Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Much to be Thankful For


There is so much that I would like to say during this Thanksgiving season, but finding words to express it is quite difficult. I know I will fall far short of expressing what I am feeling. Sadly, I've never been much of a writer, but even less so now. It is a tremendous effort to focus and organize my thoughts these days.Thinking of what to say, how to say it and how to word it in a grammatically correct way becomes a contemptuous chore. Which has been part of the reason for my infrequent posts; it has been easiest to say nothing at all.

For the last eight months my husband has been unemployed. The first time he was laid off, (after fifteen years with a wonderful company and a job he loved), was devastating, but to face the trauma of multiple company layoffs over the last six years has been a nightmare that is incomprehensible to us. After this latest layoff we feared that the career he had worked so hard to establish was completely ruined because his work history looked so unstable. Most companies, if they are even hiring, would just pitch a resume like that.While it took eight very long months and many resumes sent, a new job was started on Monday last week. For this new opportunity we are so very thankful.

Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude and thanksgiving for God's provision for us during this time of extended unemployment. Our two adult children, who both still live at home, have full-time jobs and graciously contributed. Our nineteen year old son delayed college and donated practically his entire paycheck, with no complaints. With their help, my odd jobs and unemployment benefits we have been able to stay caught up on our bills. There was no money for extras and there have been many struggles along the way, but, by God's grace, we have survived the storm...again.Were it not for our precious children things would be very different for us right now. We are very blessed.

It is also with heartfelt gratitude that I thank each of you for your patience with me during this time of sporadic blogging. Losing my mom, dealing with multiple job loss and all the emotions and struggles that encompasses, and my mother-in-law's end stage Alzheimer's...well sometimes just coping with life is all you can manage.

I hope things will settle down now and this extended season of trials will end for our family and hopefully after a time of stability and emotional healing my mental fog will lift and my creativity will flourish.

Speaking of creativity, during the past few months, I have given much thought to this blog and the direction I want to take it. After all that I have been through, with the multiple job loss and this extended season of difficult trials,  I sometimes think about posting on topics regarding that, but my blog has been mostly nature and gardening related and it felt weird to do so. There are more home projects that I have done that I would like to share, but again, I feel funny posting them here.

After one such post, someone suggested to me that I might want to start another blog for things not related to my normal topics so that my readers wouldn't be surprised to see something out of character for Robin's Nesting Place. That was a great idea and I attempted to start another blog but I can barely manage one much less two or three.

I think I've come to the conclusion, that for right now, during this season of my life, I will just post whatever it is that I want to blog about, right here, at Robin's Nesting Place. My desire is to keep the blog as a hobby blog but that definitely encompasses many topics, including photography; crafts; home projects; gardening; cooking: bird watching; thrifting and things related to living on a tight budget and anything else related to home and garden. It really isn't that much different from what I've been doing, just more broad which should lead to more frequent posts that will hopefully still appeal to my readers and maybe even grow my blog a bit more. Guilt/pressure/stress free blogging is all I can creatively manage right now.

I hope that is okay and those of you who have become my blogging friends these last four years will continue to read and follow. I appreciate you all!

Happy Thanksgiving!

15 comments:

Hilary said...

Robin, I'm sorry for all of the woes you've been through recently and very happy for you that you've weathered the storm.

Your blog is your own place to express what you will.. when you will. I know several (probably dozens) of bloggers who have more than one blog and honestly, I will only visit the one that truly draws me and ignore the others. I have to be very close to the person if I'm going to visit more than one blog (darn you, Frank and a handful of others!). I just don't get putting what's important to you to say on a separate sounding blog..so to speak. The mish-mash of offerings is what you're about as a person, so why not your blog?

Anyway, I don't comment here much and I don't visit consistently so take that with a grain of salt but I do want to wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving. And much more fruitful years to come.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

It is your blog. Do what you want to with it. Your photography is fabulous. Anything you want to convey can be done in that way, whether it is nature, crafts or any thing else you can think up. Heck, Have fun. No Stress. We love you no matter what. It is difficult to be creative when your life feels like it is in shambles. Here is hoping that the new job works out and your family can get back to creative living not just be in survival mode. This is for sure Happy Thanksgiving news. Blessings to you and your Family.

