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Scrapbooking

Prior to my stroke, my kids had “quiet time” every day for about 2 hours. This coincided with the baby’s afternoon nap, & the older children could read, listen to music, nap, rest…whatever…their feet just could not touch the floor. This was my time, & I usually choose to scrapbook…3 kids under 6 years kept me pretty busy, plus a few more things (haha–I was also a room mom, math tutor, scrapbook teacher, president of a club for a genetic disease, primary & nursery chorister at church, & a newly called girls camp director at church), but since I fit scrapbooking into my schedule, when I had my stroke 16+ years ago, I was only a little behind on my children’s scrapbooks! & everything I wanted to do was very organized–every page was in a page protector with the pictures I wanted to scrapbook, & some even had the journaling, page ideas, &/or the scrapbook elements already picked out & with the pictures in the page protector!

However, when my stroke hit, my scrapbooking halted. (Not being able to speak or move was a bit of an issue! Ha! Ha!) A year later, I was introduced to digital scrapbooking, & through the years, I have done some of that, but I was never sure how I’d complete any of the pages I had organized prior to 2004…

I have been blessed in several ways since then to slowly chip away at this, but I was still fighting all the time I lost. But ever since the COVD-19 quarantine began, I have done a lot of scrapbooking. I’m still behind, but I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Here’s what I’ve completed (2000-some 2002), after finishing my daughter’s missionary scrapbook (which was a BIG project to tackle!). I will add more completed pages to this link all month:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/z2xmspyNgnd4ESG58

Update

From March 15-May 21, I hadn’t been out of my house, but I got to do horse therapy again this last week (June 1-4, I was fortunate to have a ride each evening)! Yea! I was super impressed w/all the precautions taken…they’ve really thought things out! & My body really needed it—I slept so hard all week, & often didn’t want to get up! & my tummy muscles have been sore! (I love that feeling now – it is so satisfying to know my body was working hard!). Plus, I don’t get very many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, so between the fresh air & the opportunity to enjoy the company of others, it was almost like an emotional therapy as well!

All 3 kids are headed to college in the fall (yes, my baby, Sophie, graduated this year—she wanted the “senior experience,” & got a very memorable one!). COVD-19 has been a blessing in disguise in some ways since it has worked out to have all my adult children here for a while (& it’s not like a regular visit where they basically just sleep here! Haha). It has also allowed family & friends to find unique ways to show others their love & support, as everyone has chipped in to give Sophie a memorable senior year! I have wished I could do more for her, but it has made my heart so full to witness how the Lord has provided what I could not!

One more thought: As I was getting my haircut yesterday, I was feeling so very grateful that for the past year being a kind of “preparation” of what was going to occur, because there I was wearing a mask & covering my mouth, but still able to talk to my hairdresser (who primarily speaks Spanish)!

Join us!

Slowing down

Before coronavirus, I actually had a good routine set up…I bet u felt like u did, too. Oddly, while the world has slowed for everyone else, & made their lives less busy, my world has started spinning, as I can get more help now, & w/that help, I have the option to do so much more. Crazy, huh?!? (Interestingly, my world has only changed in ways where I try to become more like “everyone else”: music & yoga therapy are online, & horse therapy temporarily stopped—speaking of…I am REALLY concerned about them, so if like to help them out by gathering donations. If u’d like to help, go to http://www.redarena.org/ … Once here, go to “donate options” under “support” on their toolbar.)

I thought I wanted a busier life, but after a brief reminder, I realized that I don’t want that! I don’t feel as happy—even when I’m getting done what I want done—if I have to fight for my time alone to have time for my personal scripture study & meditate. Seriously…I’m happier on the days I fit those in! In trying to find a new balance, it occurred to me: I’VE DONE THIS BEFORE…meaning, I’ve had my life turned upside-down on me, very suddenly, before & gone from being a crazy, busy mom to being well…uh…me! Someone far less busy. Someone who looks back & can see how beneficial it can be to be less busy.

I’ve had a few weeks to “busy myself up” again, so let me share how I’m trying to figure out my new schedule, & maybe something will stick out for u as u figure things out for u.

1st, try to avoid any depression & be grateful for what is still a “can do.” Then, I use the spirit to help me figure out my “good, better, best” activities: ie, I’ve always wanted to do therapy daily, but w/the business of other people’s lives, that wasn’t a possibility before. But now it is! So now, part of me would like someone to come at least a few hours daily around lunch for help with lunch, potty, & therapy…but that seriously messes with my routine (meditation & personal scripture study, amongst other things…& now that my family can be there, I’m not!) So, I need to figure out if there is there something better or best I can do? Cuz while daily therapy is good, is it “best”? Tuesday’s used to always be my “date day” with my husband: going out to horse therapy, going out for lunch, & maybe going to the movies or to run errands with Mark—so maybe finding a way to still spend time w/Mark is better or best? & now that my family is around more, shouldn’t I find a way to interact w/them more?

Months ago my daughter (who was on her mission & has since been sent home) was facing a tough decision. I told her, “U’re faith is being tested by not knowing. God is forcing your faith to grow & making u take a “step into the darkness.”

& when she was physically hurting & felt like she was slowing down others, I told her, “I totally feel for U about your frustration with slowing down the work…I get it. But God probably appreciates u for doing your best….even if your best is just rolling out of bed one day. Reframe. Accept what u are capable of doing. God does.
Would U tell a friend what u are telling yourself? Be nice to yourself.”

Ever notice how much easier it is to dish out (rather than to take) advice? Maybe I need to take my own advice & be nicer to myself, acknowledge that I’m doing the best I know how, & grow, by taking a “step forward into the darkness.” I encourage u to do that, too!

Make the best of whatever life hands u!

I posted this on FaceBook & Instagram,but in case u still missed it, I thought I’d share it here:

At first, this virus thing wasn’t affecting my life too much…I’ve had to face some cancelations, but now I’ve had to start canceling therapies, so it’s getting personal. Not fun. Yoga & music therapy I’m doing via Skype/Zoom, still not my favorite! 🙄

However, one of the reasons I married Mark is because, if he wants to, he can make the best of any situation. (I had no idea how useful that’d be!). Today, we were using the paintball guns to shoot stuff. Quite therapeutic. 😂