@ghandigirl that is really beautiful and very creative. I absolutely love when creatives use different things to bring art to life. I love it. Thank you for sharing. ❤️
@BabsEllen, how did your surgery go? I'm holding you in prayer for your continued healing and restoration.
I have a physical therapist friend who had hip surgery (her second one) two months ago. I am having my own surgery coming up in a few weeks, and my friend recommended a meditation by Belleruth Naparstek, "Guided Meditations to Promote Successful Surgery." She said it really helped her with recovery and rehabilitation. Some hospitals are even using it.
@ghandigirl, your tin man really made me smile! I loved it. In fact, given my senior status, it made me think of something a friend recently said: "it's all maintenance from here on out." Humor lifts us up, and is very healing.
@deetoo I SO appreciate your kindness and caring. Prayers and meditation make all the difference. This being my 4th joint, I have to say I felt calmer, more assured, and generally better knowing of others’ prayers and meditation on my behalf. So, thank you. Everyone. It is greatly appreciated. I will definitely use the meditation by Belleruth Naparstek as I pursue healing theu physical therapy. Love love love ghandigirl’s artwork, also. Have saved it, and if okay with you, ghandigirl, I will print a copy for my bedroom! Blessings to you for YOUR surgery, deetoo. Love to you all.
@babsellen, When you said "This being my 4th joint", something else immediately came into my mind! And then I laughed out loud, at myself. So funny how "joint" has taken on multiple meanings.
@deetoo Hilarious! Maybe if it were four of the OTHER kind of joint, then it wouldn’t hurt so badly!😂
@ghandigirl I love your creation!!! I will share a very meaningful to me song that got me through some very difficult times. Goes perfectly with your artwork ! Now when I hear I will think of you and send Love Light to you as well as the others this song calls to me about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ3cYhl2uHs
The harm my child has done is irreparable I am forced to give up.
Never did I imagine this scenario.
I pretend I am not a mom. I am hurting though.
Please keep me in prayer as I work on accepting this loss. It is the hardest of my life.
@ghandigirl estrangement is never an easy thing... but do not give up Faith. I went through a very dark period of estrangement with my son .. thought that we would never be on speaking/spending time/company with again....a period that lasted about 5 years... for various reasons, mental health post military service and self medication with drugs..legal troubles...things I could not have in my home/life for my own health reasons.
One day I got a call... "Mom... can I come home? " The answer was yes. Now I am not going to say it was easy and did not have it challenges .. but.. we have healed the deepest hurt and discord between us and its now ordinary mother/child interactions and minor irritations. I am proud of the man he has become... and.. he understands my viewpoint a lot more now too.
As long as there in life here there is hope. That being said? You must make choices that support your own health and life. You are in my prayers daily.
@ghandigirl I am sorry you are going through this. I know your heart is heavy. Please accept the love and care that we all send to you. You are loved. We all hold a safe place for you. Peace dear one. ❤️
@ghandigirl Sending you love, ghandigirl. As someone estranged from a parent, I only wish mine had had the sorrow over losing me that you do, and had tried as hard as you to keep me in their life. I truly hope that one day, when something is learned and the heart is opened, your daughter will return and the wounds will be healed. Right now, be gentle with yourself and keep sending your love to her.
Wedding Update!
We definitely can still use prayers for my daughter's wedding.
The good news first.
My younger daughter rejoined the family Sunday and is healthy. No one else from our family has come down with covid and her boyfriend who was in the car with her for 7 hours while she had covid but before she knew and tested for it did not get it.
YAY!!!
The bad news.
The groom's brother, the best man, just tested positive for covid. He lives with his parents in Texas. The groom was with his family this weekend, 30 hours before his brother showed symptoms, so he has been exposed as well has his whole family.
The wedding is in AZ.
I don't need to explain all of the emotions swirling around right now. After breaking down this morning, my daughter the bride, literally picked herself off the floor after sobbing and began searching for the light in the situation.
