Tuesday, September 6, 2016

As Autumn approaches

Hello to all -

It has been a while - I know.  I have missed posting however life was calling me in other ways to face new challenges.   I have managed and came up well on the other side of an added health challenge to MS - I am blessed to be stable and in rhythm again so I can live freely, prayerfully and peaceably.

Our loife hwere in Western NY is beautiful.  The mountains and our surroundings bring me joy. bring us joy

 our gnome village/garden
 ouyr wishing well and all decorations out front
the Allegheny mountains - glorious



We continue to make this home, here on Mount Hope (as we named it) I still miss our familiar life back in Connecticut - and at times I still feel like I am on vacation and will go back "home" soon.  Happily, those thoughts are farther and fewer between.

We just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary on August 29th along with BOTH of our birthdays.  My sister came to celebrate with us and we had a lovely weekend celebrating.

Having  birthday/anniversary dinner at "Patria - a great Italian restaurant at the Seneca casino.

And so Fall is approaching - I love the cooler temps and the colors and hues of the world here - I am excited for the Holidays and our first Thanksgiving and Christmas here.  Bittersweet too as we make new traditions while remembering what was for many years. One new and wonderful tradition already time honmored since we arrived here is this:  Befdore we leave our bedroom in the morni g to start our day we sit n the edge of the bed together - I nestle onto his chest while he holds me close and our hands entwine - we speak words of love and promise -  

Surrender is a gift. This move has and continues to bring me from acceptance to surrender as I have done often in my life.  Below is a copy of an earlier post about the journey from acceptance to surrender - I felt it fitting......


"The Journey From Acceptance To Surrender".




The journey from acceptance to surrender. It can be long or short, depending on what it is one is dealing with. Winning the lotto? Pretty quick journey! Being betrayed by someone you love? A diagnosis of a life-changing illness?? etc..... These are a longer and more difficult journey. Agreed?

For the sake of this writing let's all agree that acceptance happens in our heads. It is a conflict of thoughts; bargaining, arguing, angering, resisting, denying, fighting, wishing, praying, begging, raging - getting the picture? It is pure chaos!

So what of surrender then? It happens deep inside. It is a total experience and captures our essence and core. It is: a relief, peaceful, hopeful, freeing, pure, cleansing, and has a new direction. New direction? Yes. A new direction.

 So okay, you stop running, you face "IT", whatever it s
And so the challenge for all of us is to honor our truths for what they are and then add another meaning to them to bring purpose and light to our truths, our "It's" never possible had these IT's not occurred.

As I begin my exploration of freedom I am reminded that my truth is the foundation upon which my freedom must be realized - otherwise I will be fighting my own reality and spin until I fall. Not happening. I am beginning to 'test' the waters some - to see what I can successfully do with M S. For example - I know I will not be in a dance competition but I sure can dance. - If only for a few minutes I CAN DANCE!! I can drive, not at night or on the highway but I can get around during the day to do errands or visit my Mom or a friend. I can walk- I need support with a friendly arm or my cane or myrollator - but I can walk - not all that far but I can walk. Thank God I can walk. Freedom has some new meanings for me folks - I am not the same nor is my life before this diagnosis. That is simply the truth. That's not to say that within these changes I cannot be free - and it is that new meaning of freedom I am defining. Yes, Yes I am!! :-)
Love Gail,  peace......