My precious mum entered home hospice on February 23, and ended her battle on March 10th. It was the hardest task, and the biggest blessing, caring for her. Even when she couldn't speak in coherent sentences, she had us laughing. The nurse told her she had the most infectious laugh she'd ever heard.....
And now she is enjoying Jesus forever, and lighting up Heaven. I cannot wait to see her again.
Love,
Allie
I've been thinking a lot lately about curating my life - I like the term, "curated", as it gives me a sense of intention - a deliberate choosing of what to put into both my home and my days. Perhaps with all the turmoil and busyness this year has brought, it has created in me a desire for a calm, uncluttered life.
Mom has been hospitalized four times this year. Weeks in a nursing home. Lots of home care visitors. Lots of doctor appointments and tests. It's been very difficult to find a rhythm for our days, to say the least.
Jennifer's latest post, on elefantz.com, really made me think. She used the word "rhythms", which struck a chord with me. I remember reading awhile ago that someone decided to think of those never-ending chores as "cycles" - getting up in the morning and figuring out where they were in the laundry cycle, the dish cycle, etc. I tried to think of those things that way, but it didn't work for me. I'm a problem-solver - and dirty dishes in the sink? I see those as a problem, so I solve that problem and forget it. Trouble is, it's a never-ending problem. So, thinking of those chores as rhythms is easier for me. Like the ebb and flow of the tide - they're always with us, there's no end, but by changing my perception of them, it creates less stress.
Especially with mom here. This is the cleanest you'll ever see my kitchen table:
I do get to escape to my art room almost every day. And it calms my soul.
And now, we've made the decision that mom will stay here, we will bring some of her stuff here, furniture and paintings - don't ask me where we'll put it. This will take some serious curating for my home! And now her home as well. I want her to feel at home here, not like she's just taking up space that I'd rather use for something else.
Living with intention, making the decision to either add or remove something from your days, these are hard things - but I feel so much better for doing them. Choosing to spend my time doing not just for mom but for myself as well - reading my bible, drawing, painting, caring for my home - these are things that are not only necessary but joyful. Cluttering up my days with too much to do makes me crazy stressed. A deliberate slowing, and choosing to think in terms of rhythms instead of problems has actually solved a problem, of never enough time to take care of the daily "problems" (dishes, laundry, meds, errands) that aren't really problems, but tasks....and there is a rhythm to them, it just took a change of mind to see it.
How do you curate your time and home? I'd love to know.
Til next time;
Love,
Allie
The wedding is over, and what a wedding it was!
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
(Philippians 4:13)
I see this verse everywhere, but usually translated to Christ who strengthens me. Now, I love the KJ Bible - and I believe that every word of God is pure - and that if the KJ says "which", there's a reason. So one night I just pondered this verse, prayed, and the next morning I thought, what if I've been reading it wrong? What if I read it "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me?" Emphasis on the comma. As in, the knowledge that I can do all things through Christ strengthens me. Does that make sense? It sure did to me....maybe I'm nuts, but it gives me comfort. Well, all of it gives me comfort, lol!
As I've mentioned in the previous post, a lot has been happening this year. Could I do all these things in my own strength? Um, NO. Mom just got out of an eleven day hospital stay, where they discovered she has aspiration pneumonia, she's taking thin liquids into her lungs. So now I'm thickening her water, protein drinks, and soup. It's tasteless, but I won't tell you what it looks like, ugh.
I've wanted to get outside with my camera, but have failed miserably. I must admit it was nice going up to the hospital twice a day, at least it got me outside....winter will come all too soon, and then I won't want to step out the door! I'm going shopping with my brother tomorrow, he needs something to wear to my son's wedding, and I need shoes. I think it will be nice to get out with him, and spend some time, just the two of us.
I guess it started with my hubby falling on the ice in January. He hurt his ankle quite badly, couldn't walk at all, then fell every day again with the crutches. A week later, I fell myself, in the garage, and ended up not being able to walk or use my right arm. I fell on my shoulder. What a blessing that my son was here, and was able to move our coffee makers upstairs!
After 3 weeks of not being able to get downstairs, my brother called and told me he thought our mom was having a stroke. Somehow, I managed to get dressed and into the car, and took her to the hospital. It may have been a mini-stroke, but they ran all the tests and she seemed fine to them. I brought her home, and from that night on, she was living with me.
Eye surgery. Pacemaker surgery. Learning how to do insulin (she couldn't remember how to even pick her finger to get blood). Finding all new doctors for her. A fall, and a week later, we all got covid.
After the fall, I took her to the ER, as she was acting goofy again - they kept her for a UTI. By this time, we had been through the quarantine period for covid, but she was still testing positive so they stuck her in isolation. This is how I had to visit her:
Because, you know, home is where your daughter spoils you rotten.
During all of this, my arm was still not functioning, but it's better now, I can almost lift it as high as my shoulder. And it doesn't wake me at night anymore.
Needless to say, I've done nothing else. All of my sewing stuff is either packed away or given away. My drawing supplies and paints are languishing. My house is a disaster. But you know? God is so good! My house is also filled with laughter, good food, and blessings too numerous to name.
I have to admit I've missed blogging. It's become a record for me of the years that have gone by. Now that I can hold a camera with two hands again, I think I'll start back up. For myself, though, to remind me - I know with no quilty content, I won't see most of you again. And that's ok, we're all busy, believe me I understand that!
So - in the next month, barring any unforeseen problems, my son will be getting married. And I have to find something to wear. I also just (foolishly) cut 6 inches off my hair, so I may have to find a hairdresser. Hard to cut your own when one arm doesn't work right, lol. Life is full of the little daily things right now, so we are looking forward to a major occasion!
Love,
Allie
Good morning, lovely friends. Some more scriptures to share with you today.
I've been confined to home since my car decided to stop working properly. As I was driving, it sounded like someone laying underneath it with a very large hammer - not a good sound at all! A friend of my husband's from work was selling his car, so here is my new ride -
Monday I played around with doodling, first time since my Florida trip. Incredibly, I found that I could get just as much housework done during the day as I usually do - instead of getting at it first thing, and keeping on all day, I pulled out pen and paint and just did a bit of housework while getting a new cup of coffee. What an eye opener that was.....no more doing housework first.
So, here are the new scripture blocks, some have pictures and some don't. Click on the title to download!
Ok, there ya go, I'll be back next week probably - meanwhile, enjoy yourselves! I've got mum here today, just fed her lunch and she'll probably have a nap now....her favorite thing to do here. *smiles*
Love,
Allie
Good morning lovely friends - I am back from a little road trip, a quick one, to Florida. Last year, my dear friend from high school lost her dad, I helped her clear out his house so they could sell it, and then she lost her brother. I stored her things at my house, because I have the room, and why pay for a storage unit? So last week we drove most of it down to her home in Florida.
I haven't been to Florida in about 40 years. The forecast was for four days of rain, and rain all the way down - but the Lord was good to us and gave us grand weather the whole trip. Traffic was also not bad, considering the amount of road construction everywhere!
Oh goodness - if you love embroidery, or even if you just think you might someday try it, RUN over to Jennifer's site - she has the most stunning new club!!!!
I am back from my little road trip, and will upload new scriptures soon....still in recovery mode, you know? The snacks being delivered today should help with that. I'll have pictures too!
Love,
Allie
Scho-ka-kola;
Coffee;
Computer on;
You know what this means? It means I'll wake up soon. By the way, Scho-ka-kola (or, as we call it, German meth chocolate) was given to the German soldiers in WWII - it was a coveted bounty for the Allied soldiers. It has caffeine in it. Yes, you can still buy it today. It helps me wait for my morning coffee.
It's a chilly morning here, with another beautiful day on the way, sunny but not as warm as it should be (according to heat-loving me). We had flooding rain last week, and lost our power for four days! Thank Jesus for generators. We had just had groceries delivered, and managed to keep everything just fine, although I couldn't cook. But morning coffee, with the coffee-maker plugged into the generator, made up for it.
While I wait for this morning's delivery of groceries, I thought I would upload some more scriptures.
Click on the title to download. There's only one more set of embellishments to upload, I guess I'd better get busy drawing....so far, my "art" days haven't happened, there's been far too much going on. But I have been doodling!
Sunday I met with a quilter, and gave her the rest of the fabric I had from my best friend. I kept a tiny amount - as mum would like me to make her a new rice bag, and I'll need one as well. I also kept the fabric from my boys' scripture quilts, and enough batting to finish them, as I anticipate getting back to that this winter. But oh the relief of not having all that fabric sitting in totes, gathering dust (metaphorically speaking), guilting me! I'm so glad it went to someone who will enjoy it.
So that's it for me this week, I'll have mum tomorrow - I need to write out some checks for her, she can no longer see to do even that. It just breaks my heart - she's an artist, went to art school right out of high school, and I know the feeling of never getting enough of seeing the beauty around us. But for an artist to not be able to see....oh it's truly heartbreaking.
Friends, have a lovely week, I may not post next week or even the next one after that - I'm taking a little road trip and will tell you all about it coming up. Be well, be happy, trust the Lord and keep those fingers busy!
Love,
Allie
I love autumn....crisp nights, intense blue skies, apple cider....but I don't love autumn spiders! The deer are enjoying our apple harvest.
I have more scripture verses for you today. Something I noticed while embroidering these - I really get tired of stitching text, it's not my favorite thing by far. But when I'm stitching the word of God, it does not weary me at all! It's a great way to memorize verses, and I'm able to "think on these things" as I stitch. I hope you enjoy it too.
Click on the link to download the file.
Have a lovely week, my friends, next week will be very busy with two appointments for mum but hopefully some art work will get done as well! I pray you find something lovely to do with your hands, and that Jesus fills your heart with His peace.
Love,
Allie
