Monday, May 12, 2014

HOPE IN THE FACE OF LOSS and AN EXPLANATION

AN EXPLANATION:
You know how the gremlins get loose and screw everything up.   Well, I was cleaning up some of my drafts by deleting them.   While I was doing it, my mouse jumped to a different page and I inadvertently deleted three of last week's posts.   Good...huh?   Kind of made me wonder about my blog changes.

Well, after trying everything to retrieve them, unsuccessfully, I almost gave up when I remembered my blog was in Feedly.   And guess what, all three posts were there.   So, I copied them into blogger.   But then I had to reconstruct each post which took a while but at least I had the original to work from...thus, you will see four blogs posted today.    I included in the titles the original day posted so you don't have to reread them.   Lesson learned.   Be careful when you delete and be thankful when you find a way to retrieve them!!!

So how was Mother's Day?   Should I tell you what we had...better yet, I'll show you...


Right you are...SNOW.   See the white stuff above the fence in the lower picture?   That's snow.   No mountains!

Darkness covers
The eyes of my mind.
Despair steals
The joy from my life,
Until I turn
And look to see.
That life's joy is not lost, not even for me.

There are many losses in our lives. Losing a job from downsizing or even retiring. Losing friendships due to moving. Children growing up and moving on with their lives. Perhaps a loved one is gone, or a pet. Despair and darkness can easily overtake one. It would be wrong for someone to forget that loss instead of grieving over it. But, even in the midst of grief, one can find hope and joy. Maybe not the silly, laugh out loud type – although yes that can happen – but more likely, the deep inside feeling of joy when remembering and rejoicing at what was rather than what isn't anymore.

Responding with hope and joy in the midst of sadness and despair from those losses is not an oxymoron. It is a good way to respond. It says, yes, I have these losses and yes they hurt; but, I still have hope and joy in my life. Isn't it time to turn around and see that life's joys are not lost...even for you?

GOALS FOR THE WEEK
1.  Finish the guest room
2.  Finish organizing the patio area
3.  Finish organizing the trailer
4.  Exercise every weekday
5.  Lose one pound
6.  Organize my bedroom (it got turned up-side-down today)
7.  Post every week day
8.  Zentangle challenge every week day
9.  Finish one swap
10.Work on fences

ZENTANGLE CHALLENGE:  DAY FIVE
I am not only learning new designs but also new ways of creating which include leaving white space!

There's a new Journal Prompt posted.   I think this week I am going to work with paints.   How about you, any ideas?

Thanks for stopping in...
See you tomorrow...