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Newsletter |
November
"I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds." (Psalm 9:1 NIV)
This is the month we all think of giving thanks - possibly for the whole month but definitely on Thanksgiving Day. With everything going on around us, let alone what changes we ourselves have, it is good to take time to remember how much the Lord has blessed us. Prayerfully you will be able to take time to be with family and friends for food and fellowship. Our family likes to include those who would "be by themselves" so we will have a few "extras" at our table. What about you? Will you be joining or hosting? Will you be celebrating or sitting quietly at home?
While it is wonderful to be able to celebrate and give thanks it is also easy to get so caught up in the happenings you forget to take time for YOU. I know, from being a primary care giver and from talking to those who are still caregivers, how easy it is to think "later." I will take time for me "later." When I have finished getting ready for the big dinner.... When I have finished the Christmas shopping...... After ________ leaves to go back home..... After any one of these things, or all of them, I will s-t-o-p and take time for me. I also know holidays make the schedule even crazier than whatever "normal" looks like - making it even harder to take time for ourselves.
At the same time.... even if we aren't getting more than a few seconds (at a time) we CAN stop and thank God for God's presence and guidance. We can thank God for (while we ask for more) God's strength through the crazy holiday schedule. Maybe we can even think of ways to share God's loving presence with those around us.
Definitely things to be thinking about................
"I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds." (Psalm 9:1 NIV)
This is the month we all think of giving thanks - possibly for the whole month but definitely on Thanksgiving Day. With everything going on around us, let alone what changes we ourselves have, it is good to take time to remember how much the Lord has blessed us. Prayerfully you will be able to take time to be with family and friends for food and fellowship. Our family likes to include those who would "be by themselves" so we will have a few "extras" at our table. What about you? Will you be joining or hosting? Will you be celebrating or sitting quietly at home?
While it is wonderful to be able to celebrate and give thanks it is also easy to get so caught up in the happenings you forget to take time for YOU. I know, from being a primary care giver and from talking to those who are still caregivers, how easy it is to think "later." I will take time for me "later." When I have finished getting ready for the big dinner.... When I have finished the Christmas shopping...... After ________ leaves to go back home..... After any one of these things, or all of them, I will s-t-o-p and take time for me. I also know holidays make the schedule even crazier than whatever "normal" looks like - making it even harder to take time for ourselves.
At the same time.... even if we aren't getting more than a few seconds (at a time) we CAN stop and thank God for God's presence and guidance. We can thank God for (while we ask for more) God's strength through the crazy holiday schedule. Maybe we can even think of ways to share God's loving presence with those around us.
Definitely things to be thinking about................
October
"The Lord, David added, "who rescued me from the power of both lions and bears, will rescue me from the power of this Philistine." (1 Samuel:37)
New season, new month and for some of us a new schedule but, in some ways, it is like facing a "giant." I, personally, am working on increasing (regaining) strength and energy - which means the schedule changes to include time to work on said changes. This is also connected to taking care of ourselves so we can take care of "our" people.
Added to this I have started to reread one of the books I have encouraged (listed on the resource page) called "Five Stones Conquering Your Giants" by Shane Stanford and R. Brad Martin. As I am starting into it, for the third time, I am reminded it is a choice. Are we going to face our "Goliath" or not? Are we going to make the changes needed - or not? Are we going to learn the new things needed to make the changes - or not?
Each of these things also requires at least a SMALL change in the schedule which has made keeping up with other things more difficult. So which way are we going to go? What are we going to decide? It is like the path in this picture....which path are we going to take? What are we going to learn so we can take better care of ourselves AND "our" people?
Definitely things to be thinking about........
"The Lord, David added, "who rescued me from the power of both lions and bears, will rescue me from the power of this Philistine." (1 Samuel:37)
New season, new month and for some of us a new schedule but, in some ways, it is like facing a "giant." I, personally, am working on increasing (regaining) strength and energy - which means the schedule changes to include time to work on said changes. This is also connected to taking care of ourselves so we can take care of "our" people.
Added to this I have started to reread one of the books I have encouraged (listed on the resource page) called "Five Stones Conquering Your Giants" by Shane Stanford and R. Brad Martin. As I am starting into it, for the third time, I am reminded it is a choice. Are we going to face our "Goliath" or not? Are we going to make the changes needed - or not? Are we going to learn the new things needed to make the changes - or not?
Each of these things also requires at least a SMALL change in the schedule which has made keeping up with other things more difficult. So which way are we going to go? What are we going to decide? It is like the path in this picture....which path are we going to take? What are we going to learn so we can take better care of ourselves AND "our" people?
