On Halloween Night (a fun poem)

Twas Halloween night, when all across town,
the stores were picked clean, no candy to be found.

The pumpkins were lit up, on porches and stoops,
while children were gathered in pairs and in groups.

Some were dressed up as clowns, some were witches and cats,
there were fairies and ghosts, and even some bats.

They ran door to door, with sacks in their hands,
with pleas for more candy. Some polite, some demands.

"Trick or treat, smell my feet!" could be heard in the air,
along with laughter and squeals, from attempts at a scare.

There were parties and music, and bobbing for fruit,
while kids sat around, just swapping their loot.

The adults were there too, and just as well dressed,
having arguments over whose costume was best.

Then out in the street, we heard a loud screaming.
For a moment we thought we must have been dreaming.

Some ran to the windows, some ran to the door,
but we didn't know what we were looking out for.

Then the scream came again, but this time much louder.
Some were so frightened, they hid and they cowered.

Then out of nowhere, the lights just went out.
The darkness so deep, we just stumbled about.

We banged into tables, and into each other.
Children were shouting, and so were their mothers.

The screaming continued, out in the street,
like a bad scary movie just left on repeat.

Then we heard the door open with a loud creak.
We were so afraid, no one could speak.

Then footsteps they came, right into the room.
This must be the end, we were all doomed.

So we quivered and shivered, what more could we do?
When suddenly, someone shouted out "BOO!"

The lights came back on, and everyone stared.
It was just little Danny who'd had us all scared.

"I GOT YOU, I GOT YOU!" He giggled with joy.
We couldn't believe we'd been duped by this boy.

We couldn't stop laughing, it had all been such fun.
But now it was late, we all needed to run.

So we headed home, as the leaves they did fall...
Good night, sweet dreams, Happy Halloween to us all.

(A poem/story by Teena M. Hauxwell-Finn)

I Swear, I Do Still Craft

Yes, I have been slacking on the crafting posts lately, and for that I apologize. But I swear, I am still making things. So here are a few of the more recent projects that have come out of Berry Favorite Things. As always, to see more of my crafts, and get helpful tips and more, follow me on facebook.
                       (Just click here, and let it take you there)

I am a BIG fan of the 'I Love You Because' boards. And especially this dry erase version. This one was made as a gift for a sweet young man to give to his girlfriend. If you haven't guessed, she loves purple.

This is a custom made shelf/coat hook that my husband and I created together. This one was done in an antiqued ivory style, per request, and I think combined with the glass knobs, it is a stunning piece.

 

 

This is a vintage inspired magnetic board for a young woman's bedroom. The soft grey, purple and ivory are a gorgeous combination, and the jeweled floral attachment adds the perfect finish.

 

 

This is a simple, yet elegant cork board, custom designed to match the buyer's kitchen. The sage green looks very classy against the white, and the deep chocolate brown trim adds a nice pop.

 

 

This beautiful cork board was inspired by the customer's area rug, and makes the perfect addition to their dining room. I love the blue and brown against the clean white board. Very stylish.

 

 

Lately, I have become obsessed with fun brooches and pins. Especially vintage ones. And I always enjoy a project that I can redo, and make even more fabulous. This retro brooch had lost some of its luster, so with a little paint and glitter, and a lot of patience, I gave it new life. Every time I wear this piece, I receive endless compliments. It is definitely one of my favorites.

 

 

As I mentioned above, I love to take something old (or destined for the dump) and make it useful and beautiful again. This wall décor was something my mother-in-law had owned for years, and had seen better days. But rather than throw it out, I gave it a new look, and a new purpose. It is now the towel/robe hanger in their master bath.

 

Well... I realize it isn't much, but at least you now know I haven't completely given up on my crafting. And don't worry... winter is right around the corner, so I will have plenty of time to catch up. Stay crafty, my friends.

What You Don't See

Tomorrow will be 14 months since Dan & I lost our son. Fourteen months since our world fell apart. Much has changed in that time. But one thing that hasn't changed is our Grief. Except I think many people believe that it has. They assume because they have moved on, that we must have as well. But they didn't lose their child. And that makes all the difference. They see us laughing, joking, having fun, being silly, going to work, and being normal, so we must be ok, right? Wrong.
Normal stopped for us on August 4, 2012. There is no normal anymore, and there never will be again. When you lose your child, you lose yourself. We will never be the same people we were 14 months ago.
One big thing you learn (and quickly) when you lose a child is that most people can't and don't want to deal with it. It's awkward and uncomfortable for them. So you learn to hide it. You put on fake smiles and happy faces and you pretend. If you LOOK ok, people assume you are ok, and that makes them feel better. But what they don't see is that we really aren't better. We still miss our son with every fiber of our being. We still cry, a lot. We still get angry, and can't accept the fact that he is never coming home. We still get depressed. We still struggle to get out of bed most days, and we are still grieving.
There is hardly a minute that goes by that I don't think about Zach. Every song, TV show, movie, and conversation brings up some thought or memory of him. I still can't see a car accident, or hear about one, without getting instantly sick to my stomach. I avoid situations where there are a lot of children, because it's too hard most days. I lie awake at night, and think about the what ifs, the regrets and the guilt. I dream of him, and wake up only to realize it wasn't real, and he's still gone. I still reach for his favorite snacks at the grocery store, pick up my phone to text him something funny, and do a double take when I see someone who looks like him. I look at my husband, and see the heartbreak in his eyes, and would do anything to give him his little buddy back. I hear friends complain about silly little things, and struggle not to snap at them about how lucky  they are. I think about the future, and wonder about the what haves. What kind of husband or father would he have been? What kind of grandparents and in laws would we have been? Would we have all stayed close, or would we eventually start to grow apart? I think about the past, and I question whether or not he knew how much I loved him. I regret all the times I was impatient, frustrated or too tired.
It's been 14 months, and I am still grieving. And in another 14 months, or 3 years, or 20 years... I will STILL be grieving. Just because you can't see something, doesn't make it any less real. And our Grief is very real to us. It is a constant battle, and those smiles and laughs that you see are hard earned.