It has turned out to be a beautiful September. I have enjoyed decorating the house for fall and the fragrance of pumpkin spice has filled the air. We spent the weekend outside walking and working in the yard. It is also nice to have the windows open to get fresh air into the house. Laney has also enjoyed some leisurely walks outside.
The Light The Night for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is ten days away and we are getting ready and praying for a beautiful evening. It is hard to believe another year has passed so quickly.
The last couple weeks have been electronically challenging for me. I feel a little jinxed when it comes to anything that has to do with computers. My lap top no longer exists due to an unforeseen accident. The mother board got fried. Then my digital camera wouldn't work anymore. And last but not least, I am sad that I have lost some of my blog writings. They have disappeared probably due to some type of error on my part. I think I hit a wrong key on the key board and they were gone in an instance. Perhaps it was meant to be. I can't fret about the loss. I'll have to create new postings.
My husband and I spent Saturday eve with some good friends. They have retired and are moving on with their life. They are starting a new adventure in the southeast. They have built a home on a lake with a gorgeous view. We will miss them and we are wishing them much happiness, as they are fulfilling a dream. Life is going to be a little sad without them.
I pray everyday for courage and strength to keep moving forward and changing my own life. I also say a pray for all people who have been a part of my life. I hope everyone finds the time to take care of f themselves emotionally and physically.
I remind myself daily that I can't change how others think or act, but I can change my thoughts and how I react. I keep making small daily changes and I am moving forward to fulfill my dreams.
My dreams are not the expectation of what others want from me. My dreams are the expectations of what I want for my life. They are what fuels my happiness. I am learning that God gives us a gift. It could be an artistic gift, the gift of gab, a brilliant mind, the love of writing, or whatever you think about all the time. That gift will lead you to a successful life of happiness. You just have let yourself forget the fear of what others say and keep moving forward with your gift.
Life is beautiful when you follow your heart and use your gift!
Elizabeth:)
Monday, September 22, 2014
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Get Energized and Fund Cancer Research
Hello to my blog readers. I feel energized after being away at the beach having fun. It was warm and humid, but the southern charm made it bearable. We managed to spend the last two days of our trip in Charleston SC. I love that place it is on my list of happy places to visit. You can't get away from there without having fun. It is especially fun if you like the arts. There are so many shops to browse displaying local artist collections. Every time I go there I see something new.
My husband and I had the pleasure of being in historic Charleston the second Sunday of the month. This is when they block off King St., rain or shine, and restaurants and local vendors bring their business out into the street. We had the pleasure of being entertained by local musicians, and of course if you like to shop, King St. is where it's happening.
I so did not want to come back north, but this is home for now. It felt great to get into my own bed. My husband and I had plenty of time to talk about living your dreams on our trip home. I think everyone not matter what your age should have a bucket list. None of us know our destiny and we need to live each day like it is our last.
I started planning how I was going to pay it forward in the car home, as when my time is up, I want no regrets. I pray everyday for medical research to come up with less toxic treatments to treat cancer patients. The side effects of some have made a great impact on our family. My heart goes out to the people who have passed from the side effects that can be as devastating as the cancer.
Several years ago I had a friend that told me she was angry at God for giving her father cancer. I remained silent as I listened to her. She was allowed her own opinion, but I did not agree. God does not give us cancer, it is just fate that somewhere in our journey of life we are exposed to something that triggers those cancer cells to grow. But, God gave us life and it is up to us to keep fighting and researching to stop that cancer from taking away our loved ones.
Please give to cancer research to help fund new and less toxic treatments.
On a lighter note, I was cooling off in the pool last week and remembered another nice memory of my mother. She had came to our house and my children were in our backyard pool. She was having one of her happy moments and she let her self enjoy a moment with her grandchildren. She got into the pool fully clothed and started swimming and diving under the water. She even turned some flips under the water. She was laughing and loving every moment of it. I hope my children remember this, as it was one of those rare moments when she allowed herself to be free. I know I'll never forget it. Your inner child can be the best medication ever.
Life is beautiful !!
Elizabeth:)
My husband and I had the pleasure of being in historic Charleston the second Sunday of the month. This is when they block off King St., rain or shine, and restaurants and local vendors bring their business out into the street. We had the pleasure of being entertained by local musicians, and of course if you like to shop, King St. is where it's happening.
I so did not want to come back north, but this is home for now. It felt great to get into my own bed. My husband and I had plenty of time to talk about living your dreams on our trip home. I think everyone not matter what your age should have a bucket list. None of us know our destiny and we need to live each day like it is our last.
I started planning how I was going to pay it forward in the car home, as when my time is up, I want no regrets. I pray everyday for medical research to come up with less toxic treatments to treat cancer patients. The side effects of some have made a great impact on our family. My heart goes out to the people who have passed from the side effects that can be as devastating as the cancer.
Several years ago I had a friend that told me she was angry at God for giving her father cancer. I remained silent as I listened to her. She was allowed her own opinion, but I did not agree. God does not give us cancer, it is just fate that somewhere in our journey of life we are exposed to something that triggers those cancer cells to grow. But, God gave us life and it is up to us to keep fighting and researching to stop that cancer from taking away our loved ones.
