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Writer's pictureAmy Cunniff-Bleau

Valentine's at the Sagamore


Jim and I don't really do big Valentine's Day celebrations. We do something nice for each other, maybe a small gift, go out to dinner, but even then it doesn't have to be right on Valentine's Day. However, on Valentine's Day 2021 we had a big reason to celebrate!


At my yearly physical the previous summer, I had asked a doctor about a mole on my back that my mom had pointed out to me. Although my doctor was not overly concerned she said I should probably have a dermatologist look at it. I had to wait a couple of months for that appointment, and when I finally got there, the dermatologist tells me she sees three moles she wants to test further, but not the one that I was originally concerned about. After another two months waiting for appointments, tests, etc., it's determined that I need two moles removed. In early December I was told that the first mole they removed tested positive for melanoma. I was completely blindsided! Thankfully, they caught it early - it was only Stage 0. But I needed to have MOHS surgery to remove the surrounding tissue. That was scheduled for December 28th, 2020.


In the meantime, any other suspicious mole needed to be biopsied and possibly removed. Of the four biopsied, only one additional mole needed to be removed - for a total of three scars on my back. (I look really tough now!) and none of them showed any more melanoma!


The MOHS surgery was not a pleasant experience, but it sure did beat the alternative! And every time something was removed my back was painful and I would have to go back to the doctors in two weeks to have the stitches removed.


Jim felt helpless having to watch me go through this. And I was going through the appointments and procedures alone because of the COVID restrictions in place - no one could come into the office with me. After two long months of stitches, procedures and a surgery, Jim told me we were going to go away for the weekend to celebrate when the last stitches were finally removed.


There is a gorgeous hotel in Bolton Landing, NY - The Sagamore Inn. I had always admired it from a distance. It is on an island in the middle of Lake George, and it looked beautiful! That was where Jim took me to celebrate. My stitches came out on a Wednesday morning, and we left Friday morning for two nights away. We both agreed that it is was the first time in two months we could take a deep breath and relax! We were not waiting for any more test results, and I did not have to go back for another skin check for another three months. We were so grateful to be on the other side of the trial - and every time I look at this layout, I think about how happy we were. It was a great way to celebrate! We even toasted with a drink from the ice bar.


As I said before, I was blindsided by this trial. And even though this was not a fun experience, once again, I felt God's grace and blessings in my life. The fact that I ended up at the dermatologist for something that wasn't even an issue, and the doctor caught the melanoma at stage 0 is a tremendous blessing. If my mother hadn't lovingly insisted I get to a dermatologist who knows what stage the melanoma would have been by the time I got it checked! And even though I was alone when then told me about the melanoma, I remember sitting on the exam table silently praying, "God, you have carried me through trials before, I trust you in this trial."


Since Caleb's SMA diagnosis, "It is Well with My Soul" has become my favorite hymn. If you are not familiar with this old song, the lyrics read:


When peace like a river,

Attendeth my Way

When sorrow like sea billows roll,

Whatever my lot

Thou have taught me to say

It is well, it is well with my soul


It is well with my soul

It is well, it is well with my soul


No matter the trials that have come into my life, I always get to this point where in my spirit, I can sing this song and truly mean it - even if it takes me time. Shortly after that appointment where I found out about the malignant mole, I heard Matt Redman's version of this hymn "It is Well." The chorus has the same lyrics and melody, but the verses were more contemporary, and the first verse is:


Scars are a sign of grace in our lives,

Of Father how you've brought us through

When deep were the wounds, and dark was the night

The promise of your love you proved

And every battle still to come,

Let this be our song


It is well with my soul

It is well, it is well with my soul


After I heard these lyrics, I teared up - I have a huge scar on the back of my upper left shoulder, and a couple of smaller ones lower on my back. At first, I avoided looking in the mirror at them. But after hearing the line "Scars are a sign of grace in our life," that's all I see now when I catch a glimpse of them or think about when I feel them when getting dressed. I have a permanent reminder of God's grace - he spared me so much by catching the cancer early - so early I did not need any chemo or radiation. He gave me another chance to trust him and this time, I got to the point of complete trust so much sooner. I felt a peace in the middle of a storm.


Although this layout celebrates our "victory" weekend, I cannot look at it without thinking of what brought us to this weekend away or thinking about how good God was to me once again. This is why I scrapbook - to remember God's many blessings in my life!


Scrapbooking Tips:


I created this layout based off a one-page sketch from Allison Davis - but the only concept I took from her original sketch was the border of 1-inch squares. I had scraps left over from my Leonard the Snowman layout, and I thought they would be perfect for a wintery Valentine's Day layout. I pulled out those scraps and matched them with a few other patterns from that collection and went to work creating my border.


I liked the idea of die cutting hearts and accenting a few squares to draw the eye around the page. I adhered them randomly and attached them with foam adhesive to give the layout a little more dimension. The red hearts still needed a little something to help them stand out from the rest of the layout, so I added some pearl Nuvo Drops to the top of the hearts.




My favorite technique is the hidden pocket I created for my journaling panel. I had just watched a Becki Adams video on YouTube, and she showed how she had attached a photo to a layout with foam adhesive so the tag would easily slide in and out of the pocket. I tried it here and it worked perfectly! I'm definitely going to use this technique many times in the future.


To create a pull for the journaling card I adhered another red heart. Because of the foam adhesive behind the heart, it prevented the card from sliding completely behind the photos.


I like the look of this layout. I'm proud of the fact I did not follow a sketch step-by-step, but really got creative on my own. But what I LOVE about this layout, is the story I shared and how every time I see this, I count my blessings.


Supplies Used:

White Card Stock: Bazzill

Cranberry Card Stock: The Stamps of Life

Pattern Paper: Miss Kate Cuttables

Journaling Card: Becky Higgins

Miscellaneous: Hobby Lobby brand embroidery floss, Nuvo Drops

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