Marilyn said...

You are doing a wonderful job expressing yourself and should do whatever you want to and let us enjoy your varied posts.

May you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving.♥♫

Ruth Hiebert said...

Life gets difficult at times and it sounds like yours has reached that point and beyond. I went through a dry spell as well,no desire to blog and nothing that I felt worth blogging about. Please just be yourself. When we have a conversation with a friend ,we move from one topic to another with ease. To me blogging is like visiting with friends.Looking forward to whatever you have to show us and tell us. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Carolyn said...

Hi Robin,
You have had a lot to deal with these past few years but I am happy to hear your husband has a new job now.It is great that your children are so supportive too.I think you did well expressing yourself but I know how you feel because I am not a writer so I struggle with words sometimes.
I want to thank you for giving me the tip on my camera-I tried my old card init and it still didn't work but it got me motivated to check online to see what it could be and I discovered that it works with my macro lens and my telephoto so now I just have to find out why not with the lens that came with the camera!
I love the look of those cookies you made and I will be giving those a try for sure.
Thanks again for your tip and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Carolyn

africanaussie said...

Funnily enough I went through the same thing just recently and started a recipe blog, a crafting blog and a writing blog, but now just keep up one blog.... well the recipe blog is still separate, because that makes it easier for me to find my own recipes lol.. We are all many faceted people and I like the way one blog can encompass them all. My son in law has been out of work for a year, and it is sooo hard.

Kay said...

I am sorry that you have been suffering so much..it is very wearing on a family to contend with so much unemployment. We went through much the same experience from 1998 to 2002.
Anyway...there are no blog police that I am aware of..do what you want when you want..we will all be here.

Unknown said...

Hi, I think you should just blog everything here in one place. Variety is good and you never know who God is helping through what you are sharing.

God Bless - Nita

Rosemary said...

Robin Happy Thanksgiving to you . A blog should reflect the person and one should post whatever one likes... IMO.Hoping to see whatever pops into your mind.

Shirley said...

Robin, I have thought of you often over the months wondering if it was unemployment or health issues that you were dealing with. I’m hoping this post has helped you on your way to accepting what has gone on and to eventually be able to think and plan for the future :-)

Having had major health issues here (with my husband) I completely understand how tight the family unit is at times like this and how much support your children can be. Ours are around the same age being 18 & 21. We are proud of the way they have coped here too.

I completely understand how (on a day to day basis) you do what you need to do and no more. I also understand how your creative soul just dissolves. Mine is beginning to come back slowly now so bear with things as best you can and yours will start its process of returning too. You’ve made a start here today. I’m guessing (like me) your creativeness is what makes you, you. ‘You’ will return and be happy again :-)

Gosh… Thanksgiving has to be a huge thing for you this year. Thinking of you and sending our best wishes, Shirley xo

RURAL said...

Robin, your blog, is your blog, and post whatever you wish. We will still be here, eagerly waiting to read it.

Have a wonderful American Thanksgiving, and a so much better forthcoming year.

Hugs to you,

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

cherry said...

Miss Robin know that we love everything you share with us and I for one would love to see all of your talents shared here.. I have missed your post and hope that this is a wonderful new beginning for your family.

Happy, Happy Thanksgiving to you & your beautiful family
hugs from Savannah, Cherry

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

It seems to me that your blog is all about your nesting place which is your home. Whatever you do in your home that pleases you and that you want to share with us should be included in your blog. People will read it if it of interest to them, inspires them or makes them smile. We all have ups and downs in our lives. No one is free from stress and worry. Keep blogging and I will be right here reading about it. Valerie

Karen Chapman said...

I'm sure there are many of us who truly empathize with you.

Two years ago my husband was laid off twice in 6 months. The first time we had just sold our house and since we couldn't afford to back out of the sale ended up living in a pretty grim apartment. (Try getting an apartment to rent when you have no income and a dog..). With a job offer in hand we bought a house - only to be laid off again 6 months later.

Such things are very humbling but make us who we are.

I celebrate your new start with you.

Jan said...
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