Blankets for families of prisoners to date.

I Never Imagined

                                    Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.

Lord, with what courage and delight
    I do each thing,
  When Thy least breath sustains my wing!
    I shine and move
    Like those above,
    And, with much gladness
    Quitting sadness,
  Make me fair days of every night.
H. VAUGHAN.

  Honestly, I never thought this would happen again. Sort of naive in my thinking considering my past history. It's only to be expected, right? And yet, I was stunned.

  We become very complacent in our life. Normalcy does that to us. We live our life in a sequence of order that some call monotonous or predictable. It does provide a sense of security something we all need even if we don't want to admit it.

  When the doctor told me I had A.L.L. {Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia}, I literally stared at him dumbfounded. He can't be right. That's not even my cancer. I have dealt with stage 3 ovarian cancer for over 18 years. It came and went four times, each time a very familiar occurrence. 

  Nine years I have been in remission. Nine years! How could I not have become complacent? Safe and secure in the knowledge that perhaps I was done? Finished with it? I could now move forward, worry free of having a  chronic illness. It was behind me and I have conquered it.

  What surprises me the most is my own inability to accept this new challenge in my life. My resistance has resulted in a bad altitude, moodiness and quite frankly open rudeness to anyone within my presence. Is this who I am really inside? Absolutely not! What have I preached to fellow cancer patients for the past 18 years? To be the way I have been acting? Absolutely not! 

  I guess we are never done learning new things about ourselves. There are so many layers to us exposing our inner thoughts, emotions even if they are so very raw. The Lord is continually pruning us and it hurts, really hurts. We feel alone and forgotten, but deep down inside we know that is a lie that the enemy loves to imprint into our soul to discourage us. 

  How many times have we felt down and in pain? Yet, there would be a phone call, a card, a kind gesture sent our way. Sometimes, a beautiful sunrise or the warmth of the sun upon our face. Who sent that our way? Only Our Lord. He is with us. He is carrying us. He loves us. He loves me.

Have a blessed day everyone.

SUNDAY RAMBLE!

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THE SUNDAY RAMBLE #5

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#weekinreview #fruitflyinvasion SUNDAY RAMBLE #17

#deepcleaningourplace #birthdaycelebration SUNDAY RAMBLE #18

#coppa #sundayinreview SUNDAY RAMBLE #19

VLOGMAS 1 SUNDAY RAMBLE #20

VLOGMAS #8: SUNDAY RAMBLE #21

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SUNDAY RAMBLE #24

Sunday Ramble: A Little Update

Sunday Ramble:What's Your Favorite Garden Vegetable To Grow?

Some finished items.

2024 Granny’s Magical Cupboard Calendar Blanket hosted by @JaydaInStitches

January Makes

#2024NewTestamentBibleCal Pinwheel Blanket hosted by @NanasCrochetIdeas

#FavoriteStitchPhase1-February

Progress on my 2024 CAL’s

Winter Wonderland

                                  Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.

 Living in Chicago for a major part of my life, I remember the many Winter storms I have survived. Now those were real storms of never-ending snow, slush and freezing cold. One would shovel as soon as it started, then several times during the storm and the clean-up that followed afterwards until we did it all over again in a few days. The sidewalks resembled snow tunnels piled up high. My children would build igloos using 5 gallon buckets.

 We have been living in Central Illinois now for almost five years and the Winters here have been quite mild compared to Chicago. People have no idea what winterwear consists of where many don't even own a coat. I regale our friends with stories of wearing plastic bags inside my boots to keep them from freezing, keeping blankets in the cars to drape over our laps and the many days/nights of scraping the ice off our cars. They just stare at me like a deer in headlights as if I was a dinosaur from the centuries ago. And you walked how many miles to school? Barefoot?

 Winters are pretty mild in Central Illinois to say the least. Once in a while, a storm passes through and for a short period, we are covered in a Winter Wonderland. This morning, the temperatures read a mere 2 degrees. You would think these people would get a jacket, hat and gloves on? Absolutely not! They dash like a gold medal Olympic runner to their cars dressed in their sweats. A coat? Bah, who needs one?!

 I, personally, have always enjoyed the Winter. Yes, I don't enjoy pumping gas when the wind blows so hard and we stand shivering. Yes, I don't enjoy scraping ice and snow off the car. Yes, I don't enjoy the dreary and cloudy skies with no sunshine to be seen anywhere. 

 Yet, there is something so serene, majestic and peaceful in seeing the beauty of a Winter Wonderland. From the inside, of course. I really do miss a real Winter like the one we had in Chicago. To me, Winter is a time of reflection and relaxation of both mind and body. A time well spent in reassessing how well we did during the year. We can determine what needs to be weeded out from our lives and what graduates into the coming year. 

 It is also a time where I play catchup with various projects that can only be done at home. The books we want to read and the movies we want to watch curled up on our couch with our favorite blanket enjoying a cup of hot chocolate. When does a hearty soup or chowder or a bowl of chili taste the best? Only in the Winter. 

 All four of the Seasons have their splendor and purpose. There is beauty in this Creation Our Lord made for us. A Season and a time for everything. What is Winter to you?

Have a blessed day everyone.

 

There’s always more coffee!

It’s Snowing!

#FavoriteStitchPhase1=January