Please give to cancer research to help fund new and less toxic treatments.
On a lighter note, I was cooling off in the pool last week and remembered another nice memory of my mother. She had came to our house and my children were in our backyard pool. She was having one of her happy moments and she let her self enjoy a moment with her grandchildren. She got into the pool fully clothed and started swimming and diving under the water. She even turned some flips under the water. She was laughing and loving every moment of it. I hope my children remember this, as it was one of those rare moments when she allowed herself to be free. I know I'll never forget it. Your inner child can be the best medication ever.
Life is beautiful !!
Elizabeth:)
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Beware I Am About To Pay It Forward
Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.... My mother use to sing that song to me when I was growing up. I can still hear her beautiful singing voice. It was a good memory that was triggered by a book I am reading. Two years ago I thought I would never have any good memories, but I held on to what a therapist taught me about replacing the bad memories with the good. All of the sudden I seem to be having a lot of the good memories. I have finally started to see past my mother's OCPD and I can see that she was a lovable person beyond her mental illness. It has taken a lot of work, but it has paid off. My mother would say God helps those who help themselves. I only wish she could have accepted that she had to help her own self, and accept that she needed medical help for her OCPD. I can not change the past, but I can educate myself about her illness so I can heal myself.
It was shortly after the death of my mother ten years ago that I sat up in bed one Sunday and told my husband I needed to go to church. It was as if God had spoke to me in my sleep and told me to get moving. The death of my mother had been so traumatic that it changed my life forever. In all the years I practiced as a nurse I had never seen such an awful death. I remember that my nephew was so traumatized that I had to hold him in my arms. For some reason beyond what I could think her death really had affected him. I was so relieved that she had passed due to the suffering she went through and I was devoid of any emotion for a long time. The last couple of years before she passed were extremely difficult as all the medications she was on were making her mental illness worse. Caring for her had left me feeling very alone. I realize now that by letting God into my life that I was not alone. He was there the whole time it just took me awhile to trust him.
That day that I went to church was the beginning of a long journey to the present. I had been tithing long before that day to help people all the way across the world. I also sponsored for a couple of years a little boy who had leukemia. His picture was on my nightstand for a long time. I still wonder
if he is alive today and I am praying that the answer is yes. So my tithing continued until my world started crumbling with my husbands relapsed cancer. Then the roles reversed and my friends and even people I would have ever expected helped us. Yes, I do believe that everything you give in life comes back to you. Yes everything comes back and then some. So, now it is time to give again and pay it forward. I am a believer that God does have a plan for us. I am starting to see that no matter how painful things are in our life God is holding our hand through it all.
I have talked about in some previous blog post that we meet all people in our life for a reason. The reason is because God placed them there to help us. We may not understand their purpose at first, but we eventually see how they helped to shape our life. As painful as somethings have been for my husband and I, our life has been changed for the better. I feel strong enough now to trust that God had a purpose for us. I am so grateful for all that everyone did to help us. And, I now understand that God loves me and that brings much peace to me.
So today I sat on the beach and let the waves splash on me and I was at peace. I listened to music on my iPod, as I watched the waves and people all around me having fun. The sky was blue and dotted with white clouds and the sun was steaming down. It was a beautiful day, and out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of a girl turning cartwheels in the sand. Perhaps it was my mother as a young girl, as I remember another good memory of her. My mother was in her early forties sometime before her autoimmune diseases had wasted her away. She had let down her guard one summer day and for a brief moment I saw someone who was a carefree child that turned a cartwheel. It was a good memory of her, and perhaps the person she wanted to be. For a brief moment she was not trapped by her OCPD.
I hope as I start to pay it forward that people will see the stronger and new peaceful side of me. The person that is no longer afraid. Someone who now knows that God is always with me.
Life is beautiful !
Elizabeth:)
It was shortly after the death of my mother ten years ago that I sat up in bed one Sunday and told my husband I needed to go to church. It was as if God had spoke to me in my sleep and told me to get moving. The death of my mother had been so traumatic that it changed my life forever. In all the years I practiced as a nurse I had never seen such an awful death. I remember that my nephew was so traumatized that I had to hold him in my arms. For some reason beyond what I could think her death really had affected him. I was so relieved that she had passed due to the suffering she went through and I was devoid of any emotion for a long time. The last couple of years before she passed were extremely difficult as all the medications she was on were making her mental illness worse. Caring for her had left me feeling very alone. I realize now that by letting God into my life that I was not alone. He was there the whole time it just took me awhile to trust him.
That day that I went to church was the beginning of a long journey to the present. I had been tithing long before that day to help people all the way across the world. I also sponsored for a couple of years a little boy who had leukemia. His picture was on my nightstand for a long time. I still wonder
if he is alive today and I am praying that the answer is yes. So my tithing continued until my world started crumbling with my husbands relapsed cancer. Then the roles reversed and my friends and even people I would have ever expected helped us. Yes, I do believe that everything you give in life comes back to you. Yes everything comes back and then some. So, now it is time to give again and pay it forward. I am a believer that God does have a plan for us. I am starting to see that no matter how painful things are in our life God is holding our hand through it all.