She found some and while really worried about everyone, the impact and possible outcomes, she has active hope and we are trying to find humor. The most recent "thought" is creating a cardboard cut out of the best man and carrying it around. Not sure that can be created before the wedding but A stick figure poster board could. haha.
When they tell their future children about their wedding day, the certainly will have quite the story to tell.
the most important thing is the bridge and groom can stay healthy and get married. Saturday.
So, here I am asking for additional and continued prayers for this wedding and the health of all involved. The bridal party will be taking at home tests this week ( repeatedly) and even if it is in the church with just my now covid free daughter who is the maid of honor, the bride , groom and a priest, I hope to just get them to the finish line and married. Well, I hope for much more but you get the idea.
I saw my daughter happy and smiling on her wedding day during a RTFN last June. I am holding on to that image right now.
Oh, and yes, of course this is totally stressful and I still have a great deal of things to accomplish before Saturday and it feels a bit like I am wading in mud right now trying to navigate a storm because I kinda am. I am working on finding, seeing , and standing in the light like a solar panel, trying to soak it in so I can shine it during the dark. So if you can throw some this way, it will be ever so helpful. This is hard.
Thanks!
@lovendures if anyone can handle this situation with grace, peace, humor and light I will bet on you. I will continue to send the prayers, love and light for all of you on this joyous event. I still think you’ll see the wedding happen even if it’s in a slightly different configuration. The cardboard brother is a great idea. And maybe if the clergy allows him to he in a FaceTime call while the ceremony is taking place. There are proxy stand in people who can take his place if he can’t. What a story to tell through the generations. Good luck and blessings to all. Keep us posted and enjoy every minute. ❤️
@lovendures if anyone can handle this situation with grace, peace, humor and light I will bet on you. I will continue to send the prayers, love and light for all of you on this joyous event. I still think you’ll see the wedding happen even if it’s in a slightly different configuration. The cardboard brother is a great idea. And maybe if the clergy allows him to he in a FaceTime call while the ceremony is taking place. There are proxy stand in people who can take his place if he can’t. What a story to tell through the generations. Good luck and blessings to all. Keep us posted and enjoy every minute. ❤️
@lovendures What a rollercoaster, but they wedding is going forward, the bride and groom and healthy, and boy will they have stories to their grandchildren. I read somewhere that you can endure almost the worst thing if you can make a good story of it someday. Not sure if that's always true, but we're living a weird history and the cardboard best man will have his place in your family's!
Much love and peace to you, friend. I feel that when all is said and done, the wedding and their lives will be joyous. I will hold that feeling in my hear for you all.
@lovendures What a wedding adventure and so glad that bride and groom are covid-free. I am picturing that cardboard Best Man as a kind of Flat Stanley ending up making an appearance at family occasions in years to come...seriously, though, sending love and light and flowers to you and the wedding...
@lovendures You certainly have more than your fair share on your plate right now and that must feel incredibly stressful. However, when I read your post, I could see you bobbing and weaving with the unexpected, making contingency plans, focusing on the positive and focusing on what really matters. Yes, let’s get these two married!!! I am lifting you all up in prayer, you and your husband, your daughters, the groom and his dear family, all your extended family and all the dear friends. I see you completely surrounded by love. I hope you can find a few moments of precious time for yourself today and in the days ahead. May all the dreams come true, my friend.
@ghandigirl I’m deeply sorry for your suffering and know what it is like to deal with estrangement. I am sending you healing energy, a powerful force outside of yourself that wraps you in protection, love and healing. You will heal from this even though right now, it feels impossible. May you find a peace that lives within you as you learn to go forward. Much love to you, dear one.
@lovendures Sending light to your solar panel, my friend! I am sorry this is so stressful, but as others have pointed out, if anyone can navigate this situation with grace, it is you! They will get to the finish line, I am sure. Wishing lots of light and love and good health to everyone.
P.S. Love the Flat Stanley reference, @marigold! Perfect.