One Year Later

I almost can’t believe it.

An entire 365 day cycle has turned over from the thyroid surgery on Oct 7^th, 2013.  Two days prior to my surgery I wrote in my journal…

“It’s almost overwhelming how many people are praying for me.  I feel like God is telling me that whatever happens in and as a result of Monday (my surgery day) is a part of God’s pre-determined, good plan for me.  May I have the strength and courage and faith to believe that what the difficult times come!

I’ve given post-surgery updates since my surgery in which I thank God and marvel at how He has brought healing into my life.   Now, a year later, I continue to express thankfulness for the energy and balance resulting from the surgery.  There are moments in which I am almost haunted but the memory of how things used to be…almost staggering beneath the weight of the challenge that was my “normal, everyday.”  But what haunts me more are the lessons that the difficult years and the “unknown” of the surgery pressed into my life.  They are like priceless gems that I keep pulling out to look at, watching them sparkle and never tiring of their stunning beauty.  The two that stand out to me are…..

Nothing about this (thing, unknown, person or circumstance) changes anything about God.Anticipate God’s Grace.

Like soul- tattoos, they are forever inked into my being.  And I pray that will always be the case. 

 I never want to stop being haunted by the memory of God’s faithfulness.

 I never want to forget the two-sided coin of God’s sovereign goodness. 

May I always cultivate a heart that recalls and delights in His great love for me.

 May there be many more 365 days in which I can recount God’s….what shall I call it other than shear WONDERFULNESS! 

I have been anxiously awaiting today…the day in which I could post some of my Christmas gift projects.  I have had so much fun creating and preparing these gifts. 

Mom's Gift 

Mom has always loved a particular verse from a hymn by Ana Leticia Waring—“Content to fill a space, if Thou be glorified.”  Yet somehow this year, this stanza has seemed to bring increasing blessing and encouragement.  I wanted to bring this quote to her in a new way; a way that would continue to bless her. For the last two years I had also wanted to make a wooden sign similar to one I saw on a blog once upon a time.  So the time seemed right to marry these two ideas into a Christmas gift.  I really didn’t know what I was doing but I picked up some scrap wood and stain.  I played with different fonts on the computer, printed them out and was crazy enough to make my own stencils (I had never stenciled before and yes, now I know I was a little crazy to do make my own on my first try.  But looking at the result, I think it was completely worth it!).  After hours of cutting stencils, staining, formatting, painting, sealing and screwing, THIS was born (click to enlarge collage)…..

I must say I LOVE how this piece turned out!  I can’t stop looking at the glowing warmth of the wood and the brightness and comfort of the words.  Mom hung it in the guest room and it adds even greater comfort to the room that already inspires a creative and calm.

This quote-sign gift is what ultimately inspired my woodworking endeavors that I have previously posted about.  Through the sign project I realized that I didn’t even know how to drill a pilot hole or screw in a screw!  That’s when I decided to educate myself a little bit on wood and power tools.  After the picture ledge projects these two sleeve boards for my sisters. (Below). 

The Sister's Gift 

 Whenever I tell people that I made sleeve boards for my sisters they ask “sleeve WHAT?”   I guess people either go wrinkly sleeves or don’t feel the need to iron them.  I copied the sleeve board that my dad made from my mom years ago, expect I thought I would add some personalized flare by painting each of them a unique and playful  color.   I love these too! 

Did anyone else make some of their Christmas gifts?  Please share!