From His Back Porch…
Many of you do not know that the second half of HALO Inspirations has moved to Maryland for a fantastic job opportunity. The plan is for me to join him sometime within the next 12 months. However, until then, I live here in Virginia and he lives about 4+ hours away. He comes home every other weekend and we talk during the day. Eventually, I will be able to travel to see him. As a retired military family, this isn’t a new concept for us. The last 11-12 years of his career, he deployed 6-9 months out of the year. The bonus for this transition is that he has a phone, email, and it is not that far away. I get to hear his voice, read texts or emails frequently, and get to see him in somewhat of a consistent timing. This truly is not new to us, and we know how to handle the situation. Saying that does not mean that it still is not difficult or have its challenges. What it does mean is we know we got this!
I always try to find the silver linings in difficult situations, and this is just one of those times that I am doing just that. One of the positives is that I get to live vicariously through his pictures he sends me and the stories he shares about the people and his environment. Not only was I a military wife, but I was also a military daughter. My entire life has been moving from place to place. I LOVE to move to new areas, both foreign and domestic. Embedding yourself into a new culture, living in a new place with different things to do and see, learning new or different things that particular place has to offer…all of this is simply exciting and inspirational! When he shares, I feel like I have a jump start to our new beginnings and my heart is just overflowing with inspirations.
My son is still living here as he transitions from a divorce and returning to a civilian life after being in the military. He, too, has been a blessing, during our year transition. He offers his eyes and hands when I quilt and I cannot see something clearly or feel something correctly. For example, I still cannot tell the difference between the upside and the downside of batting. They look the same and feel the same to me. He is an expert at that! He also keeps me a bit grounded in life. We eat dinner together, we talk several times a day, and I get to help him study for his certification as a Registered Tech for pesticides, just to name a few things. My husband and my children are my best friends, and it is nice to have one of them in the same area.
One of the ways to successfully live through a temporary separation is to find distraction. Well……I have a great one! HALO Inspirations and quilting! The pictures I receive through Eric, my parents (my mom is a quilter and they live in PA), my daughter (she lives in Illinois), and the trips I take to see each of them are completely inspiring for quilting ideas. Those trips also give me time on the road, in car, surrounded by new sights that you don’t get to see every day. They give me a moment that life sort of stops and allows my brain to process different ideas and thoughts and my heart to embrace the beautiful country that I am privileged to live in. I bring these things into HALO and my quilting. It gives me a newfound energy and motivation to do more, make more, find more, and to live more.
For example, this morning I received my good morning text from Eric. It is always a wonderful way to start my day, as he always includes a message of inspiration or something from his heart. He knew that I have a blog to write today, and tried to be quick and to the point to keep from distracting me from writing. However, I responded to him with a hope that I could find something worth sharing. Yes, here I was at the last minute still searching. My current ideas were just not finished, but I was just going to start writing and see where it took me. Then, he offered me two things:
I have not been there yet, so I saw this with new eyes giving a fresh perspective. It allowed me to close my eyes and envision hearing the birds, smelling the country air, and feel the warmth of the rising morning sun. I could see myself sitting there pondering thoughts, sketching quilting ideas or a new motif, listening to one of my favorite podcasts or audible books, or writing my weekly blog.
2. For the caption of the pictures, he offered a quote that he wrote: “We are separated by distance. The challenges that we face with it inspire us and motivate us.”
I could not have said it any better! We all experience a separation of distance in some way, whether it is with children, parents, grandchildren, or our spouses. Although there is distance by miles, there is not distance in love or the strong beliefs you have in each other. It is my hope that you will accept the challenges that that distance brings, and realize the magnificence inside yourself that will guide you to inspiration and the beauty of your surroundings that can motivate you. Continue to share with family and friends, for it can be more fruitful, valuable, and rewarding.
.Also, I encourage you to visit your “back porch” spot (wherever that may be), at least once a day, and give yourself a moment to reflect on all the blessings you have in your life and a time to allow your heart, mind, and spirit to work together to find those new ideas, thoughts, or inspirations. We have one life….embrace all that it has to offer!
Until next time, may you continue to be inspired, productive, and joyful! And never stop making your dreams in quilting come true!
-Angel
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