Hope and Loss

Lisa Copen shared about this group on the invisible illness facebook page and I decided to join in.  Each day is accompanied by a prompt and the interpretations are as varied as the differing illnesses and difficulties faced by those of us within the group.  We are refusing to be disempowered by pain or a set of symptoms and the sense of community even in such a short space of time is tangible.  Here are my responses from yesterday which was the start date and today, my hope is that they will be a blessing to anyone who might drop by and read :-)

 Hope ~ This book reconnects me with the island in my memory.

Lindisfarne in Northumbria is one of those sacred places and despite the howling winds and the storm tossed sea, there was a peace in my heart that, I am not alone and all will be well:

"For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a hope and a future" Jeremiah 29 v 11

 

 Loss ~ I am a graduate from the university of life.

  This bear represents not only my loss in being unable to complete my degree course but for those precious family moments where I am conspicuous by my absence ~ kids birthdays, special church occasions, the first day of school, dance recitals and school pantomimes.  After a while the kids stopped asking or expecting me to show up.  Chronic illness runs to its own particular timetable.

 

Inspite of those lost years I refuse to dwell on the what ifs and should have beens and a quote that I read today sums it up beautifully:

"What lies behind and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us"  Ralph Waldo Emerson.

If you are having a bad day today, take strength from what constitues the core of your being x

Spring Break Snapshots

Pip finally returned to school this week after a two week Easter break.  We have had a busy time and managed to accomplish a variety of activities despite ongoing health problems.

 Pip and Benedict attended two full days at the local Mad Science event.  They had a great time, learned loads and enjoyed being around the other kids.

 When Pip attended an Easter camp at a local church with my friend Sallie, Benedict and Roland had a back garden camp, complete with fire bowl and provisions provided by mum!

 I finally took part in an art assignment  My friend Meg using the assembly line art challenge as a chance to organise a live google hang out on drawing a mandala.  The time chosen would have meant my getting up at 2am!  So I joined in a few hours late and Meg very kindly linked my work on her tumblr page.

 From Friday to Sunday there were only three of us at home as Pip went to stop with big sister Kathryn and Mary.  On the return journey home we stopped off for a yummy iced treat :-)

 Pip won a local easter egg competition organised by a local supermarket and linked in via her rainbow unit.

 Pip's treat that she shared with the rest of us!

 When it was time to collect Pip I met Kath and Mary at a half way point.  Sara and Tom joined us and we enjoyed coffee, cake and a play in the park. We even saw the helicopter in the background, take off as part of a scheduled service in the lake district.

 Would you believe it!  The shop is almost up and running.  Dave and Benedict were busy today uploading pictures and descriptions.

 A friend turns fifty on Friday so I made her a bag as a treat.  It is made from two pairs of old jeans, an assortment of odds and ends and a whole heap of non stop sewing!

 Beach huts and bunting.

 For some reason picasa and blogger were being awkward with this picture!  This quote from St Columbas forms part of the internal pocket of the bag.

Hoping to be popping in a bit more regularly, now that we have settled back into out "normal" routine :-)