Tag: Love

And Then…

It seems that everyone is dealing with scary, difficult, and life-changing “stuff”. My prayer list grows longer every day. Loss of parents, children, spouses, friends. Cancer. Pneumonia. Stroke. Heart attack. Diseases I can’t even pronounce. Loss of mobility. Depression. Blood clots. Dementia. Fire. Flood. Accidents. Job loss. Contentious family relationships. Work-life balance. And a myriad of issues that may not seem major to someone on the outside looking in but are gut wrenching and heart breaking to the people slogging through them looking for daylight on the other side.

There is a real danger that when you’re being inundated by evil and ills of the world, you’ll miss the moments of total joy and pure bliss. Don’t let them be overshadowed by the bad. There are so many exquisite moments in life if you are looking for them. The talcum powder scent of a new baby. The gleeful face of a six year old bathed in the glow from birthday cake candles. The smile of someone who loves you. The sound of a friend’s voice long unheard. A hand holding yours as you cross the street. A new job you are passionate about. Mastering a new skill no one thought you could. Reaching a golden anniversary milestone. The aroma of supper wafting to you when you come in the back door. A letter from a friend you thought you’d lost. Discovering who you are. Realizing you are a child of a Creator who loves you always. Finding someone who believes in you.

Remember, there was a dark, difficult time ages ago when all seemed bleak and hopeless. Then…

UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE

Happy Easter

The Gift of Family

The best gift I got was when my sister, Lori, was born. She was the first of my nine siblings. I love being part of a large and loving family. The second wonderful gift I got was when I married my husband and became part of his, then much smaller, family. Holidays are a time when I especially think about both of those amazing gifts of love.

When I married we began the tradition of one year with my family at Christmas and the next with my in-laws. As my siblings married, they fell into the same rotation so we could, hopefully, all be together at least every other year at Christmas. It worked well until my parents divorced. Initially, my mother moved to California, but once she came back to the Midwest, every other year split between Mother’s or Daddy’s. A little more complicated bookkeeping, but manageable. As grandchildren arrived, schedules became more unwieldy and some years we weren’t all together.

Since I’ve lost both my parents, my family focuses on summertime reunions to try to get together or the occasional Schnepper girl weekend somewhere warm in winter–but that is just siblings and spouses. The last time all my siblings were together was for a funeral years ago. In Canada. It makes me sad but time marches on and weaving together everyone’s schedules and managing within their means can be very hard.

My husband’s family started small and grew prolifically. He was the baby with only one brother and one sister–both much older. His sister has two married children and one grandchild. His brother had one son and two girls who are all married and have taken then Biblical directive to go forth and multiply quite seriously. Most of them live in or near the small town my husband grew up in. That fact makes orchestrating a gathering slightly easier but everyone still has to make the effort to come together.

Last week we celebrated an early Christmas at a Mexican restaurant with my husband’s family. We couldn’t find a free day for 100% of the target attendees but we did for most of them. People who had to work or conduct youth group managed to get together and visit with us before the main event. We so appreciated their efforts to see us while we were in town. We missed those who lived farther away but many of them had been home at Thanksgiving this year. There were thirty-eight of us for dinner. Lots of hugs. Lots of smiles. And Christmas joy at being together as a family. We were in a separate room off the main dining room so we could move around to talk. It was wonderful. Our Christmas celebration on the day will be just the two of us this year starting a new tradition.

I know that everyone can’t get to see their families at this blessed time of year. Distance, work, sickness, financial worries–all put up impediments to getting together. I hope you’ll consider making a family experience with the friends who are near or volunteer to help someone who is alone and share the love you have. Embrace the joy of the season and let it shine from your heart!

As Tiny Tim would say, “God bless us every one!” Merry Christmas to you! May the New Year bring you peace and happiness.

Made with Love

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When I shared the above picture of the scarves I wove to take to my family reunion in May, a friend suggested I should take them to Kentuck – an annual artisans’ fair each October held here – except for last year but they’re back on track now. She’s not the first person to tell me I could sell my handmade creations – whether it’s woven scarves, lacy baby blankets, cardigans and sweaters made from yarn I spun, shawls, lapghans, warm woolen socks, or dishcloths.

I keep busy creating beautiful things just for the people I love. There is something extremely satisfying about spinning yarn for a cardigan in the perfect shade of green to match my friend’s eyes or creating purple yarn my sister would love a sweater made from or crocheting a baby’s layette for a friend’s first grandchild. Half the joy of the creative process is knowing specifically who you are making something special for. The double bonus is that while I’m in full blown creation mode it stimulates characters and plot lines and dialogue that I’ll soon put to paper.

I have made things for people I’ve never met. Soft caps for preemie babies. Larger caps for chemo patients or the homeless. Pocket shawls and lapghans for shut ins. But I passed love into every stitch knowing it would be felt by the people who received those soft, comforting donations.

Somehow, I don’t think I would feel the same about rushing to produce things to be sold at a fair or a craft marketplace to people I don’t know. Of course, time is a factor too. I’ve been blessed with a large extended family – blood and in-laws – and many cherished friends. They keep my spinning wheel whirring, my loom beating, my knitting needles clicking and my crochet hooks in perpetual motion. And ideas flowing into pages of novels I hope to one day publish.

For now, I’ll continue to focus on things I make with love. Wishing you a day filled with love that wraps you in happiness. Enjoy!

P.S. if you haven’t received your wearable love from me yet, don’t dismay. I’m sure you’re on the list to receive something when you least expect it!