Patience

Life.  It can be described as so many things, but right now, imperfect and a mess comes to mind. With so many challenges that we all face each day, then add to that a pandemic, life can be overwhelming at times. This year, our entire lives seemed to change overnight!

The past several years we have had many challenges with family members, including Alzheimer’s Disease & cancer, just to name a few. We had to postpone Christmas due to the loss of my mother on December 26, and then the pandemic hit. We had thoughts of eventually having an Easter celebration, but that too went by the wayside. We have gone months without seeing our families and grandchildren who have been such an important part of our lives.

In March of this year, I started working on my website where I left off the previous year. Honestly, setting up a website and all of it components is like learning a new language for me. Not only with one application, but understanding how the different pieces all fit together has been challenging and fun. I love when I get it! But other times it has been a nightmare! Sometimes I am just a bucket of worms!

I did a soft launch in March, while continuing to work on the website, trying to figure it out. I thought I was finally ready and had everything set up properly, until I found out I did not. In June, I had to give myself permission to take care of myself & my husband and just let everything else go for a while.

As a result, you did not receive any updates. I am so sorry! I remember telling our youngest daughter, Katie, when she was little, that as parents, we were just muddling through since they did not come with instructions. We were just trying our best and making lots of mistakes along the way.

This early, soft launch of my website was kind of like that. I was testing it out on you. I am doing my best to learn the language but a lot gets lost in translation. And it has not gotten easier as I have gotten older to remember what I learned the day before!

Important Lesson We Need to Remember

In 1979, to welcome our new baby girl, my grandmother made a crewel picture with a little girl with messy, red hair springing out all over! The printed words on the picture said; Please be Patient. God isn’t finished with me yet!

The handmade picture hung in my daughter’s room until adolescence, when it was put away in a closet to make way for a more grown up room. I have often seen it, sitting on the shelf, now stained and a bit tattered. But the message remains as relevant today as it did over 40 years ago.

I try to remember this, but it’s not always easy since I am a bit of a perfectionist, to put it mildly. I am much harder on myself than anyone else could be. I am still a work in progress. I am always learning and growing. God is not finished with me yet. I must learn to be patient with myself. I try to remember something that one of our student peacemaker’s told one of our facilitators. He said, “I may not be perfect, but parts of me are excellent!” I need to remember that. I am guessing that some days, you may need to remember that too.

What can you expect from me in the future?

I am still a caregiver to my husband, so I may not be very consistent, as much as I would like to be. I will always do the very best I can. I will be available to answer your comments or questions. You can email me at shollow@livingaheartfulllife.com.

You should expect about 2- 3 emails a month. I am not a fan of sending lots of emails that just clog of your inbox. I do not like when it happens to me. I will not do that to you.

I am so excited about a new holiday project book I have been working on for the past three months. It has 10 fun DIY projects that you can make for the holidays with lots of variations. The major component of each project is leftovers and recycled materials that you may have around the house. It will be coming in your email in the next several weeks. It will arrive as a free downloadable eBook. For an exclusive sneak peek at the cover, CLICK HERE.

I also designed a pretty fall pumpkin by using the template for the Pretty Paper Globes. You can look for that in your email next week. They would make a perfect table decoration for your Thanksgiving table or a gratitude gift to give to your family and friends.

I may have affiliate links in the future, but for now, I do not have any affiliate links or ads on my website. I really dislike it when I am on someone’s website and there are so many ads, I cannot find the content. I want to deliver valuable content that you can use now or keep in your back pocket for when you need it.

As a special thank you for your patience and understanding, I am sending you my grandma’s recipe for 5 Hour Beef Stew. After you put it all together, just be patient and do not lift the cover for 5 hours! It is comfort food at its best, perfect for a fall or winter day! It is so easy to make! You can even prepare it in advance and just pop it in the oven! My grandchildren just love it. It is a family favorite. For the recipe, CLICK HERE.

I have many more plans for the new year. But I am trying to be patient with myself and take one step at a time.

I would love to hear from you. As always, your suggestions, comments, replies and requests are always welcome.

And please remember, be patient with yourself and others. God isn’t finished with any of us yet.

Heartfully,

Sue

P.S. If you would like to receive my latest newsletter and updates, including the directions for the pretty pumpkin & holiday project eBook, just subscribe at the top right, or bottom of the post. You can unsubscribe at any time. I will never sell or give away your information.

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