Definitely things to be thinking about........
September
"Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name." (Psalm 103)
OKAY!! Technology is working AND I've learned a couple of new ways to do this - that MIGHT even work again! So.... On this Labor Day (long) Weekend it is good to be able to "build" some new skills. AND I will be "building" a quilt this afternoon...maybe even a scarf and hat (knitting). I am also listening to my praise music and working on some "extra" prayer time.
One slight miracle has also happened as I have gotten technology to work! I'm still not sure what happened to the quilt picture - what I did (or didn't) do - but I have been able to figure out how to add a different quilt picture. This picture, in the August newsletter, is of me and where the quilt is displayed at the State Fair. It will be coming home this week and will be on my bed!
This long weekend I am also blessed to be able to be with family. Spending time "building" a stronger relationship, sharing stories and watching them "build" with Legos. The project, that had been given as a Christmas gift, is now finished but it has been wonderful to watch. They have also been building family - they spent time together talking and sharing while they were building. Now we are all celebrating the finished product and trying to figure out where it will be on display.
So..... are you getting (taking?) time to "build" with family? Time to share stories and memories? Time to "build" the stronger relationship? Are you taking time for YOU - to "build" your strength? To "build" your relationship with God? Something to think about......
Peace,
Barb
"Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name." (Psalm 103)
OKAY!! Technology is working AND I've learned a couple of new ways to do this - that MIGHT even work again! So.... On this Labor Day (long) Weekend it is good to be able to "build" some new skills. AND I will be "building" a quilt this afternoon...maybe even a scarf and hat (knitting). I am also listening to my praise music and working on some "extra" prayer time.
One slight miracle has also happened as I have gotten technology to work! I'm still not sure what happened to the quilt picture - what I did (or didn't) do - but I have been able to figure out how to add a different quilt picture. This picture, in the August newsletter, is of me and where the quilt is displayed at the State Fair. It will be coming home this week and will be on my bed!
This long weekend I am also blessed to be able to be with family. Spending time "building" a stronger relationship, sharing stories and watching them "build" with Legos. The project, that had been given as a Christmas gift, is now finished but it has been wonderful to watch. They have also been building family - they spent time together talking and sharing while they were building. Now we are all celebrating the finished product and trying to figure out where it will be on display.
So..... are you getting (taking?) time to "build" with family? Time to share stories and memories? Time to "build" the stronger relationship? Are you taking time for YOU - to "build" your strength? To "build" your relationship with God? Something to think about......
Peace,
Barb
August Update
Okay..... Technology is NOT working as well today! I'm not sure where the picture of the quilt went but I can tell you the quilt IS at the State Fair. No, it didn't take a ribbon but it is displayed very nicely. You can actually see some of the applique.
The picture that IS here is of the turtle I was watching, at the Zoo, as it overcame obstacles to get to where it wanted to go. I'm still telling people I move at the speed of a "slow turtle" so seeing one actually "overcome" was nice. It is also something each of us can remember, and think about, as we proceed forward toward where we want to go.
How are you doing at getting where you want to go? Have you thought about setting goals? I have, this summer, started with a program available where live. It is called "Silver Sneakers" and allows going to the gym for swimming, exercises or both. When I started I explained I had two goals - being able to stand up from a chair (or get out of the car) and 2) be able to get to my son's (which is at least 2 airports of walking and sometimes a third) and NOT collapse when I got there. I am standing up from most chairs. I am traveling to my son's next week... I will let you know how it goes.
Meanwhile now you have some things to think about.......
Peace,
Barb
Okay..... Technology is NOT working as well today! I'm not sure where the picture of the quilt went but I can tell you the quilt IS at the State Fair. No, it didn't take a ribbon but it is displayed very nicely. You can actually see some of the applique.
The picture that IS here is of the turtle I was watching, at the Zoo, as it overcame obstacles to get to where it wanted to go. I'm still telling people I move at the speed of a "slow turtle" so seeing one actually "overcome" was nice. It is also something each of us can remember, and think about, as we proceed forward toward where we want to go.
How are you doing at getting where you want to go? Have you thought about setting goals? I have, this summer, started with a program available where live. It is called "Silver Sneakers" and allows going to the gym for swimming, exercises or both. When I started I explained I had two goals - being able to stand up from a chair (or get out of the car) and 2) be able to get to my son's (which is at least 2 airports of walking and sometimes a third) and NOT collapse when I got there. I am standing up from most chairs. I am traveling to my son's next week... I will let you know how it goes.
