Kindness

I found this in a blog I follow. It felt right, right now.
 ( Thanks Glennon)

Excerpt from  Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem..

 Kindness

Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.

…..

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
it is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.

Diversion

Five years ago I was at my Mom's house. I found a book there that I remembered seeing in a bookstore ad...but hadn't heard much about. It was Twilight. Later that week my Mom passed away and I picked up the book. I couldn't sleep and needed a distraction. I read it all night and finished when my Dad was getting up for the day. It was just what I needed to keep my mind numb. The next day I went out and bought the next book in the series. It helped to take the edge off the pain and the anger and the sadness. 

Flash forward five years. It is my Mom's birthday today. I started another book...Beautiful Creatures. It is a story that revolves around a girl with mysterious powers who will be claimed by either the light or the dark on her birthday....February 11th. What are the odds that I would start this book today, February 11th, when it has been sitting in my house for a month. I had the biggest grin on my face. My Mom was sitting next to me, just for a split second, smiling too. I know I'm not alone in this trial. I have amazing friends who look out for me and of course my sweet sisters, who get it. My beautiful family that loves me through the loss and sadness have been amazing. But this year I have been able to draw closer to my Savior. He gets my grief. He has felt it....the way I am feeling it. That has brought me more comfort than I can say. I am better this year than I have been in the last five. I know the week isn't over yet...but I am stronger. I'll just take it as it comes.

More To Love

You might get the idea that I like Valentines Day. I don't. But I do love the colors associated with it. And I LOVE making things for my family and friends. My sister sent me a text with a photo of a craft kit consisting of 4 chunks of 2x4 and 4 mini candle sticks. The kit cost $22 and came unfinished and without any embellishments at all. What?? Robbery!!

Sister asked if she bought the kit and shipped it to me, could I finish it and mail it back. I figured I could do one better and just get the stuff here and make it up.  Not hard. I did forget to seal the paper with Mod Podge before applying the stain....epic fail. A re-do was needed pronto. (Yes, this is my kitchen table!)

After I got that sorted out, the rest went more smoothly.

I had to look around a bit to find the right paper. But I think I scored with this set. Jo and Steph helped me pick it out.

Set #1....I love the aqua and red in this one. It makes me very happy.

Set #2....Obviously chosen for the owls. I can't get enough of their cuteness!!

And set #3...Probably my favorite. I like the mini tutus they are wearing.

Overall a fun and quick-ish craft. Happy February.