It has been sooooo long since I kept up with a blog. I decided it is time to get back at it. So much has been going on in our lives the past two years. One of my biggest dreams has come true, I opened my own storefront in March of 2013. I resigned from teaching special education in June of 2013. Close to Mother's Day 2013, my grandpa had his first stroke. We have spent many, many hours in and out of the hospital over the past year and a half. Grandpa has had a few other strokes, which has brought on many challenges not only for him, but for the rest of us as well. Now looking back, it is evident to me that God had a plan in the midst of everything. If I were still teaching, my schedule would not be as flexible as is it is today and I would not be able to be at home when I need to be to help with grandpa and spend precious moments with him and the rest of my family. There are seven of us that live here in this old farm house I grew up in. It takes all of us working together to keep things running smoothly and to provide constant care for my grandpa. I wouldn't have it any other way.
As it always has been, creating is my catharsis. There is something so therapeutic about making something from nothing and sharing it with the world. People often ask where I get my ideas. Some of them come simply from looking at a piece of silverware and gaining inspiration from its beauty. Other times I just think of things when I'm laying in bed at night when I can't sleep or when we are driving around in the mountains.
There have been times in the past year and a half while we have gone through so many struggles and changes that I have felt like maybe I should just give up making jewelry and find something else to do. It has been hard to be creative when I feel so numb. Why feel numb? I have always been grandpa's girl. From the time I could move, I was always on grandpa's heels. We took many thirteen or so hour hikes when I was a little girl, played chess and monopoly, and he taught me about life. It has been so hard to watch him go through all that he has gone through the past year and a half and now for him to be on hospice care is one of the hardest things I have had to face. There is just something so painful about watching a strong, independent, active man become so weak and not be able to care for himself or do the things he once loved.
It would be easy to get discouraged and just throw in the towel and shut down all things Gone Loopy. However, I'm not the give up kind of woman. My first name means, "a woman of resolute strength." I cannot tell you the amount of times that I've had to live up to that. God knows just when to have that one customer online to send me a message and tell me how something I've made has touched them, or when to send a customer into my little shop and tell me how talented they think I am and how they are so glad that I have opened my shop. I still struggle from time to time wondering if I'm going to make it when I have so much on my plate and at times don't get to produce as many pieces. However, I know that God will make a way, just like he always does.
I would like to thank each and every one of you for your constant support. You have no idea how much your encouragement and your orders mean to me. Each order and each new piece of jewelry helps me to get through this tough season we are in. It truly brings a level of peace and healing that I just can't explain. I guess it is just a God thing.
I hope that all of you have a blessed Thanksgiving. I know that these holidays can be very hard for some and they are looked upon with great dread. I pray that you will find peace and joy in the midst of the dread.
Many blessings,
Bridget
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