(why this pix? no reason other than I love it and it conveys "dropping in" in my book.)
So much has happened in my life in the past few years that I have forgotten what "Normal" is for myself and my family. My mother was diagnosed with end stage Pancreatic Cancer back in Jan. 2013 and she passed away in May that year. In October I had an accident and broke my left ankle (one of those bad breaks that required surgery and metal plates/screws....nasty and life changing) and then my very dear friend Mary Jane started becoming more and more aware that the blood disorder she had was becoming more serious (Myeloid Leukemia) and she has recently passed. If all of that wasn't enough, just before she passed I had to have surgery to remove the metal from my left ankle. Clearly..."normal" has long since been lost and today was the first day that I got out of bed and thought to myself....what would be fun and enjoyable to do this morning.
It didn't take long to find some fun...
These placements arrived in the mail yesterday from Joanne at Splitting Stitches Blog. If you have not had a chance to see the very cool placemats you can click HERE. Joanne had made a huge stack of placemats and took them to the Dartmouth Hospital Children's Rheumatoid Arthritis Camp for the children to color/paint. When you read her post (HERE) you'll easily see how much children enjoy painting their own placemats.
Oldest Co-Worker with a bit-o-tude :)
While we were painting I started thinking about the class I took from Patt Blair at the Empty Spools Seminar last March. Had I had one of these to practice on before I started my Elephant....I may have been a wee bit more relaxed. Live and learn :)
Now that I've shared what getting back to "Normal" is for us....what is "Normal" for you and your clan?
Smiles,
Kelly
Wow you've been on quilt a journey. My cousin had a similar ankle break to you about 6 weeks ago. I'm glad your life is getting back to normal!
ReplyDeletemy husband had a bad ankle break that required screws and such many years ago - then about 5 years ago, he completely tore all his muscles from the top of his knee - ALL of them. Major surgery including drilling HOLES in his knee to run sutures through to reattach the muscles. EWWW. Did I mention no Aflac and he is our sole source of income. Ya, we don't know normal either, LOL. At least the second major surgery he had health insurance. The first one (the ankle) cost us over $10K (would probably have been $30K nowadays)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you had a good day! What is normal? I have no idea :)
ReplyDeleteOh please, don't get me started! I have nothing to complain about, it's just as you say, "So much has happened...". I moved in with my dad October of 2012 to keep him safe, healthy and in his home. I left my own home with my oldest daughter in charge, not knowing how long I would be here. He passed in December last year and I still haven't gone "Home" yet. Now, my youngest daughter and I have decided to take what he had given us and buy property in Washington state. I will be moving home by the end of next month and then in May of next year I will retire and we will go to Washington. I'm scared, it's a big move for me, but I am hoping that it will be just the tonic I need to get me out of my slump that I have fallen into here.
ReplyDeleteLove your place mats - how fun - and those are some talented co-workers you have! Glad you are feeling some normalcy, I know it's really been a rough time for you.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you and the guys had fun painting the placemats. That is one step toward "back to normal"
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to hear that you are finally going to resume YOUR life!!! Normal for me.... ha... what is normal... I live the day to day looking for the next adventure... Normal changes daily.
ReplyDeleteThose placemats look absolutely cool, what a brilliant idea to take to the hospital for children to paint!!!!
What a roller coaster ride you've had. I'm glad that you found something to make you happy again. Life is always full of challenges and they can be overwhelming. I know I've had a few in my life and I've always found that hand sewing relaxes and quiets my mind and in those quiet moments find a few rejuvenating moments of pleasure!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had a good day! It's time for sure. I'm not sure what normal is for me, but I would want it to be a dull day with no phone calls which means I can do what I want....:)
ReplyDelete"Normal?" Is there really such a word in the English language??I'd forgotten that there are really normal things that happen to people. Sometimes I think normal can be described as survival. And then again there is the NEW Norm. Such as after experiencing major changes we adjust to life under the new norm. I think what I have learned about being normal is not to give in to expectations. Because sometimes normal for me is what life deals, and how I learn to adjust. You know, go with the flow :-)
ReplyDeleteMy friend Shirley had the same thing with her ankle, and opted to get all the metal out as soon as possible. You won't regret getting that out! I adore those placemats, coolest idea I've seen in awhile. Looks like your co-workers had a blast! Normal? Normal is me running out the door half-dressed with my hair standing on end, lol...
ReplyDeletethose place mats are so cute. looks like your guys are having a good time.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure there is ever a true normal because life just brings so many ups and downs but we can try to live normally when they come.
What fun placemats.....every once in a while you get a glimpse of joy that makes up for all the bad...my heart goes out to you....
ReplyDeleteOne thing I learned is that there is no normal. Sickness, health, deaths and new life (births)... Grief and Joy goes hand in hand (at least, it did with me). Holidays are no longer the same. Life changes and life always gives you hard knocks. I am learning to just go along with the flow because I cannot control what life gives me. I can only control my own reactions and I am choosing to treat it as "normal". In other words, keep on keeping on.
ReplyDeleteThose placemats are precious! And, oh so cool for kids (to color)!
I am happy that you are starting to see normal that can be hard too find sometimes with such hectic lives. Bless you my dear .
ReplyDelete