Thanks........Giving

Thanksgiving seems to be a time of reflection. We look back at our lives and visualize the events we’ve experienced or…..survived and count our blessings. We even look at those things that were not such a blessing, because that experience is now part of our past, has molded us, and changed us to a wiser and smarter person…..at least in the respect of not repeating these things.

For me, the blessings have come in the shape of friends. Friends who will listen to you and hear your joys and sorrows. Friends to give you that hug and physical affirmation that you still are loved and cared for. Friends who will come to dine with you at the last minute to fill that loneliness that calls at your door. Friends who are wonderful traveling companions to share the beauty of life and excitement of seeing new things and places in the world. Friends to share and re-inspire one in creativity and handcrafts. I am so thankful to God for these people. Wow! It sounds just like a family….and that is what it is….a Christian family.

Since this was originally a knitting blog, I feel ready to resume some discussion of my projects here. Over the past year my friend Dona has inspired me to knit again. We have made multiple pairs of Slipper boots for Samaritans Purse which collects boxes to give to Needy Children for Christmas. These quick slippers have helped me feel I am accomplishing something. It is also reducing my stash, although, I must admit it has not cured my yarn addiction. This weekend was the year Yarn Sale at Michaels Crafts, and I just couldn’t say no. Is there a Yarn Addiction Anonymous meeting I can go to?

The stories of people suffering from the cold after Hurricane Sandy has inspired me to make hats and scarves. I am trying to knit as fast as I can to send these items to World Vision, who is collecting warm clothes for the East Coast. The cold weather has just started and there are many months of cold weather left to survive.

So as my life is in transition (a state of moving on) in life, I still struggle emotionally, but I have some rainbows to celebrate along the way. God gives me some joy and small purpose to keep me going. I have learned to appreciate solitude more. Although with two grandchildren living with me, it is not so easy to have that golden silence. Nevertheless, there are moments I can hear my thoughts and pray for God’s voice to speak to me.

Open my eyes, that I may see

glimpses of truth thou hast for me;

place in my hands the wonderful key

that shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for thee,

ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!



Open my ears, that I may hear

voices of truth thou sendest clear;

and while the wavenotes fall on my ear,

everything false will disappear.

Silently now I wait for thee,

ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!



Open my mouth, and let me bear

gladly the warm truth everywhere;

open my heart and let me prepare

love with thy children thus to share.

Silently now I wait for thee,

ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!

(Hymn by Clara H. Scott)

Search for Inner Peace

As I travel through this tunnel of grief from my recent and not so recent losses, little did I know that it would feel this way. I have looked from afar at others who are grieving, and somehow I was oblivious to the internal sorrow and pain of memories one experiences….until now. I am reading all the grief books. I am forcing myself to be among people to support me and keep connected. I am seeing a life coach to help me make goals for myself…..but…..how long does this feeling of emptiness and sadness last? Is there an end in sight? I used to be so strong and able to get past the challenges I encountered, but now I am feeling my life is no longer the familiar entity I once lived and thrived.

The longer time passes the more I seem to feel deeply what is missing. I didn’t think I would have any regrets. I have tried my best to be a good wife, a good mother, a good daughter and good friend, but now I do have regrets. I keep thinking…..if I had done something different, would my life have been better….happier? Time was so preciously short and I regret not having had more time with the people I lost or made that time even more eventful than it was. However, it takes two people to try to make something special. Why are relationships so hard?

As each day passes, I see more things that trigger memories and mourn that I cannot share the joy of that memory with that lost person. Is life going to be this way from now on?

Ok….so perhaps you are thinking, as I used to…..”If life gives you lemons, make lemonade!”. In other words….”If old memories are painful, make new ones!”. Sometimes, this is not so easy as it sounds. There are internal obstacles to conquer and self confidence to restore. I feel I am no longer the same person I once was. Its all about baby steps. I feel the need to slow down, appreciate and contemplate the world around me. Right now, it is difficult to fit into the fast paced world we live in. I search for answers and coping in God’s Word. I will let him speak to me and show me how I now fit into his plan or not. I will take time to knit and crochet to help me feel productive and calm my heart and mind. I will listen to my new Gary Bonner CD called “Whatever is True” from Phillipians 4:8,9…

”And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me---everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. (NLT).”

PEACE and LOVE……that is what I want.

Life is a Challenge!

A Spring Flower found on my Walk to relieve stress

Life is a challenge. This is the first line of a book I read called “A Road Less Traveled”. How true this is!!! Whenever I feel like I’m in a comfortable place and coasting along, life puts another hill to climb, another obstacle to cross and life becomes very complicated.

Yet, I think we grow and learn more about ourselves with each experience. It is up to US, whether we conquer and succeed, or succumb to failure. If there is one thing I’ve learned in dealing with challenges, it is you don’t have to be alone. There is love and support out there if you will only have the courage to accept it.

It’s all about choices. As a person, responsible for our individual lives we have a choice how we are going to act, and how we are going to feel. There is no one who can make us do this or that. I pray constantly for the guidance of the Holy Spirit that dwells within me, but it is my choice to act or not and I must be responsible for it. No sense in blaming others for mistakes. Blaming others doesn’t solve anything and is a waste of emotional energy. Have you ever seen anything solved when people blame others? Of course, it is nice to vent your frustrations and one might feel better, but it doesn’t solve the situation. It doesn’t move it along to find solutions. It might give one a sense of power and control but what good is that if the problem is not fixed. We might be having a feeling of anger at someone or something but we “choose” to feel this way, or we “choose to let it go”. And honestly, I am not perfect and sometimes feel I need to vent, too. I try not to dwell on anger too long. Frankly, I think people would have less problems with high blood pressure and stroke, if they would just learn to let go and let God deal with it.

In my life, when things get so overwhelming, I just have to give it to God. This means REALLY letting him handle it or letting him speak to you in his small voice. I find this can come in a strong feeling or a miraculous solution in my mind that has great impact. It can even come through another person God sends to help me solve the problem. I have faith in his promise that “All things work for good to those that love God and are called according to his purpose”. This is my favorite verse and God has never let me down.

Still hanging around

I know I haven't blogged in awhile, but I am still alive and somewhat well. It's been a very stressful few months. I really haven't felt up to sharing yet. I hope to get myself together soon and share more with you at a later time. "Life is a challenge". Im reading a really good book called "The Road Less Traveled." It has alot of good insight.