STAY HOME AND MAKE SOMETHING

I remember my Momma saying,

"In my day" and "when I was young"

I am sure I did what most children of today would do hearing

those words..... roll their eyes.

I never thought I would become "one of those"

and yet here I am comparing my childhood with those 

of my children and Grandgirls

Each year I host a party for the grand girls and their friends at the Cottage.

Some things do not change.

I read the Cajun Night Before Christmas

in my best Cajun voice, bingo, and a game to exchange gifts.

What does change every year is the craft we work on.

One year it was painting, another scrapbooking

and last year, being in our 'TSWIFT' era,

we made friendship bracelets.

This year I wanted to bring back something from my childhood.

Something that they have never seen before and with curiosity,

much like when they see a rotary phone, 

will have no clue what it is.

My heart went all the way back to the 70's when 

potholders were made at recreation to be gifted to our homes.

Yes, an old fashioned, loom potholder.

This year, 12 little girls will put away their electronic devices,

sit in the library and learn to make a potholder.

Each will go home with their own kit and share

with their families the stories us "elders" 

will tell them as we teach the skill of making potholders...

and yet again a piece of my generation will be taught to another

in hopes that one day, with their own little children,

they will 

STAY HOME AND MAKE SOMETHING.

A TIME FOR REFLECTION

YESTERDAY I BEGAN PREPARING FOR MY LAST

COFFEE GATHERING OF THE YEAR,

WHICH HAS BEEN LOVING LINKED TO THE CAJUN PHRASE:

"LET'S MAKE THE 'VEY-YAY"

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW THE SLANG,

IT PRETTY MUCH MEANS SIT AROUND 

AND BULLSHIT.

I BEGAN HAVING GATHERINGS AROUND MY DINING TABLE

ABOUT 9 YEARS AGO, RIGHT ABOUT THE TIME

I MOVED INTO THE COTTAGE.

SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD MANY OLD AND NEW FRIENDS.

SOMETHING HAPPENS IN YOUR SOUL 

WHEN PREPARING TO GATHER IN YOUR HOME.

AS I STRAIGHTENED UP, I BEGAN 

TO SEE THE COTTAGE THROUGH VISITORS EYES.

THE OLD PHOTOS ON THE WALL 

THAT HAVE ONLY BECAME FAMILY TO ME

SINCE I PICKED THEM UP ANTIQUE STORES

AND CALLED THEM MINE.

I AM REMINDED OF EVERYTHING IN HERE

THAT HAS BEEN LOVINGLY PLACED IN AN AREA

TO GIVE COMFORT AND PEACE.

CHALK BOARDS THAT ARE WRITTEN ON,

CHINA THAT IS NOT ONLY FOR SHOW BUT TO BE USED.

IT REMINDED ME OF JUST HOW FORTUNATE I AM

TO HAVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL COTTAGE

THAT I HOPE BRINGS WARMTH AND HAPPINESS TO OTHERS

AS IT DOES TO ME AND MY FAMILY.

AS YOU PREPARE ON THE LAST DAYS OF

THIS YEAR OF 2024 LOOK AROUND YOU.

SEE NOT ONLY THE TANGIBLE THINGS THAT SURROUND 

YOU DAILY  BUT THE TALKS, TEXTS, VISITS YOU

HAVE FROM THOSE YOU LOVE.

TELL THEM TODAY....

TELL THEM WHAT THEY MEAN TO YOU.

AS THE BIG BOOK OF AA STATES:

"MAKE AMENDS WHENEVER POSSIBLE UNLESS TO

DO SO WOULD INJURE THEM OR OTHERS"

OH, AND EAT THE CAKE.....

ALWAYS EAT THE CAKE!

ITS THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR...

Yet for so many, it just isn't.

This became so prominent to me a few days ago

at the post office...

yes, the post office.

Its one of those things that I have to do a lot

due to my business, yet I complain about having to go.

I love my post masters, they are kind and helpful 

but its just one of those things that takes minutes

yet I kind of dread it.

Well, I did until last week.

I am waiting to mail a few packages to friends

and clients and in front of me is an elderly lady.

She is needing some help from the cute postmaster so I patiently wait.

She is dressed in mens jeans, a western type shirt,

sporting a cane. Her hair is long and grey 

put up in a bun style. 

I watch her as she moves about after being served

and I can see she is struggling.

