drifting off to sleep last night...

Last night I fell asleep spooning with my husband, his arm wrapped around my body and then this funny wrap arm thing that we do, he holds onto my wrist and I pull both our arms then close to my body. It's a gesture that says, I am here for you, I won't let you go.
I've not always been able to sleep like this, and some nights, I still can't. (quite honestly the majority of those are due to hot flashes, but I will admit, that some are probably due to past conditioning). I used to sleep on the very edge of my bed, with my two year old son wrapped tightly into my chest.with my ex-husband on the other side. (As I write this a tear has just come down my face...I just realized how similar the "I am here for you, I won't let you go", refrain of life can be)
While drifting off to sleep last night I did drift into memories of the past. I landed on the night I awoke to paramedics banging on my door. My ex-husband had called 911, his intestines were leaking into his body. He'd had surgery a few days earlier and demanded to be released early...now he was dying in our bed, with our third son fast asleep, oblivious to the sheer horror that surrounded him.
What I thought last night was the same horror, fear, and complete detachment from this man who I called my husband then. I'd already learned about detachment through ala-non, through Melody Beattie, through wonderful self help books. I'd already learned that when he questioned my being at church for too long, and called me a slut and a liar, that it was him not me. But still, the words. The words still came in. And somehow, the words still hurt. And I still believed the words.
I write this now, so that you know that you are not alone. I've been there. You do not have to stay there. I've been blessed by wonderful Authors: Melody Beattie's  The New Co-Dependency: Help and Guidance for today's Generation,  Eckhart Tolle's The New Earth, Geneen Roth's, Women, Food, God. All of these books have helped me understand that living my life right now, not the life of my past, or the fear of the life in the future, is the life to live.They have brought me back to trust in the power's that be, you may call It God, you may call It Nature, you may call It Buddha, something in the universe that is larger than yourself, the name does not matter, the knowing is what does. And yes, flashbacks may happen, so I will feel the pain they bring, the disappointment, the anger, the sadness, and feel through it. When I feel through it, it doesn't have the same grip on me as it once had...it's amazing. I've found, like last night, that yes, it may pop back into my mind, and I may start berating myself for being so stupid, so trusting, so....wait....NO...I lived through a terrible situation the best I knew how! How courageous of me! That is what It brings. The ability to stop the abuse, even my own self-abuse.
What I'm learning now is, eh, I'll call it better detachment. The night of the paramedics, and the weeks to follow, I was detached, yes, but I had no empathy for this man. If he died, so be it,  he brought it on himself. Yes, this is true. What a very cold place in my heart. I don't want that place to exist anymore. I think that when it does, it's taking up valuable space that instead could be filled with warmth, compassion and love. That is a sensation that belongs in my heart.  That is what I am learning now. Thanks for letting me share it with you.
Warm Smiles to All,
Brenda

When The Sun's In Your Eye Like A Big Pizza Pie, That's A Warning

While this article is not directly related to our cause, it is directly related to myself. Please take a few minutes to read this heart-felt story written by my friend and fellow bus driver. Thank you Megan for finding the words to share with us. Smiles and Hugs to you, Brenda When The Sun's In Your Eye Like A Big Pizza Pie, That's A Warning

...Spreading the word during the Popcorn Festival

Well, another Popcorn Festival down. What's that you ask... well Orville Redenbacher was from Valparaiso Indiana, every once in awhile you will see an old commercial with him saying that...so...every year, the Popcorn Festival. Arts and Crafts, food, bands and bees. This year was the first year I have had any flavored popcorn...Watermelon! DELICIOUS!!! I know, you think...watermelon? NO WAY. But think about the crunchy of how carmel corn is, but substitute a fantastic watermelon flavored crunch instead...I wish I had more!

Anyway, I had a group of dolls that I make and donate to the project along with extra cards, and a poster explaining the project. I was very excited to spread the word about the wonderful people who have found and followed this project.

A giant shout out to Chris Larr who has donated another wonderful doll as well as some packaging envelopes. Another fantastic new donation from Patti Kooshed from the "Treasure Barn". You can view her work at www.pchickki.etsy.com and www.treasurebarnblog.blogspot.com . And finally, a huge thanks to Carlia Norton for her wonderful Sprial Kins! You can view her goings on at www.spiralkins.blogspot.com.

Now, if anyone knows where the safe place I put my computer cable for my camera, please let me know!
(I'm sure that once all the frenzy from the fest is cleared up I will be able to find it)
Smiles to all,
Brenda