Letting the shoreline go

[mockers2]

Good morning everyone ~

Thank you, Jackie, for posting. It truly does help to "see" my situation through another's eyes!

The idea of visualizing a place where I feel calm is great! I have tried this in the past, but not since the bomb. Forgot all my coping skills?? I would also pick the beach - it has always seemed so easy to feel God's presence there. I will begin using this right away.

So easy to forget ourselves when we are worrying about everyone else.

You are right about this. Be sure to take care of Jackie too!

Just wanted you to know that your sense of humor shines through in your posts - another part of your strength!


Three positives:
1. H and I rented a movie and watched it together.
2. Last night our oldest child was having a hard time. She was acting very angry and directing most of it at me (I know, I know, I know....she doesn't mean to direct it at me, this is just a phase, she is dealing with H coming home and her feelings about his absence, but after all this, and after listening to, "I want Daddy to get me out of the car. I want Daddy to put me night night. No, Mommy! I want Daddy to get me dressed," all day and seeing her run right past me to get to her dad when we go to pick her up from school every day, it just got the best of me. I also think that some of what I was feeling was pent up sadness.) Anyway, at one point I got teared up and went to the bathroom to get myself back together. Found it hard to stop crying, so it took a minute. When I came back into the living room, after a few minutes, H blew me a kiss across the room to let me know he realized I was hurting. I thanked him later, and he said, "It's hard sometimes."
3. H came into work with me this morning to see something funny someone had emailed me. He thought it was hilarious and we had a good laugh.


One thing I'm trying to do is to change the way I look at things/situations/people and their behavior. I'm reading all I can to try and develop a more positive outlook in general. This is tough, as I've always been a worrier, but I'm trying. One strategy is for me to think of something funny and smile when I begin feeling stressed or down. Sounds kind of corny, but it really seems to be helping. An example - our yougest child was playing with the couch cushions one night. She was shouting, "macaroni!" and flinging herself onto the cushions over and over and laughing, laughing, laughing. Trying to cultivate this joy in myself. Don't want to miss out on the joy there is in life b/c I'm worrying or being fearful. Kids are such a good example!

Thinking of all of you and keeping you and your families in my prayers.