A tile with a story!

This tile has quite the story behind it. It was done with stencils to answer the Diva's challenge to use found objects for the string. But how I got to the finished tile is quite the story!

I spent a long weekend with my granddaughters, ages 3 and 6. My son and daughter-in-law had to go back to Ohio to take care of some family business so I volunteered to watch the girls while they were gone. I flew down to Texas and brought them their Easter baskets. They posed for this picture with the silly glasses from their baskets

We had a grand old time with the different craft projects that grandma had brought along. (I can't go without bringing along some type of craft project now!)

Mom and dad left on their flight and I was in charge. We went to the girls dance class and the girls proudly showed me their moves. I took them to get sandwiches at the place that has Rice Crispie treats in the kids meals. In the afternoon we went to a local fair and pet the animals in the petting zoo. And that night we all slept well. 

The next day they were invited to a birthday party at a place that had a fun bouncy house. The girls were having a great time until the little one fell in a freak way - and came over to me crying and clutching her arm. At first we didn't think it was too bad but within a short time I noticed swelling and a bit of discoloration so we knew a trip to the ER was in order. Thankfully there is a pediatric ER fairly close and they did a great job taking care of us. Unfortunately the news was not good and the little one fractured her arm and needed surgery.

She was very brave in dealing with the whole ordeal. Her mom caught a flight home as soon as possible and the little one was VERY happy to see her mommy later that night. I was there the whole time but grandma knows she earned several new gray hairs in the process. I can't imagine how scary it was for her to go through the pain, the IV, all the doctors and nurses, the surgery and recovery, all without her mom and dad. 

My son and daughter-in-law have made many, good friends in their new home. One of the friends, Jenn, was extra helpful in taking care of the older one while I stayed at the hospital. The next day she brought over a wonderful assortment of goodies for the little one. Among the goodies was a sticker frame package. After the frames were punched out I noticed these pieces sitting on the table waiting to be thrown out. I knew what the Diva challenge was, but with everything going on, I hadn't had a chance to do anything. So I grabbed the trash and put it into my bag. When I got back home to Illinois I first rested, but then I started on my tile using the trash pieces as stencils. 

Update: The little one is feeling much better now. She is enjoying all the extra attention from friends and family. Yesterday she asked her mom, "I'm feeling better now, Can I still keep the presents?"