The Flowers In My Life's Garden

The flowers in my life's garden are my family and friends.

I know I speak of them often. But I continue to learn new lessons in Life and I pass them on as a token of my love and appreciation to the people that bless my days. Not just any old Monday when come home tired and want to blah, blah, blah on the phone. Not a month from now when we're still saying "we need to set a date to get together". 

But at a time when I'm struck down after a surgery and truly need help. 

In March I had both knees replaced and I have to admit - I'm an impatient patient! 

I was house bound, stuck in bed for hours on end and four walls did not suit me well. Pain medication had the side effect of making me cry at the change of a tv channel and I did not like it. My son Todd would talk to me with humor and patience and I will be forever grateful for those calls. My cousin Linda came to visit and as my sister of the heart, just said and gabbed with me about summer coming and the beach. Our favorite time together.

Friends called, send cards, texted, emailed. Neighbors stopped in. My sweet son Matt and his wife Connie sent me the most beautiful scarf from Thailand. My Mom called every day and gave me pep talks about the patience of healing. I prayed alone, I prayed holding the hands of some very good friends. 

Not one of my friends hesitated when it came to offering a ride to the doctor's. Yogurt arrived, fruit appeared in the refrig., flowers bloomed all over!

Finally, I'll get to the point....

What I learned in this time of healing, when I had to depend on others so very much, was true friendship. Selfless friendship. The kind that will always make me endeavor to be a better person in a deeper more meaningful way to others. Because it wasn't about what was easy for them, it was what they could do for me. 

They laid in bed with me and watched tv because I couldn't get up and down the stairs. They flipped through magazines or read next to me to take up a lonely hour of my day. One even helped me off the darn toilet when my two legs wouldn't seem to cooperate at the same time!  My kids brought Easter dinner to the house, cleaned up and left a huge feeling of  "I love you Mom" behind.

And this is just a drop in the bucket as to how blessed I feel about the beautiful people in 

my Life's garden of 

friendship!   Mom* Jennifer

Busy As a Bee....Some Angels For You!

I'm doing swimmingly well..

My knee surgery went extremely well! So while I'm on leave recovering, I wanted to have a day to work on card orders, sit and organize, wrap, organize more....not easy when you're not easy when you're supposed to Take It Easy! But as I rested it took not of angels on line and wanted to share some of the beauty and various styles with you.

 I hope you enjoyed my selection....enjoy the weekend. Jenn

HE will give his angels charge of you

to guard you in all your ways.

On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you dash your foot against a stone.

BIBLE,  Psalms 91: 11-12

Happy Landing...best nest!

i believe i've had a happy landing!

a wooden heart welcomes you - a warm smile follows

glass catches the morning light,

family and friends photos share surfaces,

sayings in frames inspire and tell you of

the meaning of love, spirit, Life, friendship and more

i'm reviving,rejuvenating,making new friends,

sharing my new nest with special friends...

my spirit rests as I nest! 

p.s. my new friend = "Francesca"

Mother, Nana, RN, Holistic Medicine, dancer, traveler...

housemate.

Turn The Page... I Believe In Me and I Believe In You...With God's Help

Turn the page....

I've had something on my mind these past few days as I've heard from family,

the holidays are coming fast and furious,

 my son Matt and his girlfriend have decided to stay another year teaching in Korea.

I am asking God to help me write this post and

not have it sound like I am a victim but as someone
that is reaching out to others to inspire.

I grew up in a physically abusive home and married
very young. It seemed safer. Who was I? Who was he?
Who were we? Stayed in a marriage of infidelity for 23 years.

My sons survived and grew. I stretched and bloomed.

Women are strong don't you think?

That's why they don't have menstrual cramps or give birth!

I come from a long line of strong women.

I remarried. Now that I look back -

I have this huge urge to bring men out of their shells.

I've learned a few things. In fact I've learned a lot of things.

Eight years of abuse taught me a lot.

 I'm a strong woman. 

I'm not a quitter.

I watched everything I loved be destroyed before my eyes.

I was disappearing.

I confided in the Lord, I begged Him to show me what was right.

I constantly read my bible. I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep.

But I am a strong woman. Joy filled in my heart and soul.

God Loves Me.

I left with 3 days of clothes in an over night bag.

I am healing now. Giving myself the ok to be me.
 Letting God love me. Reaching out to help others.
Volunteering.
Talking to the young teens in the high school
health room I work in and trying to line up speakers
 to talk about relationships, abuse, self-esteem.

Turn the page...if you need someone to care,
to hear you - please know you can be safe.
People care. There are resources.
God loves you.
Jennifer   * leave a comment and I will gladly reach out to you

SAFETY ALERT: If you are in danger, please call 911, your local hotline, or (in the U.S.) the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or



TTY 1-800-787-3224. Please review these safety tips.

Friday's Fingerprints...a Little Pillow Talk about Life lessons

Well friends, it's Friday and I wanted to talk about two things...you know me - gleeful and grateful.

Psalm 145:9, "The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works."

