Jigsaw

I was awakened

by the thumping of the door....... 

......and continual ringing of the bell

I opened a bleary eye

and looked at the clock......2.55!

"Who do you suppose that is?" asked Hubbie.

We got out of bed and looked out 

of the upstairs window....

what looked like a young man...

stood below.

I opened the window and asked what he wanted...

directions to a nearby village!

After several questions and answers

we gathered that he had been thrown out of his home

and was walking to stay with a friend.

According to him

he had already walked 10 miles 

along a very busy and narrow (on times) road

.......and was lost

He sounded very young

and I felt sorry for him so I gave him directions

and, after he left, phoned the police

who asked me lots of questions about him

and said we had done the right thing!

Later, another police officer phoned to say 

they had found the young man.

They also said 

that he had been posted as missing 

and they had been looking for him for a few hours!

It made me think...

it was like we were one of the final pieces 

in the jigsaw!

Have you ever felt like that?

Where, without your knowledge,

different things were happening and

you have said...or done...something that has helped

to pull the whole picture together!

I know that I have felt prompted 

to send a card.....

or phone...

and afterwards was told 

that it had helped change the way that person felt....

or confirmed their course of action

Somehow it feels good...

to know that you do have a place and a purpose

in the jigsaw that we call

LIFE!

Overcoming!!

A beautiful Sunday afternoon.....

blue skies.... birds singing...and sun shining!

We decided to head to the beach....

and get some sea air...

It seemed like a lot of other people

had been thinking the same!

The car parks were so full

that it was difficult to find a space...

People were walking....

wind surfing...

even with the tankers in the distance it looked idyllic!!

I love the reflection on this photo!

The wind seemed to be coming 

in a different direction from the tide

and I could see some surfers

having a job to control their sails....

Whilst others 

were using the wind and waves 

to their advantage

It made me think...

last week I saw the Respiratory Consultant....

My name was, now,

at the top of the list for the final back surgery....

I was told to ask the consultant, when I saw her,

 for permission 

to have  the surgery and she said, "No", 

 that it could be dangerous.... 

with the state of my chest... 

after the virus that caused me to be in hospital 

over Christmas

I spent several days

in despondency.....seeing my vision of myself... 

(able to spend the summer as I used to...

walking...gardening...generally out 

and enjoying myself...)

crumbling to dust and ashes at my feet!!

I asked one of the surfers,

as he was packing to go home,

whether the direction of the wind against the waves had spoilt his planned day of surfing.

He said 'No' that it was exciting and a challenge

trying to accept the conditions as they were and use them to make the experience even better!!

It made me think...

how can I accept this new set back 

and look at things differently

 so that I can make the most of this time and place.. 

In other words...

instead of getting depressed over something that is out of my control

I need to accept it and move on....

life is too short to spend it sitting around complaining

Somebody wise once wrote...

"God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change

the courage to change the things that I can

and the wisdom to know the difference"

I know that these words are used all over the place, including AA meetings, but I can use it as well!!

and so can you!!

If life seems to be falling apart around you

and things.....

 out of your control... 

are causing disappointment and hurt...

perhaps this might help you as it is helping  me....

Perception

Sitting at breakfast 

a couple of days ago...

I noticed how red the kitchen blinds were.

When I drew them back the colour was incredible!

The sky looked to be on fire

and the skeletons of the winter trees

Looked like some alien triffids...

feeding and cavorting in it!

The spectacle only lasted a few moments

before the sky started to change

and it was hard to believe what had been before!

It made me think 

of the way that we perceive things..

When I used to be counselling

it was very important not to make judgements

about the people who came to see me.

It would have been so easy

to immediately make a mental category for them 

as soon as they walked through 

the door.

Yet, sometimes, just a momentary

expression or part of their body language would

tell a different story

I also wondered how people perceive me!

I think I project a certain image

but others watch and see

a different me..

How often, I wonder, are we told

what people really see in us?

I am writing this as I ponder on

the impression that we make on others....

This morning three dear friends came for a visit...

it was good to see them

and I looked forward to catching up with them.

These last few years

I have felt out of things...

and sometimes..

that people visit as a chore....

This morning I was firmly told how much I was valued

and how I might think that...... 

they came just for coffee 

and because they felt they had to.

They said that was not so..

and they visited because they valued my judgement

and a safe place to air their concerns...

and gave chapter and verse of when I had helped

They said so much more...

and I marvel that they see in me

so many ways that I would like to be

but hadn't realised were there for others to see.

I'm not making much sense here, I'm afraid, as I try to explain but I felt I needed to write it down.

I wonder how you think people see you?

Do you realise how important you are to so many...

and how much you are valued?

I bet you don't and would try to shrug it off

whilst secretly wishing it were so!

I want to tell you that it is so.....

I'm trying to let you know that others see in you

things you only hoped and dreamed to be.

So hold up your heads today and know that.... 

you are special and valued 

just as you are! 

Just wanted to show you the two ripple blankets

that I have just finishes.

The pink is a cot blanket for a friend's granddaughter.

This one I started last week.

Thank you all for your help and encouragement

over my crochet learning curve!

And finally....

I sent my mother 

two of the crochet hearts I had made....

and she saw my Valentine's tree on the last post...

so...

being my mother...

and not to be outdone....

she went straight into the garden ...

got her own twig...

and sent me a picture of her tree!

I'm sorry about the quality of the photo

but I couldn't download it from the iPad and so

had to take a photo of it.

Worth it...I'm sure you'll agree?

For those who are fairly new to my blog and haven't met my Mother....

she did a guest post last August

Fadedgingernut Visits 

Valentine Tree

This year I decided that I would have

a Valentine Tree!!

I was in hospital over Christmas so all my plans

of having special decorations

and a Christmas Tree

all went away

I was feeling rather blue until I suddenly thought....

"Why not have a Valentine Tree?"

I found a lovely pattern for

'Teeny Tiny Hearts'

at Attic 24

and I was off.....

I so enjoyed doing them

I think that, perhaps next year,

I'll do them in other colours as well!!

Life goes on much as always here.

Last week

I did actually drive a short journey 

for the first time.... 

in several months.

It felt really strange ....... but good

as if I have a little more control over my life and don't always have to rely on others

(though, I hasten to add that they have all been wonderful)!!

My life is very narrow 

compared to the way it used to be.....

but I am determined 

that I will do more again this year.

My friends were wonderful last year

and came on very shortened walks with me so that I could enjoy our wonderful coast paths

once again.....!

I hope that 

they will agree 

to do the same this year!!

I also hope to be able to drive greater distances

and take my mother for a holiday.

It's always such fun going with her 

as we have the same sense of humour

and each enjoys pointing things that catch our eyes!

As we are now well into the new year....

and I'm feeling a lot better

I intend to make a list 

of those things I'd like to do.

I did that last year and learnt to crochet

I also....

started to blog and so have met all of you

my wonderful friends!

I have spent the last 5 years in and out of hospital

and have become able to do less

and less

I have realised that

Life is not a dress rehearsal!!

This is all we get!!!

So I am going to take the little I can do 

and do as much as I can with it!!

I don't want to look back with regrets

as I now regret the things

that I could have done when I was fit.......

.....but didn't!!

What about you??......

Can I challenge you?

What would you like to do this year??.....