Unchartered Waters

Hello friends.As we find ourselves in times that are not familiar to us, it's important to continue to find new ways to keep ourselves positive and embrace this new way of life for now.  

Our life as we knew it is on hold. Our world is going through steps in this process similar to grief.  Denial, Anger, Depression and Acceptance. 

We navigate between stages before we can achieve an acceptance. Our jobs are being done virtually from home. Our children and grandchildren are attending school from their living rooms through virtual classrooms. We are attending church by watching mass and services on our television or computer. We are by nature a social society.  Now we are communicating through a mask and unable to enjoy one another's smile.  We are watching birthdays and anniversaries being celebrated by family and friends with drive by car parades bearing banners and balloons. 

My personal takeaway is this.  Of course we would like to be together during these special moments.  Embrace how blessed we are to have family and friends to drive by and show their love for us.  

Embrace this time to take a class online . I attended a virtual gardening class last week and learned how to improve my gardening skills. I've learned how to make bread from scratch and will keep learning how to perfect my technique.  My husband and I have been organizing our home. After 45 years of marriage, there is a lot to organize.  

Our youngest child is giving birth to she and her husband's second child within days.  As they bring their new baby into the world, we will remember how blessed we are and will keep him safe and healthy as the world tries to figure out new ways to return it's people to better health.  The summer months are upon us and we should embrace being outdoors. Breathing in fresh air and feeling the  warm sun on our faces are good for our souls. Create a beautiful outdoor space for yourselves in your yard, on your deck or balcony. Open the windows and let the fresh air in.  As our parks remain closed for now, our children can enjoy backyard sprinklers, pools, sidewalk chalk, make your own bubbles, bring your computer outdoors at night and show a movie as you enjoy under blankets cuddling together.  We are adjusting and accepting.  Our freedoms will return slowly but meanwhile friends, please be well mentally and physically.  And thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts in this ever changing world.  It is a sideline from my usual writing but it's important to know we are all feeling this together.  

Love and Hugs❤️

Encouraging Thoughts during Hard Times

My blog posts are usually upbeat. Now and then I am write one from my heart and this is one of those this morning. This is my sister -in- law Patti. We may not be sisters from birth, but we are true sisters at heart.  I love her dearly.  She has a sense of humor that is unique and she can make anyone laugh. Last year when a dear friend of mine was undergoing a very serious cancer surgery that lasted several hours, I sent Patti a text from the hospital waiting area that I had never felt so overwhelmed. That evening she arrived at our home with a basket she had filled with wine, chocolates, magazines and bath products.  It was one of the sweetest acts of love that gave me such a smile when I needed it the most. 

 Patti is having delicate brain surgery this morning to remove the first of 2 tumors which fortunately are benign.  I admire her for so many reasons I don't where to begin.  Her strength and courage moving forward with everything she's gone through in her 59 years of life.  She became a widow in her 40's, left to raise a young daughter on her own.  Patti is a nurse and worked shifts that would allow her to be with her daughter during non school hours.  She lost her Dad, my father in law a couple of weeks before her wedding.  We lost her Mom a couple of weeks before her daughter's wedding.  Now as she has found new happiness with a man who loves both her and our family, she is facing heath issues.  We are confident she will recover beautifully and hope to get back soon to enjoying her newfound happiness.  

Patti's is the 5th of our family surgeries in the past 8 weeks and it is with the love and support of our family that gives strength for recovery.  When you are faced with difficult times, embrace those around you and accept their offers to help, even if it is just a hug when you need it.  If you are a regular reader of my blog, you're familiar with my love of cooking.  Over years past of countless hours of waiting at hospitals for news of loved ones, I have begun packing homemade peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for family waiting with me.  There's something about it that lifts our spirits.  When my mother in law was hospitalized and we were all quite upset, I packed my sandwiches and fed everyone with a smile and suddenly the mood lifted.  When our neighbor had begun Hospice, I baked scones and took them to his family, later finding out it was the one food he was requesting that week before he passed.  It brought him a little bit of happiness and I will always feel good about that.  The smallest gestures can make the biggest difference during troubled times.  Reach out.  It makes a difference.  

~Thanks for reading~