A SMALL GESTURE OF CHEER

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~