Sugar Lump Studios

Art by Nancy Maxwell James

{Christmas Blessings}

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If there is righteousness in the heart
If there is righteousness in the heart,
there will be beauty in the character.
If there is beauty in the character,
there will be harmony in the home.
If there is harmony in the home,
there will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation,
there will be peace in the world.
So let it be.

~Scottish Blessing ~

I have shared this blessing the last several years on my blog at Christmas time, but I never tire of it. I want to thank you for your love and support since my stroke on July 24, 2014. You have no idea how your words and emails have continued to be a source of strength to me.

As I near the 5 month mark, I am happy to report so many gains. I have leveled at the moment, and my OT/PT will end next week. While I am sad in many ways, I am grateful too! I will miss my therapists and the friendships I have developed at the tiny hospital I frequent twice a week. They are an amazing group of ladies and I shall miss our Tuesday/Thursday banter.

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I do need a rest from it as well. The last 5 months have been a battle to regain as much as mentally and physically possible. I remember my first day there, I arrived in a wheelchair. Now, I can walk with my cane in and out. I am exhausted when I leave each time, but my legs are carrying me.

My Christmas is not going to be a very festive event this year. I have been unable to shop, bake, or wrap gifts. That does make me sad. I shared this with a girlfriend recently, and she said “Your children do not want presents, you are the present because you are STILL HERE to celebrate with them.” It was the words of comfort I needed to hear.

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In January, I plan to visit a local university with my Occupational therapist. We have been asked to speak to students going into the field. I am pretty stoked about this! I never questioned “why” this happened, but knew there would be a path given to me and I will follow.

May the spirit of Christmas bless each and every one of you this season! I am hopeful that 2015 will be a much better year and plan to make it just that!

Merry Christmas!

{Wake Me in December}

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Hello My Friends –

Happy December to each of you! Yet again, I cannot believe that November went by in a blink of an eye. I have had some difficulty the past few weeks feeling out of sorts. Usually, I am getting my shop filled for the holiday season and prepping for some event to take place in December, and since I am still recovering that just isn’t happening.

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I have been working on this for several weeks now. Something so simple in the past, requires so much energy now. This is a journal I hope to document my stroke journey/recovery in. I still learn something new about what happened, and want so badly to share with others that maybe they can avoid what I am going through right now.

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I want to SHOUT OUT to the lovely comments and messages again that you continue to send. You have no idea what it means. I love hearing from those that have had similar experiences. Each stroke and recovery is different, the important part is that we are still here fighting.

I had two doctor’s remind me of that last month. They told me how lucky I was to survive where my stroke was because the location (pons/brain stem) they do not see very often, and it controls oxygen and blood pressure in the brain. I thank University of Michigan Hospital for giving me TPA quickly when I arrived. I believe they saved my life.

In the coming weeks I hope to share things from the archives still. My right hand is getting stronger (I can lift 1 lb. weights – soup cans), but I still tire very easily. Maybe in the New Year I will have artwork and a new perspective to share?

Happy December to you!

 

 

{Shabby Roses Fabric Pouch}

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I wanted to share this project I did for kindredstitchesmagazine.com/ back in July. The Project was released just before I had my stroke, and I am delayed in posting and sharing it. All the instructions are available at their web site through Apple or Android (this is a digital magazine). They also have a pattern shop so I really encourage you to stop by for a visit.

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A little video made on September 1, 2014 that my daughter Alli did on her phone.
I have posted it to my personal Facebook page, but after long consideration decided to share it publicly with all of you, this way you know I am o.k.!

I want to thank you for your continued support and encouragement. I love receiving the emails, snail mail, and comments on my blog. I want to say that EACH and EVERY one of you would be doing the same thing, FIGHTING to get back what was taken.

I learn something NEW everyday about strokes. I hope to very soon share my own story of the day it happened, and share some pics of my stroke as well (need to get hold of the MRI first.) I finished with 3 weeks of wearing a heart monitor yesterday, and *hopefully* I do not have A fib. Lots of doctors still to see, and OT and PT is scheduled until the end of October.

{Somerset Holidays & Celebrations 2014}

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I was tickled to receive this in the mail last week the 2014 copy of “Somerset Holidays and Celebrations”…inside there were two articles from pieces I had submitted. “Lovely Lace Banners” on pages 50 – 51, “Sweet & Shabby Mitten Ornaments” pages 112 – 113, “Magical Snowflake Faerie Wands” page 138 and Vintage Winter Tags page 141.

I feel especially blessed with this issue seeing my art. I am hopeful to start creating in the near future. I am already using my right hand for some light typing and they have me picking up pegs, clothespins, and all sorts of things at Occupational Therapy. I cannot tell you how much your kind words and encouragement during this time mean to me, especially those that came out of the woodwork to MAKE a COMMENT! God Bless You! I will beat this no doubt in my mind, but it will take time. They are already impressed with my determination! I hope to share my story soon with all of you! Happy Tuesday!

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