#TBT ABUNDANCE of LOVE

In the spirit of #TBT I’m posting this picture of three very special ladies.  It was taken on our “sister trip” to South Carolina and it is one of my favorite photographs.  I have a copy both in my home and in my office to remind me how lucky I am to have these three women in my life. 

But this picture is especially meaningful this month.  July from start to finish has left me feeling like a yo-yo, up one minute down the next.  I’m exhausted and just wish the world would slow down for a moment so I could jump out and then jump back in.  Yet through all the trials and tribulations of this month as I look back the word that sticks with me is Gratitude. 

I’m grateful to Mom for being both physically and emotionally strong despite of her health problems.  I’m thankful for my Brother, Sister, Aunts, Uncles, extended family and friends who gave a helping hand, have been there by my side or simply whispered a prayer for my Mom and family.  I’m grateful for the medical team that worked diligently during critical hours and for the caregivers who despite what is going on in their own lives greet each day with a smile.  I’m blessed with an understanding husband, family, employer and co-workers who have covered for me during my absence, talked with me about apprehensions and shared some laughs when I needed them most.   And although it isn’t  a situation I would want to add to my calendar again I’m appreciative of the time I have gotten to spend talking to family and friends or simply the time I have had to just sit in silence with my own thoughts of reflection. 

Critical Care, rehabilitation and skilled nursing  has been an exploration of education for me this month and I am both touched and troubled with things I have learned and witnessed.  We are very lucky that my Mom's stroke was small and did not leave her with any extreme paralysis.   My heart goes out to those families and patients who find their life balance to include stays and visits to extended care units that go on for years and years.   I have witnessed a type of taboo and shame among many patients concerning their own illness as they seek some other explanation and understanding to the question "why me" while I am simultaneously impressed by the bond of humanity that the patients have when it comes to encouraging and protecting one another.   Most of all I am thankful that Mom has had a friendly and inviting environment for rest and recovery. 

So as I look onward to August I will with optimism and appreciation, knowing that in the big picture I am blessed with opportunity and surrounded by love.  And that we all have days where life just grabs a hold and shakes us reminding us to enjoy the little things, live for today and give with all our soul, because even the weakest of hearts can surround us with an abundance of love. 

When life stops you in your tracks

As I was driving into work this morning I literally hit a roadblock that took me on another path. They are reconstructing an old railway bridge on my normal commute, which means I will have to detour until the construction is complete.  But it made me think about the events of this week and how we get set in our daily routines until something comes along that sets us on another course or opens our eyes to the direction we’ve been traveling and makes us ask if maybe we are concentrating too much on the pathway and not enough on the journey itself. 

It’s so easy to  deliberate on your own two feet that sometimes you miss the emotion in the eyes of everyone else on the trail.  I am so grateful for all the support our family has received in the way of visitors, uplifting notes, prayers and the help of skilled professionals.  And I am also so very blessed to have such a large and supportive family close by to lend a helping hand.    My eyes are open and my heart is full and although there may be a mountain in front of her I will continue to encourage and remind her of her strength and that the only way to conquer any peak is to just take one step at a time.