January Thoughts and Things

It has been a while since I've blogged so I thought that I would reconnect with everyone.

A friend from church, who is like a grandmother to my children (my parents and in-laws all live about 2 hours away from us) made a gorgeous quilt for little Elisabeth. I thought I would share it with all of you. I can't imagine how long it took her to make it. My friend recently lost her husband...today is actually the 1st anniversary of the death of her husband. She has been such a blessing to me and my family.

Caleb only experienced one winter...he was born in February of 2007 so he never really experienced that winter and he died in August of 2008 so I thought that I would post a couple of pictures of him looking out the window at his daddy snowblowing our sidewalk. I never knew that he would never get the chance to help his daddy clear the driveway or the sidewalk.

What I wouldn't do to have those fingerprints still on my windows.

I used to work with a girl from my hometown over 20 years ago. We have been friends ever since. She moved away to Florida about 20 years ago and I moved here about 15 years ago. She had never seen my home until she visited me on Monday. What a blessing her visit was. Her daughter died at the age of 29 years old from cancer last year.

Although I would never wish the death of a child on anyone, I am thankful that we can support each other in our struggles. She is a strong Christian, which is always a wonderful gift, but even more importantly when your world as you know it comes tumbling down around you.

I received a cute poem from a griefshare email group I belong to and I thought I'd share it with you. It can pertain to most any trial.

Lessons From an Oyster
Author - Unknown

There once was an oyster
Whose story I tell,
Who found that some sand
Had got into his shell.
It was only a grain,
but it gave him great pain.
For oysters have feelings
Although they're so plain.
Now, did he berate
the harsh workings of fate (although I really don't believe in fate)
That had brought him
To such a deplorable state?
Did he curse at the government,
Cry for election,
And claim that the sea should
Have given him protection?
'No,' he said to himself
As he lay on a shell,
Since I cannot remove it,
I shall try to improve it.
Now the years have rolled around,
As the years always do,
And he came to his ultimate
Destiny ­ stew.
And the small grain of sand
That had bothered him so
Was a beautiful pearl
All richly aglow.
Now the tale has a moral,
for isn't it grand
What an oyster can do
With a morsel of sand?
What couldn't we do
If we'd only begin
With some of the things
That get under our skin.

My mom just told me that she donated money to a charity that repairs children's mouths in poor countries that have cleft pallets. She and my father donated enough for the doctor's to repair one child's "SMILE". I am so touched by that. They did it in memory of Caleb. Good things do come out of horrible situations. I just have to remember to focus on the good.

My love to you and your families,

With love and hope and hugs,

Cheryl