I hadn’t planned on returning to blogging until tomorrow….and truthfully I wasn’t sure if I was even ready to return then. After the hustle and bustle of the holidays I found myself in a fine funk. Without the busyness of the season the grief that I had shoved down deep came bubbling up like a tremendous geyser.
I made it through each day after Christmas with a hot meal for my family, maybe a load of laundry, and small projects here and there. Nothing like the busyness I had planned. Instead I sat wrapped in a cozy comforter reading, napping or watching old movies. I told my understanding family that I just needed the time to….wallow.
But the thing about wallowing is that you need to put an expiration date on it. Or else you will find yourself permanently stuck in the muck. So I set the date…. on January 1st I would need to once again become a fully functioning being. I eased myself into it slowly. I began by cleaning the kitchen and then making my family a truly lovely breakfast. While I had thought that this would be the day I would remove the dying garland from my mailbox, entry, birdbath and back gate the icy rain of the day said “Tomorrow is better.” 🙂 So I decided it was high time I caught up on my favorite blogs. Returning comments to those who have graciously been so very kind to me.
People were posting their word of the year, personal goals and new year organizing geniuses while I had….
I just did not have it in me to jump on any of those bandwagons. This may have been because I was on day 5 of giving up the delicious black devil dressed in a happy red suit you see hiding amongst my organic milk, eggs and green smoothies.
(It’s day 8 by the way. When will the intense pining for the delicious dark carbonation end???? It’s like a siren’s call. 🙂
The end of one year always does seem to somehow find one recollecting both the good and bad of the previous year as well as inspiring resolutions for the next. It’s no secret that I was quite happy to show 2014 to the door. But on the first day of 2015 I was reminded that amongst the bad days and deep grief glorious miracles also occurred in 2014.
One miracle touched me personally.
Remember back in August when I shared “The Pillowcase Project”?
Well my dear friend Kelley made good on her promise to deliver the pillowcases to the National Children’s Hospital.
There they were…The two pillowcases I made.
Given to two lovely and sweet children whose parents would probably give anything to have them out playing and not sick in bed.
Can you hear that? It’s my really loud attitude adjustment.
So where is the miracle? The miracle is that Kelley called on Christmas day to ask how many children were in the hospital.
She had only collected 161 pillowcases. She held her breath for the answer. It was….“160”.
Loaves and fishes my friends.
May your new year be filled with loaves and fishes.
Laura
“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied.” ~ Mark 6:41-42
Wow! If you hadn't made those two she would have been one short. I wonder how many other miracles happen that we participate in but don't know about? I wonder if the cans of food that we donate to the food pantry are the very cans that keep a family going one more day? I wonder if the loaves of bread that I picked up which were taken to the local community college kept a single mother in school for one more week? Bread cast upon the waters…comes back to you!
Chill bumps, Laura. Thank you for this story and it's inspiration for us.
This is such a good message for all of us. And how nice to have photos to the children with the pillowcases you made. Sweet hugs, Diane
The Lord provides such fabulous Miracles every day. I am so happy you were part of this one. Now let's find the next Miracle. Wishing you nothing but JOY.
What a wonderful story and miracle. Grief is strange. It sneaks in and wafts its way through. As quickly as it comes, it will slowly disperse and suddenly you'll realize that things are better. The holidays are a terrible time to grieve and you had such a big change with the move last year. Praying for you and wishing you blessings in the new year.
Always up for a miracle! I find them in blog land almost every day. Who says that blogging is a waste of time…NOT THIS GIRL!
I literally collapsed on the morning after Christmas…( the moment I hugged my son and his girlfriend goodbye at the airport.) Mr D offered me a drive by latte treat. I said, “no latte, nothing more to eat…no more…no Christmas today.” I had lived on Dayquil and Nyquil for the ten days prior to Christmas…I had a 99 degree plus temp…I dove into bed and slept for twelve hours. Woke up feeling no pain, no temp and filled with energy! The house was clean from hosting Christmas day so there was NOTHING THAT I HAD TO DO! I sat by the tree and watched my three fave Christmas movies that Mr D DVR'd for me. A perfect day of reflection for me! (Another miracle in my book!)
I wish you less sorrow in 2015, Laura.
As always you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers!
~Lynne
w/L.
We are so, so blessed in this country in which we live. Thank you for sharing the followup to your act of kindness, Laura. How touching to see how we can impact others in such big ways with seemingly little efforts, and put things into perspective.
I love so much that you were a part of that miracle and got to SEE it! Oh, Laura, I am so teary over this, but in a good way. God is so GOOD, and you are so SWEET.
Love you my friend, and I hope you get to feeling better…
xox
Sheila
Hugs to you, dear Laura. Thank you for contributing to this worthy cause. It was an honor to have you aboard. The hours of effort you sacrificed from your treasured stash will reap dividends on God Himself can foresee. May we ever count the cost along with the blessings and seem every person, no matter who, worthy.
In the valley He restoreth our souls. Grandma Jingles, a relocation, it was some kind of year, and I trust you wouldn't change a thing.
Happy New Year 2015. Glad to see it here!
Kelley~
Thanks for sharing the miracle with us. God is amazing. And, she says in the very next breath, I know all about that black devil dressed in red. We've had an on again off again relationship for a while now. This is the year I need to finally get him off my back. Giving up all that carbonated goodness is definitely not easy. I can hear someone click the tab on a can and I immediately start craving. I hope your new year is one of blessings and peace.
Oh 160!!!!!!!!! Fabulous!!! I hope 2015 brings you MUCH happinss and serenity. I LOVE the quote about life. Thank you!
Happy New Year Laura. I haven't done any posts since my King of King's table. I am working on a blog revamp.
What a beautiful story and a miracle. Praying that you have a wonderful 2015.
Thank you dear Laura, for putting everything so beautifully into perspective!
Hope 2015 is a good year for you.
Love, Linda
Sending you a big hug!!!
I did not know about the pillowcase project until just this moment. Please keep me in mind for the next one…I have tons of scraps and I can make pillowcases by the boat load!!!
Blessings to you in this bright and shining new year!
J