Well, I have this one friend. This friend has been there for me since forever I think, lol. Funny thing is, if you ask me who it is, I must first describe them. Does anyone have that one friend that always seems to be there when they need them…always the one to call and make us smile after a really rough day…always quietly beside us when we thought we were going to have to stand alone for something we believed in, that failed epically. I know that you are waiting for me to say God, and in a way you are right, but I am actually aiming at an angle if you can follow me…
God has used many people, throughout the years, to teach and influence me. Though not all of these people have been good, I am grateful for the learning. I wrote before about compliments, and I guess I feel the same for influences. I believe that he moves through us all to connect us to one another, so even when I may be looking at a person that has influenced me, it’s like I see God in the background whispering His will for me, and my hope is that He will send His Whispering through me, to anyone I may encounter along my journey. Maybe, something good or helpful I do someday, will be the influence that someone desperately needed. I know that if it is important for me to know about, then God will fill me in when I get home. Love Me
Old headband, check! Craft beads from the bottom of my craft bag, check! And, yes, ladies and gents, I scored…underneath the box of toilet paper, in the back of the closet, I did indeed discover a whole spool of untreated leather cording!
Throw it all together and what do you get? What on earth is this spectacular marvel of crafting ingenuity? I put it on my wrist, dab my favorite essential oil, for calm, and loop my fingers through the two bottom sections to give me the freedom to worry the other beads with my other fingers!
When I started this journey of blogging, I thought I would just pay my subscription and try writing again. Its the best money I have ever spent on self therapy! I told myself that if no one ever read my ramblings it was ok, because I was beginning to change. I still hold to that, but when I get any responses from people, it is both fun and scary at the same time…I didn’t think anyone would really read my words. If I describe myself, right now, in one word, it is “Blessed”. To each and every soul who has visited, followed, and liked/commented on my site, Thank You! You are making my journey so much richer and sweeter than it would have been in your absence.
Spring, that is…I don’t know about anyone else, but I saw the sun and smelled fresh air on Saturday (At The Same Time) for what seemed like the first time in ages!
So what did I do, you ask? I batted my eyelashes at my husband, of course, and enlisted him to drive me around as I collected my supplies for my first springtime project. Painting!
The first thing I had to do was find the right piece. After that, gather my paint supplies, and decide on my inspiration for what I wanted. I decided on creating a fun little possibility, with a strawberry plant pooling over its edges, for my patio. I started with it the other day, and if nothing else, I am already having a ton of fun!
I discovered a love for painting from my sister in law. She showed me how to dry brush onto pottery, and we spent many hours together, with our projects before us, watching old black and white movies. I have been hooked on it ever since! I must say that one of the things I love about her, is her organization when it comes to crafting supplies. I think she’ll be proud when she sees this picture.
I would love to see your favorite spring projects that you want to do this year. Just visit the comment section and share. Let’s have some fun with it and share pictures after we finish. I cannot guarantee how good or bad my idea will work out. I may have shared how much fun I have, but I did NOT say what level of quality it may be, lol! It may end up as a garden gnome…I know, I know, garden gnomes need love too!
I am not sure if this can be considered a compliment, but what if our best compliments are the ones we never hear, or even know about? In my experience, words can be a double edged sword, when it comes to being complimented. Therefore, I think I want to believe that maybe the best compliment was the one I never needed to hear. My hope is that, if I leave anything behind me on this journey, it would be the fragrance of goodness, that has simply overflowed from within this cracked and worn vessel! Besides, I await the only compliment that matters, for me anyway. I trust God will be saying something like that to me when I get home. Don’t we all really want that, deep down?
Funny thing…… God hid my sunglasses this morning! What does this have to do with a toe, you may be asking yourself? Well, it happens to be what made it all click for me, this morning, right in the middle of my walk. I am an avid walker, whether it be for fun or just to breath. Because of this love, I find myself on a trail nearly every day, putting my feet through a grueling treck.
