sort of thing should never happen, but it does. Educate yourself and then your youth about what to avoid in relationships and how to tell if someone is a potential abuser. Be pro-active in helping promote healthy relationships, and one thing to think about, teach your sons and daughters to respect themselves enough to wait for marriage before physical intimacy. Teach your daughters and sons to always have a plan when dating, and a set time to be home. Help them stay out of trouble and avoid those who won't and don't show respect for them.
For anyone on the dating scene, really check out the person you are dating and if they've been married before, make sure you know the truth about why they are divorced. A lot of pain and suffering can be avoided this way. As for Ginger, my way to honor her will be to work with the local high schools to educate the youth on how to stay out of abusive relationships. I want to see if laws can be changed to better protect victims. If you are in an abusive relationship, please get help. As a former child of a woman who was brutally beaten time and time again, don't put your children through that. Get far far away and get help to get your abuser put behind bars.I've posted a link to go to to find out more about what to look for and how to get help. May the Lord bless you with the strength you need to do the right thing.............
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.......and those teeth! Isn't he the cutest little jack o' lantern? Halloween creating is a new venture for me and it's been so much fun. This little fella was inspired by a vintage candy holder. I created him using paper clay on an egg shaped gourd so that his eyes and teeth would stand out. I added a star at his base to incorporate the star icon that is our shape of choice this year with AHAO. I also added a hat to dress him up a bit and gave him a bit of shiny black garland as a neck wrap. He's up for grabs right now on ETSY. Thanks to Suzanne, our tireless leader of AHAO I now have my own shop started on ETSY and am excited about the possibilities. 
I also have a photo of a grandmother and her 2 granddaughters: 