It is now my turn to be helped.

I am quick at my task at hand and this 

little lady is still just at the door of the post office,

holding on to a railing slowly making her way.

I ask "Can I help you?"

She looks up at me with the most beautiful blue eyes.

"Oh, would you please?"

I take her arm and we slowly make our way 

to her car, an old Lincoln Continental in disarray.

On our slow trek, I learn its her knees.

They cause her a lot of pain and if it were not

that she had to get these bills in the mail 

she would still be at home.

I learn that she has children who live out of state:

"They want me to move there but I don't want to"

She assures me that once she get into her car

she will be fine.

"Are you sure, do you need me to bring you anywhere?"

She gives me the run down on what she will do.

"No, I am going to the drive thru at McDonald's 

to get lunch and then home, I will be fine."

I help her into her disheveled vehicle and she is 

so thankful for my help.

I watch her drive off slowly in the direction of McD"s

and I feel like I may cry.

I am almost tempted to follow her, see where she lives,

make sure she makes it home safely but I don't.

 She has a way of making me understand

the independence she still has is important to her.

I have thought of her just about every day since that trip.

It is this encounter that has me restarting my blog again.

One day I may be that little woman at the post office.

I pray that someone helps me if I need it but also

sees the independence I still need in my life.

It has made me hypersensitive to all those out there

this holiday season who has lost their spouse, a child,

The holidays are a wonderful time for many.

However there are still those out there that are struggling

and it is up to us to see and help when we can.

Merry Christmas to you all!

the inspirational JEMMA KATE

 MY NEIGHBOR DIED...

The grand girls didn't know him well but

they knew him and they knew he was my friend.

Last night I had the pleasure of having Jemma on a school night.

She had softball practice and her sister had a game.

She had a great practice and as we pulled in to my driveway

I shared that I missed Jeffery's company and music.

As I entered the Cottage I realized she was not right behind me.

I looked out to see her with hands out stretched to Jeffery's house.

She explained, " I was doing Father, Son, Holy Spirit"

which means she was praying for me dear friend.

That is our Jemma Kate...

Yet the story does not finish there,

like her Mumsie, there is always more to a story 

that what you see at first.

We awaken this morning to the most beautiful sunrise.

Jemma asks for my phone so she can take photos

of the beautiful sunrise.

From every angle of the Cottage, my girl took pics 

of the beautiful sunrise.

Then she does the thing that makes her so special to me

She gives credit...

"Mumsie, I think Mr. Jeffery heard my prayer and he sent

that sunrise to tell us he is good, it's beautiful!"

OH YES, my dear, lets go with that...

YOU NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME!

FEARLESS (Lilly's version)

Each year for the past 15 or so, I pick my word for the year. 

The word that will be my focus, something I want to work on.

This year, My word is

FEARLESS

Yes, just like the rest of the World, I am obsessed with not

only the girl we know as Taylor Swift 

but her love life, with Travis Kelce.

Having just started a new relationship at about the same time

as the Swift/Kelce began it has made it more interesting to me.

I go into this year wanting to be fearless.

At 60 years old there should be little I do fear.

I am content and happy, have the best little family,

the best friends, best job as an artist.

Yet I become intimidated by things in my life.

For instance, in my art, I am always becoming intimidated

by something new I want to do.

I have so much commission work doing what I love 

but become fearful when it comes to doing something new

or allowing myself to just be free with my art.

I hesitate wondering if it will be liked by others.

I then tend to stick to what I know people like and will pay for.

This year, I want to change that. I have been inspired to reach

out of my comfort zone and try doing new things.

If I don't like it, it can be just for me.

If I like it and become brave enough to put it out there

for others to see, that would make me fearless.

Another area in my life I have been fearful in the past is dating.

Well, not really dating but the relationship part.

I have often jokingly said,

"I love dating, it's the relationship part I don't like"

and in my 10 years of being single, it has held true.

I have met so many wonderful friends through dating,

some I have lost last year.

However, the long term relationship part always has me afraid.

Afraid to have to change my life, afraid to get hurt,

afraid of putting the work in,

afraid that with age comes sickness....

Lots of fears especially because I am so very content now.

However, I have met someone who I want to date.

I find myself wanting to take it slow but also wanting

to know everything about him.

I want to be fearless with this relationship.

I don't want to overthink or rush anything, just want to enjoy the ride

and know that whatever happens, I will be a better

person for just having known him.