In order to get myself out there each day, I have a regular routine that enables me to leave my house…I am not a big fan of too much stimuli…I make a big cup of coffee, take my vitamins, and begin the layering. I start with my ears and put music in, to block out distracting noises, then move on to layering against the weather, and finally my surface armor to close out the rest of the noise ( A beanie, neck scarf wrap, all the layers hooded up, and yes…sunglasses!
When I walk on the trail, my sunglasses block out everyone, and allow me to let myself go. Now, if you didn’t know, I have had writers block since 2017…and something finally gave, and I awoke! Last week was the beginning of my journey that I invited you to come on. I have no idea what I am doing, and I am entering a world that I have been absent from. Starting this blog opened up a well of endless ideas, dreams, joys, inspirations, and possibly some friendships. I have been terrified to open up again, and have been all over the board emotionally this week.
Here is where the toe comes into play for my epiphany. All last week, as I was writing and developing this site, my walks have been difficult, and they usually are my escape. My baby toe on the right, started rolling out and I developed blisters on it and the toe beside it as well. It took all of my stubbornness to push on, only making it worse. No matter what I tried to do, I was unable to change the way I walked, nor would any bandage fully protect my precious toe bean.
There I was, today, walking along without my sunglasses, thinking OK God, what is it you want me to see? Then it hit me! There were people on the trail I was on, people! There they were, on their journeys, just like me! It wasn’t so bad, it didn’t hurt, and I was still able to walk on. Then I thought, that’s odd! Speaking of walking on, my toe did not hurt…at all!
What was different? My shoes were the same, and the trail was the same…wait, was it…remember, God hid my sunglasses! Without my sunglasses on, I guess I saw two things. The first thing I saw differently was the world, and the second thing I saw differently was my WALK with God!
When I let Him lead me in whatever I do, I walk straight with a calm peace that relaxes me to my very toes! If I am anxious or struggling with something, I walk harder and faster than a lot of runners, not joking, I have a pretty intense gait! Problem is, I actually damage my body in order to achieve something. I have done it all my life.
My Great Toe Epiphany is , if my toe is hurting, maybe I am the one leading instead of following!
I could hear your angry screams coming from the bedroom. I dropped everything and headed towards the crying. As I entered your room, I stopped short when I saw you. There you were, with angry tears streaming down your face and arms outstretched toward me. You were wedged butt first in the chimney of your doll house. Chubby little baby butt cheeks peeked out of all of the windows. I had to leave your sister with you while I ran next door to get our neighbor. I fully intended to have him help me free you, but for what felt like five minutes, we both laughed uncontrollably. After somewhat controlling his laughter, my neighbor had to literally split the dollhouse in half, so as not to pinch your little butt cheeks, while I pulled you up and out. I think you were more upset and offended at me for laughing, than you were about being stuck or that we destroyed your dollhouse.
Anxiety you say? Meet IBS and Fibromyalgia, my two Frenemies! It seems years since we met but they are now permanent residents in my house. When I was in my mid 30’s, I met my first Frenemy, IBS. She met up with me during a difficult time in my life, and though I was not a fan of her attention getting behavior, I wanted to help her feel better. She had a tendency, though, to always make a big deal out of every crisis or situation and she would have these episodes where I would have to stay home with her for days. As the months turned into years, our relationship evolved and deepened, sometimes for the better, but most often not so fun. Long story short, I finally came to better terms with her for a time, and I made the mistake of telling her that if she wanted to feel better, she should make friends. The next thing I knew, she showed up with a new friend…Fibromyalgia!
Well, I am not one to give up on someone, so I not so willingly welcomed her in as well. It has been a lot of years since they joined me, but I have discovered a secret! By understanding, feeling compassion, giving mercy and showing myself some grace, the three of us exist together. IBS just needed someone to listen to her instead of lecturing her or trying to fix her all the time. Fibromyalgia just needed tender loving care and understanding of why she hurt so much. Anxieties will always be with us in a world that is messed up but still beautiful if we can look…My frenemies and I continue on as a team to tackle and overcome whatever anxiety or obstacle is in our path. I discovered that they have become a part of me and I them, my frenemies that is, and when the ugliness of things in the world push in on me, they are there beside me pushing back! Thanks Girls! I love you both! You are helping me become something better not worse.
Journey With Me! 