A time to rejuvenate

Carol and I got together yesterday for the first time in absolutely weeks and weeks. Each of our lives have been so very full lately - full of wonderful things like  a daughter returning from a trip far, far away,  daughters completing another semester at college, high school senior prom, award ceremonies and graduation, a son's first semi-formal dance (and date!), and backyard prep for a major graduation party!  Phew!  Great stuff!  Unfortunately there have also been some far from wonderful things happening also...a mother's heightened battle with cancer, a father's continually deteriorating dementia/Alzheimer's, sudden loss of a brother-in-law and worries for the nephew, and fear for a daughter's safety and well being.  

The roller coaster ride of ups and downs has been exhausting. I woke up yesterday morning and realized that I had slept through the night for the first time in weeks!  A feeling of happiness and balance is beginning to return and I welcome it.

So Carol and I planned a lovely, leisurely afternoon to talk, catch up with each other, drink tea in my newly created backyard "tea house", share some creative ideas and just generally rejuvenate. 

 We tried!   We fit in some rejuvenation time, that is in between phone calls and texts from one of Carol's daughters about how to get spilled salad dressing off of the living room rug and texts from the other about how to deal with a difficult roommate who appeared to be itching for a fight.  We tried between my attempts to reach my daughter who was a bit lost on her way camping with friends.

 We finally managed to make two delicious cups of hot tea and were about to head to the garden when my other daughter called to say that her car  broke down on the way home from the beach.  Cups down and into the car we went on a rescue mission.  An hour and a half later we sipped cold tea at the dining room table because now it was too buggy to sit outside.  Oh well!  Such is the life of moms!  But I know neither of us would trade it for anything!

Wishing you all peace,
Cynthia

Squares of Comfort

Carol came over today for our weekly creativity fest. She was a little bleary-eyed from her trip to the eye doctor and I had to leave for an hour for parent-teacher conferences at the middle school (it was so good to see my former colleagues!) so we didn't actually get a lot of creating done. We are still trying to figure out this world of blogging (what exactly is the difference between following a blog and becoming a member?), so we spent some time on that. Also, Carol brought along two big bags of 8 inch squares that our friends at church have been making. She started (a year and a half ago?) a crochet group at church. Carol is a great teacher and has taught many women and some of our girls to crochet. I was always too busy or exhausted  juggling my family and teaching job to get to any of these meetings. Then last December I stopped working (that's a story for another post) and one of the benefits was that I could now go on Tuesday nights! The group has evolved into more than just crochet - some crochet, some knit, some do beautiful needlework, some make jewelry, another draws and paints,  and one little girl came and brought her shrinky dinks to make jewelry with! We enjoy creating and sharing our lives together. Aside from our own projects and gifts, we are going to assemble blankets to donate. That is where the 8 inch squares come in. These are just a few of the many - all different styles, colors and patterns. In January we will begin the task of designing and sewing together the blankets.
I haven't seen the squares I made in a while. Looking at them I am reminded of my dad.  When I made these he had just moved into an assisted living and I crocheted squares as I sat with him and watched his favorite movies.  Dad has dimentia and I knew the move, while essential,  was the beginning of a long, sad decline. Focusing on learning different patterns helped to ease the turmoil of knowing that the dad I knew was slipping away.  I hope the blanket made with my squares will bring comfort to someone else, child or adult,  going through a difficult time.


Peace,
Cynthia