It's been several months since I've attempted to create anything in my
craft room.
I always take the summer off from crafting, to spend my time outdoors
and I totally enjoyed my summer this year.
Then in September, when I usually get back into crafting, my MIL fell and
broke her hip. After surgery to repair her hip with a metal plate
and screws, recovery and rehab, she was finally discharged after 6 weeks
in the hospital.
During those weeks of recovery and rehab, I witnessed many things in the
hospital environment. I came to realize that
the circle of life is relatively short.
You have to accept the things you can't change,
cherish what you do have
and look at each new day as a gift.
Patience, forgiveness, understanding, compassion ... they all
matter and can make a big difference in what you see
when you look into a mirror.
After a stay with us, Mom decided that she really wanted to live
somewhere with people here own age and still have
a bit of privacy and independence. So, her house was listed and sold
and she now lives in an assisted living retirement home.
In the few short weeks that she has been living there, I have met
several of the residents and I am absolutely dumbfounded as to
how many of them rarely, if ever, see any of their family members.
Some of them have literally been put in there and forgotten about.
So, I decided that my first craft project was going to be a little goodie box,
to be placed at each place setting on Christmas Eve at dinner.
Even though it is a very small gesture,
I wanted each resident to know that someone is thinking about them.
There are 66 residents so the preparation of 66+ boxes took a few days but
it was time well spent and it felt soooo good to create again.
Maybe this Christmas Season, you could consider remembering
those seniors who are not able to live independently
anymore and rely on the kindness and compassion of those
who care for them, many who are not their own family members.
And just remember, if we are fortunate enough, we will all
be seniors one day.
Thanks for stopping by.
~Bonnie~