BEFORE

When I started painting The Peg Box, Jim interjected, “WAIT, Sue! Don’t you want to sand the box smooth before you paint?”  I explained to him that the box itself represents “life” and life is not smooth; it is full of up and downs and unexpected twist and turns.  When he came home from work the following day, I asked him to glue the pictures down on the box.  He pointed out that the pictures were not lined up to the file folder insert at the end of the box.  I nodded, reminding him that the direction upon which I set the pictures represented those twist and turns that I was talking about.  “Life” is not a straight journey and some of those turns in the road are sharp and unexpected.



The pictures represent happy memories along that road with an example of an unwanted twist.  Pictures also represent life’s unforeseen. Pictures do not always come out as we intended due to lighting, the electronic device they were taken with, the person behind the camera or the subject in front of the camera.   Nor does the word “Survivor” necessarily mean that you poked Cancer in its derrière one more time, because you have survived other twists in the road, large and small, to reach the moment in time that this box was created. 

Those black specks you see, if you look closely, were created by a fan and NOT intended. Nor was the torn “S” on sisters.  In life you constantly get these small bumps and look at the positive side.  One, as you squint to see these black flicks you are sharing a piece of Jay, Fred and Wes’s Carolina projects that I made for them.

 Secondly, the purple, pink and gold flicks, shells, and stickers were INTENDED as an afterthought to make the best of the unintended. Therefore, this makes the family cycle complete, by including bits of Strawn, Colin, Lacy, Paige and Claire’s projects onto your box as well.  (Jim is already included for he glued the pictures on ALL of the boxes). Now “Peg’s Box” has become a “WE” box along with remembering funny, loving, crazy, and dramatic memories of you as I made it.   Taking advantage of the unexpected bumps in making this box reminded me we never know what life holds for us.  We simply enjoy and embrace Life’s Blessings and survive the blips no matter how large or small those blips might be.

Paige helped design her own shell frame (gray) and Claire's frame (purple) with the shells and drift wood that I have collected through the years.

 I mainly made this box to make you smile, laugh, cheer you up, cry a little and think of your crazy sister who loves you with all her heart.  I like things “a little over the top,” garish and yes, unexpected.  Therefore, life is never dull.  Thank you for making me a part of your life and sharing ‘family stories.’ I so love them all and look forward to the new ones.  I love going down memory lane with you and hearing funny, amusing and zinger ideas you made for Kelly and Kyle.

Lastly and most importantly, what comes along with your box is a BIG HUG FULL OF WARMTH AND UNDERSTANDING.  If you close your eyes and use your imagination you will feel it…Better yet get all the kids and Gary to give you big hugs for me…..I love you, Peg!

The colorful specks and the shells were intended.  The shells, a few jewels, and the ribbon were placed on the box by Peggy.  This makes the cycle of the "Peg Box" complete. 

Dear Sue,

This is the greatest prize I have ever received.  The story behind the box intensifies the beauty of the box, if that is possible as it is simply beautiful of itself.  I cannot tell you the emotions (mainly joy) that come each time I study it.  It amazes me that so much can be said in a box top.  Leave it to you to make a practical object into a valuable treasure.  Thank you does not say enough, but THANK YOU !!***!!  I too enjoy all the stories and sharing that we do.  You are right, it is laughter that sees us through all the twists and turns, lumps and bumps, and of course the smooth times of our lives.  I love you, Sue!  peg

These next two examples are pictures I make for Colin and Jay are done on Photoshop.  It was included because it represents many adjustments I made in all the pictures.

 

   

For fun I added this picture for it shows Peg's Box
and Antone, Kai Bella and Isaiah's photo carry boxes.



WILL YOU MAKE IT TO HEAVEN?

“You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.” Henry Drummond

I wonder if everyone, when they were a child, imagined what Heaven looked like and where it existed?  I did, and I still hope, it isn’t just a child’s imagination.  I imagined that above the Earth beyond the clouds there is this mystical, beautiful space called Heaven with a pearly gate that stretches and surrounds it.  Those who are pure of heart could look up and see tiny twinkling angels peeking through the clouds watching “us” earthlings. Since I could never see these transcendent angels, it was/is obvious, that I am not “pure” of heart.  Even when the stratosphere is full of fierce storms such as volcanoes, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.; this serene world would remain the same, never changing, except for the amount of angels that entered this heavenly place. I believed, and still believe, that Earth is Purgatory. How we live our lives on Earth will determine how God will relate to St. Peter on His decision; will you, or will you not enter “The Heavenly Gate!”

“When angels visit us, we do not hear the rustle of wings, nor feel the feathery touch of the breast of a dove; but we know their presence by the love they create in our hearts.” Emily Dickinson/Billy Joel

Since God is a merciful God, “Hell” is represented by the ground upon where we are buried. Hell is not necessarily this fiery place; it could be damp, wet, ashy, or watery.  Simply, if your spirit/soul does not rise, you would remain dormant within the Earth.  Upon dying, if you have been a “worthy” person on this Earth, your spirit would float up a stairway that leads to those pearly gates where St. Peter, with the help of God, has three choices. 