When you are almost 60 and you meet someone who

makes you feel beautiful, showers you with attention 

and appreciates your work, your family, the life you lead,

Well, you can't just let that go.

So this year, I focus on being 

FEARLESS, Lilly's version.

A Christmas Miracle

In my line of work, I am blessed with many 

wonderful events and stories that I am able to hear and bring to clients.

This one is worth sharing in the spirit of Christmas.

Around Thanksgiving my friend, Teri asked if I could paint her

two Cardinals on slate for a friend of hers who had lost two of her three sons

and was having a really hard time.

As usual, I told her I would put it on my list.

However, this order I just could not stop thinking about.

What it would be like for me had I lost both my children in a matter of months.

It stayed with me days and kept me up nights.

Finally I texted Teri and asked a few questions, explained I just had to get it done

as it would not leave my heart.

As she filled me in on this family, these boys Mother,

the sketch came to my mind, two beautiful male cardinals hovering together.

Teri sent photos of the boys and their brother and Momma.

I knew I had made the right decision to get this piece done before Christmas.

We continued to text and I asked if she wanted music or not.

Teri's reply was " Artist choice"

I replied back, " I am sure the boys will lead me".

I then sat on the floor of my studio where I keep thousands 

of music sheets and hymn books.

I picked up the first hymn book and just opened it...

I was in awe, surprised at the hymn that was in my hand!

TAKE THIS MESSAGE TO MOTHER

Yes the boys had led me and I tearfully knew now why 

this piece would not leave me.

Their Momma needed to know they were okay.

 

I finished the piece that same night.

I heard from their Mother via text after she received the gift.

From Cynthia:

"... you do not know what this means to me.

what a beautiful message my sons sent me through you.

I am having a difficult time during the holidays.

When i opened it and read your letter- I cried of course.

Finally a calm came over me and I feel so much better..."

How lucky I am to have found my calling once again

and to be able to bring peace to others in my work.

{Thanks you Teri and Cynthia for allowing me to share this story}

OUR NONC JAY

I have tried to write this at least 4 times

and it never seems to say enough, explain enough.

what our family has lost with saying goodbye to our Nonc Jay.

As was said in his eulogy,

"... whatever you called him,  Calvin, CJ, Dad, Pop, Uncle Jay, Nonc Jay..."

My brother in law was so much to so many.

I was two when he and my sister, Veronica married.

So I have never known a life without our Jay.

When we were young and they would visit us,

Veronica would say, " we bringing my sisters home"

and he never said no. I never remember him ever complaining that

he had all these girls always around him.

He had his own three girls and bunches of little sister in laws.

When I lived with them for a part of my nursing school days,

there were many mornings when I was up early for clinicals.

He would always awaken before me, even when he didn't have to.

The coffee was brewing and he was making breakfast for us.

I would tell him he didn't have to do that but he

always answered, "Nah, I was cooking me some breakfast anyway"

yet I knew he was doing it for me.

Like I have told everyone, he was more of a Dad to us than a BIL.

When my children came to be, he was the best Nonc J.

He has made as many of their sports games as he could,

whether it was biddy basketball or football.

He loved him some football.

I can remember Roddie playing High school ball and 

us all cringing when he started his favorite chants

which got him the cherished name,

"On side kick"

When he and my sister began having grandchildren 

he was able to do all the sports, band events, trips with them.

Adored every minute with them.

Some of the times I will treasure forever were the times I slept there

after my children were grown and gone.

He and I would awaken early and have coffee together.

Talking about this one and that, catching up on life.

Just he and I and so much to talk about.

I think of my sister, his wife, married since they were 18 and 

rarely spent more than a few nights apart.

Her life will be one of adjustment and will be fully

felt when the world goes back to "normal".

Us siblings, her children will be there to see her through it 

but I know things will never be the same for her

never be normal for any of us.

Yet, if you knew our Jay, who was always the one to comfort 

us girls, telling us "It's going to be okay"

you would know that is what he would tell us even now.

It's going to be okay.

When it's our turn to join him where he has gone before us,

he will have made a perfect place for us,

with a big screen TV and nonstop football games to cheer for.

He will not say Welcome home,

but more to the tune of

"One, two, three, kill the referee: Three, two, one kill the other one"

and with his deep hearty laugh will be the sound of

"ON SIDE KICK"