I have talked about in some previous blog post that we meet all people in our life for a reason. The reason is because God placed them there to help us. We may not understand their purpose at first, but we eventually see how they helped to shape our life. As painful as somethings have been for my husband and I, our life has been changed for the better. I feel strong enough now to trust that God had a purpose for us. I am so grateful for all that everyone did to help us. And, I now understand that God loves me and that brings much peace to me.
So today I sat on the beach and let the waves splash on me and I was at peace. I listened to music on my iPod, as I watched the waves and people all around me having fun. The sky was blue and dotted with white clouds and the sun was steaming down. It was a beautiful day, and out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of a girl turning cartwheels in the sand. Perhaps it was my mother as a young girl, as I remember another good memory of her. My mother was in her early forties sometime before her autoimmune diseases had wasted her away. She had let down her guard one summer day and for a brief moment I saw someone who was a carefree child that turned a cartwheel. It was a good memory of her, and perhaps the person she wanted to be. For a brief moment she was not trapped by her OCPD.
I hope as I start to pay it forward that people will see the stronger and new peaceful side of me. The person that is no longer afraid. Someone who now knows that God is always with me.
Life is beautiful !
Elizabeth:)
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Sleep Well
Tonight as I rest my head on my pillow I will have sweet dreams of a beautiful day that God graced upon me. I awoke this morning with my husband next to me and as I opened my eyes he was smiling at me. We have been celebrating the last of summer on the beach. Fall will soon be upon us in the north and it is always nice to spend the last of summer on Hilton Head Island. As I sat on the beach today, I enjoyed the sun and cloud mixture. There was a feeling of a calm atmosphere after yesterday's storms that passed through the area. I found solitude as I listened to music and watched people enjoying the beautiful day. I found myself at times drifting off to sleep as I was so relaxed.
Just a few days ago I wasn't sure that I even wanted to go anywhere as I have been feeling poorly and not sleeping well. Three weeks ago I was going out to take Laney for a walk and right in front of my house I fell. I am still wondering how the fall happened. It was like some force of nature pushed me down and in a matter of a few seconds I was injured. My right knee took the brunt of the fall and I can tell you cement burn is not fun. It has taken three weeks to heal. After three different types of bandages and allergic reactions to the sticky bandages, I finally gave up and left the wound open to the air. The blisters from the allergic reaction were as painful as the wound. My dad got the privilege of seeing my leg and let me know just how disgusting it looked. The burning sensations and the feeling of needles prickling my knee every time I rolled over in bed was not fun. I thought maybe I could do a commercial for I have fallen and I can't get up. Thank goodness my husband was with me when I fell as I needed help getting up as my whole body hurt. There were no broken bones just pain and bruises. Cement is hard and thank goodness so are my bones. Never fear I have kept walking despite the injury as our 5k is coming soon for the Light The Night with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
My sleep patterns have been disrupted lately and the lack of sleep has taken its toll on me. Hoping that this fun end to our summer will give me much needed rest. Walked on the beach this evening and saw a beautiful sunset and then the full moon decided to peak from behind a cloud and cast a ray of light across the ocean. It looked as if we could have walked right out onto the ocean and who knows where the path of light would have led. It was absolutely beautiful, as we stood there looking at the moon and thanking God for another beautiful day! So goodnight to the world and may tomorrow be a blessed and wonderful day for you where ever you are. Sleep well and be at peace.
Life is beautiful on the beach !!
Elizabeth:)
Just a few days ago I wasn't sure that I even wanted to go anywhere as I have been feeling poorly and not sleeping well. Three weeks ago I was going out to take Laney for a walk and right in front of my house I fell. I am still wondering how the fall happened. It was like some force of nature pushed me down and in a matter of a few seconds I was injured. My right knee took the brunt of the fall and I can tell you cement burn is not fun. It has taken three weeks to heal. After three different types of bandages and allergic reactions to the sticky bandages, I finally gave up and left the wound open to the air. The blisters from the allergic reaction were as painful as the wound. My dad got the privilege of seeing my leg and let me know just how disgusting it looked. The burning sensations and the feeling of needles prickling my knee every time I rolled over in bed was not fun. I thought maybe I could do a commercial for I have fallen and I can't get up. Thank goodness my husband was with me when I fell as I needed help getting up as my whole body hurt. There were no broken bones just pain and bruises. Cement is hard and thank goodness so are my bones. Never fear I have kept walking despite the injury as our 5k is coming soon for the Light The Night with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
My sleep patterns have been disrupted lately and the lack of sleep has taken its toll on me. Hoping that this fun end to our summer will give me much needed rest. Walked on the beach this evening and saw a beautiful sunset and then the full moon decided to peak from behind a cloud and cast a ray of light across the ocean. It looked as if we could have walked right out onto the ocean and who knows where the path of light would have led. It was absolutely beautiful, as we stood there looking at the moon and thanking God for another beautiful day! So goodnight to the world and may tomorrow be a blessed and wonderful day for you where ever you are. Sleep well and be at peace.
Life is beautiful on the beach !!
Elizabeth:)
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