The first choice….You would be sent into Heaven as an Archangel to sit on the right hand of God.  Your life on Earth would have been described as a person full of love for God and your fellow man.  You would have been devoted to sharing this “love” with your surrounding family and friends.  You would have been honest and giving of your heart and of your time.  You would have been kind, patient, understanding, a good listener, nonjudgmental, non-prejudice, encouraging, good natured, and full of hope for a better world.  These Angels would work directly with God.  They would give input into ways those on Purgatory Earth could practice to change their behavior, in order to live in harmony and peace within themselves and with each other.  Although God makes the final judgment, He considers His Archangel's ideas, and pray that those on Earth will listen.

The second choice ...You would enter heaven as a “Working Angel”.  These angels would possess the same qualities of the Archangels, but they may have a few unacceptable personality behaviors that need improvement. The “Working Angels” would move between Heaven and Earth as "Spirits” to help those who need guidance.  These Working Angels, who possess their own undesirable personality flaw, would be sent to guide those who possess the same weakness; God is hoping in doing so, they would help each other.   If a person has more than one adverse personality characteristic that needs modifying, a team of angels may be needed.  If successful in his assigned missions, the “Working Angels” would become Archangels.  Some of these same (work/knowledgeable angels) would also assist in flickering extra bits of awareness and education into areas of science, math, medicine, farming, engineering, computers, and other fields of endeavor; therefore, improve mankind’s ability to survive in the ever changing world they have placed themselves .

"We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another." ~Luciano de Crescenzo

The third choice...You would be sent to “Purgatory Heaven” which lies just outside the “Pearly Gate.” Here you are called “wingless” angels. Although you possess a majority of the characteristics of a working or an Archangel, God would feel you have several character weaknesses needing more attention.   On some missions, God may possibly send, both, an Archangels and a Working Angel to Purgatory Heaven to help an individual earn his wings. These divine angels may want to obtain the assistance from another "wingless" angel to help them; this helps both "wingless" angels earn their wings. Upon earning your wings in Purgatory Heaven you would enter Heaven as a “Work Angel.”


“There is only one path to Heaven. On Earth, we call it Love." Anonymous

In conclusion, I wonder how my family would be judged upon reaching those Pearly Gates.  I “imagine” Saint Peter would immediately make  Peggy and Jimmy "Archangels".  Peg and Jim would help God in the guidance of earthly behavior and positive attitude/thinking. Peg could help Dad with his Historian duties. She'll twitter between Heaven and Earth helping other historian’s record chronological events for future generations.  God would place Jim, Clara, and John in charge of all areas of crafting and small designer projects needed to keep Heaven unworldly.  He may even use Jim to teach angels how to glide through the Earth’s atmosphere when they leave Heaven and head for Earth. Clara and Jim, along with Work Angels, would help Earthlings with patience, acceptance, and open-mindedness.  

St. Peter would let Mary Gay into heaven as a “Work Angel;” with the help of Peggy (an Archangel), Gay would assist in the area of English. Gay would teach the proper use of English and correct spelling; St. Peter will remind her that she needs to work on judgmental issues while earning her Archangel Wings. She is reminded that only God has the right to judge others.  (Mom will become an Archangel, once she addresses these same issues.)  Mom, along with Dad, would be assigned the duty of teaching angels the appreciation of reading and would, also, teach those who cannot read. 

Strawn would become a Work Angel, only because she would be needed to help other teachers on Earth in the area of organizing, neatness, teaching, and planning. There would be a need for her to work on her confidentiality issues.

Jay, Lacy, Colin, Paige, Fred, Wes, Claire, and all cousins would all make it into Heaven as either Archangels or Work Angels; only if, they continue on the path they are presently headed.

Gary would make it through the Pearly Gate; but, he would have to work on showing more understanding and tolerance towards others.  He would be placed in charge of the divine mystic gardens that bear fruit and flowers surrounding the gate of Heaven. He would, also, be in charge of recreation; teaching angels the importance of spreading their wings on a daily basis. Gary, with Jim’s help, would instruct the wingless angels how to maneuver themselves as "spirits" between Earth and Purgatory Heaven without the use of wings.

"If you go to Heaven without being naturally qualified for it you will not enjoy yourself there." George Bernard Shaw

As for me…..St. Peter would look at me, shake his head, and say, ”Sue, you need to join Cecil and Clay in Purgatory Heaven.” 

“Rats!," I would say. “St. Peter, does this mean I have to hangout with those guys since they are in the same place as me?” 

St. Peter would look at me and say, “Now you know the reason why you are being sent to Purgatory Heaven... ATTITUDE!”
          

“If I ever reach heaven I expect to find three wonders there: first, to meet some I had not thought to see there; second, to miss some I had expected to see there; and third, the greatest wonder of all, to find myself there.” Unknown