A woman's path to sustained recovery

Though the process of recovery is never easy, some women seem to move through the journey with less pain than others. Why? What makes the difference? Here we will talk about how that happens for each of us. We will talk about how women heal in mutually empowering realtionships with themselves, with others and with God.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas

"I hear the angels. I see the stars all shining. I believe. I do believe." Anton Chekov

Monday, December 19, 2011

always a mom

We just returned from a lovely cruise on the Danube River. Beautiful old cities, castles, cathedrals and Christmas Markets. Just splendid.

But the best part of the trip was in a phone call waiting for us when we returned. Our younger son had received a promotion he had not expected-in fact he had been told the promotion would not happen. He had been devasted that his career had hit such a block after being on the "fast track" for several years. As his mother I believe I was as devasted as he was. But now all of that was over. His worth and contributions were recognized. I could hear the deep smile in his voice.

As parents, all of us want our children, no matter what age,to be happy. We want them to be treated fairly. When that doesn't happen we suffer with them. That's part of being a parent. And when the joy comes we get to celebrate with them!

My son's news was a joyous climax to our trip. We can spend money on travel, on bling and on stuff but there is no joy like our children's happiness!

That is part of the Christmas message---recognizing the true gifts in our lives. Take time this last week of Advent, to "Listen" to Christ's gifts in your life.

Blessings-Penny

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

filter

Recently I heard a young woman talking about how burned out she is at work. She said, "I know I'm burned out because I hear myself saying things I never said before-critical things in a tone that is most unpleasant, really sharp. I think I've lost my filter. I used to be able to hear myself before I spoke and even if I was thinking something critical, I could modify it so it didn't come across as almost hurtful. I know I still have my filter-I just need to step back and use it."

We have a well for water at our house and it requires a filter that needs changing about every 6 weeks. If we neglect to change the filter, the water gets cloudy and very unappealing. Oil filters in cars need changing or they clog up

If we, as human beings under alot of stress, neglect to monitor our emotional and communication filters, our conversations can be pretty unappealing and clogged up.

Does your filter need changing?

(by the way-I will be out of town for about 2 weeks and will not be posting blogs during that time. "See" you when I return. Thanks so very much to each of you who check in.)
Blessings-Penny

Thursday, December 1, 2011

a gift

Just before Thanksgiving I received a lovely gift. A little background---many years ago I lived in Hawaii for about 5 years with my children and husband who was a Marine pilot. It was Vietnam era and when he went overseas for yet another year tour, the children and I moved off the military base and into a civilian neighborhood. During that year we lived across the street from a lovely family whose children attended the same elementary school as my daughter. We carpooled for that year and so I saw the neighbor children daily. The 8th grade neighbor girl,Susu, also baby sat for my children on the rare occassion I went to a movie or dinner with friends. I corresponded with Susu's parents for several years but lost touch in our many moves.

Well, last week Susu looked us up on the internet. I am not certain how she did it but she located my son who is now an active duty Marine himself. She reminisced about the year we were neighbors and she wrote of her memories of my daughter who was killed in a traffic accident several years later.She even remembered how to spell my daughter's unusual name.

Since very few people in my life here in Vermont knew my daughter, I do not have many conversations about her. Of course she is in my thoughts and prayers daily so to have this woman from our past take the time to find us, to "talk' about some wonderful times and to send her love was an incredible gift.

As this season of Christmas is coming, possibly the most grace filled gift you can give is to search for someone from your past and to tell them how important they were or are in your life. No money required. No Black Friday crowds. Just love.
Blessings-Penny