Sandy's Smiles

Why the name "Sandy Smiles"?

My Mom, Sandy, was the most important person in my life, my whole life. She was someone I could always turn to, even through the trauma that childhood afforded me. She always did the best she could.

In November 2016 she got diagnosed with terminal cancer. Glioblastoma. It devastated all of us, because she was always so thin, healthy, and happy, with an incredibly positive outlook on life. Worked out all the time, ate organic, didn't smoke or drink (besides maybe 1 glass of wine once in a blue moon), overall so healthy and positive.

The doctors gave her two months via very dangerous brain surgery. She lived for 18 months and finally succumbed to the monster that is glioblastoma.

I was completely and utterly devastated. I didn't know what to do with myself. And for years, I didn't.

One day I woke up and decided that I was going to start keeping her memory alive and doing things in her name. So I donated my hair in her name, donated hundreds of dollars of items to several charities in her name.

But that wasn't enough. I needed to do more.

One day I came out of yet another doctors appointment, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw something purple on the edge of the walkway I was on. It was this cute little rock that simply said "HOPE" on it, in pink with a white flower beside the word. And I wasn't feeling very hopeful that particular day, as I had just gotten yet another bit of bad news from my doctor. So at that very moment, I needed to see the word Hope. (a photo of this particular rock is down below).

And that is when Sandy Smiles was born. I knew from that very moment, that I would do the same for others, in my mom's honor. And I did. I bought the paints, brushes, pens and everything I needed to get started. And I was hooked. I am not very good, but I know from personal experience that all it takes sometimes is for one tiny little rock with a random word on it, to change someone's outlook on their day.

And that is my plan. To make people smile from simple little rocks that I leave on my daily walks, adventures, at events, and during our travels.

I just started a facebook page called Sandy's Smiles so that people could share the rocks they find, and what they do with them ~ either leave them, or keep them, or take them and place them somewhere else for someone else to find.

Just one more way that I can help keep my mom's memory alive through making others smile, the same way she made everyone around her smile ~ even through the deadliest time in her life.

I will be posting new rocks in the gallery below as I complete them. Be sure to visit the Sandy Smiles Facebook page that I just started if you find one of our rocks or if you want to see what is new.