I've been thinking about restfulness. I've been stressed in the last few months while trying to pull joy and appreciation from my world and God's gifts. Have you ever questioned why when your life is filled with so many loving people,you're learning, listening, growing, feeling, breathing - there is chaos? That's been my question. 

My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. (Exodus 33:14)

I read, meditate, pray, listen, talk and yet I still feel bombarded by

my personnal struggle to make a decision in my life I have been pushing away.

 I attend a Healing Circle where we gather and rest, revive, renew, breathe.

 It's enabled me to stop the negativity of my thoughts and give the ok to just BE.
Well, I consider it, am thoughtful about it, believe it is powerful.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

                                                                                                               Psalm 19:13-14

At last nights women's gathering I listened. I heard other's stories. Sometimes it's so healthy to hear someone else speak of a pain, growth, a Life lesson, concerns.
It was for me.

I could no longer hide my fears and not live. I saw I was holding myself back.

John 10:10, "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

I am pushing forward without regret. I remember a story about a child that was given a luscious cupcake at a party. She held it so tight and as she was offered other wonderful desserts she was so afraid to let go of her treasure she passed up many delights. When she finally decided to enjoy her treat - in the fierceness to hold on .... it was crushed and inedible. I love trying new things. Escargot, green nail polish, speaking Italian....

 



i loved cuddling with my kids

watching them play

smelled the flowers

listened

laughed

and learned

Now it's time for me to end the cycle of abuse and not be afraid.

To take a step outside the box and trust in what I know.
I know I am a survivor. I'm a loving woman. Intelligent.

thank you Miri for showing me a glimmer of light and what it can be for me, Jennifer

here's to new faces

quiet places

and sleeping in my own bed    jenn
p.s. I can be fruggle if it means independence

Friendship's Healing Circle....Blessing Be Blessing Me

friend, dear friend
My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry;
to get my work done
and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.
~ Maya Angelou ~


The idea is to write it so that people hear it
and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.
~ Maya Angelou ~

I cried a tear: you wiped it dry.

I was confused: you cleared my mind.

I sold my soul: you bought it back for me.

And held me up and gave me dignity,

Somehow you needed me.

                                           You gave me strength to stand alone again,

To face the world out on my own again.

You put me high upon a pedestal,

So high that I could almost see eternity,

You needed me.

You needed me.

And I can't believe it's you, I can't believe it's true:

I needed you and you were there.

And I'll never leave: Why should I leave? I'd be a fool.

'Cause I've finally found someone who really cares.

You held my hand when it was cold.

When I was lost, you took me home.

You gave me hope when I was at the end.

And turned my lies back into truth again:

You even called me friend.

You gave me strength to stand alone again,

To face the world out on my own again.

You put me high upon a pedestal,

So high that I could almost see eternity,

You needed me.

You needed me.

You needed me.

You needed me.

For all my sisters, mothers, daughters and friends that are fighting the fight - Cancer.  I heard this song the other day and it brought me back to several years ago. My friend Jackie's husband Dennis was diagnosed at the age of 27, with a malignant brain tumor. They had just returned from their honeymoon. I asked her how I could help. She said "just be there when I call". We held his hand for three days and somehow this song and album soothed him. The words have stayed in my heart and my mind and when I hear it I always think of "friendship" and it's strong bond, comfort. The day I drove home I told my husband fiercly that I "never wanted to lose another friend to Cancer again". As if I had a choice.

Jackie moved to Florida, married again and has two sweet daughters. I have been with other friends fighting the fight - some have won, so far I have won.

To be there, to be a friend, to have a friend - blessing be, blessing me.

Where there is great love,
there are always great miracles.
~ Mother Teresa ~

Sailing off towards the weekend... God's Fingerprint's

so I'm sailing off towards the weekend with a lot on my mind...

thoughts of all the new people I've met this week while blogging

how thankfully I come home to new flowers blooming in my gardens every day

how exhausted I am working  full time job (my co-worker is out on sick leave for the rest of the school year)
&  a part-time job
and the usual home and hearth keeping

lucky to be employed I know!

that I wish Autumn would behave and not be ... well AUTUMN

I really really love her...honest!

I have 1 more MRI to clear to 
 mark 1 year 
from my Kidney Cancer surgery 5/09

My step-mom -"MOM' had heart surgery yesterday - is in Florida - I'm in Maryland and I hope you'll help me by keeping her in your prayers.

God's fingerprints on my life?

Why that's HE knows all about my worries

and joys and sees me through

and that I have friends like you to share it with!

Jennifer

Have a lovely weekend whatever you do and thank you.

1:10 your sweet comments helped me so  - another busy day

- girl fight at 7:20 this am - lots of sports injuries - the Main Office Secretary Patti just brought me in a box of flowers - I never get flowers!!! From my student aide Nick - a "thank you" from his family - he's had very serious health problems his 4 years of high school and this is his BIG year. What's in the box... happy, cheery, sun flowers. GOD...you enter my heart every day ....thank you for my friends.