Meanwhile now you have some things to think about.......
Peace,
Barb
August
"Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!" (Psalm 100:1 NLT)
Sometimes we want to "shout with joy".......... sometimes even a "PRAISE GOD!"....... Sometimes technology actually works!!
So...we are trying another newsletter thinking about memories. The quilt shown is my "someday" quilt. The fabric used, for this quilt, is fabric I saved (for more years, and moves, than I like to think about) from my wedding dress, a favorite maternity dress and 3 dresses my mother-in-law made me. I wanted to make ME a quilt "some day." This spring I decided it was "some day." And started the quilt. The "new fabric" is the tartans from my family "clans." The patterns are from my ex-husbands grandmother. The memories have been wonderful! And, yes, it will be going on my bed as soon as it gets home from the State Fair. I promise to let you know if it takes any awards.....
Meanwhile...how are you sharing your memories? What are you doing to celebrate your memories? I encourage you, especially if your person is a family member, to think about the memories you can talk about. Dad and I would talk about memories regularly -- some of them I remembered but many I was learning about. It was especially fun to learn the family "history" ones.
August is a warm (hot?) month - especially this year! Maybe stay inside and talk about family memories...look at old pictures and see if you remember when it was taken, who is in it and WHY the picture was taken......
Something to think about...........
Sometimes we want to "shout with joy".......... sometimes even a "PRAISE GOD!"....... Sometimes technology actually works!!
So...we are trying another newsletter thinking about memories. The quilt shown is my "someday" quilt. The fabric used, for this quilt, is fabric I saved (for more years, and moves, than I like to think about) from my wedding dress, a favorite maternity dress and 3 dresses my mother-in-law made me. I wanted to make ME a quilt "some day." This spring I decided it was "some day." And started the quilt. The "new fabric" is the tartans from my family "clans." The patterns are from my ex-husbands grandmother. The memories have been wonderful! And, yes, it will be going on my bed as soon as it gets home from the State Fair. I promise to let you know if it takes any awards.....
Meanwhile...how are you sharing your memories? What are you doing to celebrate your memories? I encourage you, especially if your person is a family member, to think about the memories you can talk about. Dad and I would talk about memories regularly -- some of them I remembered but many I was learning about. It was especially fun to learn the family "history" ones.
August is a warm (hot?) month - especially this year! Maybe stay inside and talk about family memories...look at old pictures and see if you remember when it was taken, who is in it and WHY the picture was taken......
Something to think about...........
JULY
So learning, and trying, new things can be an interesting challenge! This picture is actually our "day after Christmas" picture because that is how we spend the day after Christmas - making quilts. As I learn more about how to do a newsletter, how to work with this technology and try to encourage more Caregivers the picture will change. Meanwhile enjoy the picture of the quilts and the needlework on the wall behind us.
As for encouragement.....from a friend's newsletter.....
"One thing I have observed and experienced -- change is hard, even if it's a good change. Too much change can be overwhelming. So, take a break and rest! In this season just enjoy every minute of fun! Spend extra time with Jesus and keep prayed up."
AND.... if you have suggestions for the newsletter, or would like to have it emailed to you, please use the email address on the resource page.
Peace,
Barb
So learning, and trying, new things can be an interesting challenge! This picture is actually our "day after Christmas" picture because that is how we spend the day after Christmas - making quilts. As I learn more about how to do a newsletter, how to work with this technology and try to encourage more Caregivers the picture will change. Meanwhile enjoy the picture of the quilts and the needlework on the wall behind us.
As for encouragement.....from a friend's newsletter.....
"One thing I have observed and experienced -- change is hard, even if it's a good change. Too much change can be overwhelming. So, take a break and rest! In this season just enjoy every minute of fun! Spend extra time with Jesus and keep prayed up."
AND.... if you have suggestions for the newsletter, or would like to have it emailed to you, please use the email address on the resource page.
Peace,
Barb
Learning new things means we sometimes feel we are going at the speed of a slow turtle - especially with technology! I'm still trying to figure out how to work the newsletter, what information would be helpful and how to reach more people with said newsletter. If anyone has some suggestions please email them to the address shown on the resource page.
Meanwhile I found a quote I thought might be useful - at least for some.......
"A strong woman works out everyday to keep her body in shape, but a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape."
Not sure who said it but good words of advice!
Peace,
Barb
Meanwhile I found a quote I thought might be useful - at least for some.......
"A strong woman works out everyday to keep her body in shape, but a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape."
Not sure who said it but good words of advice!
Peace,
Barb