Sunday, November 28, 2010
Giving Thanks
The day I have been dreading for months came and went. Thanksgiving.
It's not that I don't have a heart of gratitiude for all I have been given.
It's just THIS YEAR is so very hard.
There is always this pressure during the holidays to be happy, to have wonderful experiences with family and for some sort of perfection. I have always struggled a bit with that.
Last year at this time is when Nick really started taking a turn for the worse. At the time I was in some sort of fog bubble. Too close to the forest to see the big tree falling. This year as it draws near the one year marker, I find myself reliving it all more vivdly than before. Dreams are relentless and sleep doesn't come easy. December 16th looms. It's the next hurdle.
But this holiday we did much, much better than I ever thought we would. I ruined a perfectly good turkey-AGAIN! "What is with you Kimberley- it's easy?!" But we laughed a lot, saw a movie and had a wonderful visit with best friends Linda and Tom Mack.
Matthew and I were talking about how we learned through this last 18 months that what you fear you can't endure-God gives you strength to rise above, face head on and even find the ability to feel joy.
We spoke of gratitiude for our family- especially the East Coast O'Connell clan. Our good faithful friends and a warm home home in a beautiful setting.
We're grateful that Adele was able to recover from surgery enough to enjoy the day. Beautiful Jenny came home from Ghana with a nasty infection in her leg, but grateful that she is recovering and has a great support group in San Francisco.
Christian is grateful for the love in his life-Hannah. Lucas is grateful for the promise of a new basketabll season and Matthew may be offered a new opportunity with his employer.
I of course am grateful for my boys who continue to enrich my life with pride and joy and inspiration.
We're all starting a new chapter in our lives, gaining independance and the confidence that we have the strength to carry out the dreams that Nick had for us.
God bless you dear friend-thanks for caring and as always thanks for loving us.
XOXO,
Kimberley
It's not that I don't have a heart of gratitiude for all I have been given.
It's just THIS YEAR is so very hard.
There is always this pressure during the holidays to be happy, to have wonderful experiences with family and for some sort of perfection. I have always struggled a bit with that.
Last year at this time is when Nick really started taking a turn for the worse. At the time I was in some sort of fog bubble. Too close to the forest to see the big tree falling. This year as it draws near the one year marker, I find myself reliving it all more vivdly than before. Dreams are relentless and sleep doesn't come easy. December 16th looms. It's the next hurdle.
But this holiday we did much, much better than I ever thought we would. I ruined a perfectly good turkey-AGAIN! "What is with you Kimberley- it's easy?!" But we laughed a lot, saw a movie and had a wonderful visit with best friends Linda and Tom Mack.
Matthew and I were talking about how we learned through this last 18 months that what you fear you can't endure-God gives you strength to rise above, face head on and even find the ability to feel joy.
We spoke of gratitiude for our family- especially the East Coast O'Connell clan. Our good faithful friends and a warm home home in a beautiful setting.
We're grateful that Adele was able to recover from surgery enough to enjoy the day. Beautiful Jenny came home from Ghana with a nasty infection in her leg, but grateful that she is recovering and has a great support group in San Francisco.
Christian is grateful for the love in his life-Hannah. Lucas is grateful for the promise of a new basketabll season and Matthew may be offered a new opportunity with his employer.
I of course am grateful for my boys who continue to enrich my life with pride and joy and inspiration.
We're all starting a new chapter in our lives, gaining independance and the confidence that we have the strength to carry out the dreams that Nick had for us.
God bless you dear friend-thanks for caring and as always thanks for loving us.
XOXO,
Kimberley
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Crown Point at Sunrise- Corbett, Oregon
Had to share this photo a friend took. I feel so lucky to live in such a beautiful place!
The Gorge-- from The Women's Forum- Corbett, OR
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