Thankful

These are the moments I am thankful for.

At the advice of the wonderful ladies at the Chesapeake Hospice Life Center we purchased a couple of mini recorders at the Build a Bear store. We had the baby's heartbeat recorded at our last sonogram and placed them into two bears, one for Lenora and one for me. Lenora has been carrying the bears around non stop since we brought them home and every time she presses the button to hear the heartbeat she breaks into a huge smile and hugs them close. 

Thanksgiving day she fell asleep with one in each arm. How precious a sight this was. I have two babies and moments like this to be thankful for. 

In the Kitchen

When life stresses me out I tend to go into hibernation mode. I want to stay in, putter around my house, cook, eat and then fall asleep. Usually in that order.  I have been doing much of all of these things lately. I takes a constant effort not to turn into a total recluse. The closer I get to my due date the more inward I turn. I know some of that is to be expected but I am not sure complete isolation is the answer either. Oh, the struggle to find balance.

 
 
I have been cooking up a storm these days.

 
I made these Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls by Smitten Kitchen. They were delicious but I would have to say I wish they were gooeyer (is that a word). I like my cinnamon rolls all soggy and squishy in the middle. 

 
Then I made this Salted Caramel Apple Pie by Ashley English. Hands down the best apple pie I have ever tasted. We devoured every last slice. I will be making it again this year for Thanksgiving and every year after. It is that good. I did learn this is not a pie you can just throw together in an hour. There are steps, it takes some time, so set aside a day when you can slowly work your way through the recipe. Put on some music and get into it. You will not be disappointed. 

And here I am doing the 2 things I love to do the most, lay in bed and eat home cooking. Can you see the joy?  

Oh yea. Shovel it in. 

Squam by the Sea 2012

Where do I start? 

I could write pages and pages about the magic that is Squam by the Sea but I don’t think I would ever be able to truly capture it in words.

I was scared to go, afraid of the unknown, who/what I might encounter and their reactions to my story and journey with this little kidney-less babe of mine.  

To say I was blown right out of my socks with all the Squam love good juju vibes would be an understatement.

I just want to cry happy tears writing this, thinking about how wonderful my time at the beach was. It was truly part of my healing journey. There was no sadness, no self pity, no dark cloud following me around. It was as if it lifted for those 4 days and I was wrapped in light. I cannot describe it.

I painted with the amazing Sarah Ahern and Alena Hennesey. I ate the most wonderful food and slept and sat on the beach and connected with so many incredible souls. I came away recharged and ready for what is to come.  

Now are you ready for some goose bumps? I truly believe there are times we are placed exactly where we need to be whether or not we understand it. I shared my story with a circle of women and one in particular burst into tears. She in turn shared that she would be donating a kidney to her father very soon. Coincidence, I think not. There was some divine universal power that placed the 2 of us in the same place that same day. 

I will leave you with this. My finished painting from Alena's class. Can you feel all the healing power wrapped up in this piece? I know I can.