October 20, 2022 — Who do you feel grateful for today? Whose beautiful heart is bringing joy to your world?
For the wonderful warmth of this card message, we have Contributing Cardie Lauren Rowell to thank. The words she kindly wrote to me in a note last year felt so good to read that they seemed destined for a card. Happily for gracious card-senders everywhere, Lauren agreed.
Today I want my right-hand woman here at Cardthartic to read these words and let them soothe her soul and strengthen her invincible spirit, for I’m so grateful for her beautiful heart and the joy she brings in every day. If you follow Cardthartic, you may remember reading in this Cardie Newsletter that, up until the start of the war in Ukraine, I’d known Luda only as the bubbly Ukrainian-American retiree in the building next door, a friendly fellow lover of the sea who I’d always see snorkeling.
Back in February, I approached Luda and expressed my concern for her family and friends throughout both Russia and Ukraine, and a wonderful friendship began that day. At first, Luda would kindly come by and offer to do anything that would assist me … anything that would help keep her mind here instead of in Ukraine. She pressed some new drapes. She helped me create a few, fun care packages and then offered, “I can take them to the Post Office for you.” By the end of March, she was stopping by daily, and her favorite refrain became, “Maybe I walk Gracie?” 😉
Early on it was clear — by how she dressed with such beach-chic style and artfully arranged flowers and plated her amazing meals — that Luda had a great eye. So one day I asked if she might like to search photo sites for possible card images. Long story short, every image you have enjoyed on our new summer and fall designs was found by Luda! She sourced every single one. Single-handedly. Ok, maybe with a little help from Gracie.
While that might seem like a simply fun job, it’s also a very challenging one as she must look at literally thousands of images to find those few we believe measure up to the messages that come from our Cardie Community.
What must be far, far more challenging, though, is being present and productive when your beloved daughter working in Moscow reports that it will likely be impossible to come live with her mother in the United States because she’s now fifty-thousandth in line for a visa. How in the world does Luda focus on finding just the right card photos when she knows that same brilliant lawyer daughter — with her dual nationality — is trying to make her way through war-torn Ukraine to safety in Poland?
Yet every day, in walks a smiling and always-uplifting “MamaLuda,” so called because my dog is far more excited to be with her than me. Every day Luda’s beautiful heart brings more joy. It’s her infectious giggle coming from the floor as she coos, “Ah, my solnishko! My solnishko!” (my sunshine) while Gracie wiggles her little rump and tells her all that happened since they were last together. It’s how she’ll walk in of an evening carrying an amazing Chicken Kiev as “Surprise! Dinner! You must eat!” Last week she lugged her big old robot vacuum over here thinking it would be just the thing for the office. And it’s how Luda will spread dozens of photos out all over her living room floor in order to enlist the aid of her husband Jeff in choosing the best from her best … little did he know a year ago that he’d one day author several Passages cards!
Indeed, little did anyone know what a difference a year would make in the lives of Ukrainians. Or beautiful, caring, Ukrainian-Americans like Luda. Every day she says she thanks God for bringing us together and giving her the opportunity to be part of this nurturing Cardie Community. Who do you feel grateful for today? Whose beautiful heart is bringing joy to your world?
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
October 20, 2022 — Who do you feel grateful for today? Whose beautiful heart is bringing joy to your world?
For the wonderful warmth of the card message above, we have Contributing Cardie Lauren Rowell to thank. The words she kindly wrote to me in a note last year felt so good to read that they seemed destined for a card. Happily for gracious card-senders everywhere, Lauren agreed.
Today I want my right-hand woman here at Cardthartic to read these words and let them soothe her soul and strengthen her invincible spirit, for I’m so grateful for her beautiful heart and the joy she brings in every day. If you follow Cardthartic, you may remember reading in this Cardie Newsletter that, up until the start of the war in Ukraine, I’d known Luda only as the bubbly Ukrainian-American retiree in the building next door, a friendly fellow lover of the sea who I’d always see snorkeling.
Back in February, I approached Luda and expressed my concern for her family and friends throughout both Russia and Ukraine, and a wonderful friendship began that day. At first, Luda would kindly come by and offer to do anything that would assist me … anything that would help keep her mind here instead of in Ukraine. She pressed some new drapes. She helped me create a few, fun care packages and then offered, “I can take them to the Post Office for you.” By the end of March, she was stopping by daily, and her favorite refrain became, “Maybe I walk Gracie?” 😉
Early on it was clear — by how she dressed with such beach-chic style and artfully arranged flowers and plated her amazing meals — that Luda had a great eye. So one day I asked if she might like to search photo sites for possible card images. Long story short, every image you have enjoyed on our new summer and fall designs was found by Luda! She sourced every single one. Single-handedly. Ok, maybe with a little help from Gracie.
While that might seem like a simply fun job, it’s also a very challenging one as she must look at literally thousands of images to find those few we believe measure up to the messages that come from our Cardie Community.
What must be far, far more challenging, though, is being present and productive when your beloved daughter working in Moscow reports that it will likely be impossible to come live with her mother in the United States because she’s now fifty-thousandth in line for a visa. How in the world does Luda focus on finding just the right card photos when she knows that same brilliant lawyer daughter — with her dual nationality — is trying to make her way through war-torn Ukraine to safety in Poland?
Yet every day, in walks a smiling and always-uplifting “MamaLuda,” so called because my dog is far more excited to be with her than me. Every day Luda’s beautiful heart brings more joy. It’s her infectious giggle coming from the floor as she coos, “Ah, my solnishko! My solnishko!” (my sunshine) while Gracie wiggles her little rump and tells her all that happened since they were last together. It’s how she’ll walk in of an evening carrying an amazing Chicken Kiev as “Surprise! Dinner! You must eat!” Last week she lugged her big old robot vacuum over here thinking it would be just the thing for the office. And it’s how Luda will spread dozens of photos out all over her living room floor in order to enlist the aid of her husband Jeff in choosing the best from her best … little did he know a year ago that he’d one day author several Passages cards!
Indeed, little did anyone know what a difference a year would make in the lives of Ukrainians. Or beautiful, caring, Ukrainian-Americans like Luda. Every day she says she thanks God for bringing us together and giving her the opportunity to be part of this nurturing Cardie Community. Who do you feel grateful for today? Whose beautiful heart is bringing joy to your world?
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
God Bless you and your family, Luda. My parents were born in Ukraine. Prayers and Hugs are with you all.
Thank you for sharing more about your growing relationship with Luda. And how beautiful that she’s become a precious part of our cardie community as well. Thankful for both of you – and your beautiful, joy-bringing hearts.
Sincerely grateful for you, Jodee. Without you I would not know so many things of beauty. Without you I would never know Luda or have known Hannlis or link hearts with them or their passages. So, today it is you for whom I am grateful.
I am most grateful for my treasure, AKA husband. I also am grateful for my family & friends who inspire me and make life worth living. Love gives life meaning and passion.
Love love love the cards I’m able to send to people important to me.
May I express my gratitude, Dear Jodee! The surprise box in the mail came today in memory of Hannlis. I so miss hearing from her, and this just brought tears to my eyes. Thank you from my heart.