CREATIVE THERAPY

Some of you may wonder if I've fallen completely off the face of the Blogosphere!! Thankfully, no!... But April & May were filled with many family events and needs that kept me both from writing & from drawing much.

In April, my husband & I had the JOY of traveling north to celebrate my nephew's wedding with family & friends. As co-pilot in the front seat of our little red Corolla, I happily counted the miles by knits & purls as I practiced my new knitting skills on a cozy blue scarf.

Home again in May, we learned of my mother-in-law's unexpected hospitalization & quickly repacked our bags (along with more yarn) and headed to the farm for 3 weeks. During that time, my mom also had knee replacement surgery... a very difficult experience for the whole family. My life felt upside-down & in limbo... and so I knit.

It's interesting now, looking back on my whole May experience... Much as I wanted to draw & create, I found I just wasn't emotionally able to concentrate. And yet, my hands still yearned to "make stuff"... so knitting did indeed become my creative therapy! Nothing very complex, mind you!... Just miles & miles of colorful scarves! It was one of those times when I wondered if I'd ever be able to draw anything again. But God is GOOD!... and I'm once again able to put pencil to paper & let my "sillies" out in living color.
    

Thank you so much, Lord, for your faithfulness to me!!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  James 1:2-4 NIV

Rx FOR THE NOT-SO-COMMON COLD

OK, I'll be honest... I like a little attention when I'm feeling sick. I like my husband, Joe, to be empathetic and to do thoughtful things for me. I like to hear, "Hon, I'm so sorry you're not feeling well -- is there anything I can get for you?" I like a few well-timed hugs from him. I like to be able to whine a little bit, and have that be alright...

To his credit, Joe did all these thoughtful things for me over the past few days when I've been down with the "bug". But, with a busy week ahead of him, he also did his best to avoid all my germs. He just didn't have time to get sick right now.

So, I decided I'd give myself a large dose of TLC. Here's what helped:

1. Hot tea, with sugar & milk and OJ -- I have consumed what must be gallons of it!
2. Chicken noodle soup -- the chunky kind your Grandma would have made.
3. Salem, my dog -- there's just nothing like the comfort that comes from your faithful doggie friend!!
4. My favorite, snuggly blanket -- great for keeping you warm while you're on the couch watching HGTV, or for snoozing under on Grandma's old bed in the afternoon.
5. A warm shower -- even though I have a tendency to want to lounge around in my robe all day when I'm sick, getting under the warm water & then into some clean, comfy clothes really makes me feel better.
6. A good book -- the kind that doesn't take too much thinking, but keeps you entertained. Back issues of your favorite magazines (the kind with lots of pictures) work well, too!
7. Lots of naps -- all taken under the aforementioned snuggly blanket with your doggie.

After six days, I'm glad to be feeling a whole lot better! It's good to have my energy (and my sense of humor) back! Makes me appreciate how great it is to feel "normal"!

Written 1/16/06

THE BIG, BAD "BUG"

I have a great job, taking care of two little ones parttime while their Mom teaches school. My two sons, Ben & Jesse, are grown, so this gives me the opportunity to snuggle and sing goofy songs and watch Sesame Street again!!

Most days, it's a joy to be able to spend time with Jane & George. There are so many funny things that they do & say! A simple walk in the neighborhood magically turns into an adventure as we hunt for "Goggies" & "Meowmies". A ride in "Miss Patti's" old station wagon to school is sooooo exciting! Coloring is a social activity, and lunchtime always holds unexpected silliness & treats! It's a blessing to me to be able to once more see life through the eyes of a child!!

But, last Monday was a difficult day on Sesame Street! Both Jane & George were coming down with a "bug", and there was no comforting George. Poor little buddy! -- he was coughing and wheezing and hungry and tired. His nose was so stuffed that he couldn't breathe, so drinking his bottle was all but impossible. Jane was feeling yucky, too, and whinier than her usual cheerful self. Who could blame her? At only two, she wanted -- no NEEDED -- attention, someone to get her juice and cookies and to empathize with her misery. But I was so busy walking and rocking and jiggling her baby brother that I had little time to comfort her. And so it was a VERY LONG day...

I came home, exhausted and in tears. Had I done enough for these little ones? What could I have done better? Quite honestly, I had tried all day to do my best; but this was a tenacious "bug", and all day it had had the upper hand.

Funny, how easy it is to forget how difficult caring for little ones can be!! Parenting is certainly not for the faint of heart! Lord, please help me to have Your patience & love with Jane & George, no matter what the day may bring...

Today I'm home with the "bug", too (though I seem to have a milder case). Jane & George's grandma has come to help out, so I have the luxury of taking it easy and getting better. I have my big box of Kleenex, my fuzzy slippers, and my bottomless glass of OJ. A long nap is sounding pretty good right now...

Written 1/14/06