For You Sally

The Moment of Grace

It seems that I have not posted anything since last June. I apologize to my readers.

Life has been full of surprises. Too many to share but one in particular that I have been longing for...a career based solely around my art.  Soon the family I have been nannying will be moving on to better opportunities in their careers and therefore will be relocating several hundred miles away.

I'm sure that everyone at some point in time has wondered "why this turn of events for me right now?" Well, I am finally trying to get back into my routine of meditation in the morning either with a prayer, a reading, or both. This morning I opened one of my books that contain daily thoughts and lessons for women. I'd like to share it with you. It comes from the book Faith In The Valley by Iyanla Vanzant.

         "Right where you are is where you need to be. Don't fight it! Don't run away from it! Stand firm! Take a deep breath. And another. And another. Stop beating up on yourself: Why is this in my world? What do I need to see? To know about myself through this situation? Breathe again. Now, ask God:
         Blessed and Divine Father, heal me of whatever thought or belief has contributed to the cause of this experience. Bring me the lesson of this experience lovingly and gently. Keep my mind and heart open that I may know the truth. Open my eyes that I may recognize your will. Thank you, God.

        Now breathe. Don't you feel better already?"

         I have finally let go of trying to figure things out but I am working hard at the direction God is pulling me. He has given me the tools but it is up to me to apply them and with grace and dignity.

         Thank you Sally for your compelling e-mail. He place you before me as a reminder to me that I also need to continue blogging my thoughts. He has plans for you, my readers, or myself with my blog.

       Blessings and as always thank you for reading!

Belief and Faith

       It's going to be a very short blog today. A question for all viewers is 'how good does it feel when someone still believes in you and has not lost faith in you?'
       Thank you to ally family, friends, and supporters last weekend at the art show in Pennsylvania. Also a huge thank you to the gallery who represents me in New Buffalo, Michigan. A lovely phone call today from the owners encouraged me with their hope, belief, and faith in me.

God bless and as always thank you for reading!

Acceptance....

     The world is changing whether we like it or not. We exhaust ourselves trying to adjust people's attitudes to what WE believe the truth to be. I have my own morals, values, beliefs, and views on politics, religion, relationships, and everything in between and I stand by them. Does this mean I criticize and ridicule those that disagree with me? By no means. Does this mean I agree with the behavior? Absolutely not. I can accept the person but not the behavior. I love that person as a child of God and must understand that behaviors are just that...behaviors. People don't change, their attitudes and behaviors do.

       I came across this inspiration this morning and I believe it clarifies the answer to the every one's problems of today.

       "Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation - some fact of my life unacceptable to me and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God's world by mistake; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I can not be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes."
    
  Think about it and as always thank you for reading and may God bless!

Peaceful, Easy Feeling...

       After coming to terms that I could not complete my next drawing in time for the CPSA International Contest, I have taken more time for gratitude.
       Last weekend I was able to prepare an Easter dinner for 16 and enjoy every minute of the preparation. I could not remember too much of Christmas after the concussion so I had planned on making this event memorable. I prepared dinner for a family who is taking a rough journey through cancer. We also invited friends whom we have called family more often than friends. Opening our doors and performing the selfless act of giving seemed appropriate for such a Holiday.
       My husband and grown children all pitched in preparing the house, purchasing groceries, and prepping the meal. Two stuffed turkeys, a ham, cheesy potatoes, mashed potatoes, baked beans, green bean casserole, rice and broccoli casserole, homemade rolls, fruit and veggie tray, punch, 5 chocolate peanut butter pies and a chocolate grasshopper pie. Leftovers were sent home with everyone and enough to spare for the week. Homemade turkey soup was made the next day, jarred and frozen for upcoming meals.
       Yesterday was a beautiful day for spiritual meditation and a three mile walk. I put on the walking shoes and the stuck in the ear buds from the itouch and casually strolled with the warm sun in my face. The first song that happened to play was Eagles "Peaceful, Easy Feeling". Contentment ran through my blood as I felt the music fill every cell of my body. Past and present memories enveloped each lyric as I walked through the neighborhood smelling the new spring that is just around the corner. What a perfect day it was for daydreaming!
       I hope that all my readers will take time to daydream in their past and present and praying that a peaceful, easy feeling will accompany them.

     As always, God bless and thank you for reading!

Show Me...

          Show me a man who holds his wife close to his side during prayer, in public, and under his roof; a man who gently kisses his wife on the forehead while patiently waiting in-line at the grocery store; a man who spontaneously tells his wife with admiration in his voice, 'I love you', and I will show you a woman who remains by her husband's side, smiles lovingly as she is kissed on the forehead, and without hesitation responds back with a confident 'I love you too!'
          I received the best birthday gifts from my husband yesterday...books including inspirations, bible verses, and positive quotes and most of all his time. There is nothing better than finding that someone to share your dreams with. Someone that makes it easy to be selfless and caring. He has made these last few months of recovery bearable. Thank you my love!

Counting My Blessings through Recovery

       Recovery from this concussion has taught me nothing but positive growth. During the month of January my psyche has journeyed everywhere but clear.
       Accidents and circumstances happen. How we respond to these is what causes pain and confusion. Trusting God and the professionalism of the the therapist initiates our responses and experiences. Only then can we find freedom from our fear of pain and confusion.
       I have been attending three types of therapy for my concussion...physical (for the vertigo), occupational, and speech and language. Six to ten hours a week at therapy, homework and exercises at home, and a loving husband who drives me to every session.
       As for the vertigo, my therapist discovered I have Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Through a certain maneuver of my head, the therapist repositions the crystals in my inner left ear. I follow the directions for the next five days in order to retain the crystals where they belong.
The vertigo has almost extinguished.
       Speech and language on the other hand is stressful on the brain. Loss of words come when the brain tires. Comprehension is minimal. A casual conversation is modified to a slow pace discussion and expressions. I can understand conversations but only comprehend when spoken slowly. When I struggle with finding the "word" I'm looking for I either draw it, use the synonyms on the web or say "I'm looking for the opposite word of ..." My family is patient and we end up laughing because at times it's like playing Charades.
       Occupational therapy has discovered my right eye has been affected by the concussion and makes it difficult to draw without getting dizzy. We are hoping it's temporary but until then I'm using an eye patch. I was elated to be drawing again!!! It has taken more time and focus but I feel very blessed to be drawing again!
       I apologize for not keeping up with the blogging but between therapy and resting (napping) my brain I had nothing left remaining. I thank you all for phone calls, e-mails, cards, thoughts and especially prayers!
       I'm hoping to post a few pics of my homemade eye patches created by some special people soon!

As always thank you for reading and God bless!
      

Loosen Up

        Happy New Year! As we assume with the new year comes promises of resolutions and completing all those loose ends. We become destined into getting caught up before the new year's begins only to find ourselves disappointed and exhausted.   As co-dependents and workaholics nothing that we do seems good enough.

       On the first day of January as most of us prepare to clean and pack away the decorations, organize the office, bills, and statements before tax time, and dust and clean the house after company has left; let us remind ourselves that we need to be gentle to ourselves and take it one day at a time.

As always, thank you for reading and may God bless!