Your power within!

I never did like the movie the Wizard of Oz, probably because I have never liked storms!
And I know I have used this quote before but it was something that I certainly needed to remember
this today.

This morning I started working on my Christmas decorations but felt so overwhelmed... that I didn't get very far. Then Amy and Audrey came by for a couple of hours, that definitely brightend my day. Need to keep trying to perspective right now that is for sure. Still working on what I need to do to get everything in balance. I will!

Good Night dear friends!

Choices!

It has been awhile since I have really written from my heart, why? Well, to be completely honest with you...I am struggling. I had always heard about when women went through Menapause and how tough it could be. I remember well, how hard it was on my own Mom. I was determined to live a different life from my Mom, so that my results would be different. I can almost feel my Mom on the other side...smiling right now :)

. Hormones are Hormones, Life is Life and Stages in life are normal, even if we don't really want them. 

I finally got some natural things to get my sleep back, which was a big blessing. Not sleeping for weeks at a time made me a pretty unhappy camper.

Now for the hormone roller coaster, well... I am on it! Poor Jeff, he just looks at me crying and being so sad, and he doesn't quite no what to do with me. He keeps asking me what he can do... and I only wish I knew. He has been so kind and so patient, I really shouldn't complain at all. 

I remember right after being diagnosed with cancer for the 1st time, the oncologist explaing to be the side effects of some of the medicine he thought I should start taking! There were so many of them, I asked him "well, then what do you do for the big side effect of "Depression that you mentioned?" His response was " well, we can give you another medicine for that!"

I know this is all part of the menapause but I have to admit, it has been really scary at times. I am usually a very, very happy and positive person. To feel so down is not a fun place to be.

I know for a big part of my life I have done things more Natural and still I think that is what I would always choose first. So I am on a quest right now...trying to get my hormone balanced, my emotions in check and get some hope and energy back into my life.  I know millions of women have gone through this and LIVED! I just want to be one of them!!!
 To watch my body change ( and not for the better ), and to have my emotions on my sleeve all the time... has been a bigger challenge for me than I ever imagined.
That is one of the reason I haven't been writing, didn't feel like I had much to motivate you about!  This is suppose to be a motivational blog right ?

 I am so sorry I have been absent for awhile. Thank you for your patience and understanding. I want there to be something to learn from in this blog, not just a place to complain!
Lots of changing coming to my body, my mind and my work right now so... I am just going to try and take it one day at a time.
Thank you for your friendship and for your kind words. Even if my life is a bit crazy right now, I could never deny how Blessed I am!
Good Night dear friends!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh how I love this photo...maybe it is because of the cute patient face of the little boy or grandson! He looks like he can't wait for Grandma, Aunt or some dear to him, to finish this perfect pie and get it in the oven soon! :)

Here is another cute face, that is excited for her and Nana's pie to get finished. She liked the mixing the best. She would stir then eat some of it, and then stir again! Hope she doesn't have any germs...or at least that the heat of the oven kills the germs ( if there is any ).

My favorite part is to watch her smell the spices and then have her say "Umm...it smells like Christmas!"
My heart is missing my other kids and grandkids. Would love to have them here cooking and sharing with us!

Yet, I realize how blessed I am...there are many, many people out there are lonely or suffeing. Maybe their loved ones have passed away, or live too far away. Or they have suffered a divorice and or illness.
I rememeber well 7 years ago after my mastectomy, it was Thanksgiving. Lee and Lauren were home but we weren't making a Thankgiving Dinner because I was hurting so much from my surgery. Our dear friends brought us dinner from a company. It was so sweet of them to think of us and yet, I was so sad still from my surgery and the fact that everything had changed...and all. I could do was cry when they left! I still was so worried about the future... or if there was going to be a future!
So my heart goes out to all those who may be hurt, lonely, sick or sad this Thanksgiving holiday!



May we all take a moment to stop and say a prayer for all those who's hearts are hurting!
Good Night and Happy Thanksgiving dear friends!

Seven Day challenge!

Loved this article today, it was such a great reminder that God is keenly aware of us! I talked to a dear friend the other day...who was wondering if God really does know us personally and love us! I tried to share my belief with her, that God does live, He knows us and loves us more than we can ever imagine! 
Here is the article! 
Enjoy and good night dear friends!

Did you see God today?

FaceboOne evening, feeling a little worried and overwhelmed, I lay in bed and wondered what was wrong. What was I missing? Not seeing? Not doing?

I asked the midnight darkness above my head: why hadn’t my morning prayers been answered?

Hadn’t I been sincere? Grateful? Faithful?

Discouraged, I did what any child with questions would do.

I asked, “Why?”

“Father, where were you today? What about then? And there? And in that trying moment when I lost my temper? Lost my keys? Lost my words?”

Feeling energized, and because I’m a writer who loves lists, I grabbed a journal and a pen. I would simply itemize the moments I’d hoped for help and hadn’t gotten any.

Think of it as my journal of personal calls to Celestial 911 that no one answered.

Then it hit me. It felt like the blended force of my mother’s wooden spoon and the love of her warm forgiveness and handmade blankets.

I was making the wrong list.

Rather than lamenting the occasions I expected help and the spiritual EMTs didn’t show, I needed to consider if anything had gone right.

So the experiment began. Could I find at least three things?

That morning, I’d given a ride to a stranger walking in front of my office. The man was returning from a court appearance after losing his license, his wife, his pride and his hope. He had a 15-mile walk ahead of him and didn’t ask for money, food or a pep-talk. He just needed someone to listen.

I saw God in serving a brother.

A few hours later, a car ran a stop sign as I rode shotgun after school with my 16-year-old daughter at the wheel. Instead of a disaster, the experience ended with a few teenage tears and a priceless lesson about always checking twice.

I saw God in potentially sparing our lives.

During dinner, my phone buzzed with a text from a church friend. She wanted me to know she’d reread an article I’d written years ago that impacted her profoundly. It brought her peace after losing her best friend.

I saw God reminding sometimes my work makes a spiritual difference.

All three experiences made me feel grateful, loved and spiritually seen. Don’t those feelings come from divinity? Maybe God hadn’t answered my mortal wish list, but He’d put His hand exactly where He’d needed to.

Yes, I’d seen God today.

As the experiment continued, I discovered that if I truly believe God knows me, if as the Bible teaches he really numbers the hair on our heads, I must accept that He lives in the details of today. Clearly, someone with eternal and perfect vision knows what I need and when I need it.

Gradually, I became more enlightened to how blessed I am each day. I began to feel how aware God is and how concerned He is about things I couldn’t have envisioned.

This list, these intersections with God and His goodness were the moments I recognized that His hand was in my life. I was seeing it.

Do bad things happen to good people? Of course.

Does that mean God doesn’t love those who feel pain? Of course not.

If Christ felt pain, despite all the good He did, why shouldn’t we? Adversity is part of the refining process that prepares us to live with God again.

What does this mean for you?

If you’re feeling invisible, make a list of at least three times you saw God today.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with life, make that list.

If you’re feeling heartbroken, make that list.

If you’re feeling lucky, blessed or fulfilled, make that list.

Try it. Take the challenge for seven days.

You just might see God appearing in your life more often than you realize. Because like any active and loving parent, He is keenly aware of you at every moment of every day.

In fact, He’s perfectly so.

I know God is there. And whether you believe in Him or not, He believes in you.

I found the article HERE:

7 years ago today!

Seven years ago today I was in Evergreen Hospital having a Single Mastectomy, after being diagnosed with Breast Cancer for the 2nd time. I thought it wouldn't be a big deal but ....oh was I ever wrong! I don't remember much after coming out of surgery. I do remember my sweet friend Joan stayed the night with me at the hospital! That is a lot for someone to do for a friend, because no one sleeps when you stay the night at the hospital.
I remember well the next day when they came to pick me up and take me home...I finally saw for the first time just up by my collar bone, the dark and sunken spot when my breast muscles used to be. What I was most upset about was... that no one told me that they would take tissue that high up! I couldn't figure out why they don't explain that to us that before. It was quite devastating and I couldn't figure out I was going to hide that.
I have always struggled with how I look...and this surgery made that a whole lot harder! I remember hiding for the first few weeks, I didn't want anyone to see me. I wasn't sure how I was going to go on with life. I still had to look at my surgery site, my sister in law Shirley had me do that before she left to go home. She wanted to be there with me and oh how grateful I was for that!
I don't know how you ever get prepared for something big like that? I thought I was... but I wasn't!
I still didn't know what my future consisted of either? I had yet to make decisions on my treatment, that in and of itself was scary.
Now here I am 7 years later and soooooo blessed to be in a different place, a better palce, a happy place. I have 4 more grandchildren, a new daughter in law and a new son in law. Yes, I have much to be grateful for these past 7 years and have learned so much more about life.
I am just grateful for the smallest things and try to enjoy every minute of my life!
But I couldn't have done it without the help of my Savior, who truly understood every thing that I went through. And of course the help and love of an incredible ever amazing companion, Jeff has made me feel beautiful all the way through, how could I ever repay him for that? My kids and my grandkids have been there for me the whole way too! And sooo many of you have been an incredible support to me and my family, thank you so much for that!

Gratitude

Gratitude is what today needs to be all about! Thank you to my dear brother and many, many more!
Good Night dear friends!

What is a veteran?  A “veteran” – whether active duty, discharged, retired or reserve – is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to “United States of America,” for an amount of “up to, and including his/her life.”  That is honor.  And there are way too many people in the country today, who no longer understand that fact.

Real heroes don’t have a name on the back of their jersey.  They have their country’s flag on the arm of a uniform.  Thank you for our freedom.

There are not enough words big enough. 

There is not a hug strong enough.

There is not a smile wide enough.

All I can offer is thank you.

You are in my thoughts.

You are in my prayers.

For all you’ve done, thank you.

What a great Sabbath!

Today Jeff and I headed out early to Sultan, to see our granddaughters do their Primary Program at church! I love the drive up there,

I love that it is Fall and that we are able to watch them share their testimony with others through talks, and songs!

One of my favorite parts of the program today, was when the children sang this song!

It really made me stop and think!

You can LISTEN TO IT HERE:

Watching Amy use her artitstic ability...even just writing down notes from class!

They did such a great job, tried to get some photos with them after church! Easier said than done! :)

 Look at this sweet face, would you try and take that Apple away from her for family photos? I wouldn't advice it! :)

She is pure MOTION, EMOTIONS and a little bit of sugar and spice and everything NICE! ( some times! )

Of course just a few hours later... here is where I found her! She put herself in Time Out!

When I asked her what was wrong, she said  "Nana, I'm  Mad!" 

After lunch the girls ask if we could Create something together!

We decided to make animals to go in their Altoid boxes.

 Teaching them how we need to draw out patterns first and make sure that they fit in the boxes.
Jenny and Audrey were all apart of it for the first little bit...but after an hour or so... they got bored. But Angie hung in there with me!

These sweet animals turned out pretty cute, a fox, a dragon, a snowman and a pig! Each have their 

own bed, blanket and pillow!  Amy is going to put them in their church bag...hopefully that will keep them quite for at least a minute or two! :)

What a great Sabbath!
Good Night dear friends!

Saying my goodbyes... one day at a time!

Yesterday I taught Day 9 of Christmas as Gathering Fabrics, and started my goodbyes to these sweet ladies who have become some dear friends, and so important to me. I tried to stay focused on just teaching. But every time another friend came to the class, I knew that it was important to make sure to let her and each of them know... just how much they have meant to me throughout the years! So it was a bitter/sweet type of day!
I ( along with my sweet granddaugthers and a dear friend ) made a tissue holder for each lady in my class. I hope the ones that couldn't make it yesterday, will be able to make it for at least 1 of the 3 remaining demo classes that I have left. So I can give each of them a personal thank you from me with my number and email on the back...to make sure we keep connected!

Good night dear friends!

Out of my Comfort Zone!

Today is a day of lots of different emotions! This quote tells it all for me!

I just decided to quit one of my jobs ( that I love ) and give myself more time to work on my new and upcoming business! I am going ...with the help of these amazing people ( my family ) to start an Online Video Class for Sewing/ Quilting classes! Our business name is LynnMade and we will have a website, blog and Facebook page up and running soon. 

I really shouldn't be that scared, but it is something definitely Out of My Comfort Zone! As I read this quote from Helen Keller it made me think. She had such challenges in her life, and had to do many things out of her Comfort Zone ( Hard things ) and yet...look at her amazing challenges and successes in her life. My challenges are so small compared to her and so... I am just going to say that I am going on a Grand Adventure!

I need to remember I will still be doing what I love...TEACHING! I pray that I will continue to have a connection with the amazing ladies that I have met along the way, and personally look forward to meeting more and more new friends!

So I am just going to keep smiling, and remember how very blessed I am... to be where I am in my life at this time.
Seven years ago this very time of the year, I was terrified, because I had just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer for the 2nd time. I was dreading what the future was going to bring, and wondering how long that future was even going to last.
 Now 7 years later, I have 4 more beautiful grandchildren, a new son in law and many, many new and dear friends. I have so much to be grateful for...and to look forward to! I am truly, truly blessed and so that makes my heart feel good! Thank you for all of you, that have been there all along this journey for me, and for your continue support and excitement for me... you are True Friends!
Thank you,Thank you!!!

The Baby Drop Box

Jeff and I watched this documentary on this preacher in Korea, who saves orphaned babies. What an amazing story of someone who is living a Christ-like life! Read it or try to
look it HERE:

Jusarang Community Church is a timeworn building burrowed deep within twisting alleys up a hilly working-class district in Seoul. If not for the pastel rainbows and meadows painted on its walls, the church would blend inconspicuously into the residential neighborhood. Over the last several years, however, the church has become famous—and infamous—as home to Korea’s first “Baby Box.” It’s where desperate women from all over the country come to drop off their newborn babies.

South Korea isn’t the only developed nation with foundlings. The archaic baby box concept has been spreading in other postmodern nations like Germany, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Canada through independent entities, many existing in legal limbo. Even in the United States, babies are still abandoned unsafely, and in extreme cases tossed down chutes, into toilets, out windows. 

Tim Jaccard wept over many such lifeless tiny bodies while working as a paramedic for the Nassau County Police Department in Long Island, N.Y. To give these babies proper burials, he founded the AMT—short for Ambulance Medical Technicians—Children of Hope Foundation in 1998. His mission has since evolved: pushing for state laws allowing parents to give up a newborn child legally and anonymously to state-designated “safe haven” locations such as police stations and hospitals—no questions asked, no legal repercussions. 

Good Night dear friends!