Monday
Aug042008
Meet the Gardners
Monday, August 4, 2008 at 05:00AM August 4, 2008
Well, I got a good night’s sleep and I’m ready to conquer the day! It dawned on me that, since I’m sure I’ll be talking about my family a LOT, I should introduce them. So let me tell you a little bit about the Gardners. (I could write novels about every single one of them, but I’ll keep it brief!)
First, of course, is my sweetheart, Sterling. I can’t even begin to tell you how much he means to me. He is my rock! He’s gentle and strong, wise and quiet, calm and steady. They say opposites attract, and that’s certainly the case in our marriage! That’s not to say, of course, that I can’t be calm and steady, but those who know me know that I tend to be passionate and emotional, although I hope it’s always in a good way!
Sterling is a simply spiritual man who loves his family—and horses! If he can’t be spending his time with us, his second choice is off on a ride! Now I don’t want you to think that Sterling’s perfect (although he’s probably as close as they come) and I’m sure we’ll talk about the things that he does that drive me crazy, but can I just say I love this man!
We have five daughters (Megan, Sara, Shalae, Sage, and Shanna), four sons-in law (Nate, Sean, Jon, and Jason), and 12 grandchildren, with number 13 arriving sometime in the next few weeks! I can’t wait! I’ll share more details about each of our children and grandchildren as time passes. For now, I’ll just say that nothing brings me greater happiness than being with them, whether we’re camping, stamping, eating, or vacationing. A perfect day is a day spent with my family!
Reader Comments (178)
Hello Shelli!
How personal your blog is!! Congratulations on doing a blog!! Woo Hoo!!
Hugs,
Gay
Thank you Shelli! I was so excited to hear that you were starting your own blog. I am so thankful for Stampin' Up! and for the opportunities it has given me to meet some amazing people and to hear their stories. Thank you for sharing more of your story with us.....you are such an inspiration. I ,too, am looking forward to seeing you in Palm Cove and getting to know you better IRL!
God Bless,
Vanessa Webb
This is so very exciting! Congratulations on this new step. You are inspiring me to try a blog!
Thank you for sharing your life with us. I admire you. I have only been a demonstrator since April and I can already tell you are an amazing woman! Thank you for Stampin' Up!
I am too excited about meeting you and your family on your blog, and to be able to leave comments, I also added to my favorites and look forward to reading your posts .............
Shelli, thank you so much for all that you do. This was my first convention, and I am sad that I did not have an opportunity to meet you in person, but know that I have the utmost respect and admiration for you. I hope to be able to give you a hug by or before the next convention! Thank you for the opportunity to join your growing Stampin' Up! family... one of the best decisions I've ever made.
Love your new blog, and I will be back often!
Michele Force
Allen, TX
Hi, Shelli! I'm so happy you have started blogging - you rock! I can't wait to see the items in your Signature Line, because I love your style!
Convention 2008 was AWESOME, and I thank you and the SU staff for a wonderful time. I came home so inspired! (Exhausted, but full of ideas and plans!) Oh, and the new catty? It is beyond belief wonderful!!
Pamela
This is very exciting that we will get to know you better! You and your family are just beautiful! I look forward to seeing a baby picture or two of the newest grandbaby coming soon! I loved the baby room projects you shared at Convention!
I am very excited to read your blog. When/if you get the time would you mind adding a feedburner button to your page so that we can subscribe to receive notice when you have updated your blog? As a new demonstrator, I look forward to learning more about you and your passion for Stampin up. Thank you for all that you do.
Sincerely,
Christy Tyler
Hi Shelli,
Can I just say WOW! I cant believe they are your daughters, I really thought they were your sisters! You look amazing for having 5 daughters! Good on you. I also have to mention I LOVE STAMPIN" UP! I joined in April this year, and just loving every minute of it! It's like it has helped fill the void I have been feeling after my Mum suddenly passed away over a year ago, very sudden at the age of 53. SU will never replace my Mum, but it is definalty helping with the emptyness I was feeling, so from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU! Look forward to hopefully meeting you at Convention in May next year (Canberra)
Kristy :)
Awesome start to your blog! I can't wait! This will be an awesome way for your name to become a "household name" just like some of the other stamp company owners have. I know I'm really proud to be a part of the company that you have started and I hope the "rest of the world" can get to know you and appreciate your fun & wonderful style, like I already do ( or feel like I do - know you, that is!) :)
How exciting to see you blogging Shelli! Already your warm and passionate nature is shining through. I can't wait to share your blog with my customers. See you in Palm Cove, Australia in 15 sleeps (we are all just a BIG bit excited!)
I was fortunate (and fast) enough to sit very close to main stage at convention. Though much was going on around me, I recall several times looking up at you and thinking "wow, what an incredible woman, mother, wife, grandmother, leader..." I am rarely sappy but you bring out the "ah" factor in many of us. Being a demonstrator means more than you know and it means, at the very least, that we have you as a role model. Thank you.
Shelli,
I am a very excited to get to know you.Your family picture is gorgeous. What a refreshing find to come to a place to get "positive" inspiration, in a world filled with so much negative! Thanks for sharing. Many blessings.
(PS SU demo since June 2008-YEAP, I am NEW:-)
Thanks for a great convention. It was my first one and it was alot of fun. Thanks for the great new stamp sets. I love it.
Shelli - Your family is beautiful! I cannot imagine raising five girls. I have two and that is hard enough! Sterling sounds wonderful too. Your family is truly blessed.
The colors of your blog are lovely. I notice the interesting jacket! I hope that SU will be coming out with a lot of products that YOU love.
It was wonderful meeting you at convention. This was my first and will not be my last. Loved meeting you!! See you next year.
Shelly,
I love reading your Blog! Thanks so much for sharing!
Hey, The bit you wrote about your husband:
**"He is my rock! He’s gentle and strong, wise and quiet, calm and steady. They say opposites attract, and that’s certainly the case in our marriage! That’s not to say, of course, that I can’t be calm and steady, but those who know me know that I tend to be passionate and emotional, although I hope it’s always in a good way!"**
My husband is so much like that too and I'm the more "passionate' one. Is it okay to explain my husband how you have it written? I don't know where I would possiby write it, (maybe I'll have a blog someday), but I just LOVE how it is worded.
Please let me know,
Thanks,
Cathy Reash
Wright City, Missouri
Love it!!! I am thrilled to get on your blog and get to know more about you. The background is beautiful and I can't wait to start working on your challenge!
Way to go!
Natalie
Hey Shelli
YOU ROCK !!!!
Hi Shelli,
I'm so happy that you have started a blog. It has been so much fun to get to know you better each year at Convention or on the incentive trips. I just love your family and can't wait to hear more about each one. Please tell Shanna hello from me the next time you email her. I missed getting a chance to talk with her this year at convention and I hope she is doing well. It's my second day back from Convention and I guess it's time to unpack. Take care.
It was wonderful being at my first convention and learning things to make my business grow. I am new to Stampin' Up. You can be very proud of the company you founded Shelli. Love your style. I can hardly wait to see what's to come. LOVE this catty too. God Bless, Gayle from Pacific, MO
Shelli, so excited to see this blog! Are you going to offer a subscribing feature so we're alerted when you post?
Hi Shelli, Your blog is beautiful. I am so glad you decided to share a bit of your life with us. You are such a inspiration to me. I can't wait to see some of your paper craft creations.